The World Ultimately Decides Who Will Attend the Institute

HUNDREDS APPLIED, WE NARROWED IT DOWN, NOW YOU CHOOSE THE UNREASONABLES

Of the hundreds of applicants we received this year, we chose 46 Finalists to be showcased on the Unreasonable Marketplace. The Unreasonable Marketplace is where people around the world get to decide which of these 46 Finalists will ultimately become Unreasonable Fellows.

Although the cost of attending the Unreasonable Institute is $10,000, we do not allow our entrepreneurs to pay. Instead, we challenge them to raise that $10,000 on the Unreasonable Marketplace. The first 25 Finalists to do so become Unreasonable Fellows and will attend our 2012 Institute.

The Marketplace provides our Finalists the chance to demonstrate their entrepreneurial mettle, by challenging them to mobilize the support of hundreds of people around the world. Their reward? Working with 50-world class mentors, forging relationships with 20 impact investment funds, pitching to one hundred investors, getting 6-weeks of food and lodging, and building an ever-growing network of fellow Unreasonable entrepreneurs for the rest of their lives without having to pay a dime.

Open Now for 50 days!

WHO WILL TAKE FLIGHT? IT’S UP TO YOU.

The Finalists have assembled their profiles and planned their campaigns to garner the support of people around the world. As of January 17 and for the 50 days that follow, the Marketplace is opens and the world is empowered to vote with its dollars on the next 25 Unreasonable Fellows!

Take a moment to check out this 1-minute video explanation of the Marketplace: it should get you in the mood.

But There is an Issue: The Rich Uncle Problem

DOES THE MARKETPLACE FAVOR ENTREPRENEURS WITH WEALTHIER NETWORKS?

We were initially concerned by what we called “The Rich Uncle Problem,” the risk that our Unreasonable Marketplace would be biased in favor of Finalists from wealthier backgrounds or with connections to high net-worth individuals. How would the Unreasonable Marketplace ensure that, for example, a Finalist’s wealthy uncle didn’t give his nephew or niece the full $10,000 in sponsorship required on the first day the Marketplace opens?

How We Level the Playing Field

OUR ENTREPRENEURS NEED TO RAISE THE FUNDS FROM HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS

To alleviate the “Rich Uncle Problem”, we now cap the amount any one supporter can contribute to a Finalist each week. This contribution cap means that in the first week, the most anyone can give to a Finalist is $10. In the second week, this maximum is $50, and increases incrementally each week thereafter. Through this process, each Finalist is challenged to raise the cost of attending the Institute from not just one or two people, but instead from hundreds of individuals around the world.

As a consequence, we have seen entrepreneurs from Uganda who had to walk 17 kilometers to use the internet, a former child soldier from Liberia, Congolese refugees, a Pakistani villager, and a Nigerian farmer successfully raise their funds on the Marketplace.​

Finalists Benefit No Matter What

THEY KEEP WHAT THEY RAISE AND GET UNPRECEDENTED EXPOSURE

Finalists who are not amongst the first 25 to raise the full $10,000 still walk away with the money they raise minus a 5% administrative fee. They also receive massive, global exposure.

With the help of our corporate partner HP (the world’s largest IT company who is not only providing outreach support and technology for the Finalists, but also a scholarship for the Finalists to distribute amongst themselves), the efforts of our Finalists drew over 60,000 unique visitors to the Marketplace in the 36 days it was open last year and just shy of 4,000 people from 60 countries voted with their dollars to choose the next batch of Unreasonable Fellows.

The Final Question

The Marketplace is opens! Be a part of it. Help give these entrepreneurs wings.

The Finalists have built their campaigns and are ready to go. HP is back on board and is ready to spread the word to their global network. The question remains: Are you going to help an Unreasonable Finalist take flight?

For more information about the Unreasonable Marketplace please visit our Marketplace FAQs.