Dell Social Innovation Challenge open to Kenyan students

WHAT IF YOU HAD THE TOOLS YOU REQUIRE TO CHANGE THE WORLD?

Are you a university student committed to solving social problems? Do you have ideas about how to make the world a better place? Do you know anybody who does?  If so get them to enter their ideas or enter your own ideas in the 2013 Dell Social Innovation Challenge before January 28 2013 for a chance to compete for $350,000 in gifts and prices.

The Dell Social Innovation Challenge (DSIC) is a global competition for university students who have big ideas about how to change the world. Students who compete in the DSIC get automatic access to a global community of mentors and social innovators. Plus, more than twenty student teams will win a total of $140,000 in cash prizes! To put it simply, we help students turn ideas into reality.
WHO CAN ENTER

Any undergraduate or graduate student in any field of study, from any country  that has recently graduated(e.g for the 2013 Dell Challenge Dec 2012 graduates are still eligible), waiting for graduation or is still an enrolled student can enter our 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, so let’s hear yours!

PRIZES & BENEFITS

Our challenge site will be the world’s largest community of student social innovators. You’ll get access to the learning, support and feedback you need to hone your innovations.

GLOBAL AWARDS ROUNDS

Two team members from each of the Five Finalists projects earn a $10,000 trip to Austin for our Global Awards Event full of networking and mentoring and a $2,500 Dell Technology Pack. Plus, they’ll compete live in front of our judges for these Global Awards:

$60,000 Grand Prize
$40,000 Second Prize
$20,000 Third Prize
$10,000 Fourth prize
$10,000 Fifth prize

250 Semi-Finalists (selected by judges) will receive:

  1:1 Mentoring from DSIC-Certified Mentor to hone their plans

Compete for 10 opportunities to win $5,000 as a promising project.
Gain access to the challenge’s exclusive fundraising platform where 25 teams will receive matching grants of between $500-$5,000

FOUR CHALLENGE CATEGORIES

We offer four entry categories to reward and support innovations 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.

EARLY STAGE IDEA? FULL-BLOWN PROJECT? BRING THEM ALL.

Post all of your ideas/projects/businesses on www.dellchallenge.org no matter how far along they are be it still an idea in your head,a project you are undertaking,an innovation or a business you run. We accept ideas for innovations with the potential for a clear social impact in any of the following competing fields below. Both nonprofit and for-profit ideas are eligible.

-Water
-Technology
-Poverty
-Human Rights
-Health
-Food and nutrition
-Environment
-Education
-Economic development

NEED MONEY? MENTORS? TEAM MEMBERS?

Our online community is a place where you can get the resources you need, whether you’re looking for feedback on your concept, new team members with special skills, professional mentorship or cash rewards. We offer it all. This challenge enables you to advance your idea, unlock your potential and make your ideas a reality.

JUDGING CRITERIA

We’re looking for social innovations.

WHAT IS A SOCIAL INNOVATION?

It’s an idea that can significantly improve an existing social problem. We’re looking for ideas that can create results, but your passion and abilities are also as important as your proposal. Our DSIC-Certified Judges will evaluate proposals using three primary criteria:

– Clarity and significance of the innovation.
– Demonstration of a high probability of success.
– Potential impact from winning DSIC.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE.

Entering is free and easy! You can enter as many projects as you’d like, in any category. Entry is now open.

1. JOIN Complete your profile at www.DellChallenge.org.
2. SUMMARISE Complete your project page.
3. LEARN Explore our free online tools for improving and advancing
your project

IMPORTANT: The reference code to use as you create your user profile and fill in project details is included in the Project Page Filling.docx plus additional information on how to complete your project page.

Join the group https://groups.google.com/d/forum/challenge-tips for additional tips on the challenge.

For more information visit www.dellcahllenge.org

SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORKS OR ANY POTENTIALS YOU MAY KNOW.

For any queries or need for assistance you may contact silasnamenya@gmail.com