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optiMize Social Innovation Challenge Application

Welcome to the optiMize Social Innovation Challenge Application!

Instructions: First, make sure you fit our eligibility requirements (available on our website, www.optimizemichigan.org). Then go on to answer the following questions, doing your best to remain within the word limits for each (these are suggestions and not actual cutoffs). If you have any questions regarding anything in this application, please feel free to contact us via email (optimize-exec@umich.edu) or swing by the Ugli CFE space between 4 and 6 PM every weekday to talk to us in person!

The application deadline is February 5.

Good luck, and happy optiMizing!

Name *

What is the name of your venture?
Summary *

Please provide a one sentence description of your innovation.
How many team members do you have? *
Your Team *

Please provide the following for each team member:
▪ Name
▪ Email
▪ Phone
▪ School and Department
▪ Concentration and Year
▪ A quick overview of your background: What is your passion; what have you--and what will you--contribute as a member of this team?
Your Purpose (150 words) *

▪ What social problem do you aim to solve? Be specific. For example, if you aim to address urban poverty, tell us what specific problem associated with urban poverty you aim to solve.
▪ Consider who is affected by the problem, how that population is affected, and why the problem is important.
Your Value (150 words) *

▪ What is your target population?
▪ How would solving the problem you identified make life better for your target population?
▪ Are there additional benefits to society as a whole that occur from remedying the problem?

(Note: It might seem strange to talk about value before you even introduce your specific solution, but bear with us. So you've identified a problem -- now how would people's lives be better if you could solve that problem? We believe this is the most crucial motivator for social innovators. Specific solutions will probably not be perfect right away. You'll mold and adapt as you learn more. But the value you aim to add through your solutions -- the improvements to others' lives you aim to make -- will likely change less than the specific means you use to get to that value.)
Your Idea (250 Words) *

▪ What is your specific solution/ strategy?
(Note: Solutions may be products or services and can, but need not, generate profit for your team.)
▪ Are there alternative solutions already addressing the same issue/problem/target customers? If so, please list 2 or 3.
▪ How does your idea differ from what exists now? How is your solution better? Could your solution work with any existing organizations?
Your History and Activities (150 Words) *

▪ If applicable, please briefly describe any previous activities or progress you’ve made with your venture.
▪ Is this idea an extension of a class project or any school-related activity?
▪ What, if any, mentors and resources have you accrued so far?
Goals (150 words) *

▪ What do you hope to gain from participating in the optiMize Social Innovation Challenge?
Please Check All That Apply
I give optiMize permission to share my innovation and contact information with students interested in joining a team. If selected for optiMize, my team and I will be able to attend a day-long workshop on Saturday, February 16, from 9AM-5PM.

If not, simply don't check a box.
Do Not Fill This Out