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Social Enterprise Track

Social Enterprise Track

  • Eligibility
  • Judging
  • Prizes & Benefits
  • Social Enterprise Tools
  • Teams
  • Calendar
 

For new ventures that create pattern-breaking social change

 
The Social Enterprise Track provides an opportunity for eligible graduate students across Harvard University to explore social entrepreneurship and test ideas for social innovation in a rigorous and supportive environment. Social Enterprise Track entries may include nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid model business plans.
→About the Social Enterprise Initiative

Prizes & Benefits 

$
75,000
Grand Prize
$
25,000
Runner-Up Prize
$
5,000
Crowd Favorite

Past Winners 

CashEx: Grand Prize Winner 2022 New Venture Competition Social Enterprise Track

CashEx: Grand Prize Winner 2022 New Venture Competition Social Enterprise Track

  • 31 MAR 2022

Feather Health: Runner-Up Social Enterprise Track

Feather Health: Runner-Up Social Enterprise Track

  • 31 MAR 2022

CardioPhi: Crowd Favorite Social Enterprise

CardioPhi: Crowd Favorite Social Enterprise

  • 31 MAR 2022

How to Register & Key Steps

1

Review Competition Details

See Information for Participating Teams
2

Eligibility

Review eligibility requirements.
3

Build Your Team

Whether you have an idea or have skills to bring to an idea, attend the NVC Kickoff in the fall and stay tuned for a team building spreadsheet.
4

Enter the Competition

Enter the Competition through the competition website

  • December 1, 2022, 12:00 noon: Early entry deadline (Teams may enter the competition up until the February 1 deadline)
  • February 1, 2023, 12:00 noon: Final entry deadline and Executive Summaries due
5

Develop Your Idea

Over the course of the Competition, students have the opportunity to develop their own skills as well as strengthen their venture through workshops, feedback from expert judges on written work and presentations, and multi-disciplinary collaboration. See the SE Tools section for online resources and information and the Calendar for upcoming events.
6

Attend the Finale

Celebrate the journey and hear the winning pitches. Network with students, alumni, and judges at the Finale celebration.

Eligibility 

The Social Enterprise Track is open to students in good standing who are enrolled in a full-time graduate degree program at Harvard University. Each team must meet two specific composition requirements.

Judging 

Social Enterprise ideas are evaluated on their potential to become the basis of a viable new venture and will focus on the idea, its potential for social value creation, and the likelihood of achieving success based upon the team's plan and experience.

Social Enterprise Tools 

Across HBS and beyond, resources are available for you as you consider and bring to life an idea for the New Venture Competition.
 

Find TeammatesFind Teammates   

 

Calendar 

Mar30
  • 30 Mar 2023
NVC Finale Show
Both Tracks

Frequently Asked Questions 

Who is eligible for the student competition?

For the Social Enterprise Track, teams must meet the two following criteria: 1) include at least one student who meets one of the criteria listed on our eligibility page; 2) be composed of a majority of Harvard University graduate students, and these members must have meaningful roles in the venture and the Competition presentation.

How can I find teammates?

Both tracks hold Team Building Mixers in the fall. Additionally, see: Social Enterprise Track Teams page.

What are the advantages of registering early?

Social Enterprise will run a Workshop/Speaker series which will include "how to" seminars related to various aspects of business plan development, networking opportunities to speak with other entrepreneurs, and forums in which to test early new venture concepts and receive feedback. See the Calendar page for the full schedules. Participants can also visit the Social Enterprise Tools page to see additional track specific resources. Though not required, we also suggest that Social Enterprise Track teams participate in the Pitch for Change at the annual student-led Social Enterprise Conference, for practice and feedback at an important stage of the business plan process.

Who are the judges? What are their backgrounds?

Social Enterprise track judges will be drawn from a variety of backgrounds representing a range of industries, including those from funding organizations (including impact investors, philanthropists, and venture philanthropists), capacity building organizations, and social entrepreneurs.

Questions

Send an email to the Social Enterprise Initiative at se@hbs.edu with any questions.
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