Principle: CSI Accelerates
Accelerate from Anywhere
Are you looking to grow your entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial competencies to create positive impact and prepare for a fast-changing job market?
As the world looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time for the entrepreneurially-minded to step up to address pressing social and environmental challenges, and to develop the 21st century skills needed to succeed.
CSI has teamed up with Alterna Savings to bring you Social Entrepreneurship 101: an 8-week, part-time online program that covers the foundations of social entrepreneurship, from making sure you’ve identified the right problem, to developing a solution, to turning your idea into a sustainable business model. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, invest in your personal and professional growth, and turn your idea into impact, this is the right course for you!
- Start Date: Fall 2021
- Registration dates TBD
- Accelerator
- Climate Ventures
Develop a network of fellow change-makers through a series of 8 weekly 3-hour sessions. Our highly-engaging sessions meet virtually on Zoom and communicate in our Slack workspace to build a community of practice for our learning journey together. Each session includes activities, tools, case studies, breakout rooms, and cohort-wide discussions. Additionally, this course asks participants to complete 2-4 hours of Action Work outside of our live-sessions to begin putting your ideas into practice.
When and Where
Classes begin September 2021
Online: Zoom Classroom and Slack workspace
What You’ll Learn
Social Entrepreneurship 101 is an 8-week program delivered in two phases:
Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4): Explore your purpose as a social entrepreneur. Discover your problem space. Map opportunities for impact.
Together, we’ll begin with some of the big questions you may be asking yourself, such as:
- I see so many urgent problems to solve. Which should I focus on specifically, and why?
- There are so many things to do to get started. How do I prioritize?
- What skills, knowledge, connections, and experience can I leverage to make an impact?
- How do I move from idea to action?
Phase 2 (Weeks 4-8): Discover stakeholders. Build your business and financial models. Understand how to measure your impact. Explore funding options.
Questions answered during this phase include:
- I have developed a clear idea of the impact that I want my enterprise to generate. How do I design my business to reach this impact?
- How can I generate sustainable revenue (and profit) from my social enterprise?
- What resources am I going to need to start my enterprise?
- What funding models and options should I explore?
By the end of the 8 weeks, you’ll gain experience, confidence, and practice with core competencies in social entrepreneurship such as critical thinking, systems thinking, active listening, storytelling, decision-making, and business modelling.
What’s Included
- Invitations to ongoing CSI additional learning online workshops
- Access to a SE101 community wide #Slack channel
- Access to valuable tools, guides and worksheets for your future use
Who you’ll meet
You will connect with a cohort of changemakers who are similarly driven and committed to making an impact. SE 101 is open to everyone interested in making the world better through entrepreneurial thinking and approaches.
Social Entrepreneurship 101 was developed in partnership with experienced social entrepreneurs, coaches, facilitators, and educators, and based on the learnings from over 10 years of training social enterprises.
If you want to learn the fundamentals of creating a social enterprise, and ensure you make the right decisions and set the right priorities this course is for you!
The program was developed in partnership with experienced social entrepreneurs, coaches, facilitators, and educators, and based on the learnings of over a decade of training social enterprises.
You will feel more capable of driving your social enterprise idea forward with increased confidence. Come to connect with your peers and learn the building blocks of creating a viable social enterprise
PHASE 1: PROBLEM DISCOVERY, SOLUTIONS MAPPING, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPACT
Together, we’ll help answer some of the questions you may be asking yourself, such as:
- I see so many problems. Which should I focus on specifically, and why?
- Do I have the right skills and enough knowledge to do this?
- How do I move from idea to action?
- There are so many things to do to get started, how do I prioritize?
WEEK 1
- Topic: What are my motivations for wanting to start a social enterprise?
- Outcomes: I understand why starting my own social enterprise is a good fit for me.
WEEK 2
- Topic: What problem am I passionate about finding a solution to and why?
- Outcomes: I have a framework to help me learn more about the ecosystem in which my problem exists.
WEEK 3
- Topic: Why are the current solutions to this problem not working?
- Outcomes: I have learned techniques to help me connect with those affected by the problem so that I deeply understand what is not working and why.
WEEK 4
- Topic: Identifying opportunities for impact (new solutions)
- Outcomes: I know (or am closer to knowing) where I can start to focus the efforts of my enterprise and with whom so that I can generate real impact.
