I’ve been staring at the screen for a while, trying to figure out how to put this feeling into words without resorting to the usual, well, stuff you see after these kinds of events. “Honored,” “privileged,” “thrilled.” Yeah, yeah, we get it.
Here’s the thing: I was a judge at the Kazan OIC Entrepreneurship Forum. And it wasn’t just another judging gig. It was… different.
First, there was Evocraft. Tunisia. A team I’d spent a few days with, digging into their pitch, helping them refine the story, the flow, the why. You know, the real stuff that makes a presentation more than just slides and numbers. I saw them struggle, refine, and ultimately, own their vision. When they announced Evocraft as the first-place winner, it wasn’t just a name called out. It was a tangible shift in the room, a collective exhale. And honestly? It felt… personal. Like I’d just seen someone I cared about achieve something massive. It’s a weird thing, this coaching business. You invest a bit of yourself, and when it pays off, it feels like a shared win. Especially when it’s a first for your country. It’s not “I helped them win” it’s more like “We did this together.” Ali Cherif, Evocraft’s co-founder, put it perfectly: “Your exceptional mentorship and valuable feedback paved the way to our cash prize triumph! We soaked up every lesson, refined our skills, and applied your wisdom to bring home the victory. Thank you for investing your time and expertise in us. Your guidance made all the difference!” That kind of feedback… it’s the real reward.
Then there was Tarek from OTO Courses, Egypt. Second place. Another team who poured everything into their pitch. The sheer grit and determination radiating from him was palpable. He’d clearly worked tirelessly, and seeing that effort recognized was genuinely moving. It’s a reminder that these competitions aren’t just about ideas; they’re about the people behind them, the late nights, the constant refining, the sheer belief that what they’re doing matters.
And to every other team that presented? Man, you guys brought it. There’s a raw energy in these kinds of events, a collective passion that’s infectious. It’s easy to focus on the winners, but the truth is, everyone who stood on that stage took a risk. They put their hearts and souls out there. And that deserves recognition.
The whole experience left me with this strange, warm hum in my chest. Not the kind of forced enthusiasm you see in press releases, but a genuine feeling of… well, something close to pride, but more nuanced. It’s the kind of feeling you get when you see people you believe in succeed. It’s a feeling that comes from seeing the power of hard work and genuine passion.
I’m looking forward to seeing where everyone goes from here. And I genuinely hope our paths cross again. Because, honestly, this wasn’t just a competition. It was a reminder of what’s possible when people dare to dream big and work their tails off to make those dreams a reality.
