Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to cancer research and the largest funder of cancer research in Europe.
Open Ventures Challenge
The Open Ventures Challenge will harness the interests, skills and resources of crowds and use these to create viable new fundraising ventures for Cancer Research UK.
These ventures could be a new chain of coffee shops that donates a percentage of profits; a record label that gives a fixed fee for every sale; or a web business that doesn't openly support Cancer Research UK, but is part-owned by them. The point is to create multimillion pound ventures to help fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.
"To me it feels like it’s bigger than just Cancer Research – it feels like the way to do things in the future."
Bianca Cawthorne, Open Ventures Challenge participant
How it works
NESTA, Cancer Research UK and mo.jo are now calling for people with good business ideas - or the skills and energy to help make them happen.
In early 2009, people will start building teams around their favourite ideas and developing a business plan, with support from Cancer Research UK.
In spring 2009, the best groups will be selected for intensive coaching and mentoring to get their venture ready for an investment pitch.
In summer 2009, the groups will present their ventures to Cancer Research UK's venture board. The successful teams will walk away with at least £10,000 in investment to pilot their idea.
Stew McTavish, Founder of mo.jo and Clare Cotton, Venture Catalyst at Cancer Research UK
"It’ll be really interesting to see how ideas germinate within this wider group – and how people overcome challenges in a collaborative way, when everyone’s coming at them from a different perspective."
Michael Hall, Open Ventures Challenge participant
How to get involved
Cancer Research UK has selected 23 venture proposals to enter the final stage of The Open Ventures Challenge. We're now looking for people interested in supporting these ventures to help take them to the next stage of commercialisation. The best ventures will receive pilot funding of up to £10,000. To find out how you can help, please visit http://ovc.mo.jo
Partners:
|
|
|
 |
mo.jo is focused on developing open models in venture creation, which enable anyone to actively participate in innovation creation, project development and resource investment. |
Subscribe to the RSS FeedRelated articles:
- Interview with Clare Cotton, Cancer Research UK, on innovations in fundraising
- Interview with Stew McTavish, Founder of mo.jo (Social Enterprise website)