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Institute For Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Ideas to Serve Competition (I2S)

Earn academic credit for participating in I2S: Enroll in MGT 4803: In-depth Exploration and Design this spring!

I2S is About Creating a Better World

The competition is for current Georgia Tech students and recent alumni who have early stage product/service ideas or venture concepts that are geared towards creating a better world through students who Dare to Care.

Entries might focus on reducing poverty, alleviating hunger, promoting health and wellness, improving air and water quality, reducing of the rate of depletion of natural resources, developing alternate sources of energy or any other way to better the world.

 

 

I2S is About Ideas

We believe that all great ventures and organizations begin with great ideas. Therefore, I2S is primarily a competition of ideas where creativity, imagination, and technology are applied to solving social and/or environmental problems.

It is our hope that eventually these ideas will lead to sustainable organizations that are able to generate sufficient income flows to sustain their missions. If the organizations are for-profit companies, the ideas should eventually be capable of providing returns for investors as well.

 

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I2S is About Creating Triple Bottom-Line Organizations

Simply put, I2S seeks to foster the development of organizations that are focused on the “triple bottom line,” showing concern for social and environmental outcomes as well as for economic return on investment.  I2S supports students who are passionate about improving the human condition - in their immediate community or around the globe - with mentoring, access to a network of local social entrepreneurs and impact investors who serve as judges, and prize money.  The final event is a poster showcase session that is open to the public. There is even a "people's choice" prize to be awarded based on votes from visitors to the competition. I2S Teams are either in the Ideas Track, representing early-stage proposals, or the Advanced Track, where most of them have been through one or more rounds of the I2S (or, in several cases, the Global Social Venture Competition or the InVenture Prize).  Stay up to date on I2S events by subscribing to our email list here.

 

 
2019 Schedule
The following events will occur as part of the competition:
  • January 21 through March 25 (every Monday): Workshop Series (in conjunction with MGT 4803-J)
  • January 31: Information Session Lunch (Thursday 11-12)
  • February 4: Mentor Request Deadline
  • February 18: Intent to Compete Form opens
  • March 11: Intent to Compete Form due
  • April 11: I2S Finals
How the Competition Works 
I2S is open to all GT students and young alumni (Spring, Summer and Fall 2018 graduates) that are working on a project that has the potential to solve a local, global, social or environmental problem. Teams can be comprised of one individual or multiple members. Not all team members have to be GT students, but at least one of the founders has to be a GT student in order for the team to be eligible. Teams compete in two tracks: Early Stage (ideas) and Advanced Stage(track decisions will be made after you submit the Intent to Compete form with a summary about your project and fill out the related questionnaire). 

We help match you with a mentor if your team needs one, so please with a short summary of your project and the areas you need help with if you wish to be paired with a mentor. Deadline for mentor requests is TBD.

We will also host a series of workshops to help you with the problem understanding portion of your process and fine-tune your pitch before the competition. Dates for the workshops are TBD.

What you have to do is:
  1. Consider registering for the Social Impact: In-depth Exploration and Design. This is not required but is highly recommended. Find more information here. 
  2. Attend the Kick-off Info session (dae TBD) to get all the info and have your questions answered (not a requirement for participation but highly recommended) 
  3. Once you have your team ready fill out the Intent to Compete Form and let us know if you need a mentor. We will get back to you with your track designation. 
  4. Attend the series of workshops (dates TBD) and learn from the pros. These will help you fine-tune your pitch and provide you with feedback about your project. 
  5. your Executive Summary and the link to your one-minute video pitch (deadline TBD). We will notify the finalists for the two tracks by TBD.
  6. Prepare your poster for the Finals & Poster Showcase – whether you are a finalist in one of the tracks or not, you are eligible to participate in the Showcase and compete for the Specialty Prizes.
Forms, Templates, Eligibility 
2019 Prizes
Award amounts and categories will be announced in January. In 2018, the following amounts were awarded:

  • Ideas Track

      • Winner: $3,000
      • Runner-Up: $1,500
      • Third Place: $1,000

  • Advanced Track

      • Winner: $2,500

  • Special Prizes (both tracks qualify)*

      • Best Video Pitch: $500
      • People's Choice: $500
      • Best Poster: $500
      • MBA Social Impact Award: $500
*All entrants are eligible to compete for special prizes regardless of finalist status. Teams need to be present at the Finals Poster Showcase to participate. 
Winners from Previous Years 
Our Sponsors
Georgia Tech Partners
Community Partners
2019 Schedule
The following events will occur as part of the competition:
  • January 21 through March 25 (every Monday): Workshop Series (in conjunction with MGT 4803-J)
  • January 31: Information Session Lunch (Thursday 11-12)
  • e
  •  
  • January 21 through March 25 (every Monday): Workshop Series (in conjunction with MGT 4803-J)
  • February 18: Intent to Compete Form opens
  • March 11: Intent to Compete Form due
  • April 11: I2S Finals
How the Competition Works 
I2S is open to all GT students and young alumni (Spring, Summer and Fall 2018 graduates) that are working on a project that has the potential to solve a local, global, social or environmental problem. Teams can be comprised of one individual or multiple members. Not all team members have to be GT students, but at least one of the founders has to be a GT student in order for the team to be eligible. Teams compete in two tracks: Early Stage (ideas) and Advanced Stage(track decisions will be made after you submit the Intent to Compete form with a summary about your project and fill out the related questionnaire). 

We help match you with a mentor if your team needs one, so please with a short summary of your project and the areas you need help with if you wish to be paired with a mentor. Deadline for mentor requests is TBD.

We will also host a series of workshops to help you with the problem understanding portion of your process and fine-tune your pitch before the competition. Dates for the workshops are TBD.

What you have to do is:
  1. Consider registering for the Social Impact: In-depth Exploration and Design. This is not required but is highly recommended. Find more information here. 
  2. Attend the Kick-off Info session (dae TBD) to get all the info and have your questions answered (not a requirement for participation but highly recommended) 
  3. Once you have your team ready fill out the Intent to Compete Form and let us know if you need a mentor. We will get back to you with your track designation. 
  4. Attend the series of workshops (dates TBD) and learn from the pros. These will help you fine-tune your pitch and provide you with feedback about your project. 
  5. your Executive Summary and the link to your one-minute video pitch (deadline TBD). We will notify the finalists for the two tracks by TBD.
  6. Prepare your poster for the Finals & Poster Showcase – whether you are a finalist in one of the tracks or not, you are eligible to participate in the Showcase and compete for the Specialty Prizes.
Forms, Templates, Eligibility 
2019 Prizes
Award amounts and categories will be announced in January. In 2018, the following amounts were awarded:

  • Ideas Track

      • Winner: $3,000
      • Runner-Up: $1,500
      • Third Place: $1,000

  • Advanced Track

      • Winner: $2,500

  • Special Prizes (both tracks qualify)*

      • Best Video Pitch: $500
      • People's Choice: $500
      • Best Poster: $500
      • MBA Social Impact Award: $500
*All entrants are eligible to compete for special prizes regardless of finalist status. Teams need to be present at the Finals Poster Showcase to participate. 
Winners from Previous Years 
Our Sponsors
Georgia Tech Partners
Community Partners