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Does the project have intrinsic merit based on its design elegance? In many fields beauty sells. Is this a highly appealing project?

Does this project push the boundaries? Is it clever? Does it have a high novelty quotation? Does it show genuine creativity? Does this project have a “buzz factor”? In guerilla marketing, the primary goal is to get people talking about the product, the all-important word-of-mouth. Is this the project that everyone can’t wait to tell their friends about when they leave the Commons? Could it be one of YouTube’s most watched?

Does the project have the potential to improve some aspect of our community? Does it streamline processes for services such as utilities and infrastructure in a city or government? Does it include an innovation or improvement to civic life? Does it generate new knowledge from civic data? Does it increase civic engagement through public participation and outreach?

Does the project have the ability to attract investors? Is the market large? Is the idea likely to be commercially viable? Is the problem the project aims to solve big? Would you buy one? 

Social enterprises seek to maximize profits while also maximizing benefits to society and the environment. These profits are principally used to fund social programs. The main difference between social entrepreneurial endeavors is these businesses focus beyond simply generating profit, by measuring performance on the positive impact the business makes on society--whether social, cultural or environmental.

Does the project address the specific needs of a very specific albeit small group of customers? Is there a focus and clarity to the project’s solution that has special merit? Does the solution dovetail smoothly into a pretty obvious value proposition. It’s not a billion dollar home run, but it’s a clean single.