The Big Issue Invest’s Corporate Social Venturing Challenge is back!

by Startacus Admin

Excellent news now for all you socially minded venturesome folks out there - the Big Issue Invest’s Corporate Social Venturing Challenge is back!

Whilst the competition’s name doesn't exactly trip off the tongue (indeed its more of a belly flop) we can forgive this minor infraction because otherwise the whole thing is pretty darn top-notch - here’s the details.

In what is becoming an annual undertaking for Big Issue Invest (the social arm of Big Issue) the Big Issue Invest’s Corporate Social Venturing Challenge (which shall hereby be known as BIICSVC) Mentoring and investment for enterprises committed to creating social impact in a number of key areas namely; health, education, wellbeing, homelessness and the creative industries.

The ambitious programme has tasked itself with creating the opportunity for both a sustainable flow of investment and crucial business support to be offered to early stage startup social enterprises who have their sights firmly locked on growth and solidifying the long-term continuation of their positive social impact.

Who can apply

Quite a wide range of socially geared ventures will have the opportunity to be considered so that’s anyone who would describe themselves as a social enterprise or a charity but the folks over at Big Issue Ventures are keen to stress that public sector spin-outs or any business with a social mission are equally welcome to apply! The provisos are that each venture must be able to demonstrate the potential for significant social impact, a positive track record, an ambitious development plan and encouraged to apply. To be considered for investment, ventures must be able to deliver high social impact, have a positive track record, have an ambitious development plan and the ability to be sustainable. They must also operate within one of the following fields; education, wellbeing, homelessness or the creative industries.

What’s up for grabs?

20 Teams will be selected to take part in a high intensity mentoring scheme at the end of which the top 10 will be selected receive an investment of up to £50,000 each combined with ongoing business support.

Does it sound like BIIICSVC is the ‘Corporate Social Venturing Challenge’ for you? Then you’ve got untill the 19th of May to get your application in via the Big Issue Invest website. www.bigissueinvest-csv.com

If you like what you see here on Startacus, why not become a member of our growing community? It's free! And you'll get all this - exclusive access to our Business Toolkit, discounts and offers galore for your business via our member only business deals, the chance to network and connect with loads of fellow self-starters, and maybe even become our celebrated 'Self-Starter of the Week' and tell the world your startup tale! Join right here for free...

• #social venture
• #challenge
• #mentoring
• #investment
• #health
• #education

Published on: 25th April 2014