Tag Archives: innovation

GLOBAL MILKEN-PENN GSE EDUCATION BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

Application Deadline: February 19, 2025

LOCATION: USA

Considered the most prestigious and well-funded competition of its kind, the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition celebrates and nurtures purpose-driven ventures that seek to address inequities in education through innovation.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC) is open to applicants worldwide advancing teaching and learning through innovation. Finalists get targeted venture development support from a strategic advisor, opportunities for in-person networking with investors and potential customers.

They welcome education ventures with innovative solutions to educational inequity from around the world, especially those ventures founded by and serving individuals from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities. We encourage applicants working in every conceivable educational setting–from early childhood through corporate and adult training. We also welcome both nonprofit and for-profit submissions. Since 2010, areas of focus have included (but are not limited to):

Urban Education

Connecting Research to Practice

Teaching & Learning

Technology in Grades K through 12

Special Education & At-Risk Students

Open & Collaborative Solutions: The Education Ecosystem

Online & Distance Learning in Higher Education

Global/Borderless Education Solutions

Early Childhood Education

Workforce Learning

Ventures apply through Catapult, the Catalyst @ Penn GSE virtual accelerator. Registration and application are free, and you’ll enjoy access to over 4,000 articles, videos, and podcast episodes in the Catapult Content Hub. Register and apply via Catapult

BENEFIT:

$40,000: Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize

$25,000: Second place award

$10,000: Third place award

$5,000: Audience Choice prize

APPLY

JIM LEECH MASTERCARD FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Application Deadline: December 4, 2024

LOCATION: Canada

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship gives African students and recent graduates the opportunity to access training, resources, financial support, and a network of mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own venture. 

ELIGIBILITY:

The program accepts students and recent graduates from all academic disciplines, and from any African post-secondary institution. Whether you are already working on a business or looking to start something new, they can help you.

The program is looking for participants who are committed to developing their entrepreneurial mindset and taking advantage of the resources provided to develop their own enterprise. The program is delivered virtually and can be completed at any pace, however, the most committed participants will commit at least 10 hours per week. In order to progress through the program phases, participants will submit assignments online, adhering to strict deadlines.

The program content is delivered in English.

Mentorship may be offered in English and French. Assignments and pitches must be completed in English. Prospective fellows who are unable to speak or write English are still encouraged to apply and form teams with someone who can fulfill all the requirements of the program in English.

Prospective fellows may also work with their local university to come up with a strategy to make sure they are able to access university resources that will help them navigate the challenge related to language ability.

BENEFIT:

Business bootcamp delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders who bring decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience

The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step framework for scalable startups developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Pitch coaching and mastery

Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting are held throughout the program

Opportunity to earn micro-credentials on Entrepreneurship awarded by Queen’s University for successful completion the courses

Mentorship and Networking:

Liaise with mentors and speakers leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America

Access a Global Network of Queen’s entrepreneurial alumni

Join a cohort of thousands of like-minded students and recent grads from across Africa

Fellows are matched to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase of the program

Receive feedback at important startup milestones

Financial Support and Opportunities:

Up to 60 Fellows will be selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD

Opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program

Opportunities to travel to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre to build lasting connections that will help you further your business venture

APPLY