PHASE 2: STAKEHOLDER DISCOVERY, BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MODELS, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FUNDING OPTIONS AND EXPLORING ENTERPRISE IMPACT
Together, we’ll help answer some of the questions you may be asking yourself, such as:
- I have developed a clear idea of the impact that I want my enterprise to generate, how do I design my enterprise to reach this impact?
- How can I generate sustainable revenue (and profit) from my social enterprise?
- How do I move from idea to action, what areas of my enterprise should I focus on building first?
- What resources am I going to need to start my enterprise?
- What funding models should I explore?
WEEK 5
- Topic: What is the vision and impact goals for my enterprise and who are its stakeholders?
- Outcomes: I have a first draft of my enterprise’s compelling vision statement and I know all of the stakeholders that I will need to engage with in order to start testing my ideas.
WEEK 6
- Topic: What is a business model?
- Outcomes: I can start to get creative in imagining how my enterprise could deliver and generate value in order to achieve impact.
WEEK 7
- Topic: What resources will I need to start my enterprise?
- Outcomes: I can do a basic financial model to determine what I will need in the short term to get my enterprise off the ground.
WEEK 8
- Topic: How could I get my enterprise funded, what options are available and what should I focus on doing next?
- Outcomes: I understand some of the funding options available and have a clear idea of what I should focus on next in order to get my enterprise off the ground.
Core Entrepreneurial Competencies You’ll Learn
You will leave this training with some core entrepreneurial competencies that will support you in building an inclusive, meaningful and impact-driven enterprise. These include:
- Critical thinking (the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment)
- Systems thinking (understanding the numerous factors that contribute to a problem you are wanting to solve)
- Decision making (selecting the best course of action that will bring about authentic impact).
- Listening (giving one’s attention in order to learn new things without bias or judgment)
- Storytelling (crafting and telling stories to better understand the impact that you want to generate)
- Business Modelling (how to design an enterprise)
Tools and Guides You’ll Use
Some of the tools and guides we will be using include: Impact Gaps Canvas, Flourishing Business Model Canvas, Research Plan Template, Research Findings Template, Theory of Change, Evaluating Opportunities Worksheet, Enterprise Golden Circle.
Scholarships
In an effort to reduce financial barriers to SE 101 program participation, we are delighted to offer five fully-funded participant scholarships sponsored by Alterna Savings and Credit Union. All applicants (CSI Members, Non-CSI members, DECAs and PECAs) are eligible to apply. Please note that scholarship recipients are expected to attend all 8 Social Entrepreneurship 101 Sessions (other than in extenuating circumstances). Scholarship recipients are also expected to complete all course surveys and commit to a post program interview for Alterna’s internal reporting use.Our course curriculum and learning outcomes are available in the Program Overview tab!
Once you complete your Eventbrite registration, we will send you a compilation of ‘Pre-Course Work’ materials that will help you prepare for the 8 weeks of course work to come. Make sure to take the time to complete the work and invest in your journey ahead. Pre-Course Work will include a personal and professional values evaluation, a written reflection of your story of self and entrepreneurial motivations, and pre-course research topics on Social Entrepreneurship.
No, it is not required that you have a clear business idea to participate in SE 101. In fact, many participants use the first 4 weeks of the program to further research and discover the full breadth of their business ideas and potential solutions within the current landscape.
You will need to dedicate on average approximately 3 hours outside of class per week towards completing the work for the following class.
It is important that you show up on-time and ready to engage with the material, facilitator and other participants, having already completed your out of class work.
As a perk to this course, you will receive a complimentary day pass to work from CSI Annex for the remainder of your workday. You’re also invited to connect with CSI members and community at Salad Club on Wednesdays after class. Use this time to get to know your fellow classmates and colleagues and further develop your network.
This 8-week course is dedicated to sharing the tools of how to build a successful social enterprise. Upon completion of SE101, you will have developed working models of your social enterprise that will help you to understand how to structure your business for success!
There is a wonderful amount of research and modelling that must be done prior to completing your first business plan. Once you complete SE 101, you will have the foundational pieces to begin putting together a successful business plan!
The Centre for Social Innovation is a community, catalyst, and launch pad for social entrepreneurship and innovation. Accessing the entrepreneurial experience of facilitators, guest speakers, and the community at large offers a more meaningful opportunity for networking and deeper learning. SE101 also uniquely focuses both on personal and professional development.
You will need a laptop/ computer and access to an internet connection to be able to download and read through weekly materials. It is suggested that you keep a detailed journal to track your weekly progress and enterprise research. Come to class prepared to capture information shared through worksheets and slide shows. Please also bring pen, scratch paper, and post-it notes for your in-class time.
