Dell Social Innovation Challenge Competition

Beginning January 3, 2012 Dell Corporation invites all undergrad or graduate students in any field of study, from any country, to enter the Social Innovation Challenge competition.

Purpose of the Challenge 

The Dell Social Innovation Challenge identifies and supports promising young social innovators who dedicate themselves to solving the world’s most pressing problems with their transformative ideas. We provide university students interested in social entrepreneurship with world-class teaching and training, as well as with start-up capital and access to a network of mentors and advisors.

Awards

Since its launch, more than 15,000 students from 90 countries have proposed more than 3,000 ideas. They’ve awarded more than $350,000 to 13 student teams around the world. Each year, the organizers fly challenge Finalists and Expertise Award winners to Austin for a weekend of mentoring, workshops, and other activities, as part of the DSIC Global Awards Event. Semi-Finalists are also matched with mentors for one-on-one coaching and feedback.

The 2012 challenge will present 27 awards, more than $140,000 in cash prizes and more than $500,000 worth of in-kind prizes.

Eligibility

Any undergrad or graduate student in any field of study, from any country, can enter this challenge. This isn’t your traditional business plan competition – you can enter a project at any stage, whether you’ve just thought of an idea or are already running an organization. It doesn’t matter if your idea is nonprofit or for-profit. Great ideas come from anywhere and everywhere.

Most projects are lead by teams of students. If you need more help, the full challenge website (launching January 3) will let you to connect with potential team members.

Challenge Categories

There are four entry categories under which the innovations will be rewarded and supported at all stages of development. You can submit as many project proposals as you’d like.

Define: Project exists mainly in your head or a few sketched ideas, with limited research at this point.

Design: Project captured in a written plan, with some more formal market research, the beginnings of formal internal and external teams and more detailed elements such as financial model, pricing, marketing, customer segmentation and risk assessment.

Pilot: Product/service has been tested with a small group of clients/customers. Team continues making revisions based on field knowledge.

Scale: Product/service has proven successful and is being deployed in more than one geographic area. Enterprise has strong and sustainable financial and human resources models, plus a strong board of directors and strategic partners.

Last date for entering the challenge is February 13, 2012

For more information, visit this link.