Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC)

MEANINGFUL PROGRESS

The GSVC application will guide your team through the lean start-up process developed at UC Berkeley. GSVC alums consistently highlight the value of the rigorous GSVC process as a “forcing mechanism” for articulating their vision, impact and business model.

POWERFUL CONNECTIONS

GSVC connects emerging social entrepreneurs with the world’s leading experts in venture capital, impact investing, and social entrepreneurship. Beyond visibility, GSVC empowers social ventures to test their hypotheses and gather valuable feedback.

SEED FUNDING

Kickstart your social venture through multiple opportunities to win prize money, ranging from $2,500 to $40,000 in potential funding for your start-up. GSVC serves as a catalyst for future competitions, accelerators and other opportunities for funding.

PROFILE

Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC)

Focus: Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Impact-driven Ventures

About GSVC

The Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) is a premier international competition designed to empower and support entrepreneurs dedicated to creating social and environmental impact through innovative business solutions. Established in 1999 by the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, GSVC has grown into a global movement with a mission to drive the next generation of social enterprises.

Mission and Vision

Mission: To empower the next generation of social entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources, mentorship, and exposure they need to transform their innovative ideas into impactful ventures. Vision: A world where business innovation drives social and environmental change, creating a more sustainable and equitable global community.

Key Features

1. Global Reach: GSVC operates with a truly global footprint, partnering with top business schools, universities, and institutions around the world. This extensive network allows participants to access a diverse range of resources and expertise.
2. Competition Structure: The competition is structured in multiple rounds, starting with regional semi-finals hosted by GSVC partner institutions across various continents. The winners from these semi-finals advance to the global finals held annually at UC Berkeley.
3. Eligibility: The competition is open to students and recent graduates who have a social enterprise idea or early-stage venture. Teams must demonstrate a viable business model and a clear plan for achieving social or environmental impact.
4. Awards and Prizes: GSVC offers significant financial awards and in-kind services to winning teams. These prizes are designed to provide critical funding and support for scaling their ventures. Additionally, participants gain invaluable exposure and networking opportunities with investors, mentors, and other key stakeholders in the social impact space.
5. Mentorship and Resources: Participants benefit from extensive mentorship provided by experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. GSVC also offers workshops, webinars, and access to a wealth of resources to help teams refine their business models and strategies.
6. Impact Measurement: A unique aspect of GSVC is its emphasis on impact measurement. Teams are required to articulate and quantify their social or environmental impact, ensuring that their ventures are not only financially sustainable but also deliver measurable benefits to society.

Historical Impact

Since its inception, GSVC has supported thousands of social entrepreneurs, resulting in the creation of numerous impactful ventures globally. Alumni of the competition have gone on to achieve significant success, both in terms of scaling their enterprises and influencing broader social and environmental change.

Notable Alumni

Some notable ventures that have emerged from GSVC include:

• Embrace Innovations: A social enterprise that developed an affordable infant warmer to help prevent neonatal deaths in developing countries.
• d.light: A company that provides affordable solar energy solutions to underserved populations, enhancing energy access and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Sanergy: An organization focused on providing sustainable sanitation solutions in urban slums, improving public health and creating economic opportunities.

Community and Ecosystem

GSVC fosters a vibrant community of social entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and academic institutions. This ecosystem is crucial in supporting the growth and success of social ventures. By connecting diverse stakeholders, GSVC creates a collaborative environment that nurtures innovation and drives collective impact. GSVC aimed to expand its reach and impact by:

• Enhancing Global Partnerships: Building new collaborations with universities, business schools, and impact organizations to increase the competition’s accessibility and reach.
• Leveraging Technology: Utilizing digital platforms to provide virtual mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities, making GSVC more inclusive and adaptable.
• Increasing Impact Focus: Continuing to emphasize robust impact measurement frameworks and encouraging participants to integrate sustainability and inclusivity into their business models.

The Global Social Venture Competition stands as a beacon for aspiring social entrepreneurs worldwide. By offering a unique blend of mentorship, resources, and global exposure, GSVC plays a pivotal role in fostering innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. Through its continued efforts, GSVC is not only supporting individual ventures but also contributing to a broader movement toward sustainable and equitable global development.

Competition

The competition consists of three rounds: Round 1, Regional Round, and Global Finals. Each round requires entrants to present the social, financial, and environmental values of their businesses. GSVC entrants are evaluated in three equally weighted areas: Business Potential, Social Impact Potential, and Likelihood of Success. The detailed criteria are as follows:

Business Potential

• Opportunity
• Solution
• Financial Impact

Social Impact Potential

• Social Impact Value Proposition
• Social Impact Implementation

Likelihood of Success

• Quality of Team
• Implementation
• Organization Fit