Dell
Social Innovation Challenge
What if every student who believed they could change the world actually had the tools to do it?
That’s what the Dell Social Innovation Challenge is all about. Since 2007, more than 15,000 students from 90 countries have proposed more than 3,000 ideas for tackling social and environmental problems. Participants are given the mentoring, tools and cash prizes needed to take their projects to the next level. Over the years more than $350,000 has been awarded to teams from around the world who’ve had the courage, vision and passion to turn their “What Ifs” into action.
Who Can Enter?
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Any undergrad or graduate student in any field of study, from any country, can enter the challenge. This isn’t your traditional business plan competition – you can enter a project at any stage, whether you’ve just thought of an idea or are already running an organization. It doesn’t matter if your idea is nonprofit or for-profit.
Most projects are lead by teams of students. If you need more help, the full challenge website (launching January 3rd), will let you to connect with potential team members.
Prizes & Benefits
The challenge site will be the world’s largest community of student social innovators. You’ll get access to the learning, support and feedback you need to hone your innovations. Stay tuned for more details, and get ready for a great adventure!
Global Award Rounds Five Finalists will be flown to Austin for the Global Awards Event full of networking and mentoring. Plus, they’ll compete live in front of judges for these Global Awards:
• $50,000 Grand Prize
• $20,000 Second Prize
• $10,000 Third Prize
Two Expertise Award winners (selected by judges) will also attend the Global Awards Event:
• $15,000 Tomberg Environmental Sustainability
• $10,000 Dell Technology Innovation200+ Semi-Finalists (selected by judges)
will receive:
o 1:1 Mentoring from DSIC-Certified Mentor to hone their plans
o The opportunity to pitch & compete (via online video) for the Global
Awards People’s Choice Awards. 17 People’s Choice Award Winners will be
selected via online voting.
• 11 Focus Awards
• 6 Regional Awards
Challenge Categories
There are four entry categories to reward and support innovations at all stages of development. You can submit as many project proposals as you’d like.
Define: Project exists mainly in your
head or a few sketched ideas, with limited research at this point.
Design: Project captured in a written plan, with some
more formal market research, the beginnings of formal internal and external
teams and more detailed elements such as financial model, pricing, marketing,
customer segmentation and risk assessment.
Pilot: Product/service has been tested with a small
group of clients/customers. Team continues making revisions based on field
knowledge.
Scale: Product/service has proven successful and is
being deployed in more than one geographic area. Enterprise has strong
and sustainable financial and human resources models, plus a strong board
of directors and strategic partners.
Judging Criteria
The judges are looking for social innovations.
What’s a social innovation? It’s an idea that can significantly improve an existing social or environmental problem.
The judges are looking for ideas that can create results, but your passion and abilities are also as important as your proposal. The DSIC-Certified Judges will evaluate proposals using three primary criteria:
• Clarity and significance of the innovation.
• Demonstration of a high probability of success.
• Potential impact from winning DSIC.
How to Enter
Entering is free and easy! You can enter as many projects
as you’d like, in any category.
Entry opens January 3rd when the full challenge site launches.
Complete your profile at DellChallenge.org.
The deadline for submissions is February 13th 2012
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