seCatalyst Gala

Date:

24 November, 2016

seCatalyst 2016 6:00 to 9:00 pm (TBC)
Centre for Trades Innovation and Education
Camosun College

Tickets are now available for the Social Enterprise Catalyst (seCatalyst) Gala, a high-energy 'Dragon's Den- style' pitch competition that will award one organization with prizing of up to $50,000. Vancouver Island social enterprises will be centre stage on November 24th at the Centre for Trades Innovation and Education, Camosun College.

Register for seCatalyst 2016

Social Enterprise Catalyst accelerates and celebrates Vancouver Island's social enterprise economy. A social enterprise is defined as an organization that uses business strategies to maximize its social impact. The three enterprise finalists – the James Bay Community Project Community Closet, Cowichan Green Community Incubator Seed Farm and Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association's Jane James Tack Shop were selected from numerous applicants across Vancouver Island and highlight the diversity of social enterprises in local communities.

The high-energy seCatalyst Gala, a 'Dragon's Den-style' pitch competition, will see the enterprise finalists present in front of a live audience and a panel of expert judges. The judges will provide candid 'Dragon worthy' feedback and then decide how to divide up the 'winnings'. The social enterprise tack shop, thrift store and seed farm will pitch their business challenges on-stage for the chance to win $50,000 in combined cash and business development services. Each social enterprise will work with a business coach before the event to hone their pitch.

Keynote Speaker

This year’s keynote presenter is Shaun Loney, an Ashoka Fellow (first in Canadian Prairies) and Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year (2014). Shaun has co-founded and mentored 11 social enterprises, including BUILD Inc. (2011 Scotia Bank EcoLiving Green Business of the Year). BUILD Inc. has lowered utility bills for over 15,000 low income households through insulating, high efficiency furnace installations and water retrofits. AKI Energy provides business development and training in geothermal energy to First Nations so that they can start their own social enterprises. Aki has already installed $6 million in geothermal energy with First Nations in Manitoba.