Open Competitions:

• Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Business Plan Competition
• MICROFUNDO
• Nokia Growth Economy Venture Challenge
• PitchTV
• Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship (SASE)
• Solar for All Contest
• Tanzania Business Development Scheme
• Tanzania Business Diagnostics Program
• Tanzania Technical Innovation and Applied Reseach Scheme (TIAS)
• The 2010 Tech Awards
• Women | Tools | Technology Challenge

Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Business Plan Competition

Cartier is looking for Exceptional Entrepreneurs through a Business plan Competition.

Recognising entrepreneurs as having “the audacity to create, to innovate, and to imagine the future,” the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards is an international social entrepreneurship competition for women who lead creative, sustainable and socially responsible enterprises in the start-up phase (no older than 3 years).

There will be 5 winners, 1 from each continent, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

Candidates, who can be from any country, are invited to apply online by presenting their business project through www.cartierwomensinitiative.com

Deadline for applications is March 17, 2010.

The prize includes personalized coaching, a $20,000 grant as well as an invitation to the Women’s Forum Global Meeting in Deauville (France).

MICROFUNDO

What's the solution for how to survive as a struggling musician? Given the current hype and the herd mentality, during the next year 5,000,000 artists will be using Twitter and fan relationship management tools to attempt to acquire fans. Imagine five million artists pounding out emails, tweets and fan management action items... Three years from now, most artists will be disappointed.

MICROFUNDO is changing the way the world finances music by applying the principles of microfinancing to the music industry : a Kiva.org for music.

MICROFUNDO's mission is to support the entrepreneurial activities of independent musicians from developing countries around the world - championing undiscovered musicians who would otherwise not have the means to develop their music careers.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

MICROFUNDO will help you fund your music career. Need capital for your next recording? Looking for financial support for your next tour? We can help you raise funding directly from your fans and develop a core fan base from across the globe.

HOW TO START YOUR MICROFUNDO CAMPAIGN

• CREATE YOUR ARTIST PROFILE - example: http://microfundo.mymondomix.com/sofiamusic
• CREATE YOUR MICROFUNDO CAMPAIGN: Define a music project that has a budget of no more than $1,000. Your campaign's funding can be for studio time, pressing a CD, tour support for travel to a festival, production costs on a new music video or any other music business expense - example: http://microfundo.mymondomix.com/otrabanda/musicvideo
• CREATE YOUR MUSIC STREAM: Upload at least one Music File for Free Streaming (and give us permission to use as a free stream in our radio podcast and Free Download promotion)
• CREATE YOUR VIDEO STREAM: Link to one of your videos on Youtube
• RSS FEED: If you have a blog you can post the RSS feed from your blog on your project page
• DELIVER YOUR MUSIC: Deliver one copy of music files from your recording(s) to distribute online as a way to repay your loan amount.
• Once your project page is complete, send us a message via Microfundo's profile page and we'll contact you about launching your campaign.

HOW DOES THE MONEY WORK?

1. Fans make loans to your Campaign in micro-amounts of $25 each.
2. Once your Campaign goal is reached, you receive the full amount of your microfunding Campaign.
3. Microfundo will distribute your music in the Mondomix.MP3 music store and offer your music for sale as downloads as a way to repay your Campaign amount to fans.
4. Microfundo will use the first 130% of your Campaign amount, earned from your music download sales, to repay the full Campaign amount to fans, to cover Paypal transaction fees and to cover our costs.

Please read the Artist Agreement before creating your Campaign page.

By creating your Microfunding Campaign and submitting your music to us you agree to the terms and conditions of our Artist Agreement.

Nokia Growth Economy Venture Challenge

Nokia’s Growth Economy Venture Challenge will provide a venture capital investment in the winning proposal of $1 million (USD). Bear in mind, this is not a gift, grant or prize. It’s an investment aimed at creating a strong, vibrant business that will also improve people’s lives.

Nokia are we looking for one idea that stands above all the rest.

• An idea that could truly change the way people use Nokia mobile devices.
• An idea that demonstrates how mobility improves the lives of millions of people in emerging markets worldwide.
• An idea that recognizes a good business opportunity can also contribute to "doing good" – and making a dramatic difference in the lives of people in developing nations.

