IMPACT ENTREPRENEURS unleashing the power of business for social impact 2012 IMPACT REPORT
[Studying social entrepreneurship in] India has also brought me one step closer to knowing who I am, truly.
Impact Entrepreneurs Impact Entrepreneurs unleashes the power of business for social impact. We do this by inspiring, incubating, and accelerating social entrepreneurs of all ages, across sectors, and from around the world, with a vision of creating a more just world. A program of Portland State University's (PSU) School of Business Administration, with support from PSU's Institute for Sustainable Solutions, Impact Entrepreneurs has been internationally recognized in Fast Company and Forbes for its work and led PSU s successful bid to become a designated Ashoka U Changemaker Campus. Ashoka U is the university-focused arm of Ashoka, a leading global organization for changemakers and social entrepreneurs. This report is part of an ongoing effort to track the impact of our programs. Wherever possible, we use existing frameworks such as the National Business Incubation Association's measurement tools. Our goal is the continuous improvement of our programs and outcomes for the sake of a more just world. Who is a social entrepreneur? Greg Dees, co-founder of the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University and a member of the Impact Entrepreneurs advisory board, wrote the pioneering definition of social entrepreneurship: Social entrepreneurs play the role of change agents in the social sector by Adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value). Recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission. Engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning. Acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand. Exhibiting heightened accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created. BOUT 3
Inspiration We meet social entrepreneurs where they are, sometimes even before they have discovered social entrepreneurship themselves. Revealing innovative approaches to social impact through events, courses, and field studies is often the first step. A flagship program that has inspired students and community members alike, our Social Enterprise Field Studies offer life-changing journeys to work with, learn from, and exchange experience with social entrepreneurs in India, Cambodia and Nicaragua. Incubation When a social entrepreneur or intrapreneur (an entrepreneur working within an established organization) has a new idea for changing the world, we partner with them to help build stronger solutions more quickly and amplify their impact. An incubator drawing on human expertise and focused on building connections, the Social Innovation Incubator provides expert consulting, a peer community, and tailored workshops to help social entrepreneurs build the skills, strategies and networks they need to succeed. In 2011, Fast Company selected the Incubator as one of America s 51 brilliant urban ideas.
Acceleration For organizations that already excel and are poised to increase their impact, ourentrepreneurial Leadership Program delivers tailored training in social innovation, leadership effectiveness and business fundamentals. More than 150 staff from Mercy Corps, Digital Divide Data, and other mission-driven organizations have graduated from the program since its inception. BOUT Replication School: in 2012, we gathered five social entrepreneurs from around the world at the headquarters of award-winning social enterprise Digital Divide Data (DDD) in a pilot project designed to help spread DDD s innovative model New Programs In 2013, Impact Entrepreneurs held the inaugural Elevating Impact Summit, a celebration of social innovation that attracted more than 330 entrepreneurs and founders, business and nonprofit professionals, students, academics, government officials and investors for a day of inspiring lectures, panels, presentations and awards. In 2014, Impact Entrepreneurs will launch the Business of Social Innovation certificate, an online program open to students and professionals of all ages. In less than a year, participants will lean how to design and launch a successful social venture or program. 5
2012 program locations and participant home countries
2012 Supporters and Partners BOUT Renaissance Foundation 7
Social Enterprise Field Studies These rigorous experiential journeys in changemaking introduce students and community members to social enterprise through a combination of site visits to social enterprises, applied fieldwork and research, and meetings with subject matter experts. As part of the program, participants have performed pro bono research and consulting projects for partner social enterprises. To date, field studies have taken place in India and Nicaragua, and starting in 2013 the course will take participants to visit some of the most inspiring and innovative social entrepreneurs in Cambodia. 2012 Program Totals 8 Student Participants 3 pro bono consulting projects performed for social enterprises
