1. a rigorous selection process based on three business planning exercises designed to benefit all who participate;
2.   an in-residence program involving “action learning” and mentoring; and
3. an on-going mentoring and collaboration for all who participate in the first two components.
   

• Value Proposition
• Target Market (Beneficiaries)
• Business Model.

All three can be completed on Social Edge, and Social Edge members are invited to review and comment on the exercises of any organization.

Attendees for the in-residence program are selected by an application process, also supported by Social Edge, which consists of filling-in a GSBI application form, and submitting the Business Planning Exercises.

The two-week in-residence program, held annually in August at Santa Clara University in California is a two-week “boot camp” in which 15-20 social benefit entrepreneurs, working with faculty and mentors, learn key business skills for managing sustainability and scalability, and complete a strategic business plan and one-year tactical plan.

Living and learning together, participants develop common conceptual skills and the sense of community that is essential for peer-to-peer collaboration and access to mentor support following the residential program. Participants develop know-how in critical areas of business planning, including technology and service innovation, target marketing, business models, finance and organizational capacity building.

The GSBI combines classroom instruction, case studies, and best practices with carefully matched mentoring on the specific scaling and sustainability challenges of each participating organization. Through the access to world-class partnerships and resources, participating social benefit entrepreneurs are empowered to accelerate their technological innovations. This is a transformational program for people with the power and vision to change the world.  

http://www.socialedge.org/events/GSBI/