Enter

Have an idea? Build a team. Let us help you reach out to the resources to bring those ideas to fruition. All you need is to ensure there is at least one current MBA student on the team. There is no limit to the number of teams that can enter from a school. As part of the process, you will network with venture capitalists and others who can help you shape your ideas – and your future. You will be exposed to potential sources of funding through judges and people affiliated with the competition.

Want to enter but not got a team? Let us know, and we will try to match you with a team who needs your skill and expertise.

See previous entrants on http://www.socialvc.org/

Successful business plans demonstrate:

• Quantifiable social returns on investment
• Superior social and economic returns compared to other firms in their industry
• Sustainable social and economic benefits over time

What past entrants have said:

"I found out about the GSVC competition when I researched what LBS was doing in the field of Social Enterprise.  This is a completely new area of study that was not included when I took my Executive MBA in 1993-95 at LBS.

The competition offered 3 benefits:  a disciplined schedule to put my business plan together, a LBS MBA student to help, and feedback from the competition judges.  And all at no cost, except for a lot of hard work!    

Our Social Enterprise "Cool2Care" offers specially trained childcare for families with disabled children.  These families take on the increased responsibilities and daily struggle to look after their children at home, most without help.  Research shows that these families suffer dramatic increases in physical and mental stress, reduced opportunities to work, increased poverty, separation and divorce.  

Now the government is starting to free up more financial resources for these families, this creates a market for services to help families.  High quality services can drive positive outcomes and social impact for families.

The GSVC World Final at Berkeley, California was fantastic.  We met other social entrepreneur finalists from US, Switzerland, India, Thailand and Korea.   Ideas included supplying healthy food for American schoolchildren and providing cheap light solutions to 2bn people worldwide without access to grid electricity.   We met representatives from the Gates and Skoll Foundations, plus other major potential funders.    

As a result of the competition, I am now discussing with several parties interested in investing in Cool2Care.  We should be up & running by September. "


Phil Conway, Founder, Cool2Care, SIA finalist and finalist 2007

"As a student participating in the competition I found the whole experience hugely rewarding.  This began with getting involved with an energetic and inspiring social entrepreneur who, for me, made the business planning process painless and really brought the business to life.  I was specifically tasked with trying to quantify the social impact of Cool 2 Care.  Having an analytical nature, I thoroughly enjoyed the process and was pleased with the output and response we received.  In fact my first piece of paid work after completing my MBA is a series of small projects with CAN (www.can-online.org.uk) trying to quantify the social impact of some of the social enterprises they work with.  The first project is with Green-works (http://www.green-works.co.uk).

Being privileged enough to attend the finals and represent LBS was an honour.  It was great to meet and network with social entrepreneurs from around the world as well as the distinguished judges and panellists.

Overall I found the whole experience very motivating and would encourage anyone (potential social entrepreneurs, student judges, organisers and professional judges) to get involved in this rapidly growing global competition."

Richard Kennedy, Cool2Care, IEP2007

For more information on submitting a plan to GSVC, contact Suruchi Saxena ssaxena.mba2008@london.edu, Andrew Olanow aolanow.mba2008@london.edu or Peter Albers palbers.mba2008@london.edu