FAQ about Be a Change
What is it?
Be A Change is a two- day conference that helps people start social enterprises. The main idea of Be A Change is that it gives people who are interested in saving the world, in a way or another, a chance to be innovative and get a opportunity to collaborate with others who share the same passion. There will be a Grand Jury assessing your business idea and Be A Change facilitators to develop and help you. Other delegates will also help you because you will collaborate, innovate and you will also build a network of people, that you can make use of. The core idea is to through Be A Change realize social enterprise ideas to real sustainable businesses.
When is it?
Be A Change 2010 is going to be organized on 19-21 November 2010 in Helsinki, Finland.
For whom is it?
For people interested in societal issues and/or entrepreneurship in Finland and abroad. Some of these people want to start their own socially relevant businesses, having already a business idea and a business plan draft for it. Some want to start a business but don't have an idea yet and want to check out new ideas they could grab or collaborate with the ideas of others. Some don't want to start their own business at all but want to share their ideas or knowledge to support others in starting theirs and/or learn more about social entrepreneurship on the way.
What if I get a good business idea during the conference and I'd like to start working on it myself?
Since there is no “myself” way of thinking in social entrepreneurship (with patent on ideas etc.) the idea is that you collaborate with the other delegates at Be A Change. The more the merrier! You may even find the business partner of your dreams! This means that those who are interested in your idea or the cause you are aiming at may join you and give you new fresh ways of thinking making the idea much better.
How can I use this platform for networking and idea development?
Through Be A Change we want to give you the possibility to a big network. For your idea and new business we want you to possibly find a team, a partner or good friends among delegates. Connect with experts in finance, law, social entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurs that have the experience who can help you along the way. We give you the possibilities, you take them.
Maybe you generate a new idea and find a team to make a business plan for it with you so that you can pitch the idea in Be A Chage conference and win the best new idea price.
What if I already have a business idea?
The content flows in the way that you submit your business plan draft to us before 6.11. Then you are in the business plan competition and will get feedback for your draft from the Grand Jury. You can also publish a description of your idea on the homepage so that all participants can get acquainted with the idea and give you their suggestions and contact you if they are interested in working with you. At the event you can finalize your business plan to a functioning business with the help of the sessions, workshops, grand jury, delegates, facilitators etc.
I’m not from Finland. Can I participate?
Everybody is welcome! We are organizing free accommodation in Helsinki for you.
Can I participate in the competition if I have a socially relevant business idea but the best way to make it happen would be to make start an NGO?
Be a Change aims to raise the issue of for-profit sector making a difference in society. Awarding NGO ideas does not serve that purpose. But if you want to make your NGO successful and practice it entrepreneurially and ethically, you should definitely participate, because all the business experts who are there for your questions and all the networks you can make during those 2 days will make a difference in how well your NGO will perform.
What if I don’t have a business idea and want to participate?
You don’t need to have your own idea to participate. If you are interested in social entrepreneurship or are an expert in some area (finance, creative etc.) that could develop other’s ideas and think you could contribute in some way, you are warmly welcome! We don’t want an audience, we want everybody to join the collaboration and be creative! You still have to fill in an application, so that we can see what your preferences are, what you want to get out of Be A Change so that we can make the event as good as possible for you.
What if somebody else grabs an idea that I'd want to grab?
Negotiate about working together. Together you could make the idea bigger and have even more impact with it. Or work separately with the same idea but different focus. If any negotiated agreement is impossible for you to reach, the fairest solution becomes that the one who first marked the idea as one that they're working with, can grab it.
Has something like this been done before?
Social innovation Camp in UK: http://www.sicamp.org. The difference was that all the business ideas developed there were based on Web 2.0.
