JFD GENERAL CONDITIONS & TERMS · THE MARGARET AWARDS

The Margaret Awards are organised by Journée de la Femme Digitale (JFD), a brand by the Bureau, a company registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Register under number 791 198 914, with its registered office at 18 rue Littré 75006 Paris, France.

1. ABOUT THE MARGARET AWARDS BY JFD

Journée de la Femme Digitale (JFD) is an international growth accelerator founded in 2012 by Delphine Remy-Boutang. With a strong international commitment, JFD brings together public, private and media organisations in Europe, Africa and Canada around three pillars: education, role models and funding.

Its mission is to create an inclusive environment where women play a central role in defining the digital future. In over 10 years, JFD has gone from an annual event to a genuine growth accelerator for women who dare to take on bold technological challenges and focus on disruptive innovations to change the world. JFD is also a dynamic think tank, providing concrete responses to the insights gained from its annual studies. Its portfolio of concrete actions includes the Margaret Awards, the Margaret Foundation, the JFD Club, the White Shirt Movement, the JFD Manifesto for an Inclusive Digital World, as well as its first book released in 2021 “Elles changent le monde”. JFD has created an active international network of over 50,000 people, trained over 10,000 talents, reached 20 million people worldwide and accelerated the growth of over 1,000 tech start-ups in Europe and Africa.

Every year for over 10 years, the JFD’s Margaret Awards have rewarded women entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and young girls aged 7 to 18 from Europe, Africa and now Canada, whose projects and innovations respond to the major challenges facing our society.

Under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic, the award is named after Margaret Hamilton, director of the software engineering division that developed the software for NASA’s Apollo space programme. It was thanks to Margaret Hamilton’s contribution that Man first walked on the Moon.

Applications for the Margaret Awards 2024 can be submitted from Wednesday 8 November 2023 at 10am GMT+1 to Monday 8 January 2024 at 11.59pm GMT+1.

The finalists for the Margaret Awards 2024 will be pre-selected by JFD, then presented to a panel of experts who will select 10 winners in each category (Entrepreneur Europe, Entrepreneur Africa, Entrepreneur Canada, Intrapreneur Europe, Intrapreneur Africa, Intrapreneur Canada, Junior Europe, Junior Africa, Junior Canada and Coup de coeur des territoires), on Thursday 8 February 2024.

The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 17 April 2024 in Paris, during the annual Digital Women’s Day event.

The 2024 Margarets will benefit from the JFD growth acceleration programme, which provides personalised support to meet the development needs of the projects presented, including mentoring, coaching, media coverage and funding.

2. COMPETITION DATES

The call for applications opens on Wednesday 8 November 2023 at 10am GMT+1 and closes on Monday 8 January 2024 at 11.59pm GMT+1. The finalists in each category will be announced on Thursday 8 February 2024, following the jury’s deliberations. The awards ceremony will take place at the JFD’s 12th edition in Paris on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

The winners will be selected in 3 stages:

Candidates are invited to complete an application form available online at https://www.joinjfd.com/en/margaret-awards/ from Wednesday 8 November 2023 to Monday 8 January 2024 at 23:59 GMT+1.
On Thursday 8 February 2024, the shortlisted applications will be presented to the jury of the Margaret Awards. Following these presentations, deliberations will take place behind closed doors to determine the 2024 winners. After this date, the finalists will be announced, but the names of the 10 winners will remain confidential until the awards ceremony.
The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 17 April 2024, during the JFD’s 12th edition in Paris, and the finalists must make themselves available for the ceremony.

The decisions of the JFD’s internal committee and of the jury for the Margaret Awards do not have to be justified and cannot be the subject of a complaint.

3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

3.1. Eligibility criteria

Participation in the competition is free and there is no obligation to purchase. All entries must be made via the Internet, to the exclusion of any other means. In particular, entries by post are excluded.

The application must be submitted exclusively by a woman who is the founder or co-founder of an innovative company, for the “Entrepreneur” category, an employee of a company who has developed a project in agreement with her employer, while remaining an employee, for the “Intrapreneur” category, or a young girl aged between 7 and 18 for the “Junior” category.

The participant must be Canadian or a citizen of a European or African country:

Canada: the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the territories of Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (mainland and DOM TOM), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, South Africa, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The contestant warrants that she holds, directly or by licence, all intellectual and industrial property rights necessary for the presentation, development and marketing of the product or solution defended before the jury of the Margaret Awards.

The participant certifies that the content of her product and/or solution is original and innovative, serving a better world.

The same person may not submit more than one application for “the Project” presented. The participant’s contact details (e-mail address and telephone number) are requested in order to facilitate communication at the various stages of the competition.

During the period referred to in article 2 above, the participant must download the relevant information, complete and send her application form from the website https://www.joinjfd.com/en/margaret-awards/.

The participant, if a finalist in the Margaret Awards, confirms that she will be available on 17 April 2024 to attend the Margaret Awards ceremony.

3.2. Selection criteria

The Participant declares that the Project does not infringe, in whole or in part, any copyright or the rights of any third party, or any other provision of applicable law, and therefore assumes full responsibility for the Project.

