StartSomeGood: The Blog

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Storytelling is such an essential skill for professionals who need to connect with their audience. It comes so naturally to some, but for many of us it is a learned skill that takes time and dedication to get right. This is why Acumen and Ariel Group have come together to bring you Storytelling for Change, a completely free 4-week course that will help you better connect with other to inspire change. The course begins on May 11th, but you must register in advance, by May 5th, as part of a lab group that you will work with throughout your 4 weeks of learning and personal growth.
I have a great idea, but how do I get started? Should I use a for or non-profit model? How do I measure success in terms of social impact? Are these questions you ask yourself as a changemaker? Are you looking for practical advice for every stage of your entrepreneurial journey? UnLtd is offering a free Comprehensive Guide to Developing your Social Enterprise, a toolkit that offers guidance from initial idea to growth and replication. Download it here and get the support you need to start welcoming the challenges and opportunities of social entrepreneurship in a structured way.
It’s time to get your kickball on! Playworks DC’s 3rd Annual Corporate Kickball Tournament will take place on Friday, June 14th. This team-building fundraiser will get your team out of the office and onto the field for an afternoon of networking and fun. Not only that, you’ll be supporting healthy play for more than 3,500 children in 13 different low-income schools in DC. Space is limited, so register your team of 9-15 people ASAP to reserve your spot!
Impact Engine is a 16-week business accelerator that supports for-profit businesses making the world a better place. They’re launching their second cohort this year and invite you to celebrate during their Application Kick-Off Party on May 15th in Chicago. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a keynote on “Being Unreasonable” by Paul Hardej of FarmedHere, and a Q&A with Impact Engine graduates—this party can’t be missed!
Join us in congratulating the fifty-three finalists for the 2013 Echoing Green Fellowship! These finalists will travel from around the globe to meet with judges, staff, and each other for another round of rigorous interviews. The year’s applicant pool started with nearly 3,000 and will ultimately be whittled down to about 20 fellows. We wish all the finalists good luck, but a very special “go get ‘em” to StartSomeGood crowdfunding veterans Anjna Patient Education and WeCyclers. You’re making us so proud!

Shawn D. Ross

I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.

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Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com) or find her on Twitter @nricchio to connect with us.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Join some of today’s foremost though leaders in social innovation, Cheryl Dorsey of Echoing Green, Jeremy Heimens, founder of Purpose, and Sasha Dichter of Acumen Fund in NYC on Wednesday evening, March 13th for a night of discussion and celebration. The winners of the New Challenge 2013 social innovation competition will be announced and over $30,000 in funding will be distributed to select teams. The panel will discuss how thought leaders are shaping new contexts for social innovation. This event is free so, what are you waiting for? Register today!
Have you been looking for an introduction to the LA Social Entrepreneur Community? Well, you’re in luck! This free class introduces newcomers to the robust social entrepreneur startup scene in LA. You will learn what a social enterprise is, the key events/meetups you should be attending, companies to watch, venture capitalists to know, and what blogs to read (this one, of course, is a great start). Join a great group of future social entrepreneurs for an evening of introductions and free drinks on Saturday, March 23^rdat General Assembly LA in Santa Monica, CA.
Coast Capital Savings innovation hub presents the Propelling Social Ventures Conference 2013 at Vancouver Convention Center in Vancouver on March 14-15. This conference will bring together social entrepreneurs, leaders in the business community, and social innovators to explore ways to contribute to more social venture activity. Two days of thought provoking discussion will help you learn, network, garner inspiration, and gather resources to help you grow and scale your impact with your social venture.
The Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program searches for ways to improve the lives of low-income individuals across the country. It invests in young leaders, America’s newest generation of entrepreneurs, who want to succeed and take their communities along with them. In addition to a $40,000 grant, they provide the ingredients to succeed including leadership development, mentoring, tech assistance, and networking access. If you have a business that is between one and five years old and started it before you were 30 years old, you may be eligible for this grant. Apply now and help your business jump to the next level and reach its fullest potential.
Take creative risks and expand your arts practice for mass audiences at Dark MOFO and MONA FOMA, Darwin Festival, HARVEST MUSIC AND ARTS, FRINGE WORLD, WOMADelaide and Vryfees through SITUATE Art in Festivals presented by Salamanca Arts Centre. Applications open 25 March for 2 weeks only - sign up here to be the first to know!