There can only be one winner in this competition, but the winning idea will make people stand up and take notice. And let’s be clear, this Venture Challenge is about more than just mobile apps. The winning idea might be hardware, software, or a new service opportunity.

Criteria

The winning proposal in the Growth Economy Venture Challenge will meet the following criteria:

• It must include a clear mission statement; and provide a product or service plan that will undeniably raise the standard of living, and/or enhance the lives of people living in emerging market countries today.
• The initial target market must be located in a region with per capita income significantly lower than what is found in industrialized nations today (e.g., sub-$5 per day).
• It must include a viable business model that has a high likelihood of providing a strong return on investment for the venture funding provided.

Submissions for this unique investment opportunity will be accepted now through Sunday, 18 April, 2010.

Do you have a million dollar idea?

Download and complete the application form, and then submit your proposal to Nokia’s Growth Economy Venture Challenge.

PitchTV

If you want the chance to pitch your business idea directly to people who could make your ambition a reality - then upload your video pitch here

Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship (SASE)

The Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship support social entrepreneurs whose work has the potential for large-scale influence on critical challenges of our time: tolerance and human rights, health, economic and social equity, peace and security, institutional responsibility, and environmental sustainability. These issues are at the heart of the foundation’s vision of empowering people to create a peaceful, prosperous, sustainable world. Within these issues, we are particularly interested in applications from social entrepreneurs working in five critical sub-issue areas that threaten the survival of humanity – climate change, nuclear proliferation, pandemics, conflict in the Middle East and water scarcity.

Skoll social entrepreneurs are innovators who have tested and proved their approach, are poised to replicate or scale up their work to create equilibrium change and engage others with a message that resonates with individuals whose resources are crucial to advancing these solutions. The Skoll Awards are designed for leaders who contribute value to a peer network committed to continuous learning. By telling their stories, they join in the foundation’s ongoing celebration of the power of social entrepreneurs.

The Skoll Awards provide later-stage, or mezzanine, funding, subject to payment limitations described below under Budget Guidance. In most cases, the grant is provided for core support to help organizations expand their programs and capacity to deliver long-term, sustainable equilibrium change. The Skoll Awards are not intended for new or early-stage programs or initiatives. Programs submitted for consideration should have a track record of no less than three years. In addition to core support, the Skoll Foundation supports the participation of Award recipients in the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship.

Deadline for Applying:
Applications are accepted and reviewed on a year-round basis, with successful applicants receiving initial funding installments shortly after decisions are made. Regular deadlines (listed below and updated regularly) assist us in managing the internal review process for these applications, a process that takes a minimum of six months to be completed. Awards will be presented publicly at a ceremony at the Skoll World Forum, which occurs at the end of every March in Oxford, England.

Please note the following application deadlines:

• August 4 2010

Please note that applicants who are not selected must wait 24 months before reapplying.

Apply here »»

Solar for All Contest

The Challenge

Presently 1.6 billion people worldwide, mostly in developing countries, live without access to energy. Modern energy fulfils basic needs, but is also a necessary motor for socio-economic development. Electricity advances developmental factors such as small business development, access to appliances (e.g., refrigeration), extended operation and working hours, access to communications, more security, enhanced education levels and rural development. Energy can improve the life of millions.

In many developing countries with limited access to energy, decentralized solar energy provides a sustainable and reliable energy source. Yet access to energy remains constrained by factors like limited access to well-adapted affordable technology, fragmented small markets, prohibitive taxes, and limited financial resources. The ‘Solar for All’ initiative wants to meet these technical and financial challenges with a global design contest.

Key Criteria

The “Solar for All” contest focuses on end-user needs. Applications shall demonstrate improvements to the modularity, scalability and replicability of PV systems and advance innovative payment and financing schemes:

• Entries should be innovative PV off-grid power supply solutions for low-income end-users in developing countries. These may be solar home systems, mini-grids, hybrid solutions or PV systems with special applications. We are open to a broad variety of solutions as long as they produce AC or DC power and are focused on end-users. The technical innovation might be a modular system, that is highly adaptable to local conditions with an intelligent payment system (e.g. RFID) or an anti-theft measure.
• The contributors should have already developed a market approach. This can be a business plan, a market penetration strategy, installation and maintenance (like after sales services), end-user financing, geographic scalability or other positive socio-economic impacts like the involvement of women. Applicants may focus on one or on several of these aspects.

