XLRI's Social Projects sweep "Kalpavriksha"

Two Projects supported by XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust (*), Parichay and Swavalamban were judged 1st and 2nd respectively in the IIM Indore's Social Business Plan contest "Kalpavriksha" - a forum for self sustainable business plans with the potential to make a difference to society.

The two projects were selected from among 103 entries from across the B-Schools, and were judged by executives from Aavishkaar India Micro Venture Capital Fund, IndianNGO.com and India Development Gateway

Besides the prize money, along with other finalists they will also receive mentorship by executives from IndianNGO.com and India Development Gateway, a capital market place for social ventures in India. They will also be able to put up their ideas on India Development Gateway.

As the winner of the event, Parichay will get a direct semi-final entry into the Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) to be held at Foster School of Business in Seattle, USA (Feb 23-27, 2009)

-------
(*) On Nov 16th, more than 300 students and faculty will participate in XL Dream Run, to generate funds for the XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust, which supports such projects.

Posted by Madhukar

The "other" runners

besides the 300 students...

List of Runners

Faculty/Staff

Prof. Ashis Kumar Pani
Fredrick D'Souza (Freddie)
Fr James Santhanam
Prof. Madhukar Shukla
Prof. Madhvi Sethi
Prof. Raghu Ram Tata
Prof. Sanjay Patro
Prof. Sanjeev Varshney
Prof. Santanu Gupta
Prof. Sharad Sarin
Dr. R Parameswaran

http://www.xldreamrun.com

A Fund-Raising Event

for
The XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust

SBI XLRI Branch Code: SBIN0004660
A/c No: 30274085172

[Pl visit the website to donate through Paypal]

Update on XL Dream Run

Contributions to the XL Dream Run have reached $2050 and 13,500Rs. There's still a way to go before hitting the targeted 10,000$ mark.

To inspire you to donate, here are some appeals from XLers who have already donated to the cause.

Now that the clouds have parted and beam of sunlight shines on the US of A, I would like to remind you guys to reach into your pocket and give some money for this good cause. According to Madhukar, they have reached 50% of their target. This was what I had contemplated doing graduating from XL, but did not have the guts to do so. These new kids have the conviction to do it. So for the sacrifice of a week of Starbucks lattes or a dinner at a decent restaurant, you can help these guys succeed in their endeavors. Yeah, I know times are tough, but see it as a opportunity to kick that caffeine habit.
Regards
Subash

From someone from the 81 batch :
madhukar... can i do a parallel effort ..since none of us can be in jameshedpur for the run. So '81 batch, here is the option: i am attempting to cycle 75km on 16th november as part of the bangalore ultra marathon (ok, its a run, but as an ex runner, i am being allowed to cycle it, and 75km is a huge strecth for me, i may end up doing far less)- so will any of you pledge moneys for every 5km I cycle ? and pay directly to the Xl dream run site , once i confirm back on how much i was really able to achieve on 16th It will also be a huge motivator for me to push on !

Update from Madhukar :


XL Dream Run is a unique – and perhaps first of its kind in any B-School – event, when 300 students of XLRI Jamshedpur would run to raise funds for a cause – The XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust.

The event will be held on November 16th, '08 in Jamshedpur.

The 300 students registered for the event also include the exchange students from 5 b-schools in France, Germany, Manila, and Sweden who are spending one term at XLRI. Some faculty have also registered for the event.

The funds are donated by XLRI alumni through the website of the event (http://www.xldreamrun.com) or through bank-transfer/ cheques.

The donations have started coming in – and are increasing everyday – from alumni across batches & located across the globe - USA, UK, UAE, Egypt, Singapore, Switzerland, and of course, India.

SBI XLRI Branch Code: SBIN0004660
A/c No: 30274085172
[Pl send the transaction details to xldreamrun[at]xlri[dot]ac[dot]in, if making a bank transfer]
Pl visit the website to donate through Paypal

The XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust was established to promote and support “entrepreneurship with a social cause” among the students, alumni and community. At present it supports 3 social ventures which are launched by some of the present batch (07-09) students, who have decided to take this “road less traveled” as a career option (and skip the campus placements in '09):

1. Parichay

A large part of India’s traditional rural and tribal art is dying because (1) the artisans, being disconnected from the market, have not been able to contemporize their designs, and (2) since they have no direct access to the market, do not find their work remunerative enough to continue.

