“At UBS, we believe our clients can do well by doing good – that social investments can be profitable investments. But there is a gap: many social enterprises have difficulty growing large enough to become truly investable. We hope to identify innovative social enterprises that are at that difficult point and help them to scale.”
The UBS Social Innovators program will play a role in helping to develop the growing social investment market by supporting social entrepreneurs who are addressing poorly met social or environmental needs, transforming the way societies work and generating positive social impact.
Who are they looking for?
All social innovators who meet the following criteria should apply:
Rewards – Network Access, Mentoring and Advice, Grants, Accelerator
Shortlisted social enterprises from will be invited to Regional Bootcamps, jointly organised with Ashoka, the leading Social Entrepreneurs network. This will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to convene, network and collaborate. UBS employees and partners, along with experts from Ashoka will coach and mentor these shortlisted candidates.
At the end of the bootcamp, 4 Regional Finalists will be selected and invited to pitch their social enterprise for cash grants at the Regional Summits. There, the jury will select the UBS Social Innovator and three runners-up in each region.
All the Regional Finalists will receive an advanced introduction on preparing for social investment, guiding them through the key elements from developing social or environmental impact metrics through how to refine their revenue model. Each of the three runners-up in each region will also receive a grant of USD 5,000.
The three UBS Social Innovators (one from each region) will undergo a year-long bespoke accelerator program, tailored for them by UBS and Ashoka, to help them sale and maximize their project’s impact. This will run for the whole of 2017 and will include regular meetings with Ashoka, UBS experts and other relevant third parties from UBS and Ashoka’s networks; a structured program of virtual and in-person workshops including a full training on preparing for social investment, 1:1 mentoring and coaching with key stakeholders; and presentations to UBS employees, partners and potential investors.
The three UBS Social Innovators will also each have the opportunity to receive feedback on their projects from some of the world’s leading philanthropists and social investors at a UBS event in December 2016.
Each of them will also receive cash grants of USD 40,000.
