Dell Social Innovation Challenge for Young Social Innovators
Saturday February 04, 2012 , 2 min Read
The Dell Social Innovation Challenge identifies and supports promising young social innovators. They provide university students with teaching and training, as well as with startup capital and access to a network of mentors and advisors. The 2012 challenge will present 27 awards, more than $140,000 in cash prizes and more than $500,000 worth of in-kind prizes.Five Finalists will be flown to Austin, Texas, in June for a Finalists Weekend full of networking and mentoring with social innovation leaders. They’ll pitch live in front of the judges for these Grand Prize Awards:
- $50,000 Grand Prize
- $20,000 Second Prize
- $10,000 Third Prize
Two Expertise Award winners (selected by judges) will also attend Finalists Weekend:
- $15,000 Best Innovation in Environmental Sustainability presented by Tomberg Family Philanthropies
- $10,000 Best Innovation Leveraging Technology presented by Dell
200+ Semi-Finalists (selected by judges) will receive:
- 1:1 Mentoring from DSIC-Certified Mentor to refine their project page and required Finals materials (video pitch and project roadmap)
People’s Choice Awards
17 People’s Choice Award Winners will be selected via online voting.
- $1,000 Each
- 11 Focus Awards
- 6 Regional Awards
February 13 is the deadline to enter grand prize awards of the Dell Social Innovation Challenge. Teams are encouraged, but not required, to create and enter projects in the Competition. Students 16 years of age or older, who are actively enrolled as a student at an accredited educational institution that grants college/university (or equivalent) degrees at any time between January 1, 2012 and May 31, 2012, or have graduated with a degree from an accredited educational institution in the fall semester of 2011 are eligible to take part.