3.2.1. “Entrepreneur” category

Your project is innovative and responds to one or more societal challenges: Environment & Energy (climate change, urban planning, energy transition, sustainable development….), Health (access to care, diagnosis, treatment…), Communication & IT (cybersecurity, IoT, AI, data science, all-digital….), Transport & Mobility (vehicles, infrastructure, uses…), etc.

Your project will be studied by JFD and the jury of the Margaret Awards 2024, on the basis of :

The relevance of your team: you need to justify your desire to occupy a dominant position in your market by highlighting the experience and skills of your team. Highlight the complementary skills of your workforce and your ability to execute.
Economic feasibility: provide information on the coherence of your financing methods and the economic viability of your project in relation to your needs.
Market opportunity: provide information on the size of your market. If you are banking on a new market, explain its importance and how it will develop over the next few years. The aim is to convince the jury of the relevance of your strategic choice in terms of market and product coherence.
Commercial traction: if your business is generating positive returns in terms of sales, contracts and partnerships signed, don’t hesitate to justify this with figures and a presentation of your partners to date, for example.
The quality of your video pitch: you will be judged on your ability to present yourself and your project in one minute.

Applications without a one-minute video presentation of the Project by the Participant will not be considered.

3.2.2. “Intrapreneur” category

Your project will be studied by JFD and the jury of the Margaret Awards 2024, on the basis of :

The relevance of your motivation to become an intrapreneur within your organisation: you must justify the creation of the project within your group, as well as your experience and the team in place to support you in its development.
Tell us about the new opportunities for growth within your company based on agile and original methods thanks to your intrapreneurial project.
Prove that your project leads to the creation of a new company or to other innovative activities and directions for your company, such as the development of new products, services, technologies, administrative techniques, strategies and postures.
The support of your company: a recommendation is always welcome.
The quality of your video pitch: you will be judged on your ability to present yourself and your project in one minute.

Applications without a one-minute video presentation of the Project by the Participant will not be considered.

3.2.3. “Junior” category

The participation of minors under the age of 18 requires the consent of their parents. One of the participant’s parents or legal guardian is required to complete a special form that can be downloaded from the Internet when registering.

For participants aged 18 or over, a photocopy of their identity card is required.

The organisers reserve the right to carry out any checks, particularly on identity, before accepting any application or awarding the prize.

Parental consent implies acceptance of the participation of the minor or young girl aged 18, and acceptance of her presence at the prize-giving ceremony on 17 April 2024.

Two types of Project will be considered by JFD and the jury:

The Project addresses a major social issue (health, environment, energy, mobility, education, finance, banking, etc.) through the application of a technology and highlights the Participant’s entrepreneurial spirit.
The Project highlights the Participant’s creativity and innovative spirit through computer programming, an application, a game or the use of a technology (artificial intelligence, 3D, big data, IoT, etc.) in the development of a prototype presented by the Participant.

Applications without a one-minute video presentation of the Project by the Participant will not be considered.

3.3. Redhibitory conditions

All requests to participate will be considered null and void if:

Any submission sent by any means other than the form provided for this purpose.
Any submission sent after the deadline, i.e. 8 January 2024 at 23:59 GMT+2.
Any entry from an entity that is not eligible to participate under the eligibility conditions presented.
Any incomplete entry.
Any attitude that is contrary to the applicable laws, JFD values, regulations and ethical rules.
Any act of counterfeiting or unfair competition associated with the file.

In the event of force majeure, the JFD Internal Committee reserves the right to protect, shorten, modify or cancel this operation.

3.4. Information to be submitted

The submission must include the application form and a video (1 minute) presenting the project for the “Entrepreneur” and “Intrapreneur” categories.

For the “Junior” category, the submission must include the application form, a video (1 minute) presenting the project and parental authorisation for under-18s or a photocopy of identity papers for over-18s.

4. AWARDS & JFD GROWTH ACCELERATION PROGRAMME

4.1. Ten prizes will be awarded:

1. Margaret Entrepreneur Europe Award
2. Margaret Entrepreneur Africa Award
3. Margaret Entrepreneur Canada Award
4. Margaret Intrapreneur Europe Award
5. Margaret Intrapreneur Africa Award
6. Margaret Intrapreneur Canada Award
7. Margaret Junior Europe Award
8. Margaret Junior Africa Award
9. Margaret Junior Canada Award
10. Coup de coeur Margaret des territoires

The award is nominative and cannot be awarded to another person.

The winners will benefit from JFD’s growth acceleration programme for one year, in collaboration with its partners.

JFD integrates les Margaret Award winners into its communications strategy and provides them with €1m worth of media exposure for one year.

We position les Margarets for local or international public/media speaking opportunities, and thus develop their visibility/notoriety with the general public, major companies, investors, potential partners and political leaders.

Les Margarets benefit from VIP invitations to events organised or co-organised by JFD in Europe, Africa and Canada. They also benefit from a one-year premium membership at the JFD Club, valued at €3,000 excluding VAT.

JFD will support and simplify all connections between les Margarets, leading to synergies with its partners, startups, corporations, public and private organisations, and will accompany les Margarets in the acceleration of their projects: coaching, mentoring, funding opportunities for entrepreneurs, scholarships for juniors, etc.

