BRING YOUR PASSION FOR IMPACT
The Sustainability Education and Enterprise Development (SEED) program is your chance to join the next generation of innovators to create sustainable, world-changing startups. Let your entrepreneurship pave the path for a better tomorrow!
WHAT IS SEED (formerly TSIC)?
Impact Entrepreneurship Starts Here
Between Spring 2020 and Spring 2022, The Texas Sustainability Innovation Challenge (TSIC) provided $30,000 in seed funding to 13 teams of student entrepreneurs and provided impact business development curriculum to over 250 students. TSIC also supported six teams’ attendance at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge at the University of San Diego, where UT Austin teams placed every year and won a total of $39,000 in additional funding. In fact, team Big & Mini placed second in 2021, and team Gazelle Ecosolutions won the Challenge in 2022. Now, TSIC is growing into its next iteration – the Sustainability Education and Enterprise Development (SEED) program.
SEED is more than just a competition. Unlike other challenges that occur over a shorter period, we provide mentorship, curriculum, and networking opportunities for students to use at their desired pace. Our goal is to train future problem solvers to address root problems through a sustainability lens – not just to give a great pitch. SEED’s long-term mission is to create a collaborative network of educational institutions, impact businesses, and community programs to train youth to become sustainability innovation leaders in any career through education and experiential learning. SEED 2024 will feature an Impact Entrepreneur’s AMA (Ask Me Anything) Panel, a pitch workshop with famed entrepreneur Brian Hill of Edovo, access to entrepreneurship mentors, and more. Signing up to pitch now ensures you will get access to all of these events leading up to the Qualifying Pitch Round on March 20th and the Final Pitch on April 10th. The top two teams may be eligible to attend a global competition for more funding.
View this video to learn more
IMPACT STATS ABOUT SEED:
- LIFT consultants produced $482,100 in value to 14 clients in the 22-23 school year
Ready to join SEED? Register here to begin your sustainable entrepreneurship journey! Applications are due by 3/1 to pitch in the qualifying round. Early submissions will provide access to our Canvas page and Slack channel for earlier support and announcements.
UT Austin teams won 1st place at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge in 2022 and 2nd place in 2021! Read more on our incredible teams, Gazelle and Big & Mini, below:
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
This competition is ideal for stretching your entrepreneurial wings in a positive environment full of learning opportunities. Flip through our information session deck or watch the information session recording.
PROGRAM DETAILS AND ELIGIBILITY
Competition Preparation
- This competition is an outlet for those interested in social and environmental innovation. You can join as an individual or a team. You do NOT have to have a venture or an idea already, but you are welcome to apply if you do!
- Pitch for a chance to win $10,000 in seed funding!
- The Global Sustainability Leadership Institue is providing FREE social entrepreneurship curriculum and workshops to participants! If you sign up, you will access online modules, workshops, and socials with students from across campus.
- Register here by January 27 for full access to our workshops!
- The 2022 pitch competition will be April 13th. However, participants will have two internal milestones to meet in the spring to prepare for the competition.
- The top two teams from SEED will attend the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge in June 2023 for a chance to win an additional $75,000 in funding!
Competition Goals
- Build a community of socially and environmentally conscious innovators
- Develop ubiquitous skills such as systems thinking, impact measurement, and pitching
- Support students’ career exploration through experiential learning and mentorship
- Break down campus departmental silos and support interdisciplinary entrepreneurship
Competition Eligibility
- Must have at least one UT-Austin student on the company’s founding team.
- Must register by 1/27/2023 and attend at least one Spring workshop.
- Must complete Spring quarter-final submission requirements:
- 2/6/2023: Systems infographic (challenge, existing solutions, gaps); Summary of problem and system surrounding it (5 pages)
- 2/27/2023: Business canvas and summary; 2-minute pitch video
- Top teams selected to move to live 10-minute pitches on 4/13
- Deliverable examples on the FGSIC website and Canvas
Competition Format
1/30 - Info Session & Impact Entrepreneur’s Ask Me Anything - 5:30 p.m. in RRH 5.210
Sign up - https://bit.ly/seedama24
2/27 - Pitch Workshop with Texas Venture Labs & Edovo Founder Brian Hill - 5:30 p.m. in RRH 5.210
3/1 - Pitch registration due to compete in qualifying round
3/20 - Qualifying Pitches 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. - CBA Events Room 3.303
4/10 - Final Pitch - 6-8 p.m. in RRH Crum Auditorium
5/3-5/5 - Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge for qualifying students in San Diego
2022 - 2023 Finalists
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Navigo (1st)
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Fungi Vitae (2nd)
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Dispoze (Audience Choice Award)
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MealBuddy
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Jules
2021-22 TSIC Teams
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Project Xylem Team
Nikita Patil and Shiva Bhakta -
Gazelle Team
Mihir Bendre, Dr. Thoralf Meyer (not UT student), Siddharth Thakur, Ben Breed, Amod Daherkar -
Patina Team
Calvin Hines -
cherryish yourself Team
Ser Lee -
Cross for Paws Team
Chloe Capodagli -
WellWorks cc Team
Jonathan Charles and Jonathan Holstein