ECOllect service wins Creativity Class 2010-2011

Young professionals Jonas Vercruysse, Gilles Van Couteren, Stephanie Straatman and Kim Biesemans have won the 2010-2011 edition of the Creativity Class, a special 4-day training programme organised by Flanders DC in collaboration with Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. This year’s assignment was to invent a commercial product or service around the theme of ‘Green Mobility’. The winning team created ‘ECOllect’, a service that encourages people to buy food that has a smaller environmental impact. The service in practice: at any time of day, via local, eco-friendly dispensers, busy consumers on their way home can buy a package of fresh, quality products with which they can quickly prepare a nutritious meal.

Last Tuesday, the 6 teams (24 participants in total) presented their business concepts to a 4-member jury, which included Vlerick Professor Iris Vanaelst, Serge de Gheldere (CEO, Futureproofed), Lieven Verbrugge (Associate Director, Hudson) and Pascal Cools (General Director, Flanders DC). After careful consideration, the jury arrived at its conclusion – which was particularly difficult this year, because the quality of the business concepts was extremely high. The project ‘Creative Mobility’ took second place, and ‘Leap’ came in third.

About the Creativity Class

The Creativity Class – organised by Flanders DC – is a special 4-day training programme on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme is a mix of theory, practice, coaching and outside activities, with lessons given by Vlerick professors noted for their expertise in the field of creativity. Included in the programme: creativity techniques and, as a team, developing a business concept and defending it in front of a jury. Candidates hold a Master’s degree and have 2 - 5 years of work experience, or a Bachelor’s degree and 3 - 5 years of work experience, and they must pass a selection procedure.