4.2. The Margaret Entrepreneurs receive:

Media visibility worth €1 million.
Mentoring & coaching: support for personal development and business growth from our partners.
Public speaking opportunities at major international events.
Premium one-year membership of the JFD Club (value: €3,000 excl. VAT/year)
Financing opportunities through contacts with JFD partner funds and investors.

4.3. The Margaret Intrapreneurs receive:

Visibilité médiatique d’une valeur de 1 million d’euros.
Media visibility worth €1 million.
Mentoring & coaching: personal and professional development support from JFD and its partners.
Public speaking opportunities at major international events.
Premium one-year membership of the JFD Club (value: €3,000 excl. VAT/year)
Funding opportunities through contacts with JFD partner funds and investors.

4.4. Les Margaret Juniors receive:

Media exposure worth €1 million.
Mentoring & Coaching: support for personal development and project management from our partners.
Training and workshops provided by our partners.
A €1,000 scholarship.
Premium one-year membership of the JFD Club (value: €3,000 excl. VAT/year)

The winning Participant will be informed by e-mail, in accordance with the information provided at the time of registration.

JFD cannot be held responsible for any delay or problem in awarding the prize for reasons beyond our control or for any other fortuitous event. If the prizes are not delivered due to an incorrect address and/or a change of address or any other fortuitous event, no claim will be accepted.

5. MARGARET’S COMMITMENTS

5.1. You commit to breaking new ground with JFD

JFD is actively working to reduce gender inequality in tech. We have strong values of progress and inclusion, which you share. As a Margaret, you will be a conduit for these messages and commit to taking them to your community, network and media at every opportunity.

5.2. You agree to communicate on JFD’s actions in favour of gender equality

JFD publicises its actions in Europe, Africa and Canada, through its spokespersons, JFD Ambassadors, but also the Margaret Award winners. You can then intervene locally, with the media, seeking to know more about your ambitions/projects with JFD.

JFD produces content with high viral potential to support its communications. To this end, the Margaret agrees that JFD will also be able to disseminate and exploit her image in its online/offline, print, radio/TV and web communication materials.

5.3. You agree to respect the JFD brand

On joint communications and interventions with JFD, you commit to speaking to your community by always tagging @joinjfd and using the hashtags indicated or by default #JFD #lesMargaret.

In order to clearly identify yourself as a JFD Margaret Award winner, you will add #lesMargaret to your social media profiles and indicate on your Linkedin profile and biography that you are a Margaret Award winner.

The content you produce with JFD must include the JFD logo and be validated before distribution.

5.4. You agree to promote JFD in your projects

As a Margaret, you will be committed to valuing JFD in all aspects of your project that relate to it. In a non-exhaustive way, you will value JFD in the organisation of your projects by:

Keeping the JFD teams informed of the progress of your project and seeking possible synergies with the actions deployed by JFD (invitations to meetings, coordination on a theme, etc.);
Inviting the JFD team to intervene and/or participate in your project;
Integrating the JFD logo on all communication elements, placing content or brochures, and mentioning JFD on social networks.

6. IMAGE RIGHTS

Each participant authorises, free of charge, the organisers, directly or indirectly, to record and use her image on all communication media dedicated to the promotion of the Margaret Awards.

To this end, the participants authorise the organisers or any third party approved by them, for a period of 1 year from the date of submission of the entries, to represent, reproduce, broadcast and use the image of the participant in question in whole or in part, directly or indirectly throughout the world by means of the written press, radio, television and computer, on all media and in all formats and more generally by all technical methods and processes known or to be known, and whatever the sectors of distribution, in particular in the communication media associated with the organisation, information or promotion of the award. Personal and strictly confidential information is expressly excluded from this authorisation.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

As part of the competition and the submission of entries, participants may be asked to divulge personal and confidential information.

The organisers and the members of the Jury agree to treat such information with the utmost care and discretion, and not to divulge it without the prior authorisation of the participant in question, provided that it has been previously identified as “confidential” by the latter.

Nevertheless, as part of the communication associated with the Margaret Awards, the organisers are authorised:

To release to the press and publish on the joinjfd.com website the company name, the name of the project and the names of the applicants.
To make public the essential and non-confidential characteristics of the projects presented, without compensation of any kind.

8. LITIGATIONS

Participation in the Margaret Awards implies full acceptance, without restriction or reservation, of these rules, as well as a sworn undertaking as to the truthfulness of the information provided.

If one or more provisions of these rules were declared null and void or inapplicable, the other clauses would retain all their force and scope. All cases not covered by these rules shall be decided by JFD, whose decisions shall be final.

The law applicable to these rules is French law. Any dispute arising in connection with this competition will be subject to an attempt at amicable settlement. If no agreement can be reached, the dispute will be submitted to the competent jurisdictions on which the head office of the organising company depends, except in the case of public policy provisions to the contrary. No dispute will be admissible two months after the end of the competition.

The Bureau – 18 rue Littré 75006 Paris – Siren: 791 198 914 000 32 – Code APE: 7021Z – n° Intracommunity VAT: FR 61791 198 914