SDG Cart, an e-commerce platform that aims to encourage responsible entrepreneurship, will be launching the first edition of SDG Innovation Competition. The competition aims to support entrepreneurial start-ups and scale-up stage businesses that develop innovative solutions, to make a positive social impact, in line with any one of the Sustainable Development Goals laid down by the United Nations. The competition is presented by SBI Mutual Fund and is a joint initiative of SDG Cart and International Institute of Corporate Social Responsibility (IICSR) supported by Ekjaa Foundation as an intellectual partner. Mr. Srinivas Jain, Executive Director & Chief of Strategy, SBI Mutual Fund commented “As the largest fund house in India, we are committed to responsible investment paradigm by supporting various national and international initiatives that aspire for long term sustainability. SDG Cart Innovation competition is an important initiative that we are very pleased to support” The platform will strengthen the fabric of responsible entrepreneurship by providing forward linkage to the products and services aligned to SDGs.
The initiative is further strengthened to support Sustainable Tourism by This is it, Goa and Lawrence and Mayo as Gifting Partners for all the applicants. Mr. Deepak Arora, VP Public Affairs, Nayara Energy in a video message said, “The best time in history is to innovate now, Sustainable Innovation is most needed.”
Building on SDG Cart’s vision to improve India’s standing in adherence to Sustainable Development Goals, the competition strives to amplify and support the efforts of local entrepreneurs who are working to advance their communities and foster a more inclusive future. To achieve this stride, SDG Cart has announced a venerated jury panel, which will shoulder the responsibility of identifying innovative ventures. The panel comprises domain connoisseurs, who currently hold esteemed positions in the corporate landscape today, including (Executive Director & Chief of Strategy – SBI Mutual Fund) Mr. Ashwini Saxena (CEO, JSW Foundation), Mr. Anirban Ghosh (Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra Group), Mr. Tanmoy Chakraborty (Group Government Affairs Officer, Tata Sons), Mr. Nixon Joseph (President, SBI Foundation), Ms. Anupam Nidhi (CSR Head, Vedanta), Mr. Deepak Arora (VP Public Affairs, Nayara Energy), Mr. NinadKarpe (Partner, 100X VC), Mr. Larry Johnson (Founder, 8 Principles USA), Mr. Anurag Agrawal (Group COO and Managing Partner, Aavishkar Capital), and Mr. A B Chakravarthy (Venture Capitalist), and Harsha Mukherjee (MD IICSR Group). Harsha quotes that “Sustainable Entrepreneurs are needed to develop Sustainable Economy in the present times.”
Interested businesses are invited to submit their application by March 31st, 2021 through the website link: https://sdgcart.com/competition/. The finals will be live streamed on 10th April from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on IICSR Youtube Channel, SBIMF Youtube channel and Facebook page
All the applicants will undergo a three-step screening process. The applications will be assessed on the social impact, value and replicability of the idea, out of which 20 finalists will progress to the next level. The 20 candidates will then be allowed to make relevant changes to their submission and only top 10 applications will move to the third and final level. The finalists will be invited to develop their project plans with the support of subject matter experts at SDG Cart. With training from an experienced pitch coach, finalists will present their final concept. The criteria for selection through each level have been especially curated by the jury members to ensure the most implementable and value generating ideas get rewarded.
The top ten finalists stand to win a subsidized listing on the SDG Cart platform, a course of their choice from the listed programs on IICSR, coverage on ‘Live Interactions with Global Change Makers’ and certificates. Besides these, the ten finalists will secure a Boot camp session on pitching and fundraising.
SDG Cart Innovation Contest, in its endeavour to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship by providing right financial and intellectual assistance, takes a momentous step to further the SDGs.
