Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
Understand the Competition
- What defines a "social venture”?
- Can you give some examples of social ventures?
- What evaluation criteria will be used?
- Can one be eliminated from the Competition in the executive summary round?
- How many plans will make it to the final round?
- Must the student be an MBA student, or is another master’s degree student acceptable?
- Must the MBA student be from Haas, London, ISB or Columbia?
- How many teams from one MBA program may enter?
- Can you help me put together or strengthen my team?
- Can a team enter other business plan competitions?
- How do I know where to send my executive summary or business plan?
Submit an Executive Summary and/or Request a Mentor.
- Can I submit my full plan if I don’t enter an executive summary?
- How do I submit an executive summary?
- Will I receive feedback?
- What is the Mentor Workshop?
- Can I request a mentor and not attend the Mentor Workshop?
Enter the Competition.
- Do you have any information about how to write a business plan?
- How do I submit my business plan?
- Will I receive feedback?
- Does the business plan page restriction (30 pages) include the appendix?
- Are resumes mandatory for Advisory Board members?
- Can resumes exceed one page?
- Should there be a link between the discount rates for FROI and SROI?
Submit your business plan for final rounds of judging.
- Do I submit both electronic and paper copies of my business plan for the semi-final and final rounds?
- Do I make edits to my plan between the semi-final and final rounds?
- Do I need to present my business plan if I make it to the final round?
Understand the Competition
Q: What defines a "social venture”?
A: There are many definitions of “social venture.” For the Competition, a social venture is defined as a business that:
- Plans to be financially sustainable or profitable; whether tax-exempt or not, it must be self-sufficient on its earned revenue
- Has a quantifiable social and/or environmental bottom line incorporated into its mission and practices
Q: Can you give some examples of social ventures?
A: Please see our Past Winners.
Q: What evaluation criteria will be used?
A: Plans will be judged according to the feasibility of the business concept, as well as feasibility and scope of the venture’s stated social and/or environmental purpose. For more information, please see Judging Criteria.
Q: Can one be eliminated from the Competition in the executive summary round?
A: Yes. The executive summary is an elimination round if you submit your Executive Summary to the GSVC web site. The Indian School of Business held an optional executive summary round for ventures from Asia.
Q: How many plans will make it to the final round?
A: Each managing school (i.e. Haas, London, ISB and Columbia) will send up to two finalists to the finals. In addition, each school will send one SIA plan to the final SIA judging round. Over 300 plans were sumitted in 2008.
Q: Must the student be an MBA student, or is another master’s degree student acceptable?
A: Each entrant team must include a graduate business student from any business school in the world or an individual who has graduated from a graduate business program within the past two years (from the date that the plan is first submitted). The graduate business student must be actively involved in the venture (ie, actively participating in development of the business plan and presentation or actively working on the business).
Q: Must the MBA student be from Haas, London, ISB or Columbia?
A: No. Each entrant team must include a graduate business student from any business school in the world or an individual who has graduated from a graduate business program within the past two years (from the date that the plan is first submitted).
Q: How many teams from one MBA program may enter?
A: There are no limits to the number of applicants from a particular school.
Q: Can you help me put together or strengthen my team?
A: You can use YouNoodle to connect with other potential participants or include your needs for specific skillsets.
Q: Can a team enter other business plan competitions?
A: Yes. We encourage every team to enter as many competitions as possible. This helps you continue to refine your business plan and your determination is a great indicator of future business success.
Q. How do I know where to send my executive summary or business plan?
A. We have divided the United States and Canada between the Columbia Business School, and the Haas School of Business. All international schools will be managed by the London Business School or the Indian School of Business.
Submit an Executive Summary and/or Request a Mentor.
Q: Can I submit my full plan if I don’t enter an executive summary?
A: No, you must submit and executive summary. The strongest executive summaries will be invited to submit a full business plan. These ventures will also be matched with a mentor.
Q: How do I submit an executive summary?
A: Submit electronically using YouNoodle
A: Teams will receive comments and feedback by mail, fax or e-mail.
Q: What is the Mentor Workshop?
A: Mentoring is a key part of the success of the Global Social Venture Competition. The goal of the mentoring program is to facilitate working relationship between entrants and venture capitalists, academics, or other professionals with relevant business or social venture expertise. In the past, mentors have assisted teams with writing the business plan, calculating social return on investment, and presenting ideas to potential investors. Best efforts are made to match teams with mentors whose industry experience and skills compliment those of the team and its business plan. In addition to working with aspiring social entrepreneurs, mentors also have the opportunity to network with other professionals involved in the competition, including other mentors and judges.
Q: Can I request a mentor and not attend the Mentor Workshop?
A: Managing schools will try to match mentors to all entrants who both request a mentor and submit executive summaries on time. There are, however, no guarantees that a mentor will be found outside the Mentor Workshop.
Enter the Competition.
Q: Do you have any information about how to write a business plan?
A: Yes. Take a look at our resources.
Q: How do I submit my business plan?
A: Please refer to the submission requirements for your managing school.
A: Teams will receive comments and feedback by mail, fax or e-mail.
Q: Does the business plan page restriction (30 pages) include the appendix?
A: The Business Plan must be limited to 30 pages (typed and double-spaced, #12 font, and 1-1-1-1 inch margins) of text, charts, and diagrams. This includes financials or other appendices which are limited to 5 pages
Q: Are resumes mandatory for Advisory Board members?
A: No. However, resumes are useful in showing how the advisor’s skills relate to the industry, market, strategy, operations, etc. of the product/service you are pitching. The same might be accomplished with a summary about who the advisors are and how their knowledge is relevant or how it fills gaps on management team.
Q: Can resumes exceed one page?
A: Resumes should be limited to two pages per team member.
Q: Should there be a link between the discount rates for FROI and SROI?
A: There is no inherent link between SROI and FROI rates, although the business’s fortunes impact both measurements. The SROI discount rate should represent the risk or uncertainty inherent in the assumptions about returns. Please see Social Impact Assessment Guide III for more information on calculating SROI.
Submit your business plan for final rounds of judging.
Q: Do I submit both electronic and paper copies of my business plan for the semi-final and final rounds?
A: Your managing school will communicate submission guidelines before the semi-final and final rounds.
Q: Do I make edits to my plan between the semi-final and final rounds?
A: Entrants are expected to modify their plans between rounds, although they may not be able to do everything the feedback suggests.
Q: Do I need to present my business plan if I make it to the final round?
A: Yes, you must present your business plan in person to a panel of judges. The dates for the Final Event are available on the website.
Still have questions?
Send an e-mail to the competition organizers at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)