GSBI FAQ
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GSBI General FAQs | GSBI Accelerator FAQs | GSBI Online FAQs GSBI General FAQsWhat is the GSBI?
How is GSBI Online different from the GSBI Accelerator?"From Blueprint to Scale[1]," produced by Monitor Group in collaboration with Acumen Fund, defines four stages of development for firms that are pioneering new business models: Blueprint, Validate, Prepare, and Scale. GSBI Online works with social entrepreneurs who are in the Blueprint and Validate stages and supports efforts to create a compelling initial business plan and refine the business model. The GSBI Accelerator works with organizations in the Prepare and Scale stages. It is focused on later-stage, investment-ready organizations with potential to reach significant scale by providing mentoring from Silicon Valley veterans, highly specialized instruction, intensive on-campus education, and matching with interested funding partners. The outputs for GSBI Online are the inputs for the GSBI Accelerator (see also Figure 1 and Table 1 below). That is, GSBI Online graduates will have completed most application materials for the GSBI Accelerator by way of completing the program. Therefore, GSBI Online graduates will have an advantage in applying to the GSBI Accelerator after graduation. Some have referred to GSBI Online as basic training for social entrepreneurs, and the GSBI Accelerator as "graduate school."
Figure 1: The GSBI Social Enterprise Support System
How are the GSBI Accelerator and GSBI Online different from the first 10 years of the GSBI program?Since its inception, the GSBI has focused on fundamental business training for social enterprises. The GSBI Accelerator works with enterprises to achieve operational excellence and obtain necessary capital to enable rapid scaling and impact. The GSBI Accelerator is being designed in partnership with over a dozen Impact Investor Partners who are working to create a tailored program that addresses the specific barriers that each social enterprise faces in obtaining financing for scaling. Impact Investment Partners will provide input to tailor the pre-work modules and the in-residence curriculum for each selected social enterprise. GSBI Online is the "younger sibling" of the GSBI Accelerator. It helps early-stage social enterprises with their fundamentals (such as business strategy, operational planning, metrics, and financials). The learning outputs of GSBI Online are part of the application requirements for the GSBI Accelerator program. Why has GSBI evolved?GSBI sees its mission in supporting social enterprises at various stages of their development. The GSBI Accelerator focuses on maximizing impact by helping established successful social enterprises become investment ready so as to rapidly scale their impact. GSBI Online works with new ventures to develop a financially sustainable business model and a fundable business plan. Moreover, GSBI supports other incubators developed within the GSBI Network. Who should participate in the GSBI Accelerator or GSBI Online on behalf of my organization?The person who represents an organization at GSBI must be the operational leader of that organization (e.g., COO, CEO). Only one representative from each selected organization will be asked to attend the in-residence portion of the GSBI Accelerator. However, more than one person can work on the online work of the GSBI Accelerator and the GSBI Online program. We encourage frequent communication with your team during the in-residence portion of the GSBI Acclerator. Who are the GSBI Mentors?More than 70 successful Silicon Valley executives, many former founders of NASDAQ companies or venture capitalists, serve as mentors for the GSBI. You can view the current list here: http://www.scu.edu/socialbenefit/entrepreneurship/gsbi/mentor.cfm. How will my GSBI Mentors be chosen?You will be assigned a lead mentor with C-level experience who will act as an executive coach. We take their interests and domain experience along with your organization's needs into account in the matching process. You and your mentors are responsible for identifying your Local Mentor. What do participants get out of the GSBI?All participants will be matched with mentors offering skills to complement participants' goals. Mentor and entrepreneurs will have access to the GSBI curriculum developed for the unique stage of their organization. Do GSBI social entrepreneurs get funded?The GSBI is a capacity building program and does not directly provide funding. However, many GSBI Alumni have received funding through networking opportunities provided by the program and after presenting their business plan pitches. We have engaged a dozen Impact Investor Partners to increase our ability to match GSBI Alumni with meaningful investment opportunities. Do I have to use the application templates?You have to fill out the distinct application forms for the GSBI Accelerator and GSBI Online found on our website. How can I nominate a social enterprise/entrepreneur for GSBI?You can help us recruit high quality social enterprises ready to scale by sharing the GSBI Accelerator or GSBI Online application materials with any eligible entrepreneur. Alternatively, if you do not have direct contact with the entrepreneur, you can e-mail the company information and website to gsbi@scu.edu. We will submit the organization's data into our recruitment research group. How can I volunteer to help at the GSBI?The Center can always benefit from the contributions of a select number of skilled volunteers. Please email our Director of Operations and Administration, Spencer Arnold at carnold@scu.edu with your interests and skills.