Shawn D. Ross

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Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email the details to Nicole and she’ll be happy to take a look at it.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Echoing Green is unleashing next generation talent to solve the world’s biggest problems. This week, Echoing Green has announced the semi-finalists for its ultra-selective 2013 Echoing Green Fellowship. Among this elite group chosen from nearly 3,000 submissions are four ventures that successfully funded projects on StartSomeGood: Anjna Patient Education, Spark* International, Physicians for Haiti, and WeCyclers. We’re so excited to see some amazing StartSomeGood ventures on this selective list of achievers. Many, many congratulations and good luck to everyone!

Do you want to begin a crowdfunding campaign but don’t have any experience? The reality is over half of all crowdfunding campaigns fall short of their goal. A lot of work and preparation go into running a successful campaign. Crowdfunding Masterclass: Brisbane, hosted by StartSomeGood and the Centre for Social Change,is being offered to ensure you’re part of the half that succeeds! Facilitated by our own Tom Dawkins, this workshop will work through the key steps in developing a campaign. Come out on Sunday, March 3rd from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm with a developed idea that you are ready to share with your workshop group. Space is limited so be sure to book your spot now!

Do you have a great problem-solving idea, but don’t know how to raise the necessary funds to get started? On February 25th from 7pm to 9pm at Rutgers University, in Piscataway, NJ, Starting and Funding Your Social Venture: A Panel Discussion will feature Professor Jeffrey Robinson and three distinguished guest speakers. Professor Robinson teaches social entrepreneurship at Rutgers Business School and will head the panel discussion around starting and funding social entrepreneurial ventures. Learn from experts on crowdfunding and how to use it to raise money for your social venture. Bonus: come meet our Blog Coordinator, Nicole—she’ll be at the event too!

Do you find yourself thinking, “If only I knew how to realize the potential of this ubiquitous tool to address social challenges,” when you look at your phone and tablet? The world is becoming more mobile and TechChange: Mobiles for International Development can help. Starting on March 4th, this four-week online professional development certificate course will explore successful applications of mobile phones. For a small fee, you will participate in a course that gives you a dynamic and practical learning environment with real-world examples and case studies. Engage with issues of equity, privacy, education, access, and more. Apply by February 25th and receive a $50 discount.

Shawn D. Ross

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Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email the details to Nicole and she’ll be happy to take a look at it.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Build your knowledge and experience with social ventures and maximize your social impact when you enroll in University of Florida’s experiential remote course “Venture Planning for Social Entrepreneurs”. UF has partnered with Ashoka’s Youth Venture to offer this fantastic opportunity for students to earn credits and address a social, environmental or economic problem that is close to their heart.
Join the conversation on SocialChange.is and share your ideas, your stories, and lessons you have learned on your journey for social change. This site will give you the opportunity to discuss and learn about the other’s social initiatives on an innovative and new social platform.
Ashoka Changemakers is offering full scholarships for 3 innovators for “Technology, Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship”, an online course offered through TechChange and the Amani Institute. Applications are open through September 17^th.
Mashable has announced its Social Good Summit, which will be held September 22nd-24th in NYC. Mashable, one of this generation’s leaders in social media and technology is excited to facilitate discussions about how social connectivity is going to change the world as well as women’s economic empowerment, citizen involvement in media, global health, and other topics in social good. Purchase tickets for the event today! Can’t make the commute? Then Take Action and create your own Mashable Meetup.
Echoing Green has compiled a preview of Jonathan Lewis’ video series “iOnPoverty”. Check out the blog for candid, honest, and helpful advice for aspiring changemakers on topics including sacrifices, purpose, happiness, generational differences, failure, and humility.
Al Bruno, cofounder of the Global Social Incubator shares “10 Life-Or-Death Lessons for Social Entrepreneurs”. As a guest writer for Forbes, Bruno shares his knowledge of business and social entrepreneurship for a bunch of great tips for anyone looking to develop a successful business plan.

