Do you have an idea for a business or initiative that will have positive impact in your community?

Come and pitch it to a room full of potential partners at the Hopeful Economics Social Innovation Challenge in Vancouver, April 21 & 22. Hopeful Economics invites pitches that focus on financial sustainability, positive social impact, environmental-benefit, or are spiritually-grounded.

Who can pitch?

The Hopeful Economics Social Innovation Challenge is a great opportunity for start-ups, for social entrepreneurs, for new co-operatives and other innovative initiatives. Participation is limited to attendees of Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit.

Purchase your ticket for the Hopeful Economics Social Innovation Challenge

What does pitching entail?

Stand up and give a short pitch to a panel of judges and a supportive audience and have a chance at winning on of five prize packages including cash, tablets, business coaching and more. Pre-registration is required to participate in the Social Innovation Challenge. Contact ced_info@sfu.ca for more information or to register.

How about those prizes?

• 1st Place: $1,500 cash from the United Church of Canada, a Datawind tablet, $1,200 worth of legal templates from Clausehound, $500 value social media course from CanadaHelps.org, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
• 2nd Place: $1,000 cash from United Church, a Datawind tablet, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
• 3rd Place: $500 cash from the United Church of Canada, a Datawind tablet, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
• People's Choice: Final cash prize based on proceeds from ticket sales, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
• Quadruple Bottom Line Award: $1,000 cash from Glenco Foundation, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning

What is Hopeful Economics?

Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit brings together municipal staff and leaders of communities both urban and rural, non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, private sector partners looking to enhance their community impact goals, community activists and change-makers of all kinds.

The summit features two full days of workshops, speakers, panel discussions and more around the themes of economic reconciliation, social enterprise, entrepreneurship, community benefit agreements and local impact investing.

Hopeful Economics is being co-hosted by the City of Vancouver and Simon Fraser University.

The Social Innovation Challenge is hosted by Social Innovation Canada and the United Church of Canada, with thanks to the following sponsors:

• Social Mentor Network
• Datawind
• Small Business Solver
• Edge
• Canada Helps
• Clausehound