Calling all passionate and aspiring social entrepreneurs – the inaugural ‘Ideas for Life” Challenge is for students who are motivated to solve the world’s pressing social problems. If you are a social entrepreneur, here is your chance to submit and win prizes for innovative solutions to change society for the better. Your solutions or ideas should offer extreme ‘value for money’, sustainable, engaging and implementable on a wide scale. They solve a compelling problem in communities in or outside Singapore. They are likely to involve engineering / design innovations which are simple and novel. They have great commercial value.
Successful ideas and proposals should address :
- Scenario to which the proposal applies
- Social impact : compelling problems which are observed, needs identified, opportunities seized, communities served
- Technical Design : creativity, simplicity, innovative, robust, detailed illustrations
- Enterprise : value-for-money proposition, marketing and business strategies, distribution and reach
- Sustainability : Business and environmental
Participants should submit a detailed proposal using a template which can be downloaded at ‘Ideas for Life’ Challenge. Eight teams which are shortlisted by the judging panel will present their proposal. See the deadlines below.
Eligibility
Teams of 4 undergraduates from any department / faculty of NUS are eligible. Multi-disciplinary teams are most encouraged and welcomed.
Important Dates
Registration : 30 Sept 2012
Proposal submission : 22 Oct 2012
Announcement of shortlist / finalists : 26 Oct 2012
Presentations by finalists : 31 Oct 2012
Prizes
1st Prize : SGD2000 + trip to India*
2nd Prize : SGD1000 + trip to India*
3rd Prize : SGD600
Consolation prizes : SGD400 x 3 teams
*The trip to India will take place over 2 to 3 weeks in December 2012. Dates are currently being finalized. The airfare and accommodation in India will be fully paid. The cash prize goes to your pocket money for the trip.
The trip to India is a great opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to gain first-hand experience in a society with pressing needs. The ideas created in this Challenge need not be directly targeted at the community which the winners will be visiting in India. It will be a great bonus if your ideas apply to the scenario in India. Otherwise, your trip to India is a new opportunity for you to apply your passion as a social entrepreneur.
Visit www.i4lchallenge.org for more details.