Leveraging business to generate positive impact is something social enterprises do best. Social enterprises are profitable businesses which seek to maximize their impact on society and the environment as part of their business model and daily operations. Whether they’re tackling climate change and deforestation, eliminating poverty, or empowering communities, these businesses are known for their ability enact change and leverage that impact to generate revenue.
Social entrepreneurship is something that we champion and support through a number of our programs like the Libro-EPIC Social Impact Initiative. That’s why EPICentre hosted the Flourishing Social Enterprise Summit this month with our sponsors, Libro Credit Union. Eleven experienced speakers from across Southwestern Ontario brought insightful discussion to over 140 registrants through a day of workshops, networking and moderated discussion focusing on various social enterprise related topics.
Our keynote speaker, Heenal Rajani, Co-Founder of Reimagine Co., headlined the event by sharing his passion for impact generation across the world, his company’s founding and how Reimagine Co. is creating a more sustainable community in London, ON. We then heard from our sponsor, Libro Credit Union who shared their long history of supporting social enterprise and current initiatives to support social entrepreneurs, like Heenal, across Southwestern Ontario.
Registrants were then treated to selection of six different workshops addressing everything from the basics of social enterprise and impact generation to relationship building and impact measurement. We’re proud to have hosted so many inspiring leaders from Cook-Up, Enactus Windsor, and Greener Farms, Pillar Nonprofit, along with Frazier Fathers to share their knowledge with us all. After a brief recess and engaging networking session, we wrapped up the day with an insightful panel discussion about maximizing both impact and revenue generation as a business. Our panelists from VERGE Capital, Reimagine Co., and Southwestern Ontario Gleaners shared their valuable insight into the challenges facing social entrepreneurs, and charities and businesses seeking to become social enterprises with our guests.
The Flourishing Social Enterprise Summit was a great success with guest’s describing it as, “very inspiring,” and, “well done.” EPICentre is incredibly thankful to all of our speakers and attendees and our sponsor, Libro Credit Union, for helping to make the event the success it was.
If you missed the summit and would like to check it out, don’t worry! You don’t need to wait till next year!
You can view the Flourishing Social Enterprise Summit on our YouTube playlist.
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Interested in becoming an entrepreneur? Check out all of our programs on our website
