The Competition

just IMAGINE if…everyone had healthy food to eat every day.

just IMAGINE if…there was a safe home for everyone to sleep in every night.

just IMAGINE if…everyone had the opportunity to receive as much education as they wanted.

just IMAGINE if… is an annual international social enterprise and innovation competition, with a prize of university research and business support, worth over £100,000. It is open to anyone across the globe who has a business idea which tackles at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 goals include clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, and gender equality.

just IMAGINE if… exists to drive social, economic and environmental change in the world through helping small ideas become big realities. If you have an idea to address one of the global challenges, read on…

just IMAGINE if… 2020, hosted by Durham University and founder Paul Lindley, launched on 25th November 2019 at Durham University Business School. The competition was open until February 9th 2020, after which ten finalists were chosen. The ten finalists were then intended to receive support from One Young World and assigned counsellors, to prepare their pitches for the final at Durham University on 30th March 2020 with the winner of just IMAGINE if… 2020 to be announced at the Gala Dinner at Durham Castle on the evening of 30th March 2020.

Due to the global pandemic, the competition final, now named just IMAGINE if…2022, was postponed to 24 March 2022. To ensure that the 2020 finalists were still supported, the sponsors and organisers expanded the package of support for the full set of finalists, and relaunched the programme, as just IMAGINE if…2022.

An online event on 12th July 2021 kick started the programme of support, culminating in an in-person final on 24th March 2022 in Durham. In addition to online offerings, all finalists were also invited to a day of bespoke workshops on 23 March 2022, which included legal (from sponsor Hogan Lovells) and brand (from supporter Ella’s Kitchen) workshops, and a trip to Business Durham’s Durham City Incubator, in addition to activities with Durham University Business School, led by Prof. Christos Tsinopoulos.

The winner of just IMAGINE if… 2022 was announced as Nostos Homes, who will receive research and business support from Durham University, and from our sponsors, for the year following the competition.