Chance to Win $5,000 at the 2021 Food Solutions Challenge from Net Impact

For the fifth consecutive year, Net Impact is seeking creative and actionable ideas from next-generation leaders about the most pressing issues in food and agriculture.

This year, the Challenge is focusing on strengthening smallholder farming resilience. Up to five semi-finalists will be selected to participate in the eight-week 2021 Net Impact Accelerator run in partnership with Eidos Global’s Social Innovation Warehouse. Through this accelerator, participants will gain the connections, mentorship, and tools needed to successfully develop their solution into a scalable enterprise.

By participating in the 2021 Net Impact Accelerator you will:

• Receive mentorship from industry experts and business coaches who will work with you to develop assets such as an impact assessment strategy, theory of change, a minimum viable product (MVP), and an impact report.
• Have access to a network of people working towards impactful solutions, mentors, and field experts. 
• Gain feedback to grow your solution and the support to launch your venture.

By participating in the final pitch competition you will:

• Develop a tested pitch deck that you can share with potential investors or clients.
• The winning team will receive $5,000.

• The Challenge is open to undergraduates, graduates, and professionals worldwide.
• Solutions can be in concept-only or early stages of development. You should be able to describe your solution, speak to the specific need you are addressing, and explain how your solution is uniquely suited to address this need. 

Selection Criteria:

The strongest submissions will respond to the selection criteria:

• Clarity of goals and objectives (10 points): The proposal should clearly identify which part of the challenge (which players, part of the value chain, etc.) it’s addressing. The solution should focus on strengthening smallholder farming resiliency.
• Innovation (15 points): The proposal should be fundamentally innovative and generate value by applying a unique solution or an existing solution in a new way. The proposal should focus on systemic thought and strategy rather than single-solution gadgets, apps, or products. Innovation can mean either a brand new solution or an existing solution used in a completely new way.
• Feasibility (25 points): The proposal should be able to be reasonably implemented in the next 3- 5 years and have a growth trajectory for the next 5-15 years.
• Impact – UN SDG Goal 2 – Zero Hunger (25 points): The proposal should meaningfully increase the amount of food available (e.g. increased farming yield, diverting crops from waste).
• Impact – UN SDG Goal 13– Climate Action (25 points): The proposal should meaningfully reduce the impact on the environment. This reduced impact can be shown through multiple angles including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fewer farming inputs needed (e.g. fertilizer), less water usage, better soil management for carbon capture, etc. 

About Net Impact:

Net Impact is a nonprofit membership organization for students and professionals interested in using business skills in support of various social and environmental causes. It serves both a professional organization and one of the largest student organizations among MBAs in the world. From its central office in Oakland, the organization supports over 300 autonomous volunteer-run chapters and a membership base of over 100,000, with programs and networking events centered on topics such as corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development, and environmental sustainability.

See more available grants on For9a

See more available workshops or trainings on For9a

See more available volunteer opportunities on For9a