Archive for the ‘Market Opportunities’ Category

SOCAP13 Session Recap: Special Session for Faith Leaders

September 5th, 2013


Tuesday’s Special Session for Faith Leaders invited leaders across spiritual disciplines to discuss their hopes for SOCAP13. Jarrod Shappell facilitated the session, opening by asking leaders to think about how they felt the world ought to be, as faith leaders, and as members of faith communities.

Executive Producer Rosa Lee Harden asked leaders how we can see SOCAP13 and its notion of “accelerating the good economy” through a faith lens. She asked: how can we invest and at the same time do good in the world? What is the role of the church in this relationship?

Here’s some food for thought from this session:

  1. One faith leader discussed the idea that faith and enterprise are intertwined at every level. How then, can all of us, as faith leaders, individuals, entrepreneurs use our market systems as tools to support and further work to support the community?
  2. Faith leaders addressed the feeling of displacement as leaders interested in spiritually motivated work and entrepreneurship, who understand and believe in the need for financial sustainability. They expressed the great comfort of encountering SOCAP as a space for incubation of ministry ideas, where these two belief systems are able to coalesce and create a much-desired dialogue
  3. One leader asked: why is the church at the back of the train and not the front of the train? How does what we believe in impact what we do and why don’t we talk about this intersection?

A quote read by Dr. Diane J. Johnson, a faith leader in attendance:

“I arise in the morning torn between the desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy it. This makes it very hard to plan the day.” –E.B.White

Special Blog Post by SOCAP13 Volunteer Ana Santos

SOCAP13 Video: Armchair discussion with Vineet Rai and Kevin Jones

September 5th, 2013

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Watch Kevin Jones of SOCAP and Vineet Rai of Aavishkaar discuss the new directions of impact investing.

Impact Engine’s 2013 Class Due June 30th

June 19th, 2013
Have a business idea that could change the world? Impact Engine is now accepting applications for its second accelerator program through June 30th! Managed by the founder of OpenTable, Chuck Templeton, Impact Engine is a 16-week accelerator program that provides entrepreneurs with the resources and tools they need to build companies that address today’s societal and environmental challenges. Receive $25,000 in upfront cash, one-on-one mentorship, business workshops and seminars, free workspace in Chicago’s startup hub 1871, access to accredited investors, the experience of a lifetime, and more. To date, five out of eight Impact Engine graduates have raised $2.5 million in seed funding since graduating in December. If you’re building a for-profit business that’s making the world a better place, Impact Engine can help.

 

How to Apply: Applications for Impact Engine’s fall cohort are open through June 30th. Learn more or apply directly through F6S.

The Open Health Community

June 19th, 2013
Did you know that in some hospitals checks for breast cancer are done by blind people because the sense in their fingers is well developed, enabling earlier cancer detection? Watch this video about it.

 

 

The Open Health Community is a new platform that brings together entrepreneurs, students, professionals, creatives and experts in a crowdsource challenge. Our aim is to co-create innovative business solutions that can empower (ex-)cancer patients and improve the quality of their lives. Join us and become part of this international community, where you can expand your professional network, share experiences and knowledge and develop your idea into a promising business concept. The owner of the best business concept will win 10.000EUR to make it a reality.

 

More about the Open Health Community
The aim of the Open Health Community is to improve the quality of life, health and healthcare for cancer patients through co-creating world changing ideas that empower them. We bring entrepreneurs, students, professionals, experts and (ex-)patients together in our crowdsource challenge. The owner(s) of the best business idea will win 10.000 euro and the chance to develop it into a successful start-up supported by Enviu. Who knows, maybe someone in your network has the oncology solution for the future?

We Can All Be a Tipping Point

June 4th, 2013

Tipping Point is a community dedicated to eliminating poverty in the Bay Area. Based here in San Francisco, they find organizations serving low-income families and connect them with the dollars to do it.

 

 

Their new program, T Lab, is seeking 9 problem-solvers eager to engage in 6 months of designing, building and testing new solutions in the fight against poverty. Selected participants will work in teams of three and receive a $25,000 stipend. Watch the video above to learn more, or visit the site to apply.