The Oxford University 21st Century Challenge Competition is a new international entrepreneurship competition, jointly organized by the Oxford Science Enterprise Centre (OxSEC) and the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilisation (JMI) at the Said Business School, Oxford.
This new competition is open to entrepreneurs world wide, and is looking to encourage innovative new business ideas - from new products and services to innovative operational processes and business models that can help to solve some of the major social, environmental and health challenges of the 21st century.
This year the competition has a total prize fund of £65,000, with £35,000 for the overall winner and three runners-up prizes of £10,000.
Entries can be from individuals, teams, new companies, existing companies creating spin-offs, students, scientists, academics and entrepreneurs. Entries must:
- Be innovative
- Be a for-profit venture
- Address a pressing 21st Century Challenge, within one of the tracks above
- Not have received more than £250K in funding to date
- Demonstrate a positive social and/or environmental impact as well as a financial return
Entries are welcome any time up to the deadline for submissions, 5pm (GMT) on Friday 12th October 2007. The finalists will be announced in early November, with the Final itself tasking place at Said Business School, Oxford, on Thursday 29th November 2007.
More info;http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/21challenge
Sunday, September 23, 2007
StartUp Which Could Work
What Is Wishpot:
Wishpot, the wishlist creation site, has joined the Seattle incubator Curious Office Partners.
What Company Is Offering:
Wishpot, which allows shoppers to create online wish lists and gift registries from multiple retailers, including items found in physical stores.
Why is it In News:
Wishpot recently got seed investment from a group of angel investors, including Adrian Hanauer, co-founder of Curious Office. What’s more, Kelly Smith of Curious Office has joined Wishpot’s advisory board. Now that Wishpot has angel investors to mentor the company founders, what better way than by signing up for Curious Office Partners?
The announcement follows Wishpot's seed
The organization puts Wishpot in good company, as Curious Office has also invested in Shelfari and SEOmoz. The hope is to get more funding for Wishpot, as an organization like Curious Office can grant access to investors and other resources. Wishpot is reportedly working on a Series A round of investment. Wishpot has recently launched a Facebook application where you can share your wishlists with friends and offer gift recommendations.
More at:http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/venture/archives/122263.asp?source=rss
Wishpot, the wishlist creation site, has joined the Seattle incubator Curious Office Partners.
What Company Is Offering:
Wishpot, which allows shoppers to create online wish lists and gift registries from multiple retailers, including items found in physical stores.
Why is it In News:
Wishpot recently got seed investment from a group of angel investors, including Adrian Hanauer, co-founder of Curious Office. What’s more, Kelly Smith of Curious Office has joined Wishpot’s advisory board. Now that Wishpot has angel investors to mentor the company founders, what better way than by signing up for Curious Office Partners?
The announcement follows Wishpot's seed
The organization puts Wishpot in good company, as Curious Office has also invested in Shelfari and SEOmoz. The hope is to get more funding for Wishpot, as an organization like Curious Office can grant access to investors and other resources. Wishpot is reportedly working on a Series A round of investment. Wishpot has recently launched a Facebook application where you can share your wishlists with friends and offer gift recommendations.
More at:http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/venture/archives/122263.asp?source=rss
YoZone by YoNaturals
YoZone by YoNaturals is a vending machine dedicated to organic products. Based in San Diego, YoNaturals offers an alternative to vending machines that are typically stocked with junk food.
YoNaturals offers a wide range of items, from fresh fruit to products by well-known brands like Tazo (tea), Clif Bar (energy bars), Vitamin (beverages) and Horizon Organic (dairy). Operators and location managers can choose from more than 150 natural and organic foods and beverages, order through an online ordering system, and have the products delivered in less than three days. YoNaturals is actively seeking locations such as schools, shopping centres, offices, hospitals and fitness centres for placement of YoZone machines, seeking to cater to consumers on the go who are interested in healthier food options.
According to the USDA, sales of organic foods in the U.S. have been increasing 20 to 25 percent annually since 1990. Mark Trotter of YoNaturals explains: "We've studied the business models of Whole Foods, Wild Oats and many other healthy retailers, which have demonstrated that consumers are willing to pay two or three times for brands that they want, and believes that a similar healthy foods program can be developed for the automated vending space.” Sounds like a promising business opportunity for anyone with a verve for vending! Next up: a vending machine brand focusing on vegetarian or halal foods?
Website: www.yonaturals.com
Via-Springwise
YoNaturals offers a wide range of items, from fresh fruit to products by well-known brands like Tazo (tea), Clif Bar (energy bars), Vitamin (beverages) and Horizon Organic (dairy). Operators and location managers can choose from more than 150 natural and organic foods and beverages, order through an online ordering system, and have the products delivered in less than three days. YoNaturals is actively seeking locations such as schools, shopping centres, offices, hospitals and fitness centres for placement of YoZone machines, seeking to cater to consumers on the go who are interested in healthier food options.
According to the USDA, sales of organic foods in the U.S. have been increasing 20 to 25 percent annually since 1990. Mark Trotter of YoNaturals explains: "We've studied the business models of Whole Foods, Wild Oats and many other healthy retailers, which have demonstrated that consumers are willing to pay two or three times for brands that they want, and believes that a similar healthy foods program can be developed for the automated vending space.” Sounds like a promising business opportunity for anyone with a verve for vending! Next up: a vending machine brand focusing on vegetarian or halal foods?
Website: www.yonaturals.com
Via-Springwise
Lynksee takes advantage of free internet tools to allow you to create content without paying
What Company is Offering:
Lynksee is a service that groups the best existing applications of free software. So if you are inexperienced, as if you are an experienced user, you will completely be able to control all applications that Lynksee, using the tools that have the programs themselves, and without restrictions. Do not forget that the world of the free software does not stop. Lynksee Lynksee goes in parallel with him and each day will turn up new applications, improvements or modules for your pages.
How It Will Work:
Lynksee takes advantage of free internet tools to allow you to create content without paying even a centavo. You can make a blog using Wordpress, a wiki using Mediawiki, and a forum using PhpBB. And with Lynksee, you can do all of this without having to jump from one site after another. To get started, you’ll first need to set up your account: choose a name, a category and press accept. From there, start creating content. Lynksee is available in English (could use some work there), Spanish, Italian, and Catalan.
More at:http://www.lynksee.com/
Lynksee is a service that groups the best existing applications of free software. So if you are inexperienced, as if you are an experienced user, you will completely be able to control all applications that Lynksee, using the tools that have the programs themselves, and without restrictions. Do not forget that the world of the free software does not stop. Lynksee Lynksee goes in parallel with him and each day will turn up new applications, improvements or modules for your pages.
How It Will Work:
Lynksee takes advantage of free internet tools to allow you to create content without paying even a centavo. You can make a blog using Wordpress, a wiki using Mediawiki, and a forum using PhpBB. And with Lynksee, you can do all of this without having to jump from one site after another. To get started, you’ll first need to set up your account: choose a name, a category and press accept. From there, start creating content. Lynksee is available in English (could use some work there), Spanish, Italian, and Catalan.
More at:http://www.lynksee.com/
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