The "Solar for All" Contest focuses on technical solutions and encourages applications that can also address all other challenges.

Timelines

31 February 2010 - Expression of Interest (optional)
30 April 2010 - End of Submission

Contact

Canopus Foundation
E-Mail contest@canopusfund.org
Phone +49 761 2020 172

The Tanzania Business Development Scheme, or TBDS, is an incentive programme which can pay 50% of the cost of activities or programmes of activities undertaken by a company to

• Develop the business.
• Boost sales.
• Increase competitiveness.
• Expand existing markets or enter new markets.
• Expand employment.

They must be specific business development activities and not normal business costs.

WHAT DOES TBDS DO?
TBDS can pay 50% of the cost of eligible activities, up to a maximum of $ 100,000 per company over the life of the Scheme. TBDS is a grant – not a loan. The grant is paid after the activities are completed. The company must first obtain appoval for the activities and the costs. Then is approval is received the company must complete the activities, pay the full costs and the MGP will refund 50%.

IS YOUR COMPANY ELIGIBLE?
All Tanzanian registered businesses involved in manufacturing, processing or providing business development services are eligible for assistance from the Tanzania Business Development Scheme. A business is not eligible if it is involved exclusively in trading, in on-farm activities, mining or banking.

HOW DO YOU APPLY?

The first step is to complete a Registration Form, and return it to the Tanzania Business Development Scheme. This will show if your company and the proposed activities are eligible for grant support. You will be advised as to your eligibility and if you are eligible, you will be sent an Application Form and documentation to guide you further in making your application.

Tanzania Business Diagnostics Program

Criteria for participation
You can participate in the Business Diagnostic Programme if:

• You are a national of the United Republic of Tanzania and you live/work on the mainland, Zanzibar or Pemba.
• You are 18 years or older.
• You apply as an individual.
• You have a less developed and/or an informal business.
• Your business is privately owned.
• Your business seeks to make profit.
• If your business is a joint venture, Tanzanians own more then 51% of stakes.
• Your enterprise owns or rents fixed premises.
• Your enterprise exists for more than one year (but not necessarily registered).
• Your business idea is in one of the following sectors: agriculture and processing, manufacturing, tourism or services (see examples below).
• You are fluent in Kiswahili (speaking, reading and writing); knowledge of English is an asset.

You cannot participate in the Business Diagnostics Programme if:

• You are a judge, trainer, consultant or employee of the Business Development Gateway or one of the partner organisations.
• You take part as a company or other entity (only individuals can participate).
• Your business is partially or fully owned or has entities that are controlled or operated by the Government of Tanzania.
• Your business does not intend to make a profit.
• Your business or business idea is in a non-growth sector, including trade, subsistence farming, animal husbandry, trade in non-processed farm products, tourism brokerage, guesthouse management, or services with no value addition like counselling, marketing and consultancy.
• Your business is in the production of weapons, alcoholic beverages, tobacco or gambling.

Examples of business areas for manufacturing:

• brick making
• leather products
• chalk making
• carvings
• pottery
• textiles
• weaving
• tie & dye
• furniture
• mechanical parts
• soaps and detergents making
• metal work production
• and many more…

Examples of business areas for agriculture and processing:

• honey processing
• fruits and fruit juices
• fish and sea foods processing
• animal products processing
• wines
• nuts processing
• dairy products
• and many more…

Examples of business areas for tourism:

• innovative concepts targeting domestic and foreign tourism
• processing products targeting tourism industry
• and many more…

Examples of business areas for services:

• education
• health
• provision of innovative Information Communication Technology (ICT) services
• and many more…

Tanzania Technical Innovation and Applied Reseach Scheme (TIAS)

Technical Innovation and Applied Reseach Scheme (TIAS) is aimed at developing the marketplace for paid-for services provided by technical institutions and vocational schools. The main service considered in this scheme is training courses primarily technical, sold to either individuals or private firms.

This scheme recognises that for some years to come, the supply in this marketplace will continue to be dominated by publicly-owned institutions and schools. It therefore supports the efforts of the Government to make such institutions more independent, with greater private participation in management, and with increased commercial orientation, by providing investment funding for new equipment.

