Impact is a new, Shanghai-based initiative that promotes and enables sustainable entrepreneurship around the world. Impact offers existing and nascent entrepreneurs the opportunity to incubate, refine and enhance their business models with guidance from expert mentors and exposure to seed capital.
Impact will take place in Shanghai in September 2011. The 7-week programme awards entrepreneurs from around the world with the opportunity to live, work, and collaborate in a live-in idea incubation setting. While in Shanghai, Impact participants will have access to the guidance and training needed to establish and develop their ventures. Successful sustainable entrepreneurs from a wide range of fields, among other experts, will serve as thought-leaders, instructors, and mentors.
The goal of Impact is to connect these sustainable entrepreneurs with the skills and training necessary to launch businesses that are globally scalable and have the greatest potential to positively impact communities and the environment.
The entrepreneurs who apply for the programme will submit information about themselves, their ideas and their solutions. The criteria of evaluation for the applications will include, among other things, innovation; scalability; high-impact potential; and, effectiveness of solution.
The short-listed candidates will be able to create portfolio-profiles on Pitch Stop, Impact’s online crowd-funding platform. Here, they can activate their networks and attract support for their venture. The first 25 ideas to raise €7,000 will receive invitations to Shanghai. This participation fee will cover all of their expenses during their time in Shanghai.
The 25 applicants selected to participate in the Impact programme will be immersed in sustainable development and entrepreneurship education, professional services (e.g. accounting, legal and marketing), and networking events. The participants will learn about opportunity evaluation, market research and analysis, competitive analysis, financial analysis, and business planning. They will also take seminars focused on social and environmental issues that highlight current and future issues.
More information is available here. Eligble candidates between the ages of 18 to 35 can apply before May 13, 2011.