Founding partners
Founding partners
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CHALLENGE 2021
IDEAS TO CHANGE THE WORLD
An initiative by the VUB Chair of Social Entrepreneurship in cooperation with Close the Gap, Euroclear and Belgium Impact.
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OBJECTIVE
Through the Social Entrepreneurship Challenge (SEC), we want to stimulate the creativity of students, entrepreneurs and
employees to develop sustainable solutions for the most challenging problematics of the world, coming up with innovative ideas and solutions to achieve any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Social Entrepreneurs focus on using the available resources to create a better and progressive society by using business strategies to develop solutions. According to the World Economic Forum (2020), “Social entrepreneurs and other front-line actors have a key role to play and need to be given greater prominence and support at this time”.
Application
First round of Individual coaching
Of the applications 41 groups got selected to take part in the 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Challenge. These groups receive individual coaching through online sessions. The coaching sessions focus on:
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their business idea;
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the stage of their business idea;
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areas in which they needed support.
Based on these elements, we connect them to people in the network of the VUB Chair of Social Entrepreneurship that can be helpful to overcome identified challenges.
Bootcamps
The 3 bootcamps are hosted by Euroclear. The participants receive professional guidance on the development of their company. These bootcamps lasted each 2 hours and provide the participants with hands on knowledge and skills.
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design thinking;
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ideation;
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pitching.
Students and employees also take part and provide feedback to the entrepreneurs.
Second round of Individual coaching
During the second round of coaching we focus on implementing the lessons learned and to oversee the overall effect of the guidance and bootcamps.
Final event
13 projects reached the final event.
SOLIFIN, a community of Impact Investors was invited to listen to the final pitch, provide feedback and cast the final vote.
The teams that participated are:
The winners
TIMELINE
Submit your idea or project
30 Nov. 2020
Make sure to fill in the survey below, and specify your team composition, discuss the problem you want to fix and describe your idea or project.
Individual coaching session
Feb. 2021
Teams selected from the submission round are invited for one-on-one coaching meetings and receive initial feedback on their idea or project.
Bootcamp
Mar. 2021
Those teams that have been selected from the coaching sessions are invited to participate to an online 2-days bootcamp, facilitated by Euroclear.
Finals - vote for your solution!
Apr. 2021
Teams who succesfully followed the bootcamp compete amongst each other with their videos for most innovative idea or solution in support of the SDGs.