This course offers the most value to entrepreneurs who are in the “Ideation” and “Discovery” phases of their businesses.
Ideation: Entrepreneur with an idea, initial market and technology exploration
Discovery: Value proposition established, testing ideas, proof of concept achieved, identifying customers
This course is extremely useful to individuals wishing to learn more about what it means to be a social entrepreneur. You will learn how to holistically understand the roles and driving motivations of a thriving social enterprise and what it means to generate meaningful entrepreneurial impact.
Many successful social entrepreneurs begin as socially and environmentally aware citizens who are passionate and in search of meaningful solutions to the communities they are a member of or intending to generate solutions for. This is a great opportunity to gain access to incredible tools and learnings towards those outcomes!
Yes, it can be. If you are a part of a company where you want to generate impact for meaningful change, even within your own corporate culture, this is a great place to begin. SE101 gives you the opportunity to develop your storytelling skills, research abilities, and systems thinking approaches to understand and address complex challenges.
Get in touch with the SE 101 course facilitator, Peggy Sue Deaven, at PeggySue[at]socialinnovation.ca.
“Ever wondered how to turn your professional and academic experience, personal values and ideas of social change and impact into action? This course is the place to start! You’ll be inspired and encouraged into action!” – Astrid Arumae – Réseau d’Entraide Covid-19 Help Hub – Montréal, QC
“Amazing course that allows all users to feel supported and comfortable sharing and encourages individual and group learning of self and business. You are thoroughly guided along a well lit path and emerge a stronger and more confident entrepreneur on the other side. Complete with resources and learning tools and a network of like minded business people that become friends.” – Tim O’Hara – Hulpr – Kingston, ON
“Social Entrepreneurship 101 has laid the groundwork for ongoing self development in an optimistic and promising realm. It has helped me begin to build the muscle of financial thinking and offered a vocabulary that honors both my values and my needs.” – Siddan Chandra – Kidocracy – Toronto, ON
“My experience in the SE101 course was awesome! I was able not only to learn new things but also to get outside of my comfort zone. This course allowed me to understand how to transform ideas into feasible projects. I would recommend this course to any person that is looking forward to building connections or that is also starting a new project and would like to share their ideas with others. This course was one of my highlights of the year 2020 amids the COVID-19 pandemic! This was an opportunity for me to get outside of Ecuador and learn with an international cohort from my house!” – Mateo Tobar – LAB-XXI – Ecuador
“Social Enterprise 101 is about more than the nuts and bolts of building your social enterprise – don’t be surprised if you find yourself (pleasantly) challenged to do a lot of looking inside yourself, understanding your story and seeing how that is a major lever to achieving your dreams.” – Lee Weiler – Edmonton, AB
“Social entrepreneurs are going to be essential to help author a new social contract and reset the economy. If you’re looking to make your mark on the universe, using business as a tool, SE 101 is a great place to start.” – Michael Szego – Third Party – Toronto, ON
“As SE 101’s instructor, Peggy’s consistent energy during weekly classes and proactive effort to keep attendees engaged was commendable! In terms of various topics covered, I felt that storytelling exercises sprinkled through the 8 weeks was a solid way to help build/hone this critical business skill. Other than that, my favorite course topics based on coverage and discussions were – Desk Research, Discovery Interviews, Gaps Canvas, Enterprise Golden Circle, FBCanvas, Business Models, and Financial Models. Behind-the-scenes, Peggy was always available to address queries, offer follow-up discussions and reviews, and go above and beyond my making introductions to other entrepreneurs (or aspiring ones) in the same ecosystem and creating a Slack channel specifically for the ecosystem I plan to be in. Keep up the good work!” – Vishal Asthana – Toronto, ON (CSI DECA)
“SE101 strikes a thoughtful balance between the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of social entrepreneurship. The deep knowledge of the facilitator and the thoughtful support and engagement with the other participants was invaluable. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in social entrepreneurship.” – Ashley Goff – Raising Giants – Edmonton, AB
“I started with a vague idea and throughout the SE101 course, it got more focussed and clear. I don’t know whether I’ll see my idea grow into a real social enterprise or a charity, but I’m committed to it becoming SOMETHING. It made me aware of opportunities for connection and collaboration with others that I probably wouldn’t have noticed. It gave me the confidence to talk about my idea in a short and snappy elevator pitch, and articulate a connection to my deepest values. I felt honoured to be with so many passionate, dedicated and visionary people developing their own ideas to make the world a better place.” – Edelweiss D’Andrea – Occupational Therapist – Ottawa, ON
