NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Are you aware of all the social entrepreurship-related competitions and awards out there? You’ve probably heard something about contests by Ashoka, BiD Challenge, and the World Bank’s Development Marketplace, but there are lesser known ones as well.

I’ve been compiling the information on about two dozen with information on how to apply, deadlines, judging criteria, and awards. Some of these contests are tech-related; some are microcredit-specific; some have a strong environmental component; others are for students only.

My questions to faithful Nextbillion readers:

1. Would a database of information for all BOP-related competitions be useful to you?

2. How many of you are aspiring/current entrepreneurs?

3. Would a space on Nextbillion.net for sharing business problems and advice with other contestants be useful? Check out Ashoka’s Changemakers forum to get an idea.