Attention Student Social Entrepreneurs! Win $50,000 For Your Ideas

by Tristan Oct 30th, 2009
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Calling all socially innovative university students! The University of Texas and Dell are looking for college students from around the world who want to improve areas of critical human need through innovation. The competition is called the The Dell Social Innovation Competition and aims to help students better the world by improving their skills in project plan development, pitching ideas to investors and building resource networks. Plus, the chance to earn a hefty $50,000 in venture funding if they win.

How does it work?


  • First, college students from around the globe can enter the competition online by submitting a brief description of his or her innovation.
  • Second, competition judges will invite a small group of semifinalists to develop their ideas into detailed venture plans. Each semifinalist records a 3-minute video pitch of his or her plan.
  • Third, judges select 3 finalists to travel to Austin, Texas, to present their plans to a committee comprised of leaders from the business, nonprofit and government sectors.
  • And finally, during the end event at The University of Texas at Austin, all finalists will receive prizes, and the overall winner will be awarded $50,000 to launch his or her venture.

Plus, projects that address environmental issues have the possibility of winning the The Tomberg Prize in Environmental Sustainability – an additional $10,000!

dell

And even if you are not a student, you can still vote for the best ideas and provide constructive feedback via comments on the site. So, get out there and show your support for social innovation!

Check out last year’s winner, Gardens For Health.

Contributor Profile: Tristan


Tristan is a social change advocate, writer and social media do gooder. He has worked with Ashoka and Best Buy promoting social entrepreneurship and responsibility.
Twitter: @writerpollock


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View Comments for “Attention Student Social Entrepreneurs! Win $50,000 For Your Ideas”

  1. A very good initiative.

  2. Erikeliason says:

    Yes, it's great to see more capital supporting social entrepreneurs!

  3. markbachman says:

    Great campaign. Way to go Dell

    Mark Bachman
    Better The World

  4. Tristan says:

    Thanks for reading Mark!

  5. [...] students. With a little leg-up from Sparkseed, an organization dedicated to fostering creative, college-level social entrepreneurs, you could easily add your name to that list. Since its beginning, the Sparkseed Social Innovation [...]

  6. [...] the Opus Foundation partners with a Catholic university each year to award one $1 million dollar prize and two $10 million dollar prizes. This year was the first year that the grand prize was given to a [...]

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