BWI: Indian University Team SIFE CBS Named Second Runners-up of 2011 Dell Social Innovation Competition

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Dell India
Friday, July 01, 2011 02:09 PM IST (08:39 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest; Business: Accounting & management consultancy services, Business services, Information technology, Media & entertainment; Technology
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Indian University Team SIFE CBS Named Second Runners-up of 2011 Dell Social Innovation Competition


Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Friday, July 01, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- -- Global contest to recognize and encourage young entrepreneurial ideas
-- Team from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Delhi with Project 'Sanitations Solutions'

Dell and the University of Texas at Austin's RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service have announced the winners of the 2011 Dell Social Innovation Competition at an awards ceremony in Austin, Texas. Indian university team SIFE CBS from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies with Project 'Sanitations Solutions' have won the second runners-up award of $10,000. The award is seed money to help fund the business project and bring its innovative idea to life.

Project 'Sanitation Solutions' is a unique project aimed at simultaneously increasing the awareness for the use of hygienic sanitary napkins by women in slums across Delhi while also providing them with a sustained means of livelihood. The project aims at helping these women learn the basic skills of selling, encouraging them to be independent in financial matters. As part of the project, regular awareness camps about sanitary hygiene are held in various slums of Delhi to teach them the basics of hygiene and answer their queries about the same. Sanitary napkins are procured from the manufacturers directly, thereby reducing the cost, and given to the sellers in the slums who in turn are able to earn a reasonable profit margin. The product is available to the slum women at a price which is much lower than the market price and at the same time the quality is not compromised with.

Team SIFE CBS is one of five finalist teams from among 1,400 entries from 85 countries who participated in a competitive business venture plan process and were selected to travel to Austin to present their unique business idea in front of a panel of expert judges.

Now in its fifth year, the Dell Social Innovation Competition inspires university students to approach global social problems through entrepreneurship, technology and sustainability and empowers them with unique skills and opportunities to succeed in a globally competitive workforce.

The first prize of $50,000 was awarded to Project and Team TakaTaka Solutions from London School of Economics, UK, for waste collection and recycling. A second prize of $20,000 was awarded to Project and Team Malo Traders from the Temple University, USA, that looks to use cutting edge technology towards solving problems of post-harvest losses and malnutrition in Mali.

"These teams exemplify ingenuity, passion and entrepreneurial spirit, which is why Dell believes in this program," said Karen Quintos, senior vice president and Chief Marketing Officer at Dell. "This competition gives students an opportunity to put their ideas into action and address some of the world's most serious social issues. Libraries Across Africas's was especially innovative by delivering both digital and customizable book-based services."

This year's competition also included the following category-specific awards:

-- Project 'Libraries Across Africa' received The Dell Technology Award and $10,000, for the social innovation that best leverages technology.
-- Project 'Waste not Wood' received the Tomberg Prize in Environmental Sustainability and $10,000 for the social innovation that best solves an environmental problem.
-- Project 'Possibilities Pakistan' took home this year's Webbie Award along with $1,000 for receiving the most online votes throughout the competition.

The Dell Social Innovation Competition also provides university students with a chance to network with local for-profit and non-profit social entrepreneurs to learn about mentoring opportunities, internships and volunteer positions.

View highlights from the awards ceremony here. For more information, visit http://www.dellsocialinnovationcompetition.com and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Dell4Good.

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