Student with winning idea forms campus book company

Who said university students lack entrepreneurial skills? An enterprising undergraduate is running a company that buys second-hand university text books and sells them back to students who would not mind saving some money by buying their books on the cheap.

Donna Micallef, a second-year student of commerce, had formed part of a team of five students who earlier this year won a business plan competition organised by Startup Malta, an organisation of young people that fosters entrepreneurship among students.

Despite the evident potential of their business plan, only Ms Micallef was interested in actually starting up a company. She forged ahead with the idea, found two new partners and set up The 2nd Agent - "the company by the student for the student". It is unique on campus.

The company launched itself in October during Freshers' Week, and by Ms Micallef's account has already dealt in some 500 books since. Students can use their smart card to buy the books they need.

"Our aim is to help students use their maintenance grants in a more efficient way throughout their student life by giving them an efficient service and good quality books at negotiable prices," said Ms Micallef. The company also sees itself as doing its bit for the environment.

Meanwhile, Startup Malta has just received submissions from 19 teams in the first stage of this year's Get BIZZY! Business Plan Competition. The teams include six from the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology.

Participating teams will be competing for numerous cash prizes, with the Best Business Plan of the year set to win its creators Lm2,000 in cash.

"Without revealing too much there are some very interesting ideas and it will be an excellent competition," said Erika Caruana from Startup.

Next week, the first monthly "network session" will see people from the world of business and participants getting together as part of Startup's efforts to "bring the student to the entrepreneur and the entrepreneur out of the student".

Teams will also be meeting their mentors for the first time. The mentors are all businessmen or women with managerial or higher positions who will be giving up their time to help participants throughout the competition, by coaching them and offering tips.

Results of the adjudication for phase one will be announced early in January. The competition comes to a close in April.

To contact The 2nd Agent send an email to donna@the2ndagent.com or call Ms Micallef on 79619926. The website is www.the2ndagent.com

Startup is at www.StartupMalta.com; e-mail info@StartupMalta.com.