Social Challenges Innovation Platform spearheaded by META, EBN, and Impact Hubs around the world recently awarded 1.23 Million Euros to 41 entrepreneurs to solve pressing social and environmental challenges in Europe.

Social Challenges Innovation Platform spearheaded by META, EBN, and Impact Hubs around the world recently awarded 1.23 Million Euros to 41 entrepreneurs to solve pressing social and environmental challenges in Europe.

The first round of challenges attracted 225 submissions from 27 countries with the vast majority (83%) stemming from for-profit entities (SMEs, startups and VAT professionals). While 16% came from non-profit entities (associations, NGOs) and a handful from educational institutions (universities).

The 41 entrepreneurs who were selected will receive grants of 30,000€ each and enter into a 6-month program to develop a minimum viable product to be tested with the support of a European partner. Awarded organizations include: Cocycler, Route4U, Aslogic, Patyna, Backstage.Network, Feelif, Change Please, GreenApes, Cerqana, and Kuorum.

The full list can be viewed here and includes entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs along with other organizations that have been selected and granted to tackle the European social challenges promoted through the platform during the first call for solutions.

The selection process was carried out by the organizations that listed the social challenges on the platform together with a panel of 7 experts:
Dario Mazzella, META Group
Marina Sarli, Impact HUB GmbH
David Tee, European BIC Network
Bernard Uyttendaele, EVPA
Carolina Arriagada, HULT Prize
Fiona Hazell, Inclusive Business Accelerator
Esteban Pelayo, EURADA

Since the announcement in February, SocialChallenges.eu is now hosting new challenges for its second call for impactful solutions. Entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs are invited to propose their solutions by April 15th, 2018.
Further information about the open challenges can be found here.