NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - BiD Challenge Enters its 3rd Year - Comments

BiD Challenge 2007

Leila — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:43:24 -0500

My project, Market for Change, just took second place at this year's BiD Challenge. I had a chance to meet Rene, head of African Skin, and believe he has developed an excellent product. A fellow second place winner this year, Vera, runs a project called "Enjoy the Difference" that manufactures house linens made from local "kangas" printed with popular Kenyan sayings. Both attended the same design school in Amsterdam. I'm a huge fan of BiD, and believe the network has developed a world-class screening process to identify viable businesses operating in developing countries.

The BiD Challenge India 2007.

Anonymous — Fri, 18 May 2007 07:02:53 -0400

The BiD Challenge India 2007. The Challenge offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and execute business plans for profit and poverty reduction in India. Entrepreneurs can submit their 3 page plan at www.bidnetwork.org/india and receive professional feedback, get a personal business coach, win prize money (total of INR 20 lakh) and/or expose themselves to local and international investors, partners and financiers. One of the greatest advantages of submitting a plan on BiD India, is that all submitted Indian Business Plans will be listed on the India Development Gateway (IDG), a soon to be up online platform that will play a role in attracting capital both from donors and investors for innovative social businesses, thus providing entrepreneurs with much greater exposure to potential funders For further information kindly click onto http://www.bidnetwork.org/set-45784-en.html In case you have any queries kindly get back at bidindia@indiadevelopmentgateway.org Last date for entries is May 31, 2007.

sustainability?

Derek Newberry — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:18:38 -0400

Perhaps if done in bulk? Most products these days have to be shipped off somewhere.

sustainability?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:06:29 -0400

Can this really be considered sustainable if it has to fly to a destination where it brings in a "decent profit"?

BiD Challenge Enters its 3rd Year

Derek Newberry — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:54:26 -0400

In Uganda, there is a small business whose model is based on manufacturing and selling products made from indigenous tree bark. The bark can be sustainably collected as this particular species of tree has the property of easily regrowing bark after being stripped bare. The material is fashioned into bags, accessories and other products where it is sold on the international market for a decent profit.

So, sustainable production of a desirable product fused with BoP ingenuity. Innovative enough for you? The Business in Development (BiD) network apparently agrees. The company is African Skin, and they were the winners of last year's BiD Challenge.

The Challenge is back for another year, looking for the best in small sustainable enterprises to provide with startup investment. With this 3rd round opening on April 2nd, BiD will whittle down submitted business plans in an extensive screening process that ends with an awards event in December.

BiD looks for highly creative developing country entrepreneurs that have businesses with a social or environmental component and that will become profitable within three years. Winners receive mentoring services and 20,000 euros to get their idea rolling.

If you are interested in participating, BiD is still accepting business plans through May 31st - visit their homepage for more details. Also check out the seven country-level challenges they have just launched for 2007. If you're a socially minded entrepreneur this is worth looking into - maybe your company will be the next African Skin....