The Global Social Venture Competition - An introduction

With this post, I complete my century in the arena of traget-ISB innings.

This post is about Global Social Venture Competition, which began in 1999 as a student-led initiative at the Haas School of Business in California, USA. In May 2001, Columbia Business School and The Goldman Sachs Foundation partnered with Haas to extend the reach of the competition and help grow a national platform for social ventures. In June 2003, the London Business School joined the competition partnership to extend the competition globally. In July 2005, the Indian School of Business was invited as an affiliate. In January 2006, the first Asia Semi-final round was held at the Indian School of Business.

This unprecedented partnership brings together the academic and financial worlds to support the creation of sustainable social ventures. The Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) is seeking promising social entrepreneurs to enter its 2007 Competition. If you are an entrepreneur (or budding entrepreneur!) with a financially sustainable venture that addresses a social or environmental problem, it encourages you to apply. Winning plans in the past have ranged from global health to microfinance, from cleantech to education, from fair trade to community development, from business concepts to operating companies, and have included for-profit and non-profit models.

What is GSVC?

GSVC is the largest and oldest student-led business plan competition providing mentoring, exposure, and prizes for social ventures from around the world. GSVC's mission is to catalyze the creation of social ventures, educate future leaders, and build awareness for social enterprises. The competition supports the creation of real businesses that bring about positive social change.

GSVC is organized by the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley in partnership with the Columbia Business School, London Business School, Indian School of Business, Yale School of Management, International University in Geneva, and a consortium of business schools in Korea. Every year, teams compete for more than $45,000 in cash and travel prizes, while gaining valuable feedback on their ventures.

What has GSVC achieved?

Since its inception in 1999, GSVC has awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars to emerging social ventures and has introduced early-stage social venture entrepreneurs to the investment community. Nearly 25% of past GSVC entrants are now operating companies.
How can I get involved?
1. Compete as an Entrant. If you have an idea for a social venture, or have an operating social venture, we encourage you to apply. Individuals or teams of any size from any country are eligible to compete in GSVC.

If you are looking to connect with a social venture or MBA student, visit the GSVC blog

Requirements: Every team must include at least one member who is a current student in ANY graduate business program or who has graduated from any graduate business program within the past 24 months. Operating companies are welcome to enter, though they must be less than 3 years old (as measured by first revenue or first patent issued). Plan can be for a for-profit or non-profit as long as either can be financially self-sustaining at scale.

o Every team must include at least one member who is a current student in ANY graduate business program or who has graduated from any graduate business program within the past 24 months.
o Operating companies are welcome to enter, though they must be less than 3 years old (as measured by first revenue or first patent issued).
o Plan can be for a for-profit or non-profit as long as either can be financially self-sustaining at scale.

2. Judge, Mentor, or Sponsor.

GSVC exposes entrepreneurs, investors, managers, and executives to the most promising new social ventures. Share your expertise by providing invaluable support as a volunteer mentor or judge. Sponsorships ensure that GSVC can continue to reward new ventures that integrate monetary and social benefit year after year.

For details on eligibility and how to get involved, visit GSVC

Key Dates for Indian / Asian Entries

November 15, 2006 Registration, Executive summaries due (to ISB)
January 12, 2007 Business Plans due (to ISB)
January 20, 2007 Initial Judging round at ISB
February 20, 2007 Short-listed teams submit revised plans (to ISB)
March 9-10, 2007 Asia Semi-final round at ISB
March 28, 2007 Finalists Business Plans due (to Haas)
April 12-14, 2007 Global Finals at Haas, Berkeley
April 14, 2007 GSVC Social Impact Symposium

Contact email: gsvc@haas.berkeley.edu

Useful Link: GSVC at ISB