Do you have an idea for how a certain science or technology can help achieve economic parity for Black America? If so, this is the challenge for you!
Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (The Boulé) and Base 11 have launched The Parity Project Innovation Challenge to showcase the talents of innovative and diverse innovators—and they want to hear about your vision for the future.
Submit your challenge entry for a chance to win both a cash prize and a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to the Base 11 Grand Prize Showcase—an opportunity to present your idea to executives and game changers from some of the most influential organizations across America, including visits to the challenge partners at J.P. Morgan Chase and The Executive Leadership Council.
Identify a major form of inequity within Black America—then investigate what science or tech-based solutions can address the disparity. How can your passion for science or technology provide a perfect solution?
You are encouraged to think boldly and to be creative with your proposal. If you need some inspiration, here are a couple of examples:
Could a tool like Artificial Intelligence help fight the statistical discrimination Black Americans face when seeking a mortgage by removing human bias from the loan application review process?
Could we leverage Blockchain to help Black Americans have more ownership over their medical data and reduce skepticism around medical research?
Who Can Participate?
Age: We welcome participants from junior year of high school (grade 11) up to 34 years of age. If you are under 18 years old, your parent/legal guardian must create a HeroX account to submit the idea on your behalf and communicate with the Challenge Sponsors. You should still be the primary creator of the submission and should describe yourself in any ‘about me’ sections.
Geography: To participate, you must also be a legal resident or citizen of the United States, the United Kingdom, or the Bahamas.
Individual Entries: You may only submit one entry as an individual, not as a team. But you are encouraged to draw upon the knowledge and guidance of others while developing your idea!
How to participate
For your chance to win, submit your challenge entry before the final submission deadline. And if you are ambitious, submit your concept before the feedback deadline of January 5, 2023. If you make this earlier deadline, a representative from Base 11 or Sigma Pi Phi will provide you with high level feedback to help you improve your concept before the final deadline.
Once the final submission deadline passes, all eligible submissions will be scored against the judging criteria listed below to help determine up to nine challenge finalists.
All selected finalists will be asked to develop a 3-5 minute pitch presentation for their proposal that they will present on a virtual call with the challenge’s judging panel, followed by a brief Q&A opportunity.
After each competitor has presented their pitch and responded to the judges’ Q&A, the final prize rankings will then be determined.
Prizes
This challenge was created so that innovators like you could be bold and ambitious. You will have the chance to develop your ideas with personalized feedback from Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (The Boulè) and Base 11 representatives. Furthermore, you will be invited to connect with a network of influential leaders, executives, and STEM professionals that could help push your project to the next level.
As part of your challenge participation, all finalists will present their ideas to the influential men and women of the judging panel, who have been known to open doors and make connections beyond the scope of the challenge.
In short, we want to see both you and your vision thrive, so the prizes are designed to do just that!
Participants will have the chance to win a substantial slice of the $10,000 prize purse—and our Grand Prize winners will earn a seat on a sponsored cross-country trip to meet powerful global leaders as part of the Base 11 Grand Prize Showcase.
Awards:-
In total, up to $10,000 will be awarded across the following competitor groups:†
High School Juniors and Seniors
(Grade 11 & 12)
College and University Students*
Early Career Adults and Entrepreneurs*
1st Place
$1,750
$1,750 + Grand Prize Showcase
$1,750 + Grand Prize Showcase
2nd Place
$1000
$1,000
$1,000
3rd Place
$500
$500
$500
Judges’ Choice and Honorable Mentions: $250 total
* up to age 34
† Final prize determinations and invitations to Base 11’s Grand Prize Showcase are subject to the discretion of the Challenge Sponsor. Additional invitations to the Grand Prize Showcase may be added to this challenge.
All Grand Prize Showcase attendees under the age of 18 years old will require a chaperone. Chaperones may either be provided by Base 11, the competitor’s family, or from the competitor’s partner organization (e.g. a High School counselor approved by the competitor’s family). All costs associated with travel fees and boarding for the chaperone will be the financial responsibility of the chaperone/their organization. If a Base 11 chaperone is selected, those related costs will be covered by Base 11.
Furthermore, all Grand Prize Showcase attendees are allowed to invite one member of their family to travel with them, such as a spouse. However, this guest attendee is subject to approval by Base 11 and will be financially responsible for any additional expenses related to their trip, such as providing their own flights, insurance, transportation, room and board, etc. These guest attendees may not be invited to join certain activities and events, per the Challenge Sponsor’s discretion. Base 11 is not legally responsible for the invited guests and all invited guests’ permission to travel with during the Grand Prize Showcase may be revoked at any time at the Challenge Sponsor’s discretion.
Deadline:- 15-02-2023
