The Global Business Center of Foster School is currently seeking entries for the Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) 2012.
The GSEC is a leading-edge international social venture plan competition, where interdisciplinary student teams from around the world propose creative, commercially viable businesses aimed at reducing poverty in the developing world. From innovative sanitation solutions in Kenya, to solar-powered modular power generators in Papua New Guinea, to prick-less anemia scanners in India, GSEC business plans demonstrate the power of business to create sustainable, positive change to some of the world’s most challenging social problems.
GSEC Provisions
- Travel scholarships available for qualifying 2012 international GSEC teams, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- GSEC is the place for students to learn about harnessing the power of commercial strategies to reduce poverty and affect positive social change in developing economies.
- Up to $30,000 in monetary prizes are awarded to semi-finalist teams that develop businesses with the most innovative solutions to problems of poverty and the best integration of financial and social returns on investment. Prizes include GSEC grand, global health, and Information & Communications Technology (ICT) prizes.
- A world-class program, GSEC supports students as they develop innovative business models that achieve poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. Throughout the process – from application to GSEC Week – students receive expert guidance, refine their business skills, develop their networks, and gain access to new resources.
- About 15-20 semi-finalist student teams worldwide will be selected from the applicant pool, paired with mentors and invited to participate in GSEC Week, February 27 – March 2, 2012, in Seattle, Washington, USA. GSEC Week provides exclusive opportunities for semi-finalist teams to benefit from invaluable resources and expertise in the Seattle region.
GSEC Eligibility
- GSEC seeks the most innovative, student-generated social business plans that aim to alleviate a problem(s) of poverty in developing economies.
- GSEC is open to currently enrolled students, in any discipline and level of study, at any academic institution of higher education worldwide.
- Multi-disciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. Teams may be comprised of students from difference academic institutions.
- Plans must clearly demonstrate the social impact and calculate the Social Return on Investment (SROI) and provide a social impact assessment. GSEC business plans may focus on any subject area.
- GSEC business plans are evaluated on three criteria: 1) Effect on the quality of life and poverty alleviation in one or more developing economies; 2) Financial sustainability; 3) Feasibility of implementation.
Prizes
GSEC prizes are awarded to the most innovative business plans that meet the GSEC judging criteria and demonstrate the best integration of financial and social returns on investment.
Last date for submitting the applications is November 9, 2011.
For more information and details, you can visit this link.
