Eclairez - The Social Entrepreneurship Competition

Eclairez 2008-09 is a Social Entrepreneurship Challenge aimed towards those individuals who have the gumption to empower those at the bottom of the pyramid as well as earn profits for themselves while doing so. This competition aims at the amalgamation of students, NGOs, incubators, social entrepreneurs, venture-capitalists and corporations to develop and encourage the spirit of Social entrepreneurship. It is a platform for Social entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative solutions to society's most pressing social problems. The event will span over a year with regular workshops, mentoring sessions and frequent field visits. The participants will get a chance to perk up their business plan with our mentorship board and convert it into a successful social venture. The mentorship board will consist of Social Entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists that are ready to join hands to improve society, innovatively. The funding for the start-ups will be provided by Angel Investors. This event also encourages submissions from working professionals and grass root connectors.

Social Entrepreneurs are people who recognize a social problem and use entrepreneurial principles to create, organize and manage a venture to result in fortification of the social fabric. They are ambitious and persistent, tackling major social issues and offering new ideas for a wide-scale change. In the words of Bill Drayton, social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish, they are people who will not rest until they have revolutionized the whole fishing industry.