New Delhi: Sandeep Maheshwari, founder of ImagesBazaar.com has bagged the coveted YCE (Young Creative Entrepreneur) Award instituted by the British Council, a division of the British High Commission in India. The British Council’s Young Creative

Entrepreneur Awards programme has been developing a powerful professional network between creative entrepreneurs in India, UK and internationally.

The YCE awards ceremony was held at the British High Commission, New Delhi on September 1, 2010. The awards aim to reward creative entrepreneurs based in India for their contribution to their respective sectors. The YCE award programme goes beyond simply recognising the achievements of these entrepreneurs by providing them a platform to begin a dialogue with their UK counterparts.

The program also aims to link them with potential investment and mentoring opportunities in partnership with the Indian Angel Network (IAN), which is India’s first and largest business angel network.

The judging panel for the YCE Communications Award included the following:

– Mahesh Murthy, Founder, Pinstorm and Managing Partner, Seedfund
– Jai Vikram Bakshi, Founder, Digiqom Solutions and representing the Indian Angel Network
– Naved Akhtar, Co-Founder, Shop
– Rajesh Dahiya, Founder, Codesign

According to the judges, “Sandeep illustrated his entrepreneurial skills through a perfect blend of a good idea and business venture leading to ‘real’ change. He looks for improving predictability in trends as reflected through his idea of 3D imagery and shows the relevant skills for successful collaboration and tie-up with the UK.”

On being bestowed with the award, Sandeep said, “I am honoured, humbled and oh-so proud to receive this award. It not only inspires our entire team to strive for excellence but also gives us an opportunity to collaborate with the creative fraternity of UK.”

A freelance photographer turned entrepreneur, Sandeep Maheshwari’s dream is to “Create an Image of India” like never before. He says, “We will take India to the world. In a few years, we will be behind every possible visual communication about India anywhere on the globe through our visuals, animations, illustrations and 3D imagery. In other words, the world will see India through our eyes.”

With over 800,000 images, http://www.imagesbazaar.com today has the world’s largest stock of Indian images where one can search, purchase and download as per his needs. In simple words, it slashes down the cost of producing a shoot from lakhs of rupees to a few thousands and the time from weeks to a few minutes. At present, over 6000 clients in more than 42 countries use images from http://www.imagesbazaar.com for their advertising, marketing and publishing needs.