Interested in some extra cash, great feedback, global PR? Following is a list of international business plan competitions and fellowship programs – most contain a focus on CSR, Social/Environmental Impact, or Innovation in Developing Markets and/or Poverty Reduction.
Submission dates are coming up – so check them out today!I
William James Foundation 2008-09 Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition
www.williamjamesfoundation.org
▪ Guidelines: For-Profit teams. One member of the team must have be or have been a student anywhere in the world in the past ten years. Over $50,000 in cash and in-kind prizes, including a special prize for environmental sustainability.
▪ Deadline: First round in December
Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship
www.skollfoundation.org/skollawards/index.asp
▪ Guidelines: The Skoll Awards are not intended for new or early-stage programs or initiatives. Programs submitted for consideration should have a track record of no less than three years.
▪ Deadline: Several deadlines throughout the year: March, August, November
LES (Licensing Executives Society) Foundation Graduate School Competition
http://www.lesfoundation.org/graduate_student
▪ Guidelines: For Licensing Technologies. $10K in cash plus $45K in services.
▪ Deadline: March
Pioneers of Prosperity – OTF Consulting
http://www.pioneersofprosperity.org/
▪ Guidelines: Awards 5 prizes of $50,000 and a Grand Prize of $100,000. Must be a for-profit company, with 3+ years in business, and annual revenues equal to or less than $25M USD based in: Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, or Uganda. Focus on innovation.
▪ Deadline: Round 1 – a 20 minute survey – by September 10th, 2008.
Global Social Venture Competition
▪ Guidelines: At least one team member must be a current MBA candidate or recent (within 2 years) graduate, from any school.
▪ Deadline: January
Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition
http://bschool.washington.edu/gsec
▪ Guidelines: At least one team member must be a current student. That team member is the only one who can present. Executive Summary due end of October, full plan presentation at the end of February
▪ Deadline: October
Echoing Green Fellowship
http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship
▪ Guidelines: Echoing Green awards two year fellowships to emerging social innovators.
▪ Deadline: September
BiD Challenge
http://www.bidnetwork.org/set-44007-en.html
▪ Guidelines: The BiD Challenge consists of one International Competition and 7 National Competitions in India, Philippines, Tanzania, Kenya, Argentina, Peru and Colombia.
▪ Deadline: Ongoing
Ashoka Citizen Base Awards
http://www.citizenbase.org/en/competitions
▪ Guidelines: Submit a strategic plan and/or business plan to demonstrate proof of concept and implementation strategy. Innovative organizations with a civil sector focus and revenue generation component from all over the world welcome.
▪ Deadline: Ongoing
William James Foundation 2008-09 Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition
www.williamjamesfoundation.org
▪ Guidelines: For-Profit teams. One member of the team must have be or have been a student anywhere in the world in the past ten years. Over $50,000 in cash and in-kind prizes, including a special prize for environmental sustainability.
▪ Deadline: First round in December
Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship
www.skollfoundation.org/skollawards/index.asp
▪ Guidelines: The Skoll Awards are not intended for new or early-stage programs or initiatives. Programs submitted for consideration should have a track record of no less than three years.
▪ Deadline: Several deadlines throughout the year: March, August, November
LES (Licensing Executives Society) Foundation Graduate School Competition
http://www.lesfoundation.org/graduate_student
▪ Guidelines: For Licensing Technologies. $10K in cash plus $45K in services.
▪ Deadline: March
Pioneers of Prosperity – OTF Consulting
http://www.pioneersofprosperity.org/
▪ Guidelines: Awards 5 prizes of $50,000 and a Grand Prize of $100,000. Must be a for-profit company, with 3+ years in business, and annual revenues equal to or less than $25M USD based in: Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, or Uganda. Focus on innovation.
▪ Deadline: Round 1 – a 20 minute survey – by September 10th, 2008.
Global Social Venture Competition
▪ Guidelines: At least one team member must be a current MBA candidate or recent (within 2 years) graduate, from any school.
▪ Deadline: January
Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition
http://bschool.washington.edu/gsec
▪ Guidelines: At least one team member must be a current student. That team member is the only one who can present. Executive Summary due end of October, full plan presentation at the end of February
▪ Deadline: October
Echoing Green Fellowship
http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship
▪ Guidelines: Echoing Green awards two year fellowships to emerging social innovators.
▪ Deadline: September
BiD Challenge
http://www.bidnetwork.org/set-44007-en.html
▪ Guidelines: The BiD Challenge consists of one International Competition and 7 National Competitions in India, Philippines, Tanzania, Kenya, Argentina, Peru and Colombia.
▪ Deadline: Ongoing
Ashoka Citizen Base Awards
http://www.citizenbase.org/en/competitions
▪ Guidelines: Submit a strategic plan and/or business plan to demonstrate proof of concept and implementation strategy. Innovative organizations with a civil sector focus and revenue generation component from all over the world welcome.
▪ Deadline: Ongoing
