June – August 2023

From June to August 2023, participants can learn how to develop innovative ideas and turn them into a successful business through an online social entrepreneurship course. The course provides expert guidance on key topics such as value proposition, business model, and pitching techniques. Through hands-on exercises, participants gain the knowledge and skills necessary to submit a well-thought-out idea for competition and succeed in the entrepreneurial world.

Deadline: 23 July 2023

Challenge participants submitted their ideas via a form.

August – September 2023

The ideas that make it through the shortlist are published online and shared with the community. The community provides feedback to refine and improve the idea. Challenge participants are given the opportunity to get in touch withaindenr and exchange ideas. Community members can vote for their favorite ideas.

28 September 2023

The eight most promising ideas, as voted by the jury and community, will be presented during a virtual pitching event to a panel of judges and the community. The judges are professionals from diverse fields, including urban planning, architecture, social and economic development, waste and water management, energy, transportation, entrepreneurship, and finance.

October - December 2023

Winners receive professional entrepreneurial mentoring to further develop their concepts. This comprehensive mentoring program includes guidance from experts in the field of entrepreneurship who assist the winners in creating a business plan, advising on legal and financial issues, and formulating business and marketing strategies. The program also explores funding and networking opportunities to help the winners bring their ideas to fruition.

Cities play a crucial role in driving economic development and social progress worldwide. However, the challenges facing cities nowadays are complex and interconnected.

According to the United Nations, over half of the world's population currently lives in urban areas, and this number is projected to reach 68% by 2050. In some countries, urbanisation is occurring even faster, with cities growing by as much as 10% per year. This growth puts a strain on infrastructure, resources, and services, leading to overcrowding, pollution, and other negative impacts.

Climate change is another significant challenge facing cities worldwide. The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, with sea levels projected to rise by up to 1 metre by the end of the century, putting coastal cities at risk of flooding and storm surges. Heatwaves and other extreme weather events are also becoming more frequent, putting residents and infrastructure at risk.

Economic inequality is a significant challenge in many cities, with the gap between the rich and the poor widening in many countries. This can lead to social unrest and exacerbate existing divisions in society. According to the World Economic Forum, in 2020, the top 1% of the global population owned more than twice as much wealth as the bottom 50%.

Affordable housing and transportation issues are also major challenges that impact urban residents, with many struggling to access these basic needs. In many cities all over the world, housing prices have skyrocketed, making it challenging for low-income residents to find affordable housing. Additionally, inadequate public transportation systems and increasing traffic congestion further exacerbate the problem, leading to increased commute times and pollution.

Lack of adequate infrastructure is a significant challenge faced by many cities in Africa, with many countries lacking sufficient investment in this area. For example, in Nigeria, the World Bank estimates that the country needs to spend about $3 trillion over the next 30 years to bridge its infrastructure gap. This includes improving roads, railways, airports, power grids, and water supply systems.

Such challenges require innovative solutions and collaboration between government, businesses, and communities. Addressing these challenges will be crucial to building sustainable, equitable, and resilient cities for future generations.

We are calling on all entrepreneurs, thinkers, and doers among the Germany alumni community to develop innovative and entrepreneurial ideas to address these challenges. Solutions that can help cities become more sustainable, equitable, and resilient are needed. Your ideas could make a significant impact on the lives of people in your city or all over the world.

is an approach to creating and managing businesses that prioritize social and environmental impact over profit. Social entrepreneurs use business strategies to tackle social or environmental problems in innovative and sustainable ways.

Unlike traditional entrepreneurs, who focus on maximizing profit for themselves and their shareholders, also aim to address social issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. They may create ventures that address issues such as access to education, healthcare, or clean energy, and they often work with marginalized or underserved communities. Social entrepreneurs can operate in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and technology.

Social entrepreneurship has become increasingly popular in recent years, as consumers and investors have shown a growing interest in businesses that prioritize social and environmental impact and still aim to generate profit. Social entrepreneurship has the potential to create lasting change and address some of the world's most pressing challenges while also creating sustainable businesses that can generate economic growth and employment opportunities.

Social entrepreneurship can help address the challenges cities are facing by leveraging innovative solutions that prioritize the well-being of people and the planet. Social entrepreneurs create businesses and organizations that aim to tackle social and environmental problems, such as climate change, economic inequality, and inadequate public services, by developing sustainable and equitable models that benefit communities. By combining market-based approaches with social impact, social entrepreneurs can drive positive change in cities and address critical issues, such as affordable housing, transportation, and infrastructure. Their initiatives can not only benefit local communities but also serve as models for other cities facing similar challenges, leading to widespread impact and transformation.

Crowd innovation, also known as open innovation or crowdsourced innovation, is a process that harnesses the collective intelligence, capabilities, and creativity of a large group of individuals. It is an approach to solving problems, making breakthroughs, and creating value that leverages the power of the crowd.

Crowd innovation involves inviting a diverse group of individuals, such as customers, employees, experts, or enthusiasts, to contribute their ideas and knowledge. They may use a variety of platforms, including online community, social media, or idea challenges, to contribute ideas, work together, provide feedback, and vote for the best solution.

The benefits of crowd innovation include access to a wide range of ideas, reduced costs and time, increased engagement and motivation of the participants, and improved insights into the market and the customer. Crowd innovation has been used successfully to address complex challenges, create new products and services, and generate social impact in a variety of fields, including business, science, technology, and social innovation.

Through the  for Sustainable Development, the international community expresses their conviction that global challenges can only be met in cooperation. The Agenda’s core is a catalogue of 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  

Most people today live in towns and settlements, and the numbers are rising every day. Some major cities are on the verge of collapse – they are simply bursting at the seams. It is a major challenge to make cities a healthy and safe environment for all.

In developing countries in particular more and more people are leaving the country and spilling into towns, where they hope to find better opportunities. Towns and settlements are spreading fast, yet in many places housing is in short supply, pushing prices up. More and more people around the world are living in wretched conditions in slums. In many places public transport is inadequate and air pollution is worsening. It is expensive and complex to provide so many people with safe water and electricity, and to dispose of waste correctly. Around the world cities are causing environmental damage on a horrendous scale.

What must be done?

Towns and cities must continue to be centres of innovation, trade, culture, science and progress. This is only possible though, if we manage to make towns and cities inclusive, sustainable places to live. And this presupposes good city planning, national strategies and regional development plans. Towns and cities must find ways of providing people with housing, reliable basic supplies of water, power, sanitation and waste management services, and transport systems, as well as offering safety and security, low pollution levels and natural areas for relaxation and recuperation.

Towns and cities in developing countries in particular must be better protected against flooding and other natural disasters. The international community must provide financial and technical support.

Facts and figures

• Today half of the world’s population live in towns and cities. By 2050 this figure is forecast to rise to 80 per cent.
• About one third of the urban population of developing countries live in slums.
• Towns and cities account for only three per cent of the surface area of our planet, although they generate 75 per cent of global CO2 emissions.
• The air breathed by half of all town and city dwellers contains at least two and a half times the maximum permissible limits of pollutants as set by the WHO.