The first session I chose to attend is on the topic of Seed Money for Social Enterprises, which is being led by a “serial entrepreneur.”  Many of the people here are developing or working in social enterprises in the for-profit sector.  However, there are nonprofit entrepreneurs as well. One individual is a nonprofit social entrepreneur who started his first social venture in the UK when he was 17.  He now serves on the board of that organization.  Another just introduced herself as a Cornell MBA student, who recently launched a nonprofit social venture.

I introduced myself as representing a charitable foundation that funds many early stage ventures within the nonprofit sector.

Jill Finlayson from Social Edge is also here.  As the Marketing Manager for the online community, she is “responsible for increasing its visibility on the Internet to provide better access to tools that help social entrepreneurs launch and scale social benefit ventures.”  Great Bay is a big fan of Social Edge’s work.  Victor d’Allant, Social Edge’s Executive Director, was a speaker at our 2006 Annual Conference and will be returning to speak at this year’s conference.  Finlayson just recommended that the group take a look at Beth Kanter’s discussion on Social Edge called “Pumping Up Your Professional Network.”

Much of the conversation thus far has centered on how to access funding for early stage business ventures from charitable foundations.  The group is interested in learning more about program-related investments, as this funding can be directed to both nonprofit and for-profit ventures.

The conversation has now shifted to obtaining funding from high-net worth individuals. One participant just referenced Investor’s Circle.