Social Business and Microeconomi

Social Business and Microeconomic Opportunities for Youth Conference

with Keynote Speaker Muhammad Yunus

Social Business Plan Competition

March 12 - 14, 2008 Denver, Colorado

On Thursday March 13, 2008 Dr. Muhammad Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize will visit Denver, Colorado to speak on the role of Social Business in the alleviation of poverty. He is participating in a conference designed as an action space for social entrepreneurs, microfinance practitioners, business leaders, students, and thought influencers who address the issue of poverty with a particular focus on youth. The conference is organized by Regis University and the Friends of Microcredit.

Additional information on the conference can be found at

Social Business Plan Outline

In Dr. Yunus’ book that he wrote with Karl Weber. Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism. New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2007, he defines Social Business as the following:

“To make the structure of capitalism complete, we need to introduce another kind of business--one that recognizes the multi-dimensional nature of human beings. If we describe our existing companies as profit-maximizing businesses, the new kind of business might be called social business. Entrepreneurs will set up social businesses not to achieve personal gain but to pursue specific social goals.” p. 21

“In its organizational structure, this new business is basically the same as the existing profit-maximizing business. But it differs in its objectives. Like other businesses, it employs workers, creates goods or services, and provides these to customers for a price consistent with its objective. But its underlying objective--and the criterion by which it should be evaluated--is to create social benefits for those whose lives it touches. The company itself may earn a profit, but the investors who support it do not take any profits out of the company except recouping an amount equivalent to their original investment over a period of time. A social business is a company that is cause-driven rather than profit-driven, with the potential to act as a change agent for the world.” pp. 21-22

“A social business is not a charity. It is a business in every sense. It has to recover its full costs while achieving its social objective. When you are running a business, you think differently and work differently than when you are running a charity. And this makes all the difference in defining social business and its impact on society.” p. 22

Dr. Yunus encourages us to “…Make a Start”

One good way to get started with creating social business enterprises would be to launch a design competition for social business enterprises. There can be local competition, regional competition and global competition. Prizes for the successful designs will come in the shape of financing for the enterprises, or as partnership for implementing the projects.

All submitted social business proposals can be published so that these can become the starting points for the designers in the next cycles, or ideas for someone who wants to start a social business enterprise. “

From: http://muhammadyunus.org/content/view/56/83/lang,en/

In response to Dr. Yunus’ challenge, the conference is showcasing a Social Business Plan competition to coincide with Dr. Yunus’ visit to Denver Colorado and the Social Business and Economic Opportunities for Youth Conference.

The goal of the competition is to encourage entrepreneurs to create social businesses that positively impact poverty with a focus on youth. Winners of the competition will receive seed money funding for the business.

Eligible for participation in the social business plan competition:

·         Any full time or part time high school, undergraduate or graduate student, registered at an accredited US or international educational institution

·         Any youth under the age of 25

·         Any current enterprise, for-profit, NGO, not-for-profit, or hybrid

·         Any organized group coming together to find a solution to a community issue through a self-sustaining model

Criteria for the social business plan competition:

·         Plans must integrate social outcomes into your business mission and bottom line

·         Plans must identify an issue, the current barrier for solutions / your approach to the solution, the local impact, the natural environmental impact, and the human impact, and how the product and or service will lead to sustained financial viability for the entity

·         Plans must be submitted in English

·         The plan can be for new entity or established entity

·         The plan must identify and comply with the applicable local and national legal and/or regulatory requirements

·         The plan may be submitted by individuals or a team, but all members of the team must meet the participant criteria

·         Entries should be emailed in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF reader to bparish@regis.edu

Competition Timeline:

Round One:                       Detailed Summary of Plan      February 20, 2008

Competitors submit a detailed summary, no more than 10 pages in length, of their social business following the basic Social Business Plan Outline provided. The summary does not need to include detailed financials nor a comprehensive SWOT analysis, but the enterprise description, as well as the social and financial goals of the social business must be well outlined.

20 Finalists of first round (one member from each team) will be invited to attend a teaching session with 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dr. Muhammad Yunus at 9:00 am on Thursday March 13, 2008 at the 4 Points by Sheraton Denver, CO 80222. Individuals and teams are also invited to display plan information and network with conference attendees and sponsors at the introductory conference marketplace at 10:45 am, and at the featured marketplace from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on March 13^th. If transportation to the conference is an issue, funding may be available for travel.

Student rates are also available for attending the complete conference.

Additional conference information, including fees and a schedule of speakers can be found at

Round Two:                       Completed plan                       April 20, 2008

All Finalists from Round One are invited to submit a complete and detailed Business Plan as their final entry into the competition. Completed plans should incorporate comments received from the judges at the Conference, as well as complete financials, a detailed SWOT analysis, and a timeline and growth plan

Seed money awards will be given in the following categories:

$2,000              The Regis University Prize for best college student social plan, funded by the John J. Sullivan Endowed Chair for Free Enterprise

$2,000              The Regis University Prize for best graduate student social plan, funded by the John J. Sullivan Endowed Chair for Free Enterprise

$2,000              The Regis University Prize for best High School student social plan, funded by the John J. Sullivan Endowed Chair for Free Enterprise

$5,000              Award for best social business plan; seed money award may be split among several winners.

Plans will be judged, for both rounds, on their ability to successfully address the following areas.

For any areas that you do not have detailed information for in the first round, please show how you will acquire the relevant information and how you will incorporate it into your social business strategy.

·         Social Impact: How is your enterprise’s commitment to social responsibility reflected in your products or services? Social businesses do not solely donate a percentage of profit to charity; rather business proceeds are used for social causes and sustainable social impact. Extra consideration will be given to plans that offer youth employment opportunities and build a replicable model.

·         Market feasibility: Value to the consumer of your product/service. In addition to fulfilling a social need, the products and services provided by your business must meet a consumer need. The plan should address the question of why consumers will purchase your product or service.

·         Risk Assessment: A realistic risk assessment of your plan is critical to success

·         Financial feasibility: The social impact of your enterprise is important, but the social benefit cannot be realized without a financially viable plan.

Questions related to the Social Business Plan competition can be addressed to:

Beth Parish                   bparish@regis.edu