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Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture: H2O Impact Challenge

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What is the SDSU Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture: H2O Impact Challenge?

  • A pitch competition held annually at SDSU
  • Open to SDSU undergraduate students and graduate students AND other Southern California colleges and universities by invitation
  • The pitch is based on identifying a significant problem related to the impact of H2O on our region and presenting an innovative solution resulting in a social venture
  • $15,000 Grand Prize
  • Teams will compete for a total $40,000 in cash prizes

What is a social venture?

The distinguishing characteristic of the social venture versus the commercial venture is the primacy of their objective to solve social problems and provide social benefits. The social venture may generate profits, but that is not its focus. Rather, profits are a possible means to achieve sustainability in providing a social benefit. The entity can be for-profit, non-profit or a hybrid. The problems addressed by social ventures cover a range of social issues, including poverty, inequality, education, the environment, and economic development. In the case of our Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture Challenge, we are seeking to solve social issues related to the impact of H2O on our region and beyond. 

What topics are covered by the theme “Impact of H2O”?

The goal of the Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture Challenge is to inspire students to identify innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges in society directly impacting our Southern California region.   

The theme this year is “H2O Impact”. We are excited to encourage our students to identify large problems related to water and present innovative solutions that will have a lasting impact on the Southern California region resulting in a social venture. 

The impact of water and the significant challenges associated with water inspire a variety of important problems.  Water impacts so many aspects of our lives and the problems caused from the impact of water (too much, too little, too expensive, etc) vary depending on geography, population impact and generationally as an example. The solutions that are comprehended can work to change water use behavior, lower water use, recapture water, clean the water and so much more.  

Please see a few examples to illustrate the wide range of possible problems. 

Students are in no way limited to the list below. 

  1. Water Conservation Technologies: Develop innovative technologies and solutions that help residents and businesses in Southern California conserve water.

  2. Water Quality Improvement: Create ventures that address water pollution and improve water quality in the region.

  3. Drought-Resilient Agriculture: Work on solutions to support agriculture in times of drought.
     
  4. Water Recycling and Reuse: Explore opportunities for recycling and reusing water in various sectors, including industrial, agricultural, and residential.

  5. Community Education and Engagement: Develop ventures that focus on educating and engaging communities in Southern California about water conservation and sustainability.

  6. Community-Based Water Management: Create platforms or organizations that empower local communities to actively participate in water management.
     
  7. Economic and Social Equity: Address water-related disparities in disadvantaged communities, ensuring that all residents have access to clean and affordable water.

  8. Water-Conserving Agriculture: Support the agricultural sector in adopting practices that reduce water usage while maintaining productivity. 

  9. Emergency Water Supply Solutions: Develop ventures that provide communities with emergency water supply solutions in times of natural disasters or water infrastructure failures.

SDSU Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture: H2O Impact Challenge 

Southern California Collegiate Competition, by invitation only 

College students solving BIG problems related to the impact of H2O on our Southern California region resulting in a social venture

March 15th, 2024  3-5 PM

SDSU Prebys Student Union Theater 

  • Work with your university to find out if you are eligible to compete!
  • Compete for $40,000 in cash prizes with a Grand Prize of $15,000

What Are the Requirements of Nominated Teams?

  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student during Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
  • You must have at least a minimum of two students (see above) and a maximum of four students
  • 2 students available to participate in a 2-hour live competition at SDSU on March 15th, 2024 from 3-5 PM
  • We welcome ideas, not companies. (Startups with any revenue to date from product/services sales are not eligible to compete.)
  • All majors are welcome!

How Are Teams Nominated?

  1. The participating school’s representative will submit a Google Form with the nominated teams’ names and contact information.
     
  2. We’re here to help!
    1. Have questions? Send us an email!
    1. Contact us at [email protected]

Resources

Not sure what types of problems fall under the H2O theme of the challenge? Check out the document below for resources to get you started!

Sample Application



Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why participate in the SDSU Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture: H2O Impact Challenge Featuring Southern California Universities?
      • The SDSU Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture H2O Challenge offers students the opportunity to experience the social entrepreneurship process first hand as they compete with an idea that has the power to change the world and the people living in it. Teams will begin the process of launching their startup as they apply, prepare a pitch deck, utilize resources offered, etc. Not to mention, the competition’s winner will receive $15,000 in cash! 
  • How does the SDSU Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture H2O Impact Challenge define social venture?
      • A social venture is an entrepreneurial approach to addressing and positively impacting social and/ or environmental challenges through business. A social venture can be for profit, non profit, or a hybrid so long as it has a sustainable way to find business. Remember that to apply for the competition, your social venture must solve a problem related to water.
  • Are there requirements for topic selection?
      • Proposed businesses must solve an issue and create a positive impact for the people or the planet in relation to water.
  • Who is eligible?
      • In order to apply and compete, teams must be made up of undergraduate or graduate students. Teams must have two team members pitch during the final competition and contain no more than four total team members. All majors are welcome!
  • Are there team size requirements?
    • Teams must have two team members pitch during the competition. There can be up to 3 additional team members on the team, contributing to the initial application, semifinalist interviews, etc. but the team should not exceed five members.

 

Chinyeh Hostler Social Venture: H2O Impact Challenge - Marketing Kit