GSBI Accelerator FAQs
What is the GSBI Accelerator?The GSBI Accelerator addresses the needs of social enterprises striving for the operational excellence and capital investment to reach scale. Over an 8-month period, from April to December each year, the GSBI Accelerator works with selected social enterprises to become investment ready. The GSBI Accelerator is open to any social enterprise, regardless of legal form, from anywhere in the world, who is working to impact the lives of those living in the "bottom of the pyramid." After submitting application packages (including an application form, elevator pitch, business plan, financials, and operating plan), the most promising entrepreneurs receive one of up to 15 of the coveted scholarships for the GSBI program, including a 9-day in-residence in August. GSBI has over 180 alumni organizations in 55 countries. 95% of GSBI Alumni are still in operation and 55% are scaling. Who is eligible for the GSBI Accelerator?Operational leaders whose organizations are either at the Prepare (Growth) or Scale (Expansion) stages of the business life cycle (see also Figure 1 and Table 1 above). Do I have to use the application templates?You have to fill out the distinct application forms for the GSBI Accelerator and GSBI Online. For the elevator pitch, business plan, financials, and operating plan required for the GSBI Accelerator you are free to use any format you prefer. Will my application be kept confidential?Yes. All application material will be treated as confidential information and only shared with those reviewing applications for the GSBI. Parties included in the review include GSBI Leadership and the Application Review Team. Our GSBI Impact Investor Partners will receive an overview of GSBI Accelerator applicants to determine which they may have interest in funding. Before any application materials are shared with interested investors, we will first obtain each applicant's express permission. What metrics are being used to evaluate my application for the GSBI Accelerator?Applications will be evaluated by the GSBI Team on the basis of the following criteria using this scoring matrix
How will the participants in the GSBI Accelerator be selected?The GSBI Leadership and the Application Review Team will rank Application Packages using a standardized scoring matrix. After reviewing all applications, 25-40 of the highest scoring applicants will be selected as semifinalists and asked to participate in one to two 30-minute interviews conducted over the phone or Skype. All scores developed by the Application Review Team will be kept confidential and will only be used for semifinalist selection. What do participants get out of the GSBI?All participants will be matched with mentors offering skills to complement participants' goals. Mentor and entrepreneurs will have access to the GSBI curriculum developed for the unique stage of their organization. Additionally, participants in the GSBI Accelerator will be connected with at least one interested funding partner and have a tailored curriculum for their organization. How will my GSBI Mentors be chosen?You will be assigned a lead mentor with C-level experience who will act as an executive coach. We take their interests and domain experience along with your organization's needs into account in the matching process. Other mentors will be matched with you based on their areas of expertise and your needs in order to help you become more investment ready and achieve operational excellence. You and your mentors are responsible for identifying your Local Mentor. Do the GSBI social entrepreneurs get funded?The GSBI is a capacity building program and does not directly provide funding. However, many GSBI Alumni have received funding through networking opportunities provided by the program and after presenting their business plan pitches. We have engaged a dozen Impact Investor Partners to increase our ability to match GSBI Alumni with meaningful investment opportunities. Participants in the GSBI Accelerator will be selected in part based on whether GSBI has identified a potentially interested investor. What does a typical day during the GSBI Accelerator in-residence look like?Each day will include specialized sessions designed to help you become more investment ready along with time for potential meetings with impact investors. You will also have time to work with your mentors and incorporate concepts from the tailored curriculum and feedback from your meetings and participate in facilitated CEO roundtable discussions with GSBI Mentors, Staff, and your peers. Who are the GSBI Impact Investor Partners and what is their role?The GSBI Accelerator is currently being advised by over a dozen Impact Investor Partners including Accion, Acumen Fund, Bamboo Finance, Beyond Capital Fund, Emcor Securities, Grassroots Business Fund, Halloran Philanthropies, Hub Ventures, Invested Development, Khosla Impact, KL Felicitas, Skoll Foundation, The Eleos Foundation, Toniic, and Village Capital. The role of this group is to advise the GSBI on impact market dynamics, selection of social enterprises, criteria for investment, among a variety of topics to guide our focus on investment readiness. Input from Impact Investor Partners will help us tailor curriculum to improve program participants' operational excellence and investment attractiveness. GSBI Online FAQs
What is GSBI Online?GSBI Online addresses the needs of social enterprises that have passed the idea stage and have either set up a new enterprise, are in the process of validating their ideas in the marketplace, or are in the process of further widening their reach. Over a 6-month period, participants undergo a rigorous online-based mentoring program. Like the Accelerator, GSBI Online is open to any social enterprise, regardless of legal form, from around the world, which is working to impact the lives of those living in the "bottom of the pyramid." After submitting the application form, the most promising entrepreneurs receive one of up to 20 of the scholarships for the GSBI Online program. Who is eligible for GSBI Online?Operational leaders whose organizations are either at the Validate (New Start-up) or Prepare (Growth) stages of the business life cycle (see also Figure 1 and Table 1 above). Do I have to use the application templates?You have to fill out the distinct application forms for the GSBI Accelerator and GSBI Online Will my application be kept confidential?Yes. All application material will be treated as confidential information and only shared with those reviewing applications for the GSBI. Parties included in the review include GSBI Leadership and the Application Review Team. How will the participants in GSBI Online be selected?The GSBI Leadership and the Application Review Team will rank applications based on a range of criteria (such as impact, development potential, and scalability) determining an applicant's suitability for GSBI Online. There is no interview process for GSBI Online and up to 20 participants will be selected based on the quality of applications received. What do participants get out of the GSBI?All participants will be matched with one GSBI mentor offering skills to complement participants' goals. Mentors and entrepreneurs will have access to the GSBI curriculum developed for the unique stage of their organization. How will my GSBI Mentors be chosen?You will be assigned a lead mentor with C-level experience who will act as an executive coach. We take their interests and domain experience along with your organization's needs into account in the matching process. You and your mentor are responsible for identifying your Local Mentor. Do the GSBI social entrepreneurs get funded?The GSBI is a capacity building program and does not directly provide funding. However, many GSBI Alumni have received funding through networking opportunities provided by the program and after presenting their business plan pitches. [1] Koh, Harvey; Karamchandani, Ashish and Katz, Robert. From Blueprint to Scale. Monitor Group – New York, Apr. 2012. Online: http://www.mim.monitor.com/blueprinttoscale.html (accessed: 2 Apr. 2013). |
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