Rachael Casagrande

I am currently working towards a BS in Information Design and Corporate Communication at Bentley University. Before college, I hadn’t any idea where I wanted life to take me so I decided to just let the wind blow me around a bit. The following summer, I shipped myself off to Romania through Learning Enterprises where I volunteered running English camps. The children I met there made me realize how much just one hello, one meal, or one hug can really grow change in someone’s life. After coming back to the US I’ve been keeping myself busy working odd jobs, studying and taking every opportunity I can to mesh my business degree with my love for positive change.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Adventures in New Giving is in New York City right now from July 12th through the 17th connecting with local supporters. Nathaniel was able to make this tour possible through his campaign on StartSomeGood, which raised $10,191 from 150 backers. On July 14th, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM EST Nathaniel plans to hold the Local New Giving Summit. Interested in volunteering for or attending the summit? Check out Nathaniel’s website or contact the facilitators.
GOODmaker and Echoing Green want to know, “How would you spend $1,000 to build deeper relationships with the community you most want to serve?” Submit your idea and enter the Connect with Your Community Challenge presented by Echoing Green.
If you are a young and passionate social entrepreneur who needs some help putting your project into action then Vibewire has the resources you need. Three young changemakers working on community-based projects in Sydney will receive a mentor, access to skill workshops, and a workspace to help them organize their project. Make sure to apply before July 31st.
Spark: Her is recruiting young diverse professionals for a fellowship program that will encourage participants to work together to implement a global campaign promoting women social entrepreneurs. This is a can’t miss opportunity for women social innovators so make sure to apply before the July 15^th deadline.
Londoners, the Hub Breakfast Talk: Crowdfunding for Good on July 17th at 9 AM in London. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Alex, our co-founder, discuss what he’s learned about what it takes to succeed. You can pre-order your ticket now on the Eventbrite page!
Hey, what’s the big idea? Let NPR know by entering your big idea into its video contest by August 12th. All it takes is a good idea, here’s your chance to change the world.

Rachael Casagrande

posted 13 July, 2012
by nricchio
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This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Join Cheryl Dorsey, President of Echoing Green, for a Net Impact NYC event where she will speak about Echoing Green, her career path, and the up and coming trends in social entrepreneurship. Come meet Cheryl and others from Echoing Green for a night of inspiration, collaboration, and social change.
Loyola University is hosting a webinar, Make Your Mark: Change the World with Social Entrepreneurship, on Tuesday April 17th at 1:00 PM CST. Karabi Acharya, global director of Ashoka Impact, will be moderating a discussion with Molly Barker, founder of Girls on the Run, and Chris Balme, Executive Director of Spark. They will discuss how both of their organizations have helped transform the lives of youth in low income communities and how families can come together and introduce innovative solutions to the world’s biggest social issues.
RSVP for FREE for this once in a lifetime opportunity to see Muhammad Yunus speak at Harvard Business School. Social Business with Muhammad Yunus: New Models for Providing Sustainable Services to the Poor—on April 19th, join Muhammad Yunus, one of the world’s most influential social entrepreneurs, discuss his recent efforts to build social business and healthcare efforts in his native country, Bangladesh.
Being a compelling storyteller is such an amazing and crucial asset for social entrepreneurs. 3 Reasons to Master the Art of Storytelling by Riley Gibson at Inc. is a must-read this week for entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs alike. Why are stories so important? They are memorable, they travel further, and they inspire action.
Two successful StartSomeGood ventures have some exciting updates. Learn to Live, which provides affordable healthcare to the people of North Sulawesi, Indonesia and raised $6,925 during its campaign on StartSomeGood, just launched a new website—check it out! Also, The 2012 Echoing Green Fellowship Finalists were just announced and One Degree made the cut! One Degree connects low income students and their families to critical life resources. Rey and his team raised $4,684 during his campaign which will help launch One Degree. Very many congratulations to Yanti from Learn to Live and Rey from One Degree and good luck in your quests to change the world!

