Berners-Lee and Branson to help Google find Britain’s top social entrepreneurs

Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Sir Richard Branson are both on the judging panel to help Google find the UK’s top social entrepreneurs.

As the Guardian reports, Google’s Global Impact Challenge is seeking applicants to submit a technology-based project with “the potential to change society on a large scale.”

Applications are open from now until April 17, 2013, with Google announcing ten finalists in mid-May. Each finalist will then go on to pitch their concept to a panel of judges in early June, with four winners receiving a £500,000 Global Impact Award and technical assistance from Google itself to bring the project to market.

The two ‘sirs’ are joined on the judging panel by Jilly Forster, founder and CEO of campaigning communications agency Forster Communications; Google vice-president for northern and central Europe, Matt Brittin; and Jacquelline Fuller, director of Google Giving, the Internet behemoth’s philanthropic division

“I am a great believer in the power of entrepreneurs to solve key problems and improve lives through a combination of free thinking and the intelligent use of technology,” says Branson. “Google’s Impact Challenge is a brilliant way to spark a new wave of innovation amongst non-profit foundations and charities and raise the profile of many great ideas in the non-profit sector.”

The winning projects will be judged on three core facets: How you will use technology and innovation to make the world a better place? How you will implement the Global Impact Award? And how your team will execute your plan immediately and successfully?

You can read more about the Global Impact Challenge, or apply now.