GSBI™ 2012

                                              GSBI™ 2012 

The Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI™), a program developed by Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society, assists social entrepreneurs in developing business plans that enable their organizations to become financially sustainable and scalable. The GSBI™ consists of three major components:

1.  An on-line, mentored, application process hosted on Social Edge and based on three business planning exercises designed to benefit all who participate by defining their organizations’ value proposition, target market (beneficiaries), and “business model” (key income and expense drivers).
2. 20 organizations selected from the application process receive scholarships for an online (4 month) and in-residence (2 week) program that involves “action learning” and mentoring to prepare a sustainable “business” plan for their organizations. All expenses (except Internet fees and travel) for this component are covered by a full-scholarship valued at US $25,000
3. On-going mentoring and collaboration for all who complete the in-residence component.

Because of the importance of off-grid energy for the development at the BOP, GSBI™-2012 will reserve up to 6 selections for organizations with demonstrated solutions for solving the problem of lack of access to clean, reliable, low-cost energy sources, including: off-grid power and light; locally-produced and distributed second-generation bio-fuels; affordable energy-saving devices, such as efficient cook-stoves and more efficient, less-polluting transport vehicles. In addition, for GSBI™-2012 we are looking for organizations working on low-cost health care devices or delivery systems for BOP markets.

Applicants should begin preparing their exercises and post them on Social Edge beginning January 4, 2012. If submitted on-time, each submittal will be reviewed by a member of the GSBI™  Application Mentoring Team (AMT).  Social Edge members also are invited to review and comment on the exercises of any organization. Semi-finalists for the GSBI™-2012 scholarships will be selected from those organizations that complete all three exercises.

The GSBI™ scholarship covers tuition, room and board for the two-week intensive immersion program and access to the Google Sites used to support the four-month online preparation. Selected candidates are responsible for their travel expenses and arrangements (airfare, ground transportation, passport, and visa).

How to Participate in the GSBI™ Application Process 

Become a member of www.socialedge.org and complete the following three GSBI™ Business Planning Exercises:

•  Value Proposition (due: January 16, 2012) 
• Target Market (Beneficiary) Statement (due: February 6, 2012)
• Definition of a Business Model (due: February 24 , 2012)

By March 3, 2012, the GSBI™-2012 Application Mentoring Team will select the semi-finalists from those applicants who have completed all three exercises.  Semi-finalists will be asked to submit (by email) a short application form and a letter of support from their Board (the application form and a “pro forma” letter will be sent to the semi-finalists via email or fax).  The application form and letter of support deadline is Monday, March 12, 2012.  The participants are selected from the finalists and are expected to be chosen and notified by Monday, April 9, 2012.

For more information visit the Official Webpage