Application Deadline: October 21st 2014
Feb 2 – Dec. 15 (10 Months)
Where: Santa Clara University, 500 `el Camino Real Santa Clara, United States
The Global Social Benefit Institute Accelerator Programme (GSBI) works with entrepreneurs whose organizations are addressing the worlds most pressing problems with market-based solutions. This includes for-profits, non-profits, and hybrids with impact in base of pyramid communities, or, whose primary beneficiaries are living below the poverty line. The social entrepreneur who attends should hold a senior leadership role within the organization, with the authority to make top-level strategic decisions.
This program is for leaders of social enterprises that:
- Place equal or greater emphasis on social impact vs. financial return
- Serve the underserved (those that for reasons of economics, gender, geography, etc. have unequal access to energy, clean water, information and communication technology, education, health, or economic development and livelihood opportunities)
- Address a problem that affects more than one million people worldwide
- Have a product or service with measurable social impact
The social entrepreneur must be committed to creating an organization that: - Is capable of attaining financial sustainability
- Reaches increasingly larger numbers of beneficiaries
- Measures systematically their social impact
Minimum eligibility for the program:
- Demonstrated impact in base of pyramid communities
- Validated business model
- Proven technology, product, or service
- Operational for at least two years
The GSBI Accelerator aims to scale high potential social enterprises, by preparing entrepreneurs for the investment process and addressing internal gaps to scaling their organization.
The ten month program includes:
Feb. – May:
Mentored, online work; Entrepreneurs and mentors go through several modules aimed at strengthening the business and improving the business plan.
June:
Entrepreneurs who complete the mentored online work and demonstrate that their enterprise is ready for the August in-residence program will be invited to phase II of the GSBI Accelerator. Entrepreneurs who do not meet this criteria will work out a plan with GSBI to join a future GSBI cohort.
July:
Final mentored, online work to prepare for August In-residence
August:
In-residence at Santa Clara University includes: class sessions, working groups, and networking events with industry experts, CEOs, VCs, and impact investors. The entrepreneurs develop the implementation plan for scaling their enterprises.
Sep. – Nov: Mentors continue to offer support as the entrepreneurs implement their plans to scale.
cost to participate
- The program is offered at no cost to participating entrepreneurs.
- Participants are only expected to pay for roundtrip airfare to San Jose or San Francisco, California for the August in-residence. Program staff time, in-residence meals, and accommodations are all paid for through the fundraising efforts of the GSBI.
- The GSBI is part of the nonprofit, Center for Science, Technology, and Society at Santa Clara University, that raises funds year-round through individuals, foundations, and corporations in order to offer programs free of charge to the organizations selected into GSBI programs.
Apply Now for the 2015 GSBI Accelerator Programme for Social Entrepreneurs
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