“Ògo Tàwa Inc., would not have the successes that attract strategic alliances, partners, influencers, and funders towards our organization today without the help of Social Entrepreneurship 101, CSI staff, and my fellow Social Entrepreneurship 101 comrades. The Social Entrepreneurship 101 course is a game changer, a venture booster, the essential preparation and nurturing environment for any intelligent-minded, ambitious social entrepreneur. It is best in class. Take it from me, a Harvard trained professional, this course is of Ivy-League standard, with leadership training skills, hands-on interactive learning, and competitive edge to propel social entrepreneurs towards exponential business successes that solve society’s pressing problems while ferreting out rewarding financial resources. Overcome your business woes with this course! Guidance from Peggy Sue Deaven the CSI program facilitator is like having access to a business super-power! I really have been more impactful with her guidance.” – Khalidah Bello – Ògo Tàwa Inc. – Toronto, ON
Alterna is guided by a commitment to support the well-being of their members, employees and communities. They promote community economic development through micro-lending initiatives, financially literacy training, charitable activities and by continually strive to be transparent at every level of their operation. We are grateful to have their sponsorship for CSI’s Social Entrepreneurship 101 Program!
Roll up your sleeves, invest in your growth, and turn your idea into impact
Part of the CSI Educates Initiative
At CSI, we equip people, organizations, and systems with the skills, knowledge, and networks to evolve their leadership skills and entrepreneurial competencies. Learn more about our approach here.
HELPING SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES GO LOW-CARBON COMPETITION
Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make up 98.2% of businesses in Canada, and emit as much climate change-causing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year as Canada’s combined transportation sector, including every car, truck, train, plane, and ship.
We launched a competition on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Climate CoLab platform to solicit a broad range of possible solutions to help SMEs in Ontario reduce their direct and indirect GHG emissions while helping them thrive.
“Every tonne of CO2 we emit causes at least $85 in damages, while on the other hand we know that meaningful climate action would add around $26 trillion to the global economy by 2030. The proposals in this competition demonstrated a broad range of approaches and tools that SMEs and their supporters can use to build that more resilient, flourishing low-carbon economy of the future.”
– Barnabe Geis, CSI’s Director of Programs
Many SMEs face barriers to lowering their emissions, from lacking the technical expertise to assess options for reducing emissions to not being able to afford the upfront costs of a low-carbon technology. However, once the right technologies or practices are implemented, the savings and other benefits to SMEs can be substantial.
During the application period, thirty proposals were submitted. Those proposals were voted on by the public, as well as assessed by a team of six judges for their desirability, feasibility, scalability, and impact.
Judge’s Choice Winner
The winner of the Judges’ Choice Award is Climate Smart’s project: Data drives smart decisions: Interactive BEEPs for Municipalities and Businesses. Climate Smart has built a reputation as one of Canada’s leading organizations helping SMEs reduce greenhouse gas emissions from a range of sources. Their report 200 million tons of opportunity documents the ways in which those reductions have been achieved. In their contest proposal, Climate Smart proposed Business Energy and Emissions Profiles (or a BEEP) as an innovative carbon mapping tool that unlocks SME business data to help cities and on-the-ground partners identify and prioritize opportunities to work strategically with their local businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop data-driven storytelling on climate action. To learn more about BEEPs and to see an interactive map of North American cities that have launched a BEEP, go to beep.eco.
People’s Choice Winner
The winner of the People’s Choice Award is Pitstop Connect’s Reduce Vehicle Emissions with Predictive Maintenance. Pitstop has developed a software platform that aggregates data and uses machine learning to predict vehicle issues before they happen. This means mitigating vehicle breakdowns, informing hazardous recalls and future vehicle designs, and making drivers aware of their emissions and environmental impact. To learn more about the app and how it can help drivers solve problems before they happen, go to pitstopconnect.com.
The judges’ runners-up in the contest were Eco Business Network, Grow Green and ioAirflow. The judges are listed on the contest page.
The winners received membership and workspace at Climate Ventures.
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs with solutions that drive change through acceleration and incubation. Learn more about our approach here.
WOSEN’s Grow Program
Do you want to move your business forward with confidence?
