We are living
in a world where temperatures are rising, water shortages are more frequent,
food supplies are increasingly scarce and the gap between rich and poor is
increasing. Populations are growing fast, making basic hygiene and sanitation
even more of a challenge. We can overcome these challenges and build a bright
future for everyone, if we work together. But to do this, the world needs a
plan.
Against
this backdrop, Unilever launches the ‘Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards for
2017’, in partnership with The University of Cambridge Institute for
Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and, in collaboration with Ashoka to support,
inspire, reward and collaborate with a new generation of the world’s most
brilliant young change makers; innovators who are the future of sustainability.
These Awards are all about supporting and celebrating inspirational young
people from all over the world with existing initiatives, products or services
that are tackling some of the planet’s biggest sustainability challenges.
These
Awards recognise 18 to 35 year olds who are putting ideas into action.
At
Unilever, we have a clear purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace. We
see a big opportunity to support, inspire, reward and collaborate with a new
generation of the world’s most brilliant young change-makers – innovators who
are the future of sustainable growth.
Are
you working hard on an innovative solution, or know someone that is?
Unilever
is looking for innovative and scalable technologies or initiatives that are
contributing to one or more of these four categories:
- Farm
to Table,
- Opportunities
for Women
- Waste
- Water.
Eligibility
- The competition is open to founders or co-founders,
aged between 18 and 35 (as of 30 June 2017), of initiatives from any part of
the world with the exception of those based in Russia, due to local data
protection laws.
- Initiatives must relate to one or more of the
categories: Farm to Table, Opportunities for Women, Waste and Water.
- Entries must have grown beyond the conceptual stage
to include actions the applicant has already taken – whether through informal
networks, via an existing institution, or by creating a new enterprise.
- Entries cannot be accepted from current Unilever
employees, nor can entries promote Unilever or its products, however, the
entrepreneur may have worked with Unilever in the past or may be working with
Unilever currently as a third party supplier.
- Entries must be submitted in English.
- Entrants must be available to attend the
Accelerator Programme in Cambridge from Friday 27th October, and subsequent
events in London the following week.
Assessment Criteria
Entrants
will be assessed on the following;
- Initiative
Summary
- Team
- Impact
- Business
Model (including Financial Plan & Growth; Innovation & Competition
Awareness)
- How
the Awards process and prizes would impact the success of the initiative.
- How
effectively the entrepreneur is able to engage with relevant communities and
stakeholders to realise the potential of the solution.
- How
the level of ambition is underpinned by the capability to deliver.
Prizes
The Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards will
recognise up to eight winners in 2017. All will attend a special prize
event hosted in London.
The winner of the ‘HRH The Prince of Wales Young
Sustainability Entrepreneur Prize’ will receive a €50,000 cash award and
one-to-one mentoring support tailored to their specific needs for a duration of
12 months.
The category winners will receive a €10,000
cash award and one-to-one mentoring support tailored to their specific needs
for a duration of 12 months.
The category finalists will receive a €7,000
cash award and one-to-one mentoring support tailored to their specific needs
for a duration of 12 months.