Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition _ Deadline: 9-Nov-2011

GSEC Week provides exclusive opportunities for semi-finalist teams to benefit from invaluable resources and expertise in the Seattle region through exposure to iconic global companies, a vibrant international development sector, leading research institutions. NEW THIS YEAR: travel scholarships will be awarded to eligible team members, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

The Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (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. 

Each year, GSEC brings the world to UW: semi-finalist student teams from around the globe are invited to Seattle for GSEC Week. Teams visit regional companies, receive expert coaching, present their business ideas to 400+ professionals, and compete for monetary prizes. GSEC 2012 will award at least $30,000 in prizes, including a GSEC grand, global health, and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) prize! The professional support to GSEC is unparalleled: annually more than 200 experts participate as mentors, judges, and sponsors. We welcome this invaluable support, from individuals at organizations like Costco, Gray Ghost Ventures, Microsoft, PATH, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Smith Barney, Seattle International Foundation, the Grameen Foundation, and the Washington Global Health Alliance.

GSEC 2012 SCHEDULE

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.

November 9, 2011: GSEC Applications due (8 am GMT Pacific Time)

November 9 – December 15, 2011: Application Review
December 15 – 30, 2011: GSEC Week (semi-finalist) teams selected, paired w/ mentors
January 19, 2012: GSEC full business plan, one page summary drafts due
February 16, 2012: GSEC final business plan, one page summary, one PowerPoint slide due

GSEC Week: February 27 – March 2, 2012 (Seattle, WA, USA)
All semi-finalist teams attend GSEC Week
February 27 – 29, 2012: GSEC company visits, Coaching Rounds, Trade Show
March 1, 2012: GSEC Competition Rounds & Awards Banquet
March 2, 2012: GSEC Breakfast for finalist teams 

Rules & Prizes

GSEC 2012 APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL NOVEMEMBER 9, 2011 How to Apply

CONFIRM ELIGIBILITY: Review GSEC rules and eligibility, below.

PREPARE: The GSEC application is entirely online and consists of a team registration and summary of the business idea.  Review the GSEC Application Requirements to prepare your business summary.

SUBMIT YOUR ONLINE GSEC APPLICATION by November 9, 2011.

No late submissions will be accepted.

Why Apply to GSEC?
NEW THIS YEAR:  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. See below. 

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.   

Each year, 15-20 semi-finalist student teams worldwide are selected from the applicant pool, paired with mentors and are invited to participate in GSEC Week, February 27 – March 2, 2012, in Seattle, Washington, USA.   Through exposure to iconic global companies, a vibrant international development sector, leading research institutions, GSEC Week provides exclusive opportunities for semi-finalist teams to benefit from invaluable resources and expertise in the Seattle region. 

GSEC Eligibility
All applicants must review the full GSEC Rules & Eligibility for participant and business ideas prior to submitting an application. (Download Rules & Eligibilty)

       
Eligibility Overview:

• GSEC seeks student-generated, innovative social venture plans that aim to alleviate a problem(s) of poverty in developing economies.*
• Applications may be submitted for eligible existing businesses, OR business ideas that do not yet have a business plan or have not yet been implemented.
• 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.**

Application Review & Team Selection

• The GSEC application is an overview of the business idea.
• Applications go through two rounds of reviews between November-December 2011 to determine the semi-finalist GSEC teams. 
• All entrants will be notified of their application status by December 30, 2011.
• Semi-finalist teams are selected and paired with mentors by December 30, 2011. 
• All semi-finalist teams travel to Seattle, Washington for GSEC Week, February 27 – March 2, 2012

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. 
GSEC 2012 Prizes to be announced in summer 2011.   Review the GSEC Prizes & Confidentiality Guidelines for details and eligibility.***
 
In 2011, GSEC awarded the following prizes:

• $12,500 – Grand Prize 
• $10,000 – Information Communication & Technology (ICT) prize, sponsored by Microsoft 
• $10,000 – Global Health prize, sponsored by the UW Department of Global Health 
• $1,000 – Seattle Rotary prize, sponsored by Seattle Rotary. 
• NCIIA Invention to Venture workshop scholarships (only US teams are eligible)

Check out the GSEC Resources page.
Moreinfo: http://www.foster.washington.edu/centers/gbc/globalsocialentrepreneurshipcompetition/Pages/GSEC.aspx