Are you looking to build traction, expand your partnership and network opportunities, and develop yourself further as a social entrepreneur?
We’re here to help!
CSI and the Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) have designed a twenty-week program to support a cohort of ten women social entrepreneurs as they build, refine, and test their business models, and learn new skills to help them succeed. We serve trans and cis women, and programming is inclusive of Two-Spirit, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals.
You will collaborate with a supportive community of facilitators, experts, coaches, and a cohort of peers as you explore two main themes throughout the program: 1) business model development and 2) leadership. We will support you through an immersive learning journey with a hands-on, practical approach to refining and validating your business model. You will engage in focused research to identify the key market gaps you want to address and conduct interviews with potential clients and partners to help you validate your business model and test critical assumptions.
Our team will support you in developing emergent strategies to refine and differentiate your product or service based on your research insights. You will gain leadership skills and competencies required to better understand your market and build your business strategy with intention and impact. Participation is free, we take no equity, and your intellectual property remains your own!
Applications for Grow cohort are now closed.
- Program
- Social Ventures
When and Where
Weekly on Tuesdays until March 1, 2022. No workshops on December 21 & 28. Our programming will take place on Zoom and Slack.
Onboarding & Orientation: Week 0 (Oct 12)
Get to know your cohort and how to navigate our online program.
Part I
Business Model Refinement & Implementation: Weeks 1-7 (Oct 19 – Nov 30)
Engage in hands-on, practical research to identify the key market gaps you want to address. Learn the process of creating a sustainable business model and apply your learnings in real time towards your business. Connect with experts to learn how to conduct market research and interviews on a budget to iterate your business model based on your stakeholder needs. Get support with networking and creating effective partnerships.
Part II
Integrate Insights & Develop Your Strategy: Weeks 8-9 (Dec 7-14)
Assimilate data you’ve collected and integrate insights from your research and interviews to develop your strategy moving forward.
NOTE: No workshops on December 21st & 28th
Part III
Build Traction: Weeks 12-19 (Jan 4 – Feb 22)
Continue to iterate your business model and learn more about financial modelling to make better informed financial decisions. Meet our marketing, sales, and communications experts to help you develop more effective strategies for communicating your offering to your target audience. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a WOSEN Pitch Showcase & Networking Event! Deliver your pitch and connect with potential partners and funders in the entrepreneurship sector.
Offboarding: Week 20 (March 1, 2022)
Connect to relevant resources and explore your next steps for growth and support.
After the Grow program is done, you will have 1) gained confidence in knowing how to refine and validate your business model, 2) improved your leadership skills to support your team and 3) developed a clear strategy as you grow your enterprise and navigate forward.
The Grow program will allow you to develop core entrepreneurial competencies as you work on validating your social enterprise model. Here are some of the business and leadership skills you will learn from this course:
- Business Model Refinement & Implementation: Learn the process of refining and implementing your business model through an iterative design process.
- Financial Modeling: Forecast the financial performance of your business and make better informed choices and financial decisions.
Strategy & Decision Making: Select the best course of action that will bring about authentic change. - Design & Systems Thinking: Understand the numerous factors that contribute to a problem you want to solve.
- Critical Thinking & Research Skills: Learn how to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data to make informed decisions and iterations to your business model.
- Networking & Creating Partnerships: Build your network and transform your network connections into collaborations and partnerships.
- Interviewing Skills: Learn how to connect with key stakeholders to gather important insights.
- Active Listening: Learn how to listen deeply and effectively in order to build strong relationships with stakeholders.
- Storytelling: Craft and tell stories to understand the impact you want to make, and learn how to connect with audiences.
- Confidence & Awareness: Gain inner strength to connect to your values and goals.
Important Timelines
- Applications Close – September 12 (by 11:59pm)
- Selected Participants Notified – September 20
- Orientation & Onboarding: Week 0 – Tuesday October 12
- Program Workshops – Online, Weekly on Tuesdays until March 1, 2022
- NOTE: No workshops on December 21 & 28
Applicant Requirements
- You are a woman, Two-Spirit, non-binary or genderqueer individual
- You live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or the Central Ontario region
- You are actively working on your business and are looking to refine and validate your business model
- You have developed or are developing a product or service that will create measurable positive impact, and you currently have little or no customer traction
- You are at least 18 years old
- You are motivated and open to learning, feedback, and new ideas
- You want to be part of and contribute to an outstanding community of women
- You are available to join weekly workshop programming (Tuesdays from 1pm – 3:30pm ET)
Canadian citizenship is not required to participate in the Grow program.
