GKC | Impact Opportunities #2

Hi Impact Founders 👋

Competition is one of the best ways to showcase your innovative project. Not only it will provide you with extra credibility, it also offers you a platform to meet new clients, offtakers, or even partners!

Here’s a list of prestigious competitions for Impact Founders in Southeast Asia.

Feel free to share the list with relevant folks (note: they will have to subscribe to Good Karma Club first!)

More useful resources to come!

DO GOOD, BE GOOD
Nelson Ng

Table of Contents

• 1. The Earthshot Prize

• 2. D-Prize

• 3. MIT Solve

• 4. iF Social Impact Prize

• 5. GITEX Impact Supernova Challenge

• 6. Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition

• 7. Young Social Entrepreneurs

• 8. YSEALI Seeds For The Future Program

• 9. Hult Prize

• 10. Shell LiveWIRE Competition

• 11. Techstyle for Social Good Global Innovation Ch …

1. The Earthshot Prize

The Earthshot Prize is a global challenge based on five Earthshots – ambitious goals for 2030 to fix our biggest environmental problems. The Five Earthshots include Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-free World, Fix Our Climate.

Previous Winners: Vaitea Cowan, Co-founder of Enapter (Germany) | Justin Hung, Co-founder & CEO of GRST (Hong Kong) | Aadith Moorthy, Co-founder & CEO of Boomitra (USA)

Link: https://earthshotprize.org/

2. D-Prize

D-Prize award startup grants of up to $20,000 to entrepreneurs launching new organizations. We believe the world needs more social impact organizations, and we seed for-profit ventures, NGOs, and charities. We support organizations in any low-or-middle income country where extreme poverty still exists.

Previous Winners: Diana Jue, Co-founder & COO of Essmart (India) | Tika Diagnestya, Co-founder of Masak Bersih (Indonesia) | Kaushal Kothari, Founder of Ripple Healthcare (India)

Link: https://d-prize.org/

3. MIT Solve

MIT Solve provides innovators with a $10,000 prize and access to additional funding in the form of grants and investments. Besides, all winners will participate in a 9 month virtual support program. Challenges address five key areas: Climate, Learning, Health, Economic Prosperity and Indigenous Communities.

Previous Winners: Adi Reza Nugroho, Co-founder & CEO of Mycotech Labs (Indonesia) | Raphaël Ascoli, Co-founder of Housing NOW (Myanmar) | Natalja Rodionova, Founder of Sisters of Code (Cambodia)

Link: https://solve.mit.edu/become-a-solver

4. iF Social Impact Prize

The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE supports projects that contribute to improving our society. If you work towards achieving one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, your project is eligible.

Applying is free of charge. Every year iF Design donates EUR 100,000 to support the best projects submitted to the iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE. Your project should already be established and you can apply with the same project a maximum of two times. Student concepts will not be accepted.

Previous Winners: Jyothi Bezawada, Tech Lead on Youth4Jobs Foundation (India) | Denis Karema, Co-founder & CEO of SokoFresh™ (Kenya) | Pol Ricart, Founder & CEO of MedBrain (Spain)

Link: https://ifdesign.com/en/if-social-impact-prize

5. GITEX Impact Supernova Challenge

The Supernova Challenge is the biggest pitch competition in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and your opportunity to become the next unicorn! The Impact Pitch Competition features as part of the Supernova Challenge Pitch Competition alongside Expand North Star in Dubai, with Cash Prizes up to $200,000.

Previous Winners: Simon Gordon, CCO of Accredify (Singapore) | Alexei Levene, Founder of Desolenator (UAE) | Hiroaki Nishina, Founder & CEO at PJP Eye (Japan)

Link: https://giteximpact.com/supernova-challenge/

6. Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition

Inspired by one of the world’s most visionary leaders, the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) is one of the world’s largest deep-tech university startup challenges. Every two years, our pitch competition lights up a global stage for university startups to showcase their groundbreaking innovations and connect with the world, fueling their growth.

Previous Winners: Bryan Oh, Co-founder & CEO of NEU Battery Materials (Singapore) | Chu Xian Oh, Founder of Magorium (Singapore) | Allen Mohammadi, Founder & CEO of PlasticFri® (Sweden)

Link: https://lkygbpc.smu.edu.sg/

7. Young Social Entrepreneurs

The Young Social Entrepreneurs (YSE) Global is a six-month programme that inspires, equips and enables youth of different nationalities to start or scale up their social enterprises in Singapore and beyond.

Since 2010, YSE Global has nurtured a network of youth with innovative business ideas focused on social good. Together with established social entrepreneurs, business consultants and investors, we harness the power of ideas, know-how and resources to effect positive change for a better world.

Previous Winners: Kee Joey, Founder of Ripple Community (Malaysia) | Saras Dumasari, Co-founder of Mengayu (Indonesia) | Sabrina Farah Salsabilla, CMO of ReservoAir (Indonesia)

Link: https://www.sif.org.sg/Our-Work/Good-Business/YSE-Global

8. YSEALI Seeds For The Future Program

YSEALI Seeds for the Future Program is a small grants competition that supports innovative initiatives in Southeast Asia. It provides funding for the region’s most promising young leaders to carry out projects that improve their communities, regions, and countries within the program themes of Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship, Education, and Environmental Issues.

Previous Winners: Usha Perumal, Founder of Bluepreneur Asia Ventures (Asia-Pacific) | Karina Nursyafira Alihta, CCO of Aksata Pangan (Indonesia) | Pirun Chan, Founder & CEO of Circular Digital Lab (Cambodia)

Link: https://culturalvistas.org/our-programs/seed-grants/workshops-on-civic-education-and-good-governance-yseali

9. Hult Prize

The Hult Prize challenges young people around the world to solve the planet's most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship. Winner will be awarded $1,000,000 to accelerate their solutions.

Previous Winners: Jessica Gonzalez, Co-founder of UpRoot (Taiwan) | Lincoln Lee, Co-founder of Rice Inc. (UK) | Emiliano Iturriaga, Co-Founder & CEO at Rutopia (Mexico)

Link: https://www.hultprize.org/

10. Shell LiveWIRE Competition

Shell LiveWIRE is the flagship enterprise development programme of Shell. The programme strengthens local economies across the globe by promoting entrepreneurship and developing entrepreneurs. Winners will be awarded $20,000 to work on their ideas.

Previous Winners: Jerome Palaganas, Co-founder of Nanotronics Inc. (USA) | Irene Mositol, Founder of Dumowongi (Malaysia) | Muhammad Nabeel, Co-founder & CEO of Exitbase (Pakistan)

Link: https://www.livewire.shell/what-is-shell-livewire.html

11. Techstyle for Social Good Global Innovation Challenge

The Mills Fabrica hosts the 'Techstyle For Social Good’ Global Innovation Challenge annually to drive positive environmental and social impact through awarding techstyle and agrifood prizes to game-changing solutions from young innovators.

Open to students or recent graduates, 'Techstyle For Social Good' receives submissions globally. Winners will be awarded prizes worth HKD 550,000 which include cash prizes and residency and incubation support.

Previous Winners: Varden Toh, COO of the moonbeam co. (Singapore) | Robert Luo, Founder & CEO of Mi Terro (USA) | Felix Cheung, Founder & CEO of IXON Food Technology (Hong Kong)

Link: https://www.themillsfabrica.com/innovative_initiatives/techstyle-for-social-good-competition/