Newsbyte: SAP and Ashoka Changemakers Announce Winners of Global
Entrepreneurship Competition
WALLDORF, Germany, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP
NEWSBYTE -- SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced the
four winners of the global entrepreneurship competition "The Power
of Small: Entrepreneurs Strengthening Local Economies." They were
selected for their excellence in helping emerging entrepreneurs and
small businesses in underserved communities grow and thrive. Each
organization will receive US$10,000,
a technology donation and promotion and networking opportunities
with SAP executives and customers at SAPPHIRE® NOW + SAP® TechEd,
being held as a co-located event in Madrid from November
13-16 2012.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110126/AQ34470LOGO)
The winners are:
- Adel – Agência Desenvolvimento Econômico Local,
Brazil: Adel, a local development
agency, is building a Youth Entrepreneurship Training Center that
provides practical training such as efficient farming techniques
and business management to young people and supports them with the
development of innovative business models. To provideyoung
entrepreneurs with financial support, Adel has launched the Verdera
Fund and is designing a crowd sourcing model.
- MFA – The Microfranchise Accelerator by The Clothing
Bank (TCB) in partnership with the Business Place Philippi (TBPP),
South Africa: MFA catalyzes and
grows a portfolio of franchise opportunities to empower
self-employed low-income people to build commercially viable
microfranchise businesses. MFA acts as a bridge between franchisors
and franchisees and supports the franchisees for two years to hrlp
ensure that they get the support ecosystem they need to reach
sustainability.
- MySoft by Dossier Digital, Brazil: MySoft develops and distributes apps
for small service providers, thus promoting the digital inclusion
of small businesses. The apps are developed by young people from
underserved communities who are organized in professional
cooperative networks. This allows them to generate an income for
themselves as software developers.
- Wennovation Hub by LoftyInc Allied Partners Limited,
Nigeria: The Wennovation Hub is a
startup business accelerator with a focus on incubating high-impact
startup growth businesses. The Wennovation Hub mobilizes its
internal and external network to seed and fund businesses emerging
from the platform, and gets entrepreneurs from ideas to funding
within six months. The crucial distinction in the hub's incubation
model is that participants come singly with their various ideas for
high-impact entrepreneurship and leave in groups of
businesses.
"SAP is committed to helping the world run better and improving
people lives by supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses to
innovate, grow and realize their full potential," said Eric Duffaut, president, Global Ecosystem &
Channels, SAP AG, and a member of the judge's panel. "The four
winners of our 'Power of Small' competition have innovative
strategies that demonstrate measurable social and sustainable
impact."
Earlier this year, SAP partnered on the initiative with Ashoka
Changemakers, a global community that explores, refines and funds
social entrepreneurs' innovative solutions to the world's most
pressing social problems. Among the 370 total entries from over 69
countries, 11 finalists were selected by a panel of judges and the
Changemakers community voted online to select the winners.
"Entrepreneurship and the creation of local economic
opportunities are foundational to social and environmental progress
worldwide. We've been thrilled to explore the business and
entrepreneurship incubation space with a global company so
instrumental to operational efficiency gains and smart growth like
SAP," said Tim Scheu, senior change
manager, Ashoka Changemakers, which has helped launch and supported
over 3,000 leading social entrepreneurs as Ashoka Fellows.
For more information about the "Power of Small" competition,
visit www.changemakers.com/powerofsmall. During SAPPHIRE NOW + SAP
TechEd Madrid, visit SAP Corporate Social Responsibility onsite in
hall 10 and learn more about the competition and winners.
For announcements, blog posts, videos and other coverage leading
up to and during SAPPHIRE NOW + SAP TechEd, visit the Events
Newsroom. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews and
@sustainableSAP.
Media Contacts:
Alexandra
Seele, +49 (6227) 7-66835, a.seele@sap.com, CET
Evan Welsh, +1 (610) 661-8393,
evan.welsh@sap.com, EST
SOURCE SAP AG