Change the World

EcoInnovation Challenge Criteria

How you can participate:

1. Register your participation here.
2. Submit via this form a 500 word summary by Thursday March 29 11:59pm.
3. After judging of the preliminary round based on idea summaries, the top 6 finalists have the opportunity to present their 5 minute pitch to a panel of judges as well as a student audience.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Registered for classes at the University of Florida (open to part-time and full-time undergraduate, graduate, and post-Doctorate students)
2. Must meet the requirements of a B-Corporation (note that nonprofits, for-profits, and hybrids are eligible. If your venture will be a for-profit or hybrid, you will need to plan to become a B-Corp; if your venture will be a non-profit, you only need to agree to sign the B-Corporation “Declaration of Interdependence” and incorporate the ideas & ideals of B-Corporations in to your venture. Please contact us if you have questions about this).
3. No maximum or minimum number of team participants
4. A person may only serve on one team

Questions to ask yourself when making your pitch:

How will your idea…

• improve resource efficiency in a rapidly growing world?
• accommodate race and class diversity?
• unify the community toward a common goal on a local or global scale?
• learn from the past and make sustainable goals for the future?
• reduce our carbon footprint or promote energy efficiency or alternatives?
• solve environmental issues through creative engineering and technological innovation?
• address waste management, water use, or air pollution?
• improve the lives of those who struggle locally or internationally?
• stand out as a unique and impactful solution?

Submission Requirements:

Dates and Deadlines

• Workshop #1: Challenge Information- [Thursday March 15 @7:30pm in Hough 140]
• Workshop #2: How to be a B-Corp [Thursday March 22 @4pm in Hough 120A]
• Registration opens Thursday March 22. Click here to sign up for the Challenge.
• Workshop #3: How to present a venture pitch [Tuesday March 27, 2012 @3pm in Stuzin 200]
• Submit proposal summary via this form- [Thursday March 29 @11:59pm]
• Finalists revealed [Monday April 2]
• Finalists present 5 minute pitch to judges [Friday April 6 @9am in Hough 140]
• Winners revealed [Friday April 6 as part of President Machen's Earth Day Speech c. 11am]

Preliminary Round

1. Come to the kick-off event (March 15 at 7:30pm in Hough 140) to learn about the competition details. Guest speakers include Joey Sasvari and Cameron MacMillan from Raise the Village. Workshop attendance will help guide you to turn your ideas into a solid, presentable plan.
2. Registration opens Thursday March 22. Click here to sign up for the Challenge.
3. Submit your application, including a 500 word summary of your proposal, via email by Thursday March 29 at 11:59 pm. Click here to see application.
4. Finalists will be notified via email by Monday April 2nd

Final Round

1. Friday April 6, 9am - 10:30am Hough 140. Present a 5 minute pitch to distinguished Gainesville entrepreneurs and a live audience of up to 100 supporters. Participants will be judged on the following: idea feasibility, pitch presentation, impact on sustainability, originality, and quality of work and content. The audience has the opportunity to vote for their favorite contestant, which will count for 10% of the vote. Click here to see detailed judging requirements.
2. Winners will be announced April 6, 2012 at 11am. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and smaller prizes for those who place beyond 3rd.

Judges:

Our distinguished judges are active members of the University of Florida and the Gainesville community.

Workshops:

The EcoInnovation Challenge workshops will help sharpen your skills and guide you through the process of turning your ideas into a more solid proposal.

Workshop #1: EcoInnovation Challenge kick-off event

Thursday March 15, 2012 7:30pm Hough 140
Guest Speakers Joey Sasvari and Cameron from Raise the Village are rising social entrepreneurs who were UF students just like you. They will speak about their startup journey and their efforts to promote social change at a global level through their blooming business, Raise the Village. Don’t miss it!

Workshop #2: How to be a B-Corporation

Thursday March 22, 2012 4pm Hough 120A
Dr. Kristin Joos discusses the new and exciting opportunity offered by B-Corporations, empowering entrepreneurs to do business in a “better” way, taking in to consideration their impact on the environment, communities, and the economy. While it is not a requirement for your venture to pass the B-Corp Impact Assessment prior to entering the EcoInnovation Challenge, teams should be aware of the factors considered so that they're “baked in” to their venture plan & pitch.

Workshop #3: How to Give a Pitch

Tuesday March 27, 2012 3:00pm Stuzin 200
Professor Bill Rossi leads you through the essentials of giving a pitch and will prepare you for presenting your five minute pitch in the competition the following week. Be sure not to miss the opportunity to learn from and excellent teacher and entrepreneur. His talk will guide you to success.