Create4Good innovation fund
- A Social Entrepreneurship Initiative
HELPING YOU BECOME THE CHANGEMAKER OF TOMORROW
Have a passion for making an impact in the world around you? If you have the drive, we have the tools.
Create4Good (C4G) Innovation Fund is an accelerator-like program that enables individuals to fulfill their passion for helping the community through entrepreneurship while building a sustainable model to ensure a lasting impact in the community they serve. We want to help you become the next exciting social entrepreneur.
We create the platform for you to fulfill your mission to help underprivileged communities by providing you with the tools, network, and support so you can be the driver of your cause. You will learn the latest start-up methodology, attend panels and discussions, and get involved in the community – all within the context of social ventures.
Create4Good (C4G) Innovation Fund is a social venture program by the late philanthropist Mr. Kwek Leng Joo, who made a personal mission to help youths focus their talents on tackling current and pressing social problems. To do this, the program has sharpened its focus on reducing societal inequality, aligning with the United Nation’s Development Goal #10 (info).
Together, we believe you can make a difference.
C4G 2022
In 2022, the C4G social entrepreneurship initiative shall be solely coordinated by SUTD. Interested teams are encouraged to identify problem statements to address social and economic inequalities amongst the vulnerable groups in Singapore.
Objectives:
- Engage a larger community and stakeholders for greater outreach and impact.
- Raise awareness of how innovation can positively impact social issues particularly with regards to socially and economically vulnerable groups.
- Theme based on UN Social Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Shortlisted teams will be provided incubation support from SUTD along with curated workshops and relevant industry domain experts to be their mentors. They will finally present their ideas to an evaluating panel comprising of representatives from the family of the late Mr. Kwek Leng Joo.
Selected teams will receive funding of $50,000 each.
ALL GOOD SOLUTIONS START WITH A GOOD PROBLEM
You will start your journey by identifying a problem that resonates with your passion. Dive in and research, ideate, and tell us how your solution can profoundly impact the community you wish to serve.
If you are new to the social impact space, we will partner with social service agencies to provide you with a head start. We will launch problem statements from our partner in stage across 18 Jul 2022 and 17 Sep 2022.
Who can apply?
Minimum 3 and a maximum of 5 members in each team, with the majority being SUTD affiliated.
- Current undergraduate & post-graduate students as well as researchers
- Aspiring mid-career entrepreneurs who have participated in SUTD Entrepreneurship and Venture Building Programs
- SUTD Alumni
Partner organisation 2022/2023
Our partner organizations have been part of the ecosystem and understand the challenges marginalized communities face in Singapore. Teams working on their problem statements will have an opportunity to be coached, mentored, and supported by these partner organizations throughout the program.
AGAPE CP
Agape CP has been transformative in the upscaling and rescaling of marginalized communities – providing them with an opportunity to secure meaningful and dignified societal roles. They have worked with many marginalized individuals, including PWD, individuals with a history of drug abuse, and previously incarcerated individuals.
PROBLEM STATEMENT (click below)
GIVING FUEL TO PASSION
Through this programme you can be expected to:
Gain deep insights into how entrepreneurship can be a driver for social causes.
Develop your solutions and impact-driven business model for your social venture
Interact with peers with the same passion for social causes
Learn from industry players who have walked the journey
Validate and test your ideas with the community you serve
Receive mentorship from social entrepreneurs to guide you through the process.
Rundown of our recent programme here.
By the end of the programme, selected teams will also receive additional support through:
A S$50,000 equity-free grant to kickstart your venture
Incubation support
Venture support for early stages of your venture building
Programme Timeline
7 Nov – 5 Dec
Call for Proposals wave 1
19 Dec – 2 Jan
Shortlist announcement 1
5 Dec – 2 Jan
Call for Proposals wave 2
16 Jan – 28 Jan
Shortlist announcement 2
28 Jan –
3 Apr
- 10-week Program – Immersion in week of 20 Mar
- 14 Nov – Application opens
- 5 Dec – First wave of selected team*
- 2 Jan – Application closes
- 16 Jan – Final wave of selected team
- 28 Jan – Start of Programme
* Read here to learn more about the early-bird privileges
RUNWAY TO PROGRAMME
Still unsure about the programme, join us for a series of events to better understand the programme and our partners.
