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WJF Sustainable Business Plan Competition: Deadline Oct 12

WJF Sustainable Business Plan Competition: Deadline Oct 12

Published 09-22-11

Submitted by Mentor Capital Network

The next great ideas that will use the power of business to make the world a better place are already out there. The William James Foundation (WJF) and our partners are working with us to offer more than $150,000 worth of cash and professional services to help sustainable entrepreneurs turn their passion from plans to action.

The deadline for the WJF's 9th annual Sustainable Business Plan Competition is October 12th. We combine more than a dozen sustainable business plan competitions into one easy-to-enter format, allowing entrepreneurs to spend their time running their businesses, rather than filling out forms.

Entrepreneurs who are developing or growing for-profit companies with a defined social and/or environmental goal are encouraged to submit 5 to 8 page summaries of their plans to the WJF. A team of high-level reading judges will provide constructive commentary on your ideas (an average of 20 pages of feedback per round) and entrants will have a shot at a share of $150,000 worth of professional services and/or cash prizes. Full application information is available at www.williamjamesfoundation.org/howtoenter. The first step for interested entrepreneurs is to fill out the online form at www.williamjamesfoundation.org/intenttocompete.

The WJF, a long-time leader in expertise philanthropy, brings together more than 600 high-level experts, including Wall Street executives, CEOs, senior social entrepreneurs, and academic and field experts from around the world to provide detailed feedback on the business plans that are submitted into the competitions. They are also partnering with more than 40 organizations world-wide to identify and support the best new ideas in sustinable business.

All competition entrants must qualify for either the Idea-Phase or Venture-Phase prizes.

  • The William James Foundation's Idea-Phase Prizes are for the companies who are still in the planning phase. Teams must be either pre-revenue or no more than two years from their first revenue.
  • The William James Foundation's Venture-Phase Prizes are for companies who are currently and actively seeking professional investment. Teams must be either pre-revenue or no more than five years from their first revenue, and actively seeking professional investment.

Additionally, the WJF partners with a number of sponsors who are looking to identify specific types of sustainable businesses. Interested entrepreneurs need only submit one executive summary and they will be considered for all of the competitions for which they qualify. They include:

The William James Foundation's Sustainable Business Plan Competition strives to support all of our entrants. Everyone who is accepted into the competition receives feedback -- so even if they finish 150th, entrants still receive high-level peer review. Which strengthens their plans, and keeps them in the impact investing pipeline. As Kesha Cash, Director of Investments for Jalia Ventures, noted: “The more entrepreneurs I meet and speak to, I realize how critical your organization is for entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and get ready to raise capital. [The WJF is] helping to create a future pipeline for investors. There are lots of savvy people who want to start sustainable/ social businesses and truly care about their community. They just need a bit of guidance and support to get there.”

Entrepreneurs with questions about the competition should contact the WJF via competition@williamjamesfoundation.org. Experienced individuals who have built or managed mutliple bottom line companies and are interested in serving as reading judges should contact WJF executive director Ian Fisk at ian.fisk@williamjamesfoundation.org.

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Mentor Capital Network

Mentor Capital Network

Mentor Capital Network, a Washington-DC based 501(c)3, strives to advance the evolution towards a more socially responsible economy. We support new entrepreneurs who are committed to establishing socially responsible businesses and policies that will more equitably benefit all stakeholders -- consumers, employees and their families, and the public-at-large, in addition to investors.

Our main program is the Sustainable Business Plan Collaboration. Over the years, we’ve supported over 930 ventures with almost $6M worth of mentor capital, giving entrepreneurial teams customized feedback on their business plans and access to a network of over 1,000 of the world’s best industry and regional experts who have graciously given their time to support these startup teams. We seek to create and accelerate opportunities for these teams to make a serious, innovative, and scalable difference in the world.

Mentor Capital Network is the trade name of the William James Foundation.

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