Funding
T-Mobile Launches Changemaker Challenge
T-Mobile is kicking off its second annual T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge this week to encourage young people between the ages of 13 and 23 to develop projects that can benefit their local communities. Teams can enter the challenge by submitting a project that drives social change in one of three categories: technology, the environment or education.
Winners will receive seed funding for their projects and attend three-day Changemaker Lab experience in Bellevue, Wash. Interested teams can enter the contest through a T-Mobile portal. In November, T-Mobile will announce the top 10 teams from each of the three categories.
These 30 teams will be invited to the Changemaker Lab experience where they will be able to get mentorship from T-Mobile executives, skill training from Ashoka and networking opportunities with other selected teams. From the top 30 teams, three teams in each category will be selected to receive additional seed funding and the opportunity to pitch their projects to T-Mobile executives.
One grand prize winner will be selected from the each of the three categories. Those teams will get more funding and an all-expenses-paid trip to T-Mobile’s headquarters for more mentorship training.
Last year, T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation provided $60,000 in seed funding to help 30 teams develop their projects.
More information about the Changemaker Challenge can be found here.
About the Author
Sara Friedman is a reporter/producer for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe covering education policy and a wide range of other public-sector IT topics.
Friedman is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she studied journalism, politics and international communications.
Friedman can be contacted at sfriedman@1105media.com or follow her on Twitter @SaraEFriedman.
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