Social Enterprise Track
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.
How to Register & Key Steps
1
Review Competition Details
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, 2023, 12:00 noon: Early entry deadline (Teams may enter the competition up until the January 31 deadline)
- January 31, 2024, 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.
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.
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.
Across HBS and beyond, resources are available for you as you consider and bring to life an idea for the New Venture Competition.
Nov01
- 01 Nov 2023
NVC Kickoff
Both Tracks
Williams Room
Jan31
- 31 Jan 2024
NVC Registration Deadline
Both Tracks
Mar28
- 28 Mar 2024
NVC Finale Show
Both Tracks
Klarman Hall
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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.
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Both tracks hold Team Building Mixers in the fall. Additionally, see: Social Enterprise Track Teams page.
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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.
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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.