As an aspiring entrepreneur, it is pretty exciting to learn that there are ways of receiving funding for your original ideas. Gone are the days where you are forced to venture alone; a new age is here where companies are excited to invest in the next generation.

Every year, Forbes hosts a $1 Million Change the World Competition. It is a competition for young entrepreneurs with social ideas both for-profit and not-for-profit. The winner of the competition takes home $500,000 and the five runners up each get $100,000. This opportunity is an almost unheard of opportunity to jumpstart your business at such a young age. While this competition is open currently only for existing businesses, the opportunity is incredible.

The best part about this competition? It focuses and encourages social entrepreneurship. The tides are changing in innovation these days. Young people not only want to make it big, but they more importantly want to change the world. Forbes recognizes this zeitgeist and fosters it. It is so cool to see current big-wigs responding to the change they are seeing in the tides of innovation.

Personally, I find this to be an extremely encouraging and motivating competition. Not only can you dream big, but there are opportunities already existing to help turn it into reality. Truly now is the easiest time to change the world. The stage is open.