If you are a college student who dreams about starting your own business one day, the Big Idea Challenge is the competition for you! You will learn how to develop your idea into a powerful business model and pitch it to the world. So whether it’s an innovative mobile app, a new medical service or a national dance club (all past winners) we want to hear about your idea, and how it solves real problems and wows customers.
COMPETITION STAGES
1. GET INVOLVED IN MARCH AND APRIL
You’ll need to be 18-35, a citizen of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan, to have taken part in a British Council Creative Spark activity and be a member of one of these institutions. For your chance to win amazing prizes, you’ll also need to record a 60-second video pitch, complete an application form and submit it to your university or institution in March, April!
2. SHORTLISTING AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTE
The teams behind the top ideas will be shortlisted for a country final judged by national panels of business experts. The teams from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan will also enter a people’s choice vote for the most popular ideas. Country finalists will be announced from 20th June.
3. INTERNATIONAL FINALS
Following national finals in July, one team per country will get the chance to become Country Champion. These winners will walk away with prizes including business mentoring to turn their idea into a reality – as well as a share of £17,000 of grant funding to get their business off the ground. The Country Champion teams will also win a spot in an exclusive remote Launchpad programme, where, in the end, an overall Grand Champion will be chosen and awarded additional £1,000 grant money.
COMPETITION CATEGORIES
SOCIAL IMPACT
Ideas that tackle social inclusion and gender equality or target under-represented communities and the world beyond. This could be any ideas that aim to help those most in need.
CREATIVE
Do you have an idea for a new product, an exhibition or a way to make your cultural environment more vibrant? Perhaps you have an idea that will help creative people reach new audiences and become more successful.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Ideas that are based on innovative uses of technology and involve the development and application of new software or hardware.
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