Wanted: Young Entrepreneurs Advancing Social Change. Reply to: mtvU and NYSE Euronext

By: Ray Pellecchia

File Under: NYSE Euronext

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Ah, to be young. To be young, and have an idea. To be young, have an idea, and have it make the world a better place. To be young, have an idea that makes the world a better place, and have do something with MTV besides watching it. To be young, ... um, sorry, got carried away.

This looks like a cool program. Hope you'll consider participating or passing along to someone else if you (like me) don't meet the eligibility criteria (he said, squinting through his old-man reading glasses).

From the press release issued today:

MTV’s 24-hour college network mtvU and NYSE Euronext today launched “Movers & Changers,” a nationwide challenge to uncover the country’s next social entrepreneurs who are poised to make a positive impact on society through their innovative business concepts.

Competition finalists will be featured in the new mtvU “Movers & Changers” short-form series, premiering Monday, November 23rd on mtvU, and compete for the ultimate prize of $25,000 in start-up money and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ring the Opening Bell(SM) at the New York Stock Exchange. Before capturing the ultimate prize, each team of finalists will present their business plans to the “Movers & Changers” Board, a gathering of the top business and pro-social minds including Blake Mycoskie, founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS Shoes, a for-profit company that has given over 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need with its One-for-One philosophy, giving a pair of new shoes to a child in need with every pair of shoes sold. Additional board members will be announced at a later date.

“College students are always on the frontlines of social change. With their boundless creativity, they have the potential to unlock some of the major issues facing the world today to steer us in a positive direction,” said Chris McCarthy, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development and Digital TV Networks, MTV. “By partnering with NYSE Euronext, we’re able to recognize and honor these future leaders in a way that not only promotes positive social action, but provides them with a platform to interact with the most influential minds in the business world.“

“Partnering with MTV on ‘Movers & Changers’ enables us to effectively reach and teach the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders at a time when new ideas and innovation are critically important to the future of the U.S. and global economies,” said Duncan L. Niederauer, Chief Executive Officer, NYSE Euronext. “Incorporating a socially responsible platform into the program sends a powerful and positive message to young people, one that we hope stays with them throughout their careers.”

The Competition
“Movers & Changers” calls on 16-28 year old college students, individually or in teams of up to three people, to develop and produce a compelling business proposal to revolutionize the future of the world’s social market. Ideas must be creative, original, and scalable to large corporations, in addition to illustrating determination and persistent optimism. Students can submit entries online at http://www.moversandchangers.com and are encouraged to submit a video “elevator pitch” application beginning at noon on August 17, 2009 through midnight on October 16, 2009.

The competition will culminate at NYSE Euronext’s Global Entrepreneurship Week: Mentoring Madness, where students from around the world will gather with business leaders and hear leading entrepreneurs talk frankly about how young people can create their own futures. The top three “Movers & Changers” teams or individuals will fly to New York City for “Mentoring Madness,” to network and connect with prominent business leaders and present their pitches to the NYSE “Movers & Changers” Board.

For more information on “Movers & Changers,” please visit http://www.moversandchangers.com .

Hope to meet those Movers and Changers when they get here. Good luck in the competition, folks.