Participant Commitment
- Attend weekly workshop sessions on Tuesdays from 1pm – 3:30pm ET
- Be able to commit a minimum of ten hours per week
- Participate in a weekly peer support session (throughout the program)
- Complete relevant action work & interviews to refine your business model
- Attend eight one-hour, one-to-one coaching sessions (an eight hour commitment outside of class)
- Complete participant program evaluation surveys (baseline & post-program)
- Always show respect and empathy towards your fellow participants, and support WOSEN’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility
Please note that we only have capacity to support 10 participants for this Grow program. Once you apply for this program:
- Applicants will be screened based on eligibility criteria
- We will reach out to a select number of applicants to conduct a thirty-minute outreach phone call to learn more about your goals and needs, and to assess program fit
- Selected candidates will be notified on September 20 (via email) and will need to confirm their spot by September 24
Confirmed participants will receive an onboarding package by October 5 and will start orientation and onboarding on October 12.
Questions? For more information, please contact Mitalie Makhani, Senior Programs Manager & WOSEN Central Ontario Program Lead, at mitalie[at]socialinnovation[dot]ca.
About WOSEN
The Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) offers a suite of programs for women interested in starting or growing their own ventures that seek to have a positive social, cultural or environmental impact through their operations, and/or the sale of their products or services.
WOSEN is dedicated to equity and inclusion, and the term “women” is used collectively throughout this page. We serve trans and cis women, and our programming is inclusive of Two-Spirit, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals. We prioritize those from underserved and underrepresented communities, including Indigenous folks, folks in rural or remote regions, racialized folks, newcomer folks, LGBTQ2+, and folks with disabilities.
Our programming works to unleash the entrepreneurial energy and capacity of women who have solutions that put people and the planet first. Together, we are redesigning how business supports are provided so these entrepreneurs can build the skills, make the connections, and receive the coaching needed to achieve their missions.
See all the programs within the WOSEN initiative here!
Partners and Funders
WOSEN is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The Government of Canada is advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and supporting women entrepreneurs through the new Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, announced in the Budget 2018. It is a $2-billion investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025.
Fed Dev Ontario
Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs’ success with resources, mentors, expertise and connections that lead to viable enterprising solutions. Learn more about our approach here.
Climate Ventures
Proving Climate Solutions Are possible
Located in the CSI Spadina in downtown Toronto, Climate Ventures is a unique space dedicated to climate entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and their teams.
Climate Ventures is not just about the climate and carbon emissions, it’s fundamentally about our profound relationship to the earth, air, and water. Our vision is to turn the climate crisis into an opportunity for human transformation. Climate Ventures members are collaborating to build the low-carbon economy that puts people and planet first.
Climate Ventures Coworking Membership
With coworking packages to fit your needs, you’ll get:
- 24/7 access to office space
- networking + advisory services
- goal-oriented peer circles and online groups (in GHG quantification, business modelling, pitching, and other areas)
- introductions to funders and investors
- exclusive events and programs
- member rates on meeting rooms and event spaces
- free coffee and tea
- high-speed internet
- photocopiers and printers
- mailboxes
- option to join shared health and dental plan
You’ll gain immediate access to Climate Ventures members, advisors, community of 2,500 social entrepreneurs and innovators, exclusive programs, and networking and training opportunities.
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs with solutions that drive change through acceleration and incubation. Learn more about our approach here.
League of Social Entrepreneurs
Building Back Better: Creating the League of Social Entrepreneurs
We all know that we need to Build Back Better, post-COVID. There are now dozens of campaigns across the globe that are calling for an economy that is intentionally regenerative, equitable and prosperous for all. One that puts people and planet first. But how do we get to that inclusive, affordable, and low carbon future? How do we get to the Next Economy?
For the past 16 years, the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) has been honing its craft, building solutions, and accelerating thousands of nonprofit and for profit small social purpose organizations (SPO’s). These organizations are now helping to solve social and environmental challenges. In response to COVID-19, we are ready to take our work to the next level and to start building the Next Economy.
The Next Economy requires that we intentionally pursue and nourish social enterprises that work to solve pressing challenges while creating generative business models. This is where the League of Social Entrepreneurs comes in. The League will combine their entrepreneurial energy with social innovation labs and the firepower of acceleration and incubation to create enterprising solutions that ”build back better.”