Parichay is a venture to connect the rural/tribal artisans & craftsmen to the market. Started 6months back, the venture:

has co-opted some well-known designers, who are developing product-prototypes for them, and

is negotiating with NIFT, Pearle Academy, etc. who have shown interest to send their students for internship

has built The Learning & Design Center, where the rural/tribal artisans will be trained to develop the product-prototypes, and the first workshop is likely to be held within a month or so.

is being considered by Jharkraft for recognition and support

is in the initial stage of negotiation with NABARD, which has shown interest in the venture

2. Swavalamban

A large number of Indian villages are geographically scattered, a for most the national power grid passes by kilometers away. Providing electricity can only be done through a more decentralized and self-sustaining model.

Swavalamban aims to use patented "ox-driven generator" technology to provide electricity to the villages in Jharkhand. So far the venture has made following progress:

Got their first order from JREDA (Jharkhand Renewable Agency Development Agency)

Got sanction from the Jharkhand Tribal Minster to electrify one village as a working “proof of concept”

After seeing the working model, Tata Motor's CSR dept and SEEDS (an NGO) have accepted to order 5 units each for testing in the villages they serve.

NTPC has agreed to acquire 200 units at a research level

L&T has seen the prototype, and in principle agreed to acquire some for their CSR activities... etc.

3.Dream4Others

This is the youngest venture of all – got registered as a firm less than a month back. It is a venture which aims to use online market-surveys to generate funds for registered NGOs.

It is being mentored by an XLRI alumnus, with more than 20years of experience in market research.

------------
will sponsor the T-Shirts for the event.

AACSB accepts XLRI's Membership

The US-Based international accreditation agency The Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has accepted XLRI as a Member Institution.

The membership is the first step towards the accreditation process.

555 institutes have been accredited by AACSB worldwide. No Indian business-school has been awarded accreditation so far.

"XL-Dream-Run" - Donate for an XL Cause

Hello Folks!

Seeking your contribution for The XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust:

http://tinyurl.com/XL-SocialEntrepreneurshipTrust

through

XL Dream Run (Nov 16th, '08):

http://www.xldreamrun.com

(organised by XLANC, XL Sportscom, CII's Young Indian Chapter @ XLRI, & XLRI Alumni Association)

- 300 XL students (including the exchange program students from foreign B-Schools) & Faculty have registered to participate in the XL Dream Run for this cause

- Donations received from alumni across batches (earliest 73batch & youngest 07batch) and from across the globe (Egypt, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE, UK, USA... and of course, India ;)

- Contributions from the "Early Donors" (during last one week) have given us a head-start with a kitty of approx $1850... and more are coming

The Cause:
The XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust is supporting 3 Social Entrepreneuship Ventures by XL students who have decided to take the "road less travelled" as a career option. These are nascent ventures, currently in the form of partnership firms. We are trying to provide them support through the initial incubation loans (thanks to the Rs 10.5lac contributions received from the XLRI batch of '81 and from the Jamshedpur Alumni Chapter)

The details of the social venture projects approved to be funded by the Trust are available at:

http://tinyurl.com/XL-SET-Projects

Briefly, these are:

- Parichay: a venture to connect the rural/tribal artisans & craftsmen to the market. It was covered here earlier this month:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081012/jsp/jharkhand/story_9957000.jsp

- Swavalamban: a venture to use "ox-driven generator" (patented technology) to provide electricity to rural India. It was covered here a few days back:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081018/jsp/jharkhand/story_9985179.jsp

- Dreams4Others: a venture to use online market-surveys to provide funds to NGOs.

To raise funds for these and other future activities of the XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust, we are organising the XL Dream Run (http://www.xldreamrun.com) , on Nov 16, '08 - where the XL students/faculty will run for the cause, and the alumni can pledge money for the cause.

How You Can Contribute:

1. You can make an online donation through the Paypal Account on the http://www.xldreamrun.com website

OR

2. Make a bank-transfer/ send check on following details

XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust

SBI XLRI Branch Code: SBIN0004660

A/c No: 302740851721

(pl send the transaction details to xldreamrun@xlri.ac.in)

OR

3. Cheques to XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust can be sent to:

Dr Madhukar Shukla

Secretary - XLRI Social Entrepreneurship Trust

XLRI

CH Area East)

Jamshedpur 831 035 (India)

If you can contribute (whatever amount) it will be our pleasure to have your name at:
http://tinyurl.com/XlDreamRun-Donors

Please also help us out by communicating/ pleading/ coercing/ blackmailing your bachmates or other xlers - even non-XLers - to contribute ;)

This will be one of its kind event - and we also look for you help for Corporate Sponsorship, Media Coverage, etc.

thanks and cheers

madhukar