The Venture is an international fund providing social entrepreneurs with $1m financial assistance, support from a ‘world-famous business mentor’ and global exposure for their company or idea.
Up to 20 finalists will be invited to a week-long training camp in Silicon Valley, California to meet leading technology companies, receive mentoring by experts and pitch for a portion of the $1m funding.
The public will be able to support their favourite ideas by voting and donating through the website www.theventure.com.
The launch of The Venture coincides with the release of Redefining Success in a Changing World, a report commissioned by Chivas Regal and co-authored by experts from the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford’s Saïd Business School.
Richard Black, Chivas Regal global brand director, said: “We have always valued entrepreneurship, and generosity is at the heart of Chivas, so supporting those who use their success to create value for others feels like a natural fit.
“We are committing significant resources through The Venture to find and support the most inspiring social entrepreneurs around the world, and hope that each of those businesses will inspire other entrepreneurs to use business as a force for good, creating a growing movement with real momentum behind it, ” said Black.