Outcomes
The League will respond to Challenges issued by partners and stakeholders (government, corporate, or institutional) to help develop, pilot, validate, and incubate solutions into thriving social ventures.
- Ongoing
- Challenge, Lab
- Social Ventures
Solutions Lab Process
Convene a small group of government, community, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and institutions (with a special focus on those agencies on the front lines) — to clarify, research, and better understand a specific social challenge.
Part of the CSI Solves Initiative
At CSI, we use labs, social R&D and prototypes that identify new and improved models that can transform existing paradigms and reveal market opportunities. Learn more about our approach here.
Earth Tech
Earth Tech is a six-month accelerator for climate or freshwater technology solutions that will positively impact communities and ecosystems across Canada.
We know that Canada’s freshwater ecosystems are threatened across many indicators, and that our country is warming at twice the global average, while we continue to have some of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
The good news is that we still have time to stop and reverse global warming, and, in the process, give rise to the next economy – one that is just, carbon neutral, circular, and regenerative.
Urgent action is needed to ensure a flourishing future for people and our planet.
Earth Tech helps ventures validate their solutions, advance their Technology Readiness Levels, become financially sustainable, and create meaningful impact.
Earth Tech will run once a year from 2020–2022, supporting up to 55 startups and nonprofits advancing freshwater and climate solutions to our greatest environmental challenges.
- TBD
- TBD
- Accelerator, Program
- Climate Ventures
During our previous climate programs, participating early-stage ventures earned and raised over $22M and supported 260 jobs. We support Earth Tech ventures with:
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence: Bi-weekly one-to-one time with top, seasoned Entrepreneurs-in-Residence for outcomes-based coaching.
Advisors: Office hours with dozens of advisors — including from RBC, Bullfrog Power, VCIB, and WWF-Canada — with varied expertise and networks.
Workspace: Free workspace at Climate Ventures in downtown Toronto, and access to the Centre for Social Innovation’s facilities, amenities and vibrant community.
Workshops: Customized, just-in-time learning provided through group workshops on topics like investment readiness, impact measurement, and product development.
Connections: Access to our network of networks, and ongoing connections to the talent, services and opportunities that can make all the difference.
Mastermind Groups: Monthly group sessions facilitated by the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence for peer-peer learning and support.
Increased Profile: Increased profile through marketing, storytelling, media relations, and events.
Pitch Night: Pitch Night where our ventures pitch to potential investors, funders and partners, in order to wrap the program and kickstart future opportunities.
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs with solutions that drive change through acceleration and incubation. Learn more about our approach here.
Agents of Change: SDGs
Want to make a difference in the world? Are you between 18 and 30 years old?
In these uncertain times, anything is possible – and we need budding change makers like you now, more than ever.
Join this free, virtual social entrepreneurship program and learn how you can help drive progress towards the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
Social entrepreneurs tackle important issues like climate change, plastic pollution, accessibility, employment training, and much more, all while generating revenues. Interested in learning what it takes to be a social entrepreneur? All you need to participate is some passion, commitment and a reliable internet connection.
The 100 selected participants will begin an 8-week, impact-driven social entrepreneurship journey, and will work on creating their very own social enterprise aligned with the SDGs. Put your ideas into action with 24 hours of live, virtual class time, 4 hours of specialized coaching, and a library of tools!
Agents of Change: Sustainable Development Goals is a national program run by the Centre for Social Innovation and made possible by the Government of Canada. Our Eastern Canada cohort launched March 2020 and concluded in April 2020. Our Western Canada cohort began in June 2020 and concluded in July 2020.
- TBD
- TBD
- Program, Training
- Climate Ventures, Social Ventures
You can create meaningful change in the world!
From making sure you’ve identified the right problem to turning your solution into a sustainable business model, if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, invest in your personal and professional growth, and learn how to turn an idea into impact, this is the right program for you!
We will meet virtually once a week for class time, and you will meet with either your coach or your peer group weekly. By the end of 8 weeks you will feel knowledgeable and confident to begin your own entrepreneurial journey.
What You’ll Learn
Weeks 1–4: Explore your purpose as a social entrepreneur. Discover your areas of interest. Map opportunities for impact.
Together, we’ll begin with some of the big questions you may be asking yourself, such as:
- What are the SDGs and how can social enterprises play their part?
- I see so many urgent problems to solve. Which should I focus on specifically, and why?
- There are so many things to do to get started. How do I prioritize?
- What skills, knowledge, connections, and experience can I leverage to make an impact?
