Link ~> http://techcabal.com/2015/03/10/applications-open-for-project-inspires-25000-grant/

According to a media release on Project Inspire’s website, MasterCard and the Singapore Committee for UN Women announced they’re calling for submissions from social entrepreneurs for this year’s ‘Project Inspire: 5 minutes to change the world’ challenge competition.


The competition is a global challenge that allows 18-35 year olds pitch their ideas to the world. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how they intend to use design or technology as a tool in their line of work to enable and empower women economically across Asia, the Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA) –hence, the title for this year’s theme: ‘Technology or Design for Economic Empowerment’.

“The impact that we’ve seen since 2011 through the competition for women and girls around the world, has truly cemented Singapore as the perfect environment to profile and catapult young social entrepreneurs on a global stage,” Trina Liang-Lin, President, Singapore Committee for UN Women explains.

Other partners to this women empowerment and social entrepreneurship programme are knowledge partner INSEAD (The Business School for the World), strategic partner Bain & Company and project supporting partner Top3 Media.

The grand prize is $25,000 while runners-up have $10,000 prize on offer to bring their dream to fruition.

“Celebrating five years of Project Inspire is a milestone that I am incredibly proud of. The strong partnership with long standing partner and co-founders, MasterCard as well as the much welcomed support from INSEAD: The Business School for the World, Bain & Company, Hilton WorldWide and Top3 Media are a testament to how much the competition has grown, and continues to grow over the years” she added.

Potential applicants are to submit a five-minute video explaining how they will use the $25,000 grant to improve the lives of women and (or) girls. Twenty semi-finalists will be chosen to move on to the crowd-funding stage of the competition. Next, finalists will be selected from that stage to attend the grand finals in Singapore; where they will pitch their inspired ideas to a panel of judges.