Nilima Achwal

NextBillion 2011 Case Writing Competition: Call for Entries

NextBillion.net is proud to launch its second-annual academic business case competition, NextBillion 2011 Case Writing Competition. Once again, we’re seeking the very best business cases describing organizations that deploy market-based approaches to economic or social development, social ventures. For more information, tune into our webinar on November 4 to learn more about writing effective business cases and/or read about last year’s winners.

As a diverse online community, NextBillion recognizes the vital link between academia, practice, and policy. For this reason, the William Davidson Institute, Acumen Fund and Ashoka have teamed up to co-sponsor this year’s competition and offer a prestigious panel of judges with a variety of perspectives.

Why are academic business cases important to social enterprise and the BoP? For one, they spur discussion, which leads us to discover new, creative insights. These insights breathe new life into old business practices, allowing us to uncover unlikely solutions. Insights allow us to better understand the communities we target, which is imperative, since it is their realities that define our enterprise. Business cases bring a clearer vision, allowing us to see the implications of our actions and scope for the future. Finally, cases allow us to come together as a community to share our wisdom in a practical way, which has the enormous power to influence thought on a wider scale.

The aggregation of practical knowledge incites action with wisdom.

Winning cases will be published, bringing the enterprise-driven development movement into business school classrooms around the world. Winners will also receive cash prizes, will be interviewed and profiled on NextBillion, and receive an autographed copy of Acumen Fund founder Jaqueline Novogratz’s The Blue Sweater.

You have the power to educate and inspire business students and build the next generation of socially minded businesspeople. Will you take it?

Enter now. Competition Entry forms will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 30, 2010. For additional information, contact me at achwaln@umich.edu.

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