APPLY FOR UNILEVER YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AWARDS

We are living in a world where temperatures are rising, water shortages are more frequent, food supplies are increasingly scarce and the gap between rich and poor is increasing. Populations are growing fast, making basic hygiene and sanitation even more of a challenge. We can overcome these challenges and build a bright future for everyone, if we work together. But to do this, the world needs a plan.

Against this backdrop, Unilever launches the ‘Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards for 2017’, in partnership with The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and, in collaboration with Ashoka to support, inspire, reward and collaborate with a new generation of the world’s most brilliant young change makers; innovators who are the future of sustainability. These Awards are all about supporting and celebrating inspirational young people from all over the world with existing initiatives, products or services that are tackling some of the planet’s biggest sustainability challenges. These Awards recognise 18 to 35 year olds who are putting ideas into action.

At Unilever, we have a clear purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace. We see a big opportunity to support, inspire, reward and collaborate with a new generation of the world’s most brilliant young change-makers – innovators who are the future of sustainable growth.

Are you working hard on an innovative solution, or know someone that is?

Unilever is looking for innovative and scalable technologies or initiatives that are contributing to one or more of these four categories:

• Farm to Table,
• Opportunities for Women
• Waste
• Water.

Eligibility

• The competition is open to founders or co-founders, aged between 18 and 35 (as of 30 June 2017), of initiatives from any part of the world with the exception of those based in Russia, due to local data protection laws. 
• Initiatives must relate to one or more of the categories: Farm to Table, Opportunities for Women, Waste and Water. 
• Entries must have grown beyond the conceptual stage to include actions the applicant has already taken – whether through informal networks, via an existing institution, or by creating a new enterprise. 
• Entries cannot be accepted from current Unilever employees, nor can entries promote Unilever or its products, however, the entrepreneur may have worked with Unilever in the past or may be working with Unilever currently as a third party supplier. 
• Entries must be submitted in English. 
• Entrants must be available to attend the Accelerator Programme in Cambridge from Friday 27th October, and subsequent events in London the following week.

Assessment Criteria

Entrants will be assessed on the following;

• Initiative Summary 
• Team 
• Impact 
• Business Model (including Financial Plan & Growth; Innovation & Competition Awareness) 
• How the Awards process and prizes would impact the success of the initiative. 
• How effectively the entrepreneur is able to engage with relevant communities and stakeholders to realise the potential of the solution. 
• How the level of ambition is underpinned by the capability to deliver.

Prizes

The Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards will recognise up to eight winners in 2017. All will attend a special prize event hosted in London.

The winner of the ‘HRH The Prince of Wales Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Prize’ will receive a €50,000 cash award and one-to-one mentoring support tailored to their specific needs for a duration of 12 months.

The category winners will receive a €10,000 cash award and one-to-one mentoring support tailored to their specific needs for a duration of 12 months.

The category finalists will receive a €7,000 cash award and one-to-one mentoring support tailored to their specific needs for a duration of 12 months.

Apply Now