The Social Enterprise Series

Collaborate Plus is transitioning into a new era. With this evolution comes a new name, Co-Lab, and a new initiative, The Social Enterprise Series.

Co-Lab is looking for people and businesses who can provide innovative solutions to social problems. This is a search that brings ACU’s mission into the public domain, that stimulates impact and that serves the common good. The new Social Enterprise Series offers attendees the opportunity to enter a pitch competition for a $10,000 prize.

The Social Enterprise Series is free eight-week in-depth learning program, delivered online, that is designed to educate future global change-makers about the practical components of establishing or growing a thriving social enterprise. While industry experts will walk attendees through the key components of building an enterprise that has a positive social impact, attendees will be encouraged to put their newly learned skills to work by crafting a video pitch for the chance to win the inaugural Social Enterprise Award, which offers $10,000 to kickstart their project.

The series will be delivered by sector leaders in social enterprise education, innovative partnerships, and cause-driven crowdfunding StartSomeGood – also a founding member of Collaborate Plus.

When: Wednesdays from 15 September, 4–6pm AEST/AEDT

We encourage you to share these details with your colleagues, networks and students. The workshops are open to everyone.

Workshop topics include:

• The change you seek
• Understanding the issues
• Ideation for impact
• Designing your business
• Building your tribe
• Pitching
• Show me the money
• The road is long

Social Enterprise Award $10,000 prize

The Social Enterprise Award recognises an individual or team who have developed a novel social enterprise idea and are at any stage of development, from initial idea to market ready. Your idea may be for a business that sells a physical product or one that offers a service.

Entrants must attend three or more workshops to be eligible to lodge a pitch entry into the Social Enterprise Award.

The winning video pitch entry receives:

• $10,000 prize money
• six months of mentoring by a member of ACU’s executive staff (five one-hour sessions)
• access to ACU student groups for project support
• promotion of the winning business/project through the ACU Co-Lab community ecosystem.

An additional ACU student prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the best student entry that does not win the grand prize. We encourage all student-facing staff to share details of the award.

Applications close on Sunday 14 November.

More information

If you would like any further information or would like a member of Co-Lab to present this opportunity to your students, please contact Tayana Grundy

Explore the Social Enterprise Series presented by ACU Co-Lab