Language :

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 a joint initiative of SDG Cart and International Institute of
Corporate Social Responsibility (IICSR) as intellectual partner and Ekjaa Foundation, which is an
outreach partner. It is founded by Harsha S Mukherjee, Vikram Chindam and led by Pranjul Rai. The
competition finale will also celebrate the launch of SDG Cart in India. The platform will strengthen
the fabric of responsible entrepreneurship by providing forward linkage to the products and services
aligned to SDGs.

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 the
most responsibly innovative ventures. The panel comprises domain connoisseurs, who currently
hold esteemed positions in the corporate landscape today, including 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. Ninad Karpe (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).

Interested businesses are invited to submit their application before February 20″, 2021 through the
website link: https://sdgcart.com/competition/

Applicants will undergo a three-step screening process. The first 500 applications will be assessed on
the social impact, value and replicability of the idea, out of which 20 finalists will be narrowed down.
Level 2 will allow the candidates to make relevant changes to their submission and top 10
applications will realize the third 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 panel members to ensure the most implementable and value generating
ideas get rewarded.

The top ten finalists stand to win cash prizes worth upto INR 4 Lakhs, subsidized listing on the
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. With many
esteemed corporations investing in the competition, it proposes significant appeal to the aspiring
social entrepreneurs of the country. The program bundles great rewards, challenges and exposure
through interaction with honourable leaders in the industry to fuel the inquisitiveness of any curious
mind.

Share.
companycsr
Copyright © 2024 Company CSR. All rights reserved