Welcome to The 1o Challenge: Stanford Edition

You've probably heard of the Six Degrees concept. Any one person (including Kevin Bacon) is connected to any other person through six or fewer relationships, because it's a small world. SixDegrees.org is about using this idea to accomplish something good.

Congratulations to Alexander Berger, the winner of the Challenge with his idea to "Give Like A Billionaire"!  Kevin and the Six Degrees team look forward to working with you to implement this next big idea.

Now you get to work with Kevin Bacon to shape the future of social networking for social good on SixDegrees.org. The Challenge winner will work with Kevin Bacon to implement his or her idea through SixDegrees.org (including up to $50,000 in promotion and technical development). Three finalists will also receive free airline tickets from AirTran Airways, free office space and funding interviews with AOL Ventures, and more.

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About The Challenge

The SixDegrees.org team is looking for the NEXT BIG IDEA that will engage individuals the people they are connected to in advancing great causes across America and beyond. Finalists will have the opportunity to meet Kevin Bacon and to pitch their ideas in front of him and a live audience at Stanford University on May 11.  One winning idea may be launched through Six Degrees.

Eligibility Requirements

Challenge participants must be Stanford students currently enrolled in a full-time degree program.  Students may collaborate with individuals not connected to Stanford University, however.

Submission Process

Online submissions will be accepted beginning April 7, 2011 6PM ET and ending April 29, 2011 6PM ET through this website .  All applicants must submit a summary and a short video (less than 5 minutes) of their idea on how to leverage social media for social good and how it could be implemented with the help of Kevin Bacon and Six Degrees. The summary should be no more than 500 words in length and should include the estimated costs (not to exceed $50,000) to turn the idea into reality.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED

Video Submission Guidelines

Videos will be judged on the quality of the content and Challenge idea, not on the production value itself.  Formats can range from an applicant speaking directly to the camera, to a voiceover soundtrack for an animated PowerPoint presentation to something more creative.  Videos should be no more than 5 minutes in length. 

Judging Criteria

The 1^o Challenge: Stanford Edition is meant to identify and promote the best new ideas that leverage social networks and social media to advance social causes. The ideas can be creative methods for using existing tools for engagement (e.g. Charity Badges, Good Cards, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, YouTube, etc...) or they can be completely new tools that require development or customization. Ideas will be judged based on the following:

• Ability to advance social causes by leveraging the “six degrees” phenomenon
• Fit with the purpose and tone of Six Degrees (www.sixdegrees.org)
• Feasibility – preference will be given to ideas that do not require extensive financial or administrative support to implement
• “Cause Neutrality” – ideas must be applicable to more than one cause
• Such other factors as the judges consider relevant

Prizes

The Grand-Prize winner will be able to work with Kevin Bacon and the Six Degrees team to launch their idea through SixDegrees.org, including promotion and limited technology development.  No more than three finalists will have their ideas posted on the Six Degrees website and will also have the opportunity to pitch their ideas in front of Kevin Bacon and a live audience at Stanford University, including students, potential funders, and other community guests.  Other prizes include the following.  Prizes are subject to change.

• Meeting with Kevin Bacon prior to the live Stanford University event (date and more details will be disclosed to the finalists)
• Option to receive 90 days free office space and a first round funding interview with AOL Ventures in Palo Alto
• Two roundtrip business class airline tickets, courtesy of AirTran Airways
• Option to use a Network for Good API with setup fee waived and license fee waived for one year ($16,000 value)

• Meeting with Kevin Bacon prior to the live Stanford University event (date and more details will be disclosed to the finalists)
• Option to receive 6 months free office space and a first round funding interview with AOL Ventures in Palo Alto
• Two roundtrip coach class airline tickets, courtesy of AirTran Airways

Sample Campaigns on SixDegrees.org

Read the full Challenge Terms & Conditions