Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Corporate Changemakers Challenge

Now is the time to rethink our ways of doing business. This challenge aims to champion innovative solutions from corporate intrapreneurs who demonstrate that companies can contribute to advancing social and environmental equity, while also increasing value for the business.

Corporate Social Intrapreneurs are a breed of bold changemakers working from within businesses to unlock innovative solutions for the most pressing social and environmental challenges. Their work is increasingly recognised as a powerful source of inspiration and innovation to renew corporate purpose as well as a to drive more inclusive and sustainable businesses. The support from top leadership in their organizations along with partnerships with strategic stakeholders allows them to flourish as they develop new products, services and operating models that achieve social impact combined with core business value.

This challenge is looking for those changemakers and their solutions from the private sector working with business models, products, services, workforce, procurement, etc. that drive inclusive growth while creating value at the core of their businesses, communities and natural ecosystems. If we can put in action the powerful blend of business and inclusion, we might head towards a more sustainable and equitable world leveraging on the opportunities offered by the digital and green transitions. Let´s harvest the creative potential of corporate social intrapreneurs! 

Focus Areas:

1. Inclusive and Sustainable Value Chains: Solutions that help companies build inclusive and sustainable supply chains, use resources more efficiently and become more competitive while ensuring social and environmental sustainability. Examples: responsible sourcing; integration of small producers in the value chain; tools developed to enable it for other organizations.
2. Inclusive Access: Solutions that promote inclusive and sustainable models, products, and services to guarantee that everyone’s dignity and rights are supported. Examples: diversity solutions; equal opportunity programmes; infrastructure access solutions; products and services addressed to traditionally excluded populations.
3. Inclusive Finance and Income Generation: Solutions that successfully support income generation and social mobility in lower-income populations. Examples: economic growth programmes; solutions to close income gaps in disadvantaged populations; employability frameworks; financial inclusion tools.
4. In the event your solution works to advance social equality from a different perspective not listed in the three focus areas defined previously, please select this fourth option. We welcome and would be keen to review solutions that advance social change across all SDGs.

What type of innovations are we looking for?

• Stage: Impact-oriented initiatives that are in growth or scale-up phases with some demonstrated impact in social and business terms. Solutions at “idea” or “pilot” phases will not be considered.
• Business Value: The challenge seeks initiatives that on top of creating social impact they also drive business value leveraging the assets of the company and fully aligned with its core business*
• Scale: The solutions need to have potential to scale, particularly for communities most impacted, alongside a vision for achieving long-term financial viability and sustainability.

* CSR initiatives will not be considered. While we encourage companies to be conscious of the impact they are having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental; this challenge aims to foster the Corporate Social Intrapreneurship initiatives that are core to the business.

Submissions will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Breakthrough innovation: Solutions with a fresh, clear innovative angle.
• Impact mission: With clearly stated impact goals to advance SDG and aiming to monitor and evaluate the impact achieved.
• Sustainable: That supports the sustainable agendas over the long-term, aiming to provide impact that outlasts the length of the challenge.
• Business value: Solutions embedded in a core part of the business that can deliver benefits along the social impact, either generating financial returns or broader business value in other aspects.
• Partnerships: Solutions that encompass collaborative approaches with stakeholders and that demonstrate ‘win-win’ benefits for multiple agendas, particularly society, environment, non-profit and education.
• Governance & operating model: Solutions delivered with the support of an internal business sponsor (mid or senior business leadership) and with a team with the right capacity and skillset to deliver on the solution’s goals.

What are the benefits of applying?

The best submissions will be invited to the UpLink Innovation Network, facilitated by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Salesforce, and the supporting partners. This 6-months programme will include:

• Visibility: public exposure via the World Economic Forum and Schwab Foundation’s digital media channels.
• Access: opportunity to participate in selected World Economic Forum and Salesforce events, projects and communities.
• Connections: introduction to selected organizations within the World Economic Forum and Schwab Foundation’s ecosystem.
• Mentorship opportunities: guidance on your impact journey through the experienced support of other corporate social intrapreneurs and supporting partners.

Challenge Timeline:

• Tuesday 11 October: Open call for submissions ​
• Sunday 13 November cob CET: Closure of submissions
• Monday 14 November: Review and selection process
• January 2023: Announcement of winning cohort of Top Innovators

HOW TO APPLY?

• Click on the ‘SUBMIT‘ button on the top of the screen, fill out the submission form and click again on Submit to send us your application.
• Please indicate N/A on the fields that do not apply to your solution.
• If you prefer at this stage to not disclose your organization name as required in Step 2 of the form, please indicate N/A or the industry you work in.
• Note that this challenge seeks for initiatives that are in growth or scale-up phases with some demonstrated impact in social and business terms. Soltions at “idea” or “pilot” phases will not be considered.
• You can save your submission in draft and get back to it later but ensure to submit your application before the challenge deadline of Sunday 13 November 2022 (midnight CET). 
• Find more details on how resume/edit your draft in the FAQ section.

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