What Separates Good Ideas from Great Businesses: A Judge's Perspective at BICTA 2025

Recently, I had the honor of being invited by AITI to serve as a judge for the Industrial & Primary category at BICTA (Brunei ICT Awards). Alongside esteemed colleagues (Aiman Minorhadi, Lisa Ibrahim, and Isa Liew), I had the privilege of evaluating some of Brunei's most promising tech innovations.

It was an experience that went beyond simply scoring projects. It was a window into the current state of Brunei's innovation ecosystem, and it reminded me of something crucial: not every builder is an entrepreneur.

The Builder vs. The Entrepreneur

Builders are essential. They create, they push boundaries, they bring ideas to life. But entrepreneurship demands something more: a clarity of business model, commercial acumen, and the discipline to fail fast and learn even faster.

As I reviewed the submissions and spoke with participants, three patterns emerged:

1. Surface-Level Business Models

Many ideas were technically impressive and visually exciting. But when it came to the business foundations (financial sustainability, revenue models, go-to-market strategies), the depth wasn't there. Innovation without commercialization is a prototype, not a business.

2. System-Driven, Not Customer-Driven

Too many teams built solutions in search of a problem. Real growth happens when you sit with actual customers, watch them use your product, and deeply understand their pain points. A generic product cannot solve a specific problem, no matter how well-engineered it is.

3. Lack of Execution Clarity and Commitment

Vision can evolve. That's expected. But if the execution isn't clear and the founders aren't fully committed, the business will struggle from day one. Clarity of purpose and relentless follow-through are non-negotiables.

Fail Fast, Learn Faster

Jeff Bezos once said: "If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you're going to double your inventiveness."

Speed and iteration beat overthinking every time. The teams that will succeed aren't necessarily the ones with the most polished pitch today. They're the ones willing to test, break, learn, and rebuild quickly.

My Advice to Brunei's Builders

If you're serious about turning your project into a sustainable business:

• Pick one customer segment. Don't try to serve everyone.

• Focus. Narrow your scope until your value proposition is crystal clear.

• Test relentlessly. Get your product in front of real users as early as possible.

• Fail fast. Learn faster. Each failure is data. Use it.

• Repeat. Iteration is the engine of progress.

Building Bridges, Not Just Products

For me, events like BICTA reinforce why I do what I do. I've always seen my role as a bridge: helping connect like-minded people who share values, work hard, and want to make an impact.

Whether you see yourself as a builder or an entrepreneur, the right connection can make all the difference. If you're working on something meaningful and want to accelerate your journey, reach out. Let's talk.

Because at the end of the day, it's not just about building.

With fellow judges at BICTA 2025, evaluating Brunei's most promising tech innovations.

The BICTA 2025 judging panel

It's about building together.

Ryan - Entrepreneur, investor, and bridge-builder connecting innovators to opportunity.

Want to connect? Whether you're building something new or looking to scale your venture, let's have a conversation. Contact me here.

Meta Description (for SEO): Ryan shares insights from judging BICTA 2025, exploring what separates good ideas from great businesses and the three critical gaps in Brunei's innovation ecosystem.

Keywords: BICTA 2025, Brunei innovation, entrepreneurship, startup advice, business model, customer-driven development