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

The Hitachi Foundation’s Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program provides financial and business support for up to five social entrepreneurs whose businesses improve the lives of low-income individuals. The entrepreneurs selected receive $40,000 over two years in addition to leadership development, business mentoring, technical assistance, and access to a great network of peers and advisors, including partner organizations such as B Lab, Investors’ Circle, and Social Venture Network. If you started your business before the age of 30, it is 1-5 years old, and it helps low-income communities in the United States, then it’s eligible for the Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program! The process is simple—apply now or anytime before the March 30th deadline.
Activating Empathy—Transforming Schools to Teach What Matters—if you are a teacher, parent, principal, student, or innovator with an idea that will help advance empathy in education, Ashoka’s Changemakers are looking for you. “The best entries describe a systemic or disruptive innovation with the potential to ensure that children master empathy, enabling them to be effective citizens, leaders, and trailblazers.” Does this sound like you? Are you interested in earning cash prizes from Ashoka’s Changemakers, Mattel, 1440 Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, DonorsCoose.org, and more? Submit your idea online before 5:00 pm EST on March 30th to be considered for the competition.
Grant applications just opened for the annual Eileen Fisher Business Grant Program for Women Entrepreneurs. This grant program seeks out wholly women-owned businesses that combine innovation with social consciousness and sustainability. Up to 5 grants of $12,500 will be awarded to the top entries from established businesses (in business at least 3 years) and start-ups (less than 3 years old, just a business plan is needed). Applications just opened earlier this month, so there’s still a month left to apply—the deadline is April 25th at noon EST.
Photographers and photography enthusiasts alike, here is a fun contest being hosted by Echoing Green—Show the World What Moves You. Win a Camera. Simply snap a shot of something or someone that moves you. Then, post that photo along with a few sentences about what it means to you. Share with everyone you know and make sure they give it a “thumbs up”. On April 2nd, Echoing Green will pick a winner among the top five ranked photos and the winner will receive a Gold Edition Minox DCC 5.1 digital camera. So, what moves you?
There’s a great discussion up on Social Edge right now with some useful insights for anyone just starting off their social mission driven initiative. Mistakes of a Social Entrepreneur—Jeremy Hockenstein, CEO and co-founder of Digital Divide Data, discusses his experiences just starting off and the mistakes he made along the way in an attempt to help newer social entrepreneurs not repeat these same mistakes. New social entrepreneurs, this is a must read. More experienced social entrepreneurs, join the discussion and share your thoughts and experiences—we can all benefit from what you have learned.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Coming up next week in New York, the New York Women Social Entrepreneurs is hosting a special networking event—Spring into Action with NYWSE on Tuesday, March 6th at In Good Company Workplaces. The host of the event is Taryn Miller-Stevens of Change.org and she will guide participants through activities that will help them formulate goals, overcome obstacles, and create new opportunities.
Ben & Jerry’s has teamed up with Changemakers to bring you Join Our Core & Scoop For Change, a competition in search of innovative sustainable business models. If you are between the ages of 18 and 34, reside in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, or the Netherlands, and you have an idea for a sustainable business that will benefit the planet, enter this competition by April 15th for a chance to win €10,000 to support your business, six months of mentoring courtesy of Ashoka, and a 10-day trip to Uganda to work alongside social entrepreneurs. Hurry up and enter—the first 100 entries (before March 15) will get a year’s supply of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! I’d say that alone is worth entering.
There is less than a week left to enter for a chance to win the Santander Social Enterprise Exchange Award. Based in the UK, this award is looking to support social enterprises that want to partner, replicate, or share knowledge with other social enterprises to grow their social impact. Enter by March 7th for a chance to win £5,000 and receive your award on stage at the 2012 Social Enterprise Exchange in Glasgow.
If you are on the hunt for a career with social impact, Echoing Green frequently posts some great opportunities worth checking out on its blog. This month’s Social Impact Jobs listing features some great positions with Teach For America, The White House Project, and Blue Engine, among many others. Check them out today and begin your journey to start your Work On Purpose.
While the Ideation Conference 2012 in Chicago is still months away, the time to register is now! All throughout March, registrants will receive a $100 early bird special discount. Great ideas cannot be executed without the right implementation strategy. This conference gathers some of the most innovative thinkers in the social good field to help attendees develop their ideas, provide a path for implementation of these ideas, and a way to have a greater impact.
If you are in Austin for SXSW and haven’t signed up for Pitch Some Good yet, then what are you waiting for? Join us along with Center61 and The Next Fest on March 12th for a night of innovation, social entrepreneurs, and change-makers. The night will feature eight innovative social ventures giving Ignite-style five minute presentations. Not only do we welcome you to listen, but also to participate by taking part in the judging process to determine which social venture walks away with the grand prize of $1,000 courtesy of Rackspace. Register now for free and start getting excited for this opportunity to share your social entrepreneurial story with a crowd of like-minded change-makers and be inspired by others.

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Social entrepreneurs, have you been inspired to start your own good? Do you have a social enterprise, a non-profit, or an amazing idea that needs some momentum to take off? Visit our site to find out how to start your own campaign today. Still have questions? We have answers—check out our FAQ section.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

In our “This Week in Social Entrepreneurship” series, each Friday we will feature the top stories in Social Entrepreneurship for the week that we find to be noteworthy, novel, and thought-provoking. What are your favorite stories this week in Social Entrepreneurship? Let’s start a discussion!

