Dream, Develop, Win!
Dream!
October 2007 - January 2008
This stage was all about coming up with as many ideas that will Make a Difference as you can. Don't rule any out at this stage (We won't!). The team helped many students with their your idea generation all the way through to Christmas.
Creativity workshops were run at a number of universities across the region to stimulate creative and innovative thinking and to help the participants, come up with or improve your ideas that could make a difference.
The competition could be entered at any time up to January , whether participants had been to a creativity session or not. .
Develop!
January 2008 - March 2008
Once participants had come up with their idea, and entered the competition, then the real fun started. The next stage was about taking the journey to see if those MAD Ideas could maybe become a reality. Now, as this is an ideas competition, we didn't expect students to turn up in the final with a product that could be put straight onto the shelves at the local FairTrade shop, or that could be sent for immediate use to Oxfam or the local hospice, but we do hope that participants could travel a little way down the road to seeing if their idea could make a realistic and maybe significant difference - and who might benefit.
We hope that students would be able to identify the people or communities that their idea might benefit - and work out a bit about them. We hope that it might be able to find out how it might be made or whether it can be done at a realistic price.
But the main part of this DEVELOP section is the MAD Camp. We invited those with the best ideas to join us for a 24 hour MAD Camp in a special venue in the South East, and introduced them our MAD Mentors, giving them some ideas about how to research their idea and its feasibility, teach them how to present it to others (and make them want it) and, above all, let them talk to their fellow innovators to see how their ideas are coming together.
Now, they have about a six weeks to work with their mentors to develop their ideas, with help and guidance, through to the final stage.
Win!
April 2008
The end of the competition in April gives all finalists the opportunity to pitch their idea to experts, sponsors and judges. Each team or individual will be able to present their MAD Idea in a specially organised networking hall, where you can display pictures, information (and maybe mock-ups) of your idea. Everyone will be invited to the final "do" where the last group of shortlisted entries will be judged, and our MAD Idea for 07/08 will be selected.
Everyone's a winner
Although we will announce a winner to the MAD Ideas competition 2007 / 08, we hope that you will all feel that you've won. Many previous entrants have commented that the experience of taking their idea through development, and the process of transforming it from a dream to a practical concept was invaluable. Join us on the journey and see what it feels like to see something you've come up become just that little bit closer to reality.
How the competition runs
From Oct 6th 2007:
We can help you get your ideas off the ground by inviting you to creativity sessions and by letting you know more about the competition. So register on this website here or by texting MAD and your name and email to 07797 801443.
January 18th 2008:
Closing Date for Registrations
This is the important one. We close the system for your entries at midnight on January 18th next year, so make sure that you've submitted your entry by then. You can submit as many as you like, on your own or as part of a group. Do have a look at the terms and conditions before you submit though. If you've already got an idea, email us for an entry form. If you've registered between October and December, we'll make sure you don't forget by dropping you an email or a text to remind you to get your MAD Idea in on time.
Late February:
MAD Camp
Celebrate the success of your idea and the end of your first semester by joining us at the MAD Camp. Specially run for the best 50 ideas of the competition you'll get the chance to develop your MAD Idea further, meet a business mentor, and socialise and network with the best of SEEDA's inventive minds. We'll put you up in a great venue, and you'll get the chance to talk to your fellow finalists over a meal glass of whatever you fancy.
April 23rd 2008:
Who's got the MADdest Idea?
April is the time for Easter Bunnies, the beginning of Spring and the biggest celebration of the MAD year, with the Final. We hope that it will be held at one of the South East's most memorable venues. Watch this space for a finalised date and more info about our fabulous venue.