2012 Dell Social Innovation Challenge

AfyaZima has been selected as the 2012 Winner of the $10,000 Best Innovation Leveraging Technology Award presented by Dell, Inc!

This is what Dell had to say:

At Dell, we believe that innovation and entrepreneurship are not “born” but can be “bred” through the right community, support, tools and inspiration. And we’re especially delighted to announce the winner of the Dell Technology Award: AfyaZima Blood Pressure mCuff, a low-cost device that eases blood pressure measurement and transmission via a mobile in hopes of early hypertension diagnosis, especially in areas with low resources.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3RE9WlL3HNs

 

 WHAT IF you had the tools you need to change the world?

Are you committed to solving social problems? Do you have ideas about how to make the world a better place? If so, enter your ideas in the 2012 Dell Social Innovation Challenge beginning January 3!

As the 2011 Dell Innovation Technology Award Winner (http://www.librariesacrossafrica.org/)  and a 2012 Dell Innovation Ambassador, I will be holding your hands through the process.

The Dell Social Innovation Challenge (DSIC) is a global competition for university students who have big ideas about how to change the world. Students who compete in the DSIC get automatic access to a global community of mentors and social innovators. Plus, more than twenty student teams will win a total of $140,000 in cash prizes! To put it simply, we help students turn ideas into reality.

Check out DellChallenge.org to learn about past winners and this year’s prizes.

Important

When you create your profile after the Challenge launches on January 3, enter this reference code DSICIB to win cool prizes, like Dell technology and extra mentoring opportunities. To stay in the loop  and receive more information as the competition progresses, join my mailing list by sending an email to  2011-dell-social-innovation-competition-dsicib@googlegroups.com   or join online at http://groups.google.com/group/2011-dell-social-innovation-competition-dsicib

The deadline for entering in the Grand Prize category is February 13th, so THINK BIG and START EARLY!

DSIC Presentation

WHO CAN ENTER

Any undergrad or graduate student in any field of study, from any country, can enter our challenge. This isn’t your traditional business plan competition – you can enter a project at any stage, whether you’ve just thought of an idea or are already running an organization. It doesn’t matter if your idea is nonprofit or for-profit. Great ideas come from anywhere and everywhere, so let’s hear yours!

Most projects are lead by teams of students. If you need more help, our full challenge website (launching January 3), will let you to connect with potential team members.

PRIZES & BENEFITS

Our challenge site will be the world’s largest community of student social innovators. You’ll get access to the learning, support and feedback you need to hone your innovations.

Global Award Rounds

Five Finalists will be flown to Austin for our Global Awards Event full of networking and mentoring. Plus, they’ll compete live in front of our judges for these Global Awards:

• $50,000 Grand Prize
• $20,000 Second Prize
• $10,000 Third Prize

Two Expertise Award winners (selected by judges) will also attend our Global Awards Event:

• $15,000 Tomberg Environmental Sustainability
• $10,000 Dell Technology Innovation

200+ Semi-Finalists (selected by judges) will receive:

• 1:1 Mentoring from DSIC-Certified Mentor to hone their plans
• The opportunity to pitch & compete (via online video) for the Global Awards

People’s Choice Awards

17 People’s Choice Award Winners will be selected via online voting.

• $1,000 Each
• 11 Focus Awards
• 6 Regional Awards

FOUR CHALLENGE CATEGORIES

We offer four entry categories to reward and support innovations at all stages of development. You can submit as many project proposals as you’d like.

Define: Project exists mainly in your head or a few sketched ideas, with limited research at this point.

Design: Project captured in a written plan, with some more formal market research, the beginnings of formal internal and external teams and more detailed elements such as financial model, pricing, marketing, customer segmentation and risk assessment.

Pilot: Product/service has been tested with a small group of clients/customers. Team continues making revisions based on field knowledge.

Scale: Product/service has proven successful and is being deployed in more than one geographic area. Enterprise has strong and sustainable financial and human resources models, plus a strong board of directors and strategic partners.

JUDGING CRITERIA

We’re looking for social innovations. What’s a social innovation? It’s an idea that can significantly improve an existing social or environmental problem. We’re looking for ideas that can create results, but your passion and abilities are also as important as your proposal.

Our DSIC-Certified Judges will evaluate proposals using three primary criteria:

1. Clarity and significance of the innovation.
2. Demonstration of a high probability of success.
3. Potential impact from winning DSIC.

HOW TO ENTER

Entering is free and easy! You can enter as many projects as you’d like, in any category. Entry is now open. Sign up now so you’re the first to know.

1. Join. Complete your profile at DellChallenge.org. Remember to enter this reference code DSICIB
2. Summarize. Complete your project page by February 13.
3. Learn. Explore our free online tools for improving and advancing your project.

DATES & DEADLINES

January 3	Competition website goes live
February 13	Deadline to enter for Global Award & Expertise Award judging
March 23	Semi-Finalists announced
May 13	Final Tally of People’s Choice Awards voting All projects are automatically entered in the People’s Choice To compete for the Global Awards you must enter by Feb. 13.
May 14	Global Awards Finalists announced People’s Choice Winners announced
June 8-12	Global Awards Event in Austin, Texas
June 12	Global Award Winners announced