- How do I move from idea to action?
Weeks 5–8: Discover stakeholders. Build your business and financial models. Identify funding options and enterprise impact.
Questions answered during this phase include:
- I have developed a clear idea of the impact that I want my enterprise to generate. How do I design my business to reach this impact?
- How can I generate sustainable revenue (and profit) from my social enterprise?
- What resources am I going to need to start my enterprise?
- What funding models and options should I explore?
- How will I measure its impact and report its contribution towards the SDGs?
By the end of the 8 weeks, you will have a deeper understanding of the SDGs and how to create social enterprises that drive progress towards one or a number of the SDGs!
Certificate of Completion
Participants who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Centre for Social Innovation. A certificate of completion from this program will signify that participants understand the building blocks of Social Entrepreneurship, and how to generate meaningful impact and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs with solutions that drive change through acceleration and incubation. Learn more about our approach here.
WOSEN
Support for your women-led social enterprise
** This program has moved to Social Innovation Canada. For current information, please visit SICanada.org.
The Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) offers a suite of programs for women interested in starting or growing their own ventures that seek to have a positive social, cultural or environmental impact through their operations, and/or the sale of their products or services.
WOSEN is dedicated to equity and inclusion, and the term “women” is used collectively throughout this page. We serve trans and cis women, and our programming is inclusive of Two-Spirit, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals. We prioritize those from underserved and underrepresented communities, including Indigenous folks, folks in rural or remote regions, racialized folks, newcomer folks, LGBTQ2+, and folks with disabilities.
Our programming works to unleash the entrepreneurial energy and capacity of women who have solutions that put people and the planet first. Together, we are redesigning how business supports are provided so these entrepreneurs can build the skills, make the connections, and receive the coaching needed to achieve their missions.
Read the Report
The Interim Report captures the story of WOSEN, from launch to mid-way through its three-and-a-half-year initiative (2019-2023). It conveys the collaborative’s intentions, progress, learnings and impact in meeting its goals. It offers a deeper understanding of the complexity of issues that the collaborative lives with in undertaking this work, i.e., its co-management, emerging challenges and future direction in service of continuing to enhance practices that create a more equitable and inclusive women’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate WOSEN’s innovative approaches and successes.
The WOSEN Programs
CSI offers three free programs within the WOSEN initiative:
An ongoing support system for women entrepreneurs looking to get investment-ready.
A 9-week program for women entrepreneurs at the ideation stage.
A 20-week program for women entrepreneurs looking to refine their business model and build leadership skills.
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs’ success with resources, mentors, expertise and connections that lead to viable enterprising solutions. Learn more about our approach here.
Agents of Change 2018-2019: Climate Solutions
An accelerator for early-stage social enterprises with promising products, services, and technologies that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Social entrepreneurs are turning the climate crisis into an opportunity to build the more resilient, clean, and low-carbon economy of the future.
Over two years, the Centre for Social Innovation is supporting 38 enterprises working on climate change solutions. Meet our second cohort!
HOW WE SUPPORTED THEIR SUCCESS
We supported these climate change-fighting enterprises with:
BUSINESS AND IMPACT EXPERTS
Top-rated, seasoned coaches to accelerate their growth and amplify their impact.
IMPACT MEASUREMENT
Personalized support to help them develop and track impact metrics, including GHG reductions.
CONNECTIONS
Advisory services from senior leaders, connection to our 2,500 members, and pitching to investors and partners on Demo Night.
PROGRAMMING
Take part in an enterprise bootcamp, workshops, monthly progress reviews and peer circles.
WORKSPACE
Free workspace for 12 months.
FUNDING
Over $20,000 in cash awards, access to microloans, and connections to funders and investors.
INCREASED PROFILE
Recognition as an Agent of Change, and promotional support to increase their reach.
MEMBERSHIP AT CSI
All the benefits of membership at CSI, including access to exclusive programs, member socials, discounts, and events.
Past cohorts of Agents of Change have seen impressive growth over a one-year period such as a 461% increase in revenues, and 214% increase in paid staff in Agents of Change: City Builders, and a 195% increase in revenues, and a 97% increase in the number of people impacted in Agents of Change: Community Health.
The 2017 cohort of startups have made incredible progress, such as securing investments, growing their revenues, hiring new staff, winning awards, and most importantly, towards reducing carbon emissions.
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs with solutions that drive change through acceleration and incubation. Learn more about our approach here.