Are you leading positive change in your community? Are you between the ages of 18 and 29 and the founder or leader of a social change project or organization? The 2012 YouthActionNet Global Fellowship is looking for exceptional social entrepreneurs just like you—20 of them to be exact—to participate in a year-long program that includes a seven day leadership retreat, skills training in communications, media outreach, presenting, and new media technologies, and a membership in the YouthActionNet global network of fellows. YouthActionNet Fellows from previous years include YaYa Education Trust (2010), The Yonso Project (2010), and Tanzania Youth Environmental Network (2011). The application deadline is March 12 so if you are interested in becoming part of this prestigious network of social change projects, consider applying today.
Investors’ Circle, a network of 150 angel investors, venture capitalists, foundations, and family offices, is looking for early-stage organizations that address significant social or environmental issues to participate in its Spring Venture Fair. Upon submitting an application, your company will be considered for an opportunity to present at the Venture Fair at the Hotel Monaco in San Francisco on April 22-24. If you are interested—jump on this opportunity quickly because the deadline is today.
Hub Ventures, “a startup accelerator for entrepreneurs building a better world”, can help you build and launch your world-changing venture. As part of a 12-week cohort program, you will collaborate with peers, attend workshops, and receive mentorships with highly successful entrepreneurs. The deadline for the Spring 2012 cohort is March 5.
Nominations have opened for the 2012 PopTech Social Innovation Fellows Program. PopTech is looking for individuals working on “highly disruptive” innovations, have 3-5 years experience, and are in organizations that are positioned to grow. They will participate in a program that fosters their potential to create sustainable impact and gain access to a network of alumni and mentors. Nominations must be placed by April 3.
As many of you may already know, Echoing Green announced its semifinalists for the 2012 Echoing Green Fellowship and we are excited to announce that three ventures with successful campaigns on StartSomeGood made the cut! One Degree is connecting students and families in low income neighborhoods to critical life resources. Check out our interview with One Degree founder Rey Faustino back in December. Kushiri is an online platform where consultants can volunteer their time and expertise to advise NGOs and enterprises in the developing world. the [blank] canvas focuses on stimulating the inner artist that is present in everyone by bringing people of all ages together to express their creativity and, as a result, enhance the community in which they live. We are so, so proud of One Degree, Kushiri, and the [blank] canvas and wish them all the best of luck in the next round. Way to StartSomeGood, guys!

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This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Are you starting a social business and on the fence about whether or not it should be for-profit? This week on the Huffington Post, Patrick Fitzgerald’s insightful and informative article, The Social Entrepreneur’s Dilemma, addresses this important decision. He tells us to ask ourselves three questions before launching a startup—Is it absolutely imperative that we be a non-profit? Does my customer care whether we are non or for-profit? Can it be profitable?
Looking for some great SocEnt reads to ring in the new year? Are you ready to be inspired to take the next big step with your ideas? Look no further than Echoing Green’s list of books to start the new year. If you’re part of our SocEnt book club, then you’ve already read at least one—KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play by Darrell Hammond. Take a look at the rest of the list—have you read any? Can you share a quick review with us? Are there any must reads for 2012 that were left off the list?
If you are in the Los Angeles area on January 12, you should stop by the i2i Social Entrepreneurs Gathering in Torrance, CA. This event, hosted by Ideation, is a chance to network and share your ideas with other like-minded champions of social change. The topic that evening will be “Corporate Engagement of Social Good” and the lead of Toyota’s “100 Cars of Good” campaign, Michael Kroll, will be the guest speaker.
When you are a young social entrepreneur just starting off, perfecting your business pitch is key. After participating in the Social Enterprise Alliance Summit 2011, Alex Andertran came back with some key takeaways as a panel judge for the pitch session portion of the summit. Evidence—real fact and figures will validate your proposal more than generalizations will. Always make sure to emphasize your experience and expertise, along with your advisory board’s. Know your audience—if you can look up who your judges are ahead of time, take advantage of that. Frame your pitch in a way that they can understand it. These are just the tip of the iceberg—read more over at Zero Divide’s blog. Do you have experience pitching? What techniques listed do you think are the most important? Were any essential tips not mentioned on the list?
The G(irls)20 Summit selects an 18-20 year old woman delegate from each G20 country and brings them together to brainstorm and design innovative ideas to empower women and girls all over the world. If you are an 18-20 year old woman interested in participating as a representative for your country, the deadline to apply is January 9th, 2012.
If you are a Twitter aficionado, you have to see this Twitter for social change resource. This is the motherload—45 hashtags for social change. Use these hashtags to make sure your Tweets are strategic and being seen by the right people.
The perfect way to finish off our last This Week in Social Entrepreneurship post of the year is by discussing Dowser’s yearly social entrepreneurship roundup, The Social Entrepreneurship Year in Review. We’ve seen social entrepreneurship take some amazing strides this year. 2011 brought about a renewed sense of individual empowerment to create social change. It also saw a worldwide community of social entrepreneurs emphasizing collaboration rather than competition. Funding has also increased for social entrepreneurs this year thanks to an influx of creative funding methods. What other social entrepreneurship trends have you noticed taking shape in 2011?

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Social entrepreneurs, has all this great SocEnt news inspired you to start your own good? Do you have a social enterprise, a non-profit, or an amazing idea that needs some momentum to take off? Visit our site to find out how to start your own campaign today. Still have questions? We have answers—check out our FAQ section.

Posts tagged Echoing Green