- 10 Nov 2021
- 2-3pm
Tech for Good: Can we Marry Social Impact with Technology?
Speaker
- Representatives from HealthServe, SANA and SAVH
- Weiren Loh (Senior Ecosystem Development and Programme Manager, Venture Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SUTD)
Synopsis
We sit down with our partner organization to discuss their view on technology, social enterprises and their role in creating impact in Singapore.
Sign up at Eventbrite here
Platform: Zoom
- 20 Dec 2021
- 2-3pm
The Social Entrepreneurship Journey: Is it for me?
Speaker
- Ken Chua (Founder, (these)abilities)
- Weiren Loh (Senior Ecosystem Development and Programme Manager, Venture Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SUTD)
Synopsis
Ken shares his journey as a social entrepreneurs in a candid, no-frill conversation. Learn about the good and the bad about social entrepreneurship to help you learn if this is a journey for you.
Sign up at Eventbrite here.
Platform: Gathertown
How to apply
STEP 1: Invitation for proposals
- The 1st wave of invitation will happen on the first week of November 2021. (Early bird advantage - Access to domain expert mentors to help on their problem statements)
- The 2nd wave invitation will happen on the first week of December.
- Email your interest to participate along with your attached proposal to SUTD VIE at entrepreneurship@stud.edu.sg.
Your proposal must include the following:
- Problem Statement to tackle
- Proposed Partner Organization
- Preliminary Market Analysis
- Preliminary Ideation / Customer Discovery summary (200 words or less)
You can either submit your application in teams or individual:
- Team application:
- Team Lead
- Title and Education background of applicants
- Team Biography (50 words)
- Resume for each member (2-page)
- Declaration of any existing funding status of proposed solution
- Individual application:
- Technical/Non-technical background
- The problem statement they wish to work on.
- Proposed idea
- Biography (up to 300 words)
- Resume (2-page)
STEP 2: Shortlisting
Shortlisted teams will be notified via email with further instructions.
- The 1st wave of shortlisted teams will be notified around mid – December 2021 (Early bird advantage – Access to domain expert mentors to help on their problem statements).
- The shortlisted team from the 2nd wave of proposals will be announced around mid – January 2022.
Eligibility
Selection criteria and team composition:
- Minimum 2 pax, Maximum 5 pax
- Majority members are SUTD students/alumni
- Have not incorporated an enterprise in prior experience
- Teams who received more than S$50K grant or funding are not eligible to participate
TAKE THE LEAP
Ready to dive in? Here’s how you can apply to the programme
For teams between 3 - 5 members
Your proposal must include the following:
- Problem Statement that aligns with UNDG#10 and your team wishes to tackle
- Proposed Partner Organisation
- Preliminary Market Analysis
-
Preliminary Ideation / Customer Discovery summary (200 words or less)
Team application:
- Team Lead
- Title and Education background of applicants
- Team Biography (50 words)
- Resume for each member (2-page)
-
Declaration of any existing funding status of the proposed solution
Selection criteria and team composition:
- Minimum 3 pax, Maximum 5 pax
- Majority members in the team are SUTD students/alumni/ past SUTD programme participants
- Have not incorporated an enterprise based on proposed project
- Teams who have not received more than S$50K grant or funding at point of application
Application is now open. Apply here.
For solo/pair applicants
For solo applicants:
- Technical/Non-technical background
- The problem statement they wish to work on.
- Proposed idea
- Biography (up to 300 words)
-
Resume (2-page)
*Solo applicants should be matched to existing teams or form new teams with other solo applicants before the end of the programme. Only successfully matched teams will move forward with the support venture support from the office.
Eligibility criteria for solo/pair application:
- Currently enrolled in an IHL as a student or fellow
- Only individuals who successfully form teams will be admitted to the programme
Application is now open. Apply here.
GETTING ON BOARD
To help you get a head start, selected early applicants will be informed by mid-December 2021.
Early successful applicants get 2 hour session with our entrepreneur-in-residence to help refine their solutions.
For other applicants, including the remainder of the early applicant, the outcome of your applicants will be announced in mid-January 2022.
GET TO KNOW OUR ALUMNI
Click on the logos to learn more
