PUTTING his knowledge of electrical engineering technology to good use, Aris Samad Yahaya led his team mates to the top prize of the Venture 2002 Business Plan competition in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Maestro Solutions earned RM25,000 and the winner's trophy with a business plan entitled “Supply Chain Robust Planning & Disruption Management’’ that helps businesses save costs through real-time management of supply chain disruptions.

Aris, an electrical engineer who has worked in the Silicon Valley in the US for a few years, said that the business solution would benefit those in complex distribution networks such as distribution of fast moving consumer goods as well as those in the distribution of oil and gas products.

Aris told StarBiz that he was glad his team was able to bag the top prize as he and team members Maisie Chui and Azreen Latiff had put in a lot of research, effort and work into the plan.

They have decided to look at market needs in distribution and supply chains in the country.

Aris and his team mates are now in discussion with venture capital companies to fund the commercialisation of the solution. He expects Maestro Solutions business venture to take off in the next 14 months.

In second place and bagging RM15,000 was Oceantec with its “Software to Orchestrate Your Supply Chain Events”.

The solution for the maritime freight transportation industry enables better communications, and time and cost savings, and enhances decision-making.

Oceantec founder Shariff Mohd Noor said he expected to turn his business plan into commercial reality in the next 18 months.

Shariff said that currently the maritime and freight industry was fragmented, and he hoped the team’s business plan would help improve and enhance the industry.

However, he and team mates Wong Yat Chee, Lee Yew Leng, Bala Subramaniam, Ramesh Kanhai and Eugene Koneed RM5mil in venture capital to realise its commercial potential.

The third prize of RM5,000 was jointly awarded to Sherman 3D.com with its business plan “Massively Multiplayer Online Game Development”, and to Integrated Methods, for its plan also entitled “Integrated Methods”.

Venture 2002 attracted 255 creative business ideas throughout the three phases of the competition from Jan 10 to Sept 6, 2002.