Jessica Norwood, 39, Founder Of the Runway Project

The 39-year-old created Emerging ChangeMakers Network, an organization to end economic inequality. She is also into strengthening social enterprise and social investing as a way to build communities. She comes with a background of being a political fundraiser and consultant in raising millions of dollars for various campaigns. Jessica is also involved with the Highlander Research and Education Centre and Du Bois Institute at Harvard University.
She witnessed the havoc created by Hurricane Katrina. Jessica could feel the necessity for Norwood financial resources and stability. The way in which calamities can affect people resulted in Emerging ChangeMakers Network. From 2007, it has found active leaders. She could get them connected to issues, ideas, people as well organizations that can make a significant impact in traditionally marginalized communities.
The Runway Project, her latest is an initiative to raise start-up money for black-owned businesses. The white Americans are better off in raising funds than the black women as the case with black women is nothing but pathetic.
Without the start-up seed fund, there will always be a lack of diversity in businesses. The Runway Project has one simple goal to remove the barrier from starting a business. The Runway Project was launched in 2016 with a goal of raising $300,000 for a pilot program in Oakland. It was oversubscribed at over $450,000 in just two days. Soon it spread its wings to Baltimore, Cincinnati, Charlotte, New Orleans, Detroit, and Washington, DC.
She is persistent, concerned and straight forward in her approach. She could get people of similar interests under one platform. The wealth gap is not that difficult to be bridged but making an organization set up is. She could propagate the idea internationally.
The one who saw hurricane to start her venture says “I am honored and humbled and deeply in love with each person who has given time, money, and insight. The Runway Project is the best place for black visionaries to get support.”

Reference URL: https://consciouscompanymedia.com/social-entrepreneurship/19-social-entrepreneurs-watch-2017-2/

Challenge of Impressing Investors – The Task Ahead For Social Entrepreneurs

Chivas Venture, the annual competition, was won by the social entrepreneur Peetachi (Neil) Dejkraisak (receiving $400,000). His outlook on the key to success as a social entrepreneur in bringing in investment is worth noting. First is that you should accept failures as a routine thing.
His start-up ‘Siam Organics’ in Thailand is designed to help the poor rice farmers in his country who earn pathetic returns. The environmental engineer learned that their earnings are as low as just 40 cents per day. That situation is affecting the economy of Thailand which has 70 million population.
‘Siam Organics’ aims to help solve farmers’ poverty in Thailand by assisting them with necessities -small seed production, reducing costs and getting organic certification. Siam is also supporting small farmer cooperatives in the country with everything from production and export. The supply chain management from seed to final product introduced by ‘Siam Organics’ was lacking in Thailand till now. He got involved with the farmers at a personal level, and that rapport paid rich dividends.
Chivas Venture is an annual social entrepreneur pitch competition launched by Chivas Regal looking for outstanding social start-ups that want to help build a better future for the world. This year 30 entrepreneurs pitched in to win funding from Chivas Venture.
Siam organics is a very sustainable business model that can generate sustainable income and revenue to support the farmers. This is not a charity but a profit making Venture Company with a goal. The farmers did not have a common platform to address their views; the traditional farming culture was changed to something modern with new business models.
As a fresh company, they need advice from all fields. The sustainability factor need be remembered and aimed for. Sufficient grace period need be given to sink the idea. He says ‘I would recommend pitching at the beginning to get ideas, to get advice and then spend the next one to two years working on it.’

Reference URL: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/297373

Refugees Take a Clue From Social Entrepreneurs To Help Fellow Refugees

Whether in a calamity, war or persecution, the refugees catch up with the ‘in the same boat syndrome,’ and they get united to help each other. That human behavior can be seen while they create enterprises that train and offer jobs to fellow refugees, giving them a fresh start. In the process, these ventures can help countries to overcome some of the challenges of economic and social integration.
The study at over 30 refugee entrepreneurship incubator programs revealed the striking news of assisting more than 12,000 refugees across Australia, the United States, and Europe. They have shown brilliant adoption of entrepreneurship skills in solving the common problems these refugees face. These foreign passport holders devised ingenious methods in spite of their crunch of resources.
These stake holders include the global ecosystem including founders, program managers and migrant and refugee entrepreneurs participating in these programs. The huge unemployment is a glaring problem. In Australia and Germany people struggle to get employment. But those arriving as refugees do not have basic entrepreneurship skill, but they are ready to acquire them. Even the part time employed has inclined to take up the challenge.
They are persuasive, enterprising and daring in helping others. May be existing models are not sufficient, and hence they devise innovative tools and business models. Once their passion is rekindled, there is no stopping.
The experience of refugees and migrants should be motivated by training, studies or work before. A new framework for overcoming bureaucratic and legal challenges is created. Their experience can be modified, augmented and adapted to meet the challenge. They even started online portals to help others.
When properly organized, such entrepreneurship incubator and accelerator programs can create an ideal space for refugee entrepreneurs. In the midst of other problems, these refugees are evolving business ideas that will help others.

Reference URL: http://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/economy/how-refugees-are-helping-others-in-their-situation-as-social-entrepreneurs/

The Rampant Deforestation in Philippines Checked By Social Entrepreneurs

Economic growth is stagnant in the Philippines, and one reason for this non-sustainability is the over-exploitation of neutral resources. The Forest Foundation of the Philippines (FFP) is seeking help from the environmentally conscious public to join them as volunteers. This organization (formerly known as the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation) is waiting to lay their five-year-old plan called “Forest Fest PH.” The request is addressed to all Filipino social entrepreneurs, especially those whose business’ thrust is environmental protection and preservation. The competition is to present their innovative business ideas for the P450, 000 grants. This would be a stimulus for a bigger participation from the citizens who have a passion for forest and sustainable ecology.
The natural inclination goes beyond afforestation but also ecotourism, environmental conservation, and arts and culture. Ultimately, Mother Earth is being protected by the upcoming social entrepreneurs.
FFP, an NGO formed with US Government and Philippine Government 15 years ago to empower people to protect forests have funded over 450 projects involved. That resulted afforestation of 1.5 million hectares of forest lands. This includes the restoration of around 4,200 ha of forests through the reintroduction of appropriate native species. Over 40 community-conserved areas and 60 community enterprises are created to make this project a reality.
The concentration is on four major landscapes namely Sierra Madre; Palawan; Samar and Leyte; and Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. These four landscapes would cover during next five years P480 million. There are three grant categories available:
Small grants up to P500,000, for projects that must be implemented within a year and deliver expected output immediately;
Medium grants up to P6 million, for projects which must be implemented with one to three years; and
Large grants up to P24 million, for projects which must be carried out within one to five years.
The outcome is well defined: to grow forests, grow livelihoods, grow partnerships, and develop advocates.

Reference URL: http://business.inquirer.net/232668/wanted-social-entrepreneurs-committed-save-ph-forests