GIBS Festival of Ideas: Put your best idea forward

Every great invention starts with someone trying to do away with a problem that they see. It is the way our society progresses - to think through problems and develop new solutions that make life easier. The plough transformed agriculture, the wheel transformed our ability to move goods and the printing press our ability to consume information.

At the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) Network for Social Entrepreneurs we are passionate about finding innovative solutions to progress our society and economy, and through various platforms we encourage and help budding impact entrepreneurs in achieving their goals. This year, GIBS, in partnership with SAB Miller Foundation, Standard Bank and LifeCo UnLtd will be hosting the inaugural, "Festival of Ideas", a platform where young entrepreneurs who are passionate about innovation for change are encouraged to step forward and present their social entrepreneurship business ideas in front of a judging panel. Ideas perceived to be great by the panel of judges will be given funding from our R200,000 prize money, to get their idea off the ground.

The Festival will be held on Thursday, 20 November 2014 with a panel of experts in the field of social and environmental entrepreneurship assessing contestants and evaluating how they can help to get the ideas off the ground. Hosts on the day will be social entrepreneurs, Zakes Bantwini and 5FM DJ Fix Moeti. "It's like a "Dragons Den for Ideas", but a lot more practical. We want to be able to identify great ideas and devise ways to support or bring these concepts into fruition," says Moeti

"What makes the "Festival of Ideas" different is not just that we are looking for innovation, but that the problems that people are trying to solve improve the world around us. So the ideas must have a social or environmental benefit. This is not about having an idea so that you can earn lots of money, it is about having an idea that improves our country," says Kerryn Krige, programme manager for the Network for Social Entrepreneurs at GIBS.

South Africa's failure rate for start-up businesses is well known. More than 80% fail within the first two years with barriers to finance and support cited as one of the primary reasons for failure. Yet entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised as being the catalyst the economy needs to fuel growth, and with our growing inequality stunting progress, social entrepreneurship is increasingly regarded for what it can offer the South African economy.

So if you have a great idea that you think deserves to be heard, enter the Festival of Ideas at www.gibs.co.za/ideas. Applicants will be shortlisted to attend the panel session to be held at the GIBS campus on 20 November, where cash spot prizes up to R20,000 from our R200,000 pool will be made available. Please note, no cash will be awarded on the day and applicants will need to provide bank details so that it can be transferred.

Rules to entry:
- Please apply online
- Candidates will be shortlisted from their applications
- All ideas must have a social or environmental benefit
- No cash given on the day.
- Judges reserve the right not to award the full amount of money.
- Only short listed candidates will be allowed to pitch their idea.

For more information please contact Itumeleng Dhlamini on az.oc.sbig@iinimalhd or 011 771 4000.

Date: 20 November 2014
Time: 08:00 - 16:00
Venue: GIBS Campus, Illovo, Sandton