2024 Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge
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Welcome to the St.Thomas Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge!

The Fowler GSIC is a social venture learning experience for students, professionals, and entrepreneurs, the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge has connected more than 2,500 innovators from 17 countries around the world - including Australia, South Korea, Rwanda, Ireland, Mexico, and Peru - recognizing their outstanding social ventures based on positive impact and financial sustainability.


The Challenge invites teams to engage with one or more of the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Applicants can address any social or environmental problem of their choice as long as it is aligned with at least one of the Global Goals.

Requirements: Interested applicants must submit to the St.Thomas Business Plan competition, then share a summary of their social venture here on the FGSIC submission portal to be considered for the FGSIC award Submissions may be to 3 to 5 pages maximum. For additional information on round 1 requirements, please view the attached rubric and the detailed checklist. A high-level summary of the checklist is included below. 

Eligibility: Any current student of St. Thomas can compete in the FGSIC individually or as part of a team (with a maximum of five members per team). Alumni are welcome to compete. If an alumni team advances to the June Global Finals, they must have at least one team member that is a current undergraduate or graduate student at the time of participation. The rest of the team may be students/alumni of St.Thomas, another participating university, another non-participating institute, or not be a student at all.

Problem & Solution Summary: 3 to 5 pages ​

1. The Problem Landscape (Introduce problem you've chosen to address and why it matters)​

  • Which SDGs does your problem fall under?​
  • What is the problem you are seeking to address? What is your specific focus area within this problem space?​
  • Who are the key stakeholders impacted by your problem, how specifically do they experience the challenges of the problem and what is the impact (economic, mental, social?)​

2. The Solution Landscape (explore the current solutions available in your problem area)​

  • What major initiatives or organizations already exist that are delivering solutions to your problem (commercial, non-profit, or governmental)​
  • What is missing from the solutions landscape that has created a gap towards solving the problem?​

3. Solution Introduction (Preview your innovation and who you plan to target with a solution)​

  • How has your research shaped your thinking towards a possible solution?​
  • What is your unique solution? How will it work? How will it be delivered?​

4. Primary/Secondary Research (Demonstrate solid research and cite sources)​

  • What sources have you drawn from? Have you properly cited referenced work in your paper?