Applications Open for Vodafone Techstarter Social Innovation Award!

Deadline: 23 October 2018

Applications are open for Vodafone Techstarter Social Innovation Award which will contribute to the need for industry support to help take commercial and not-for-profit minimum viable products to market readiness and scale.

Vodafone Techstarter is launched in partnership with Social Tech Trust, one of the UK’s leading dedicated drivers of social tech and their charitable body, Vodafone Foundation. They’re looking to support tech ventures on a mission to make a difference in the areas of health and well-being, education, environment, social mobility and inequality.

Vodafone Techstarter offers UK-based social tech ventures and charities the chance to secure funding and gain access to expertise to help take transformational ideas from start-up to scale-up.

This award welcomes applications from organisations including social businesses, charities, social enterprises and CICs that are helping tackle social challenges through technology, connectivity and innovation. The winners will be set up as either for-profit or not-for-profit organisations, but don’t worry, it’ll make sure applicants’ application is considered for the category their organisation is eligible for. Although organisations must be based in the United Kingdom, projects may operate and help people outside of the United Kingdom.

Prize Information

Vodafone Techstarter has a total prize fund of £300,000 to recognise and support new technology innovations by both social businesses and charities.

Type of Awards

There will be ten awards awarded:

Category 1: Not-for-profit awards – supported by the Vodafone Foundation
- Four winners will receive a £35,000 award in cash each
- This category is only open to charities, social businesses, social enterprises, and community interest companies (CICs) which have a social mission defined in the governing documents
- Each Award will be comprised of £35,000 in cash, and a full 12-month programme of support and value-in-kind
Category 2: For-profit awards – supported by Vodafone UK
- Four winners will receive a £35,000 award in cash each
- This category is only open to commercial businesses, enterprises and for-profit start-ups which have a social mission defined in the governing documents
- Each Award will be comprised of £35,000 in cash, and a full 12-month programme of support and value-in-kind
Vodafone Champions award
- Two winners will receive an award of £10,000 cash each
- Winners will be chosen by popular vote amongst Vodafone employees across UK
- One winner will be a not-for-profit organisation, and the other will be a for-profit company
- Vodafone Champions Award winners can also be winners in Categories 1 or 2
Support and value-in-kind:
- In addition to cash to support great ideas and innovation, Vodafone is uniquely placed to support the development and roll-out of new technologies
- They will provide the winning Vodafone Techstarters with a customised 12-month programme of “money-can’t-buy” support, shaped to match the winner’s needs – and will include: in-depth mentorship and access to expert consultation across a range of technical, legal and supply-chain areas; marketing and communications support; investment advice & support; access to commercial partnerships; and full access to the support and network of their partners at Social Tech Trust.

Eligibility Criteria

The award will consider applicants’ applications if their venture has:
- A social mission written into their organisation’s governance or be willing to do so during the funding period
- Potential to deliver social impact at scale
- An innovative approach to tackling a social challenge
- A working product or service that they will continue to test and iterate
- Evidence of their potential to create social as well as user and financial value
- The right team with relevant experience and expertise
- Registration as a UK-based organisation
Please note that Vodafone Foundation awards may only be won by not-for-profit organisations
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- Applicants must tell them in one sentence what their venture does and why and what makes their tech innovation unique.
- Applicants must tell them why it’s socially transformational and what positive impact it will have on people’s lives.
- Applicants must show them their passion and why they do what they do.
- Applicants must show them their team and introduce the people who make it happen.
- Applicants must tell them what the award would mean to their venture and what it would enable them to do.