Deadline: 15 October 2019
Are you a Caribbean national between the ages of 18 – 34 years, with an innovative water-related project idea? Then enter the GWP-Carribbean’s “Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition”.
The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) has for many years, recognised the critical importance of creating avenues for young people to become involved in water governance and management ventures. Development challenges in the Caribbean will ultimately be inherited by the region’s youth. Young people are providers of solutions and have ideas and energy to act for sustainable development.
Themes
GWP-C’s Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition seeks to provide a unique opportunity for young persons from the Caribbean between the ages of 18 to 34 years, to pitch innovative and impactful water project ideas to support better water resources management in their community, country or the Caribbean region under the themes:
- Water and Climate
- Water and Agriculture
- Water and Health
- Water and Energy
- Water and Tourism
Participants will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas directly to investors (sharks) for a chance to secure seed funding of 4,000 Euros, to advance their innovative water-related project idea. The competition’s sharks will include a mix of investors, such as GWP-C Partners, entrepreneurs, water and environmental specialists, innovation strategists, business development specialists, youth representatives, government officials and more.
The Sharks/Judges
There will be two (2) groups of “sharks” or judges in the competition. The sharks/judges will include a mix of professionals (including GWP-C Partners, strategic allies, development partners and other organisations). The competition’s sharks will comprise of:
- Private Investors
- Investment Entities
- Caribbean Water Specialists
- Entrepreneurs
- Innovation Strategists
- Business Development Specialists
- Youth Representatives
- Marketing Specialists
- Government Officials
- Water and Environmental Specialists and more
Award Information
- All entrants in the competition will receive a certificate of participation to recognise their efforts and interest in water sustainability. The competition’s seven (7) finalists will each receive a personalised plaque.
- The winner of the competition will receive a special plaque and seed funding of 4,000 Euros to further develop their innovative water project idea. The winner of the competition and the other finalists will also have their projects featured on the Youth for Water and Climate (YWC) platform for additional exposure.
Eligibility Criteria
- Caribbean or Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals between the ages of 18 – 34 years with innovative water projects focused on advancing better water resources management in the Caribbean (community, national or regional level).
- Entrants in the competition must be nationals of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Entry Requirements
Phase 1: The Application
- To enter, applicants must:
- Submit a completed project proposal using the template.
- Submit a 2 – 3 minute video (this can be filmed on a mobile phone) pitching to camera.
- All applications (proposal and video pitch) must be in English. Entrants must submit their project proposal and 2 – 3 minute video pitch via e-mail to the address given on the website.
Please note that a maximum of two (2) persons can apply together on a submission.
Phase 2: Review of Applications (Project Proposal and Video Pitch)
All submissions (project proposal and video pitch) will be reviewed by the competition’s first group of sharks. These sharks will be different from those in the final round of the competition. The best seven (7) submissions (proposal and video) will be selected to advance to the final stage of the competition. Each of the seven (7) finalists will receive feedback, critiques and advice on their submissions to prepare for their final pitch to the second group of sharks. Proposals and pitches in this phase of the competition will be assessed based on various areas (but not limited to):
- Innovation
- Water Resources Management Relevance
- Practicality of Implementation
- Projected Impact
- Financial Feasibility
- Project Sustainability
- Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
- Business/Industry Analysis
- Market Research
- Competitive Analysis
Phase 3 (Final Stage): The Pitch
Seven (7) finalists will compete for the prize of 4,000 Euros and will be invited to pitch their water project idea to a group of sharks. These sharks will be different from the first group that reviewed competitors’ submissions. Finalists will be provided with relevant guidelines/criteria three (3) weeks in advance of their final pitch to the sharks. The pitches to the panel of sharks will take place virtually.
For more information, please visit https://www.gwp.org/en/GWP-Caribbean/WE-ACT/news-page/News-and-Activities/gwp-c-shark-tank-competition/