This competition is open to students at Thunderbird and Alumni. At least one team member must be an MBA student enrolled at the School of Management. Your can choose to launch in any developing country, and may decide to operate a for-profit or a non-profit.

This competition is for people who want to launch a new social enterprise in the developing world. At least one person on your team must be a student at Thunderbird. If this is you, read on:

Step 1: Review the challenges. We have already identified several proven poverty solutions that are in need of greater distribution. These challenges will give you a framework for designing your new venture.

Step 2: Design your venture. The application packet on this website explains what judges want to see. More guidance and tips and is listed on this site too.

Step 3: Submit your pitch by January 2, 2015. Judges will invite the most promising entrepreneurs to submit a full 10 page proposal until February 27. Finalists will interview with several judges. Judges will offer up to $15,000 in seed capital to ventures ready to launch on March 31.  

Once you win, you will book a plane ticket, hire a staff, and get started. You will spend the next three months using every last shred of ability and talent that you have to start an organization that will grow and change the world.

Proposals will be evaluated on the following:

• Commitment and quality: you or your team must be passionate about development, have the skills to build a new organization from scratch, and committed to expanding to a large scale organization.

• Quality and thoroughness of the social venture plan: good plans are tightly focused on solving one specific problem. Anyone reading your proposal should have a thorough understanding of exactly what your organization will do, and how you will do it.

• Projected impact: we expect your pilot program will start small, but will then quickly grow and one day help millions of people. We want to understand your plan to grow, and how you will measure your impact over time.

• Feasibility of post-competition success: a good proposal doesn’t end after three months. We want to see your vision for 6, 12, and 24 months out.