Winners of the 2024 Social Impact Award Announced
The winners of the 2024 Social Impact Award, an international program organized by Impact Hub Tbilisi, have been revealed. This youth-focused social entrepreneurship program, supported by "Efes Georgia" and Anadolu Efes, highlighted innovative ideas addressing social issues.
Among the six finalist teams, the jury selected two winners, while one team became the public's favorite through a vote. The winners will receive cash prizes to bring their ideas to life and will also attend the Social Impact Award International Summit in Germany.
The 2024 Social Impact Award winners are:
- MFT: Developed a tongue-driven mouse to help people with special needs use digital technology more easily.
- Hoppla: A platform connecting drivers and passengers on shared routes.
- Bionova: Converts biomass into bioenergy in areas where traditional energy sources are unavailable.
This year, around 60 applications were submitted, with six finalists chosen. Over two months, the teams worked closely with mentors to develop their projects and create business plans. The program also included workshops for young people from Tbilisi and other regions, helping them generate ideas, build business models, and draft business plans.
The Social Impact Award, held in up to 20 countries, aims to educate students about social entrepreneurship. The program helps participants turn their business ideas into reality by guiding them from the initial concept to a fully developed business plan.
Since receiving the license to run the Social Impact Award in 2017, Impact Hub Tbilisi has empowered young people to start social businesses for eight years. During this time, more than 2,000 students from different regions of Georgia have participated, with 56 teams going through incubation and 28 winning teams receiving funding to start their ventures.
"For developing countries facing many social challenges, it’s crucial to promote social entrepreneurship. Through this program, we’re proud to see many young Georgians engage with this concept and grow their interest in social entrepreneurship," said Keti Ebanoidze, co-founder of Impact Hub Tbilisi.
"Supporting young people and their business activities is a key priority of corporate social responsibility for 'Efes Georgia'. We’re proud to partner with Impact Hub Tbilisi on this important project. We believe the experience gained from the Social Impact Award will be invaluable for the participants in shaping their future social businesses," said Nikoloz Khundzakishvili, Director of Corporate Affairs at "Efes Georgia."