Participant Quotes Collaborating with students in India had a profound impact on me. Students in both Hyderabad and Bhimavaram joined us as colleagues and interpreters in rural villages. Together we interviewed people in their communities about challenges they face with education, access to clean water, health, etc. Subsequently, they learned something about their own world they did not know. This inspired me to return home, and look around at the situations in which I avoid, ignore, or lack awareness and figure out how I can gain more knowledge simply by asking questions. It showed me how important it is to take the time to engage people in our local communities who are struggling, and pay our education forward by turning our learning into action. Katie Gilman, PSU MPA '13, Garrad Hassan India has compelled me to be more present and more genuine. It has compelled me to strip away what is not important in life and devote my energy in pursuit of what is. In essence, by bringing me closer to an understanding of how I might be happier and more fulfilled in life, I suppose India has also brought me one step closer to knowing who I am, truly. Michelle Pagès, PSU MBA '13, The Clymb NSPIRATION Learn More: http://www.pdx.edu/impactentrepreneurs/field-studies 9
$ Social Innovation Incubator (SII) The SII assists student and community social entrepreneurs (those creating a new innovation) and social intrapreneurs (those working within an existing organization) to evaluate and launch environmentally and socially beneficial ventures. The SII provides social venture startups with the 4 Cs: Capacity gained through training in business best practices; a Community of peers; Connections to advisors, funders, volunteers and customers; and Credibility from participation and exposure. Members may join at the concept or startup phase. 2012 MEMBER IMPACT FOCUS: ECOZOOM EcoZoom designs, manufactures and distributes clean, efficient, and affordable cookstoves around the world. For more information on their model or the calculations below, please visit www.ecozoomstove.com 40,380 COOKSTOVES DISTRIBUTED 82,400 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS AVOIDED $3.67 MILLION SAVED BY COOKS & THEIR FAMILIES
2012 Program Totals 59% Active/Operational Incubated Concepts 53% for-profit 29% nonprofit 18% hybrid 24% international 11% both 65% domestic Type of Focus NCUBATION Types of Organizations Learn More: http://www.pdx.edu/impactentrepreneurs/incubator 11
7 graduates in 2012
Success in 2012 $ 71.2 86 65 % million in total sales revenue among intrapreneur members and graduates press mentions for all members and graduates ventures led by women $ 1 762 more than $ 58 combined paid staff million in total sales revenue among entrepreneur members and graduates thousand in combined grant/debt/equity fundraising NCUBATION 13
Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP) In partnership with global and domestic mission-driven organizations, The ELP builds leadership capacity and accelerates impact. The ELP offers highly customized programs in business fundamentals, social innovation, and leadership effectiveness, teaching managers the skills they need to build capacity and improve their organization s financial, social and environmental performance. Case studies and applied readings reflecting leading edge concepts and practices are used to foster group discussion and shared learning. 2012 Program Totals 25 Participants 3 Participating Organizations
Supervisor Quote ELP has been a great tool for Carlos with fantastic results that benefit Mercy Corps every day. Carlos has shown greater initiative and leadership, backed by improved technical and management skills. Carlos skills and performance with respect to program management and systems have improved and become vital to his work. His leadership skills and leadership impact have also been expanded, as has his confidence. He is a great asset to Mercy Corps. [Carlos is a program manager in Latin America]. 39% Women 61% Men 78% Asia 11% Americas 9% Africa 2% Europe CCELERATION Participants Participant Demographics Learn More: http://www.mercycorps.org/entrepreneurial-leadership-program-elp 15
86% of participants report feeling more professionally motivated and committed to their organization
Participating Organizations Kompanion Bank Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) CCELERATION 17
Replication School In 2012, we gathered five social entrepreneurs from around the world at the headquarters of award-winning social enterprise Digital Divide Data (DDD) in a pilot project designed to help spread DDD s innovative model. In northern Pakistan, a program developed in the Replication School received funding to employ 2500 women, special needs individuals, and internally displaced persons. In Nairobi, Kenya, another Replication School program hired 412 college students, providing work experience, additional income, and soft skills training. Also in Nairobi, a business incubator adapted DDD s model to train 20 entrepreneurs, who in turn hired 54 young employees from disadvantaged populations. CCELERATION Learn More: http://www.pdx.edu/impactentrepreneurs/resources 19
Mail: Portland State University School of Business Administration Impact Entrepreneurs c/o Cindy Cooper P.O. Box 751 Portland, Oregon 97207 impactentrepreneurs@pdx.edu o www.pdx.edu/impactentrepreneurs f PSUImpactEntrepreneurs t @PSUImpact w impactentrepreneurs.wordpress.com i Impact Entrepreneurs at Portland State University