Why start early? And why be the first to trust an unproven young leader? Panelists will share their experiences on both sides of the table: as young social entrepreneurs, as advisors to young social entrepreneurs, and as investors in young social entrepreneurs. The conversation will cover the …

We will discuss with a panel of a first-time social entrepreneur, an experienced social entrepreneur, and an investor in first-time social entrepreneurs how the risk profile varies based on experience. Panelists will share their experience and the lessons they have learned about the difference between inexperienced and …

Crowdfunding reveals how communities grow stronger in moments of collective action. Well-known and unknown campaigns bring to life new ventures, community engagement, and even public service. How does crowdfunding click (or clash) with government, philanthropy, and private investment? This un-panel evaluates new and hybrid models for impact …

Every minute, three new crowdfunding campaigns launch. Increasingly, many social entrepreneurs are turning to crowdfunding as a way to launch their startups. Crowdfunding is providing more than just capital, it is creating a new way to build a business with the crowd. This session will go beyond …

If it is true that founders need knowledge, networks and capital to succeed, then what does it mean for those who fund and support entrepreneurs to construct and manage networks that drive value to them? Come hear from practitioners inside and outside of the impact investing world …

While the field of social finance and impact investing is continuing to evolve in Canada it is still relatively in the infant stages of development. The objective of the session is to examine how mainstream interest in impact investing has grown over the last few years and …

Plenty of financial products have emerged over the past decade to address gaps in the supply chain, yet gaps continue to exist. As Fair Trade companies continue to grow in the marketplace, their suppliers need to grow with them. This requires additional capital to proliferate the development …

In 2012 the Omidyar Network published “Priming the Pump,” making the case for sector-based impact investing. But cities are the engines of growth and job creation. Can a city-level focus complement a sector-based approach, multiplying the impact our dollars have on our communities?

It’s rare to find an investment structure that aligns investor and entrepreneur interests. For investors, traditional debt does not provide high enough risk-adjusted returns, while equity returns are illiquid and do not have structured exits. For entrepreneurs, debt repayment is not tied to the success of a …

Impact investing holds great promise in creating positive social and environmental impact by investing in enterprises world-wide, yet it has been a challenge to place risk capital in social enterprises that are often in high risk/low return sectors or geographies. In short, the lack of long-term risk …

While demand for the services of non-profits and charities is higher than ever before, many of these groups find it very difficult to plan, innovate and grow. In the face of an increasingly fragmented social impact landscape, leadership of these organizations are faced with an enormous challenge: …

“The opportunities to combine making a profit with serving your community are limitless- Ben Cohen Would he invest? “First, the business would need to be values led in a way that benefits people who have traditionally been oppressed. Second it would need to be committed to remaining …

As social impact measurement evolves, we believe it is core to our mission that GoodCompany entrepreneurs model best practice and set the standard for better practices. To measure social responsibility, we recommend that all entrepreneurs take the BLab self-assessment and work to improve their BLab score. This …

Agriculture is seasonal in nature. Individual businesses are required to utilize capitally intensive assets to harvest, transport, and store their commodities, even though these assets may sit idle for long periods once their operational usage concludes. By sharing seasonal resources, farmers could maximize supply chain efficiency and …

The lines between venture philanthropy, impact investing, and socially responsible investing are blurring as investors and entrepreneurs across the spectrum find increasingly innovative ways of creating value on multiple fronts. The panelists will share examples of investments from around the world that highlight creative financing mechanisms, impact …

What happens when large corporations act as changemakers? We multiply impact through the power to execute at scale with commercial capital. Social enterprises have already pioneered the field of impact venturing and now leading multinational corporations are eager to learn, share experiences and find ways to reach …

In all facets of life, creativity and innovation drive change. But how do we encourage and nurture these life-changing attributes especially in today’s youth? For example, how can the groundwork be laid and encouraged in teenagers through creating music? And upon entering college, what tools can be …

America’s urban Main Street neighborhoods once served as centers of housing, jobs, and commerce. However, the historical confluence of urban flight and the decline of the industrial era has rendered many urban neighborhoods throughout the country deteriorated and impoverished. Yet, these areas have retained the fundamental characteristics …

With $30 trillion slated to pass from Baby Boomers to their Millennial children in the coming years, impact investing may prove to offer families more than just an alternative to giving. In many cases, Baby Boomer parents worked hard to create a better life for their Millennial …

Timor-Leste was the first sovereign state declared in the 21st Century. After decades of invasion, persecution, and genocide the new country, in a David and Goliath outcome, received its independence on 20th May 2002, something to be truly proud of. Not so pride inducing was receiving 3rd …

More than half the world lives in cities, and that figure is likely to increase to 60 percent by 2030, adding 1.4 billion more people than today, yet the mantra of many real estate investors is that the environmental and social elements necessary to get us to …

Predatory smaller, short term loans (pay day loans) and larger, longer term loans (installment and car title loans) take a significant toll on low and moderate income borrowers. Many people want to eliminate these lenders through regulation or changed laws. But access to credit is crucial for …

REDF will highlight findings from our recent evaluation study, the Mathematica Job Study (MJS), showing the significant return to taxpayers generated by social enterprises whose mission is to employ people excluded from the workforce—every dollar invested returns $2.23 in benefits to society. Overall, these findings suggest we …

Investing in early-stage deals can often seem so complicated and so expense. We have reviewed a portfolio of over 50 deals and are sharing what we have seen, both good and bad. This panel will discuss the key themes and lessons learned from a broad portfolio in …

Insane, irresponsible or effective? Does investor due diligence in early-stage impact investments need to take more than 4 hours of the entrepreneurs time? So much of the entrepreneurs time is spent providing information to reassure investors about risk, yet is there much more information that can be …