| Please register to receive the benefits of our network-wide features. |
Register (free) |
Log In
|
| Please register to receive the benefits of our network-wide features. |
Register (free) |
Log In
|
Have you ever thought about launching your own social venture? What does it take to get off the ground? Are you curious if you have what it takes to become a social entrepreneur? What funding sources are available to social entrepreneurs? In this panel from Bridging the Gap, the Stanford 2005 Net Impact Conference organized by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, three experienced social entrepreneurs describe how and why they began their ventures, who helped them along the way, what qualities they needed to succeed, and how the challenges of running a social venture differ from traditional business models.
Priya Haji is in the throes of getting a new venture off the ground. Sourcing handmade products from small artisan cooperatives under fair trade guidelines she hopes to induce a market shift similar to the organics movement, encouraging other companies to practice ethical sourcing.
Adam Lowry cofounded Method Products, Inc. in 2000 after identifying a disconnect between the way people feel about and care for their homes and the design of the products they use to clean them. Lowry describes the importance of choosing investors who understand what makes the product unique and the experience of raising $300k initial funding in convertible debt from friends and family.
William Rosenzweig's extensive experience adds color, context, and expertise to the panel session. He describes the series of events leading to the founding of The Republic of Tea, underlines the importance of knowing (and measuring) what you stand for, and reveals the serendipitous properties of Newark airport.
Panelists:
Experienced social entrepreneur Priya Haji started creating social enterprises in high school. During her senior year at Stanford she cofounded Free at Last, a broad-based substance abuse and social services organization in East Palo Alto. As the Executive Director she grew the program to become a national model program serving 3,000 people per year, an annual budget of $2.5 million, and a staff of 60.
Haji was recognized in 1998 as one of America's 10 Most Outstanding Young Leaders by the Do Something Foundation, MTV, and Mademoiselle magazine. After finishing her MBA at the Haas School of Business in May 2003, she traveled for six months in Asia and Latin America to focus on source cultivation and understanding artisan communities. She is now the CEO and cofounder of World of Good, a fair trade gifts company in Berkeley, Calif.
Adam Lowry has a proven track record of innovation across multiple categories and consumer segments. In 2000, Lowry and cofounder Eric Ryan started Method Products, Inc., the first premium brand in the home cleaning category, taking on the giants of the consumer products industry. Method has grown quickly by infusing emotion into commodity cleaning products using design and environmental responsibility, and is reinventing the way consumers think about caring for their homes.
Prior to founding Method, Lowry spent three years at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, developing software products for the study of global climate change. While at Carnegie, Lowry developed many of the provisions in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, and developed his unique approach to commercial environmentalism that forms the basis of Method’s success today. He began his career in product design, developing plastic parts for the automotive industry where he earned the first of his five patents. Lowry earned his BS in chemical engineering from Stanford University.
William Rosenzweig is an entrepreneur, investor, and brand builder, having led a number of values-driven consumer products companies. He has been cofounder and CEO of The Republic of Tea, an award-winning specialty tea company; senior vice president of Odwalla, the nation’s largest fresh juice company; vice president of Nakamichi; partner and CEO of Hambrecht Vineyards and Wineries, and chairman of winetasting.com. As an investor and board member he cofounded Venture Strategy Group and has played a role in the growth of Stonyfield Farms, Leapfrog, Putumayo, and Trinity Springs. He recently cofounded Kingdom of Herbs, a purveyor of all organic plants and products for home and garden at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.
Rosenzweig is on the faculty at the Center for Responsible Business at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley where he teaches the MBA course in social entrepreneurship and serves as faculty advisor to the Global Social Venture Competition. He is also founder of Ideagarden, a new business developer specializing in strategy, leadership development, and financing for mission-driven business ventures focused on generating social and environmental value.
Resources:
This free podcast is from our Bridging the Gap series.
For The Conversations Network:
Play