Undergraduate winners of the 2024 New Ideas competition pitch their business solutions to a panel of judges, including influential business leaders. Courtesy photo
Do you have an idea, big or small, on how business can be a force for good in our communities or society at large? Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business wants to hear it.
Fuqua’s New Ideas pitch competition, hosted by Duke’s The Dialogue Project, is open to undergraduates in their freshman, sophomore or junior year of a four-year degree program based in the U.S. Ten grand-prize will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Fuqua’s campus to pitch their ideas and connect with like-minded changemakers.
Application deadline is January 1, 2025.
FUQUA’S DIALOGUE PROJECT
The competition challenges students to propose innovative solutions that align business practices with societal impact. It is part of Fuqua’s broader effort to position business as a tool for societal good, a mission highlighted by the school’s Dialogue Project.
The competition challenges undergraduates to think big. Students will develop proposals that address a pressing global issue – be it climate change, social inequality, or technological ethics – and demonstrate how business strategies can drive meaningful change. Students can pitch solutions for a specific company or business, an industry sector, or a new entrepreneurial idea of their own. Proposals should demonstrate positive impact on a specific community, population, industry, or the environment at large.
The ten winners will be selected to visit Fuqua’s campus in Durham, North Carolina. There, they’ll gain valuable feedback on their proposals from influential business leaders participate in a live case study. Winners are also eligible for partial scholarship funding to one of Fuqua’s one-year master’s programs if they choose to apply and admitted to the program.
Past finalist projects have included a business solution for bridging the digital divide in Chicago public schools, utilizing “mobile markets” and supermarket trucks to alleviate hunger in food deserts, and a series of algorithm changes for Meta’s platform to help reduce political polarization.
Winners of the New Ideas 2024 competition got a personal tour of Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke University. Courtesy photo
The New Ideas competition builds upon Fuqua’s “Using Business as a Force for Good” initiative, which spotlights the school’s commitment to socially conscious business practices. The Dialogue Project has become a hub for conversations about how business schools can prepare students to address global challenges.
U.S. undergraduates from any major or academic discipline are invited to apply, and students of any nationality or citizenship are eligible. Whether you’re studying engineering, public policy, or the arts, the competition is a chance to demonstrate how your unique perspective can contribute to shaping a better future through business.
Submissions can be an essay, a business plan, or a combination of the two addressing your “business for good” topic.
You can learn more about the competition, submission guidelines, and how to apply here.
