Books
Communities
Social Venture Institute
As discussed in the book, SVI is my ‘spiritual home’ as a social entrepreneur. It is a community dedicated to social justice, sustainability and all manner of impact. It’s a series of conferences and related social events, as well as a vibrant and very useful email list that goes out to its likeminded alumni. Readers may also enjoy connecting with its sibling, Social Change Institute (SCI), which is more oriented towards non-profits. SVI Women is equally highly recommended.
Visit
Coralus
I cannot say enough good things about Coralus as a resource and community for women and non-binary entrepreneurs and those who wish to support them. Even better, Coralus is international, not just in Canada, and there is a massive amount of content available online.
Visit
Echoing Green
Through Fellowships and other innovative leadership initiatives, Echoing Green spots emerging leaders and invests deeply in their success to accelerate their impact. Echoing Green provides seed-funding and leadership development to a new class of Fellows every year and welcomes them into a lifelong community of leaders.
Visit
Zebras Unite
Zebras Unite was the first group I am aware of that thoroughly articulated the case for championing ‘small’ business, flipping the classic paradigm of the ‘Unicorn’ entrepreneur/venture in their groundbreaking article “Zebras Fix What Unicorns Break” (essential reading, if you have not already seen it).
VisitEconomics
Indigenomics Institute
Indigenomics welcomes you to an Indigenous worldview. It brings to the forefront human values and local economic practice. Indigenomics draws on ancient principles that have supportedIindigenous economies for thousands of years, and works to implement them as modern business practices.
Visit
Community Wealth
Community Wealth offers a cornucopia of information about innovative community wealth building strategies throughout the United States, including ESOP, impact investing, co-ops, Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and much more.
Visit
Doughnut Economics
Humanity’s 21st century challenge is to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet. The Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries is a playfully serious approach to framing that challenge, and it acts as a compass for human progress.
Visit
Criterion Institute
Criterion is a nonprofit think tank that works with social changemakers to demystify finance and broaden their perspective on how to engage with and shift financial systems.
VisitEducation
Groundswell
Billing itself as an “Alternative Business School”, Groundswell is how I imagine SVI being if it had a permanent home. I feel deeply aligned with their philosophy that entrepreneurs are built from the inside out. In other words, it’s not just the soundness of someone’s business idea, it’s the inner process that needs to be considered first as the foundation for a successful venture.
Visit
Spring
Spring bills itself as a “global incubator, accelerator and advisory firm that helps impact entrepreneurs, investors and entrepreneurial ecosystem builders thrive.”
Visit
THNK School of Creative Leadership
THNK is an Amsterdam-based executive education institute that seeks solutions to global challenges through applying business tools and design thinking methodology. It attracts global cohorts composed of an intentional ‘clash’ of corporates and other senior professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs (social and otherwise) with the stated goal of supporting “leaders to develop innovative solutions to the world’s greatest societal problems.” Highly recommended.
Visit
The Fireweed Fellowship
The Fireweed Fellowship is the first national accelerator program for Indigenous entrepreneurship in Canada. The program consists of a 10-month-long, immersive, cohort-style fellowship program combining online educational sessions, self-directed on-the-land learning and leadership development. Additionally the program offers peer support, one-on-one coaching, mentorship, pro-bono professional services as well as investment-readiness prep.
VisitMovements
Slow Factory Foundation
Slow Factory is a 501c3 public service organization operating as an open education institute, independent research lab and new media platform, and a granting and empowerment fund. Primarily but far from exclusively fashion-based, their initiatives and programs focus on circular design, material innovation and addressing social inequity.
Visit
Slow Entrepreneur Movement
When one of the hottest entrepreneurial magazines is called Fast Company, you know that these folks have a distinctly different take. Slow Entrepreneurship is rooted in the belief that, as the founder of your company, your well-being is your greatest priority.
Visit
Post-Growth Entrepreneurship
Post Growth Entrepreneurship (PGE) reframes business as a form of activism, art, spirituality, and creative expression. This business model embraces flat growth curves and rejects the need for investors, scaling, and exits. PGE questions entrepreneurial “common wisdom” and re-envisions business as a vehicle for pure positive impact. Offers events, research, education and community to (aspiring) post-growth entrepreneurs.
VisitResources
Hella Social Impact
Where does your initiative stand on racial justice? Take the Hella Racial Justice Spectrum Assessment and find out. Hella Social Impact exists to Notice, Name, and Dismantle™ systems of white supremacy, patriarchy, and other forms of oppression that marginalize, exclude, exploit, and harm Black and Non-Black People of Color (NBPOC).
Visit
Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)
How I wish we had one of these in Vancouver! If you’re in Toronto or New York, though, you’re in luck. They are basically hubs where you can connect with likeminded community ventures for events, desk/office space rental, mentorship and more.
Visit
Kanuu Indigineous Innovation
Kanuu is an Indigenous-led social enterprise that provides skill development, coaching, and ongoing support in entrepreneurship for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and beyond.
Visit
StartOut
StartOut’s mission is to increase the number, diversity, and impact of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community.
VisitStructures
B Corp
B Corp is for mission-driven, for-profit ventures who have plans to grow their impact. It’s a highly respected, international certification available only to ventures following a rigorous assessment of their social and environmental impact. Becoming a B Corp is not a small undertaking, and you need to be serious and meticulous about all aspects of your business practice.
Visit
Cooperatives for a Better World
Cooperatives for a Better World is a not-for-profit, mission-based organization focused on sharing cooperative identity with the world and the difference it makes in local, national, and global communities.
Visit
Start.coop
Start.coop accelerates the growth and development of the next generation of co-operative entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and financing necessary to build businesses that share prosperity among the many, not just the few.
Visit