The purpose of the scheme is to address identified skills gaps in the market place by the provision of appropriate and up-to-date technical training in those identified areas.Grants will be provided according to strict conditions, aimed at ensuring that only truly viable investments are funded, which will lead to real economic benefits, primarily higher productivity in private firms.

The 2010 Tech Awards

The Tech Awards is an international awards programme that honours innovators from around the world who are applying technology to benefit humanity. It inspires global engagement in humanity's most pressing problems by recognising the best of those who are utilising innovative technology solutions to address the most urgent critical issues facing our planet. People all over the world are profoundly improving the human condition in the areas of education, equality, environment, health, and economic development through the use of technology. It is the goal of The Tech Awards to showcase their compelling stories and reward their brilliant accomplishments.

Entries are invited for the 2010 Tech Awards.

Each year, candidates are nominated and then invited to submit applications. Individuals, for-profit companies, and not-for-profit organisations are eligible.

International panels of judges review the applications and annually honour 15 Laureates, three for each of the Award categories:

• Intel Environment Award
• Accenture Economic Development Award
• Microsoft Education Award
• The Katherine M. Swanson Equality Award
• Fogarty Institute for Innovation Health Award

One Laureate per category receives US$50 000, and the act will take place at the annual Gala event hosted by The Tech Museum at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.

To submit a nomination, click here.

Deadline: 31 March 2010

Women | Tools | Technology Challenge

Share your innovations which enable women to access and use the power of tools and technology to expand their opportunities for economic advancement.

Guidelines and Criteria

The Women | Tools | Technology Challenge is open to all types of individuals and organizations (charitable organizations, private companies, or public entities) from all countries. Entries should:

• Reflect the theme of the challenge: Women | Tools | Technology: Building Opportunities & Economic Power
• Indicate growth beyond the conceptual stage and have demonstrated impact and sustainability.
• Be submitted in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

Please complete the entire entry form and submit before April 14, 2010.

Prizes

Early Entry Prize: The best two entries submitted by 6pm EST, March 1, 2010 will be eligible to win a digital camera (with a value equivalent of up to USD $400), to be featured in the Women in the World summit on March 12-13, 2010, and to be highlighted in Ashoka’s Changemakers marketing materials.

Challenge Winners: The top three entries will win USD $5000 each. Winners of the Women | Tools | Technology Challenge will also be invited to participate in a collaboration workshop with Ashoka’s Changemakers and ExxonMobil during summer 2010.

Assessment Criteria

The winners of Women | Tools | Technology will be those that best meet the following criteria:

Innovation: This is the knock-out test. The entrant must describe a systemic and/or transformational solution that, when applied, will expand women's access to and use of technology to support their economic advancement. The innovation will demonstrate a substantial difference from other initiatives in the field with potential for replication. The solutions may include:

• Development of a new technology that meets an unmet need for women
• Expanded distribution of an existing technology that already serves women
• Improved outreach and education that teaches women how to use a technology to their utmost advantage
• Better implementation processes - such as creative partnerships, distribution mechanisms or financing - that ensure technology use is effective and sustainable for women.

The ideas and solutions generated through this challenge must spark profound transformation in the way technologies used by women in developing countries are invented, designed, accessed, understood, used, or serviced.

Social Impact: It is important that the innovation provides a system-changing solution that expands women's access to and use of technology to promote their economic advancement. Projects and solutions that have the potential to:

• Increase women's economic productivity or provide new economic opportunities
• Rethink women's engagement in significant economic sectors - like energy and information and communication technologies
• Identify and address at least one of the barriers which have prevented women from experiencing the benefits of technology
• Demonstrate how women are integrated in the lifecycle of the technology development process not just as technology users, but also as technology designers, manufacturers, marketers, etc.

Sustainability: For an innovation to be truly effective it must:

• Demonstrate a plan for financial support
• Explain how partnerships, community support, design, marketing, or distribution opportunities will support long-term viability

Entrants should describe not only how they are currently financing their work, but also how they plan to finance their work in the future. The most successful entrants describe a long-term vision with regional and or global targets and the financial model to support them. Entrants should also demonstrate that they have strong partnerships and support networks that help achieve the project's mission.

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