IMPACT ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101

Now is the time for the entrepreneurially-minded to step up to address pressing social and environmental challenges.

Impact Entrepreneurs develop, fund and implement solutions. Interested in learning what it takes to be an Impact Entrepreneur? All you need to participate is passion, commitment and a reliable internet connection.

During each cohort, selected participants will begin a 10-week journey and work on creating their very own enterprise aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals with 30 hours of live, virtual class time, small peer-led accountability groups, and a library of tools.

You’ll also learn about how entrepreneurs are responding to the climate crisis, and explore opportunities to multisolve — developing climate solutions rooted in justice that produce co-benefits such as greater health and racial and economic equity.

Please note: this program has now ended

This program is a part of Accelerate from Anywhere, an initiative that supports emerging climate entrepreneurs with programs at every stage, accessible from anywhere in Canada.

What We Offer

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TRAINING

Learn how to use entrepreneurship as a way to generate meaningful impact.

PEER TO PEER LEARNING

Connect with other passionate people and learn in peer groups.

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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

Access tools and templates to develop your solutions and business models.

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GUEST SPEAKERS

Hear and learn from climate entrepreneurs leading amazing startups.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

WINTER COHORT APPLICATIONS CLOSE:

TBD

Applications are closed.

WINTER COHORT PARTICIPANTS NOTIFIED:

TBD

Selected applicants are notified and onboarded to the course!

WINTER COHORT PROGRAM STARTS:

TBD

Participants meet online Tuesday evenings from 5-8 pm EST for 10 weeks of class time.

NEXT COHORT APPLICATIONS DEADLINE:

TBD

Applications are closed.

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You can create meaningful change in the world!

Impact Entrepreneurship 101 will look at opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship within the climate movement, and will also benefit anyone interested in impact entrepreneurship more broadly. This program is about getting the knowledge and tools to turn ideas into impact!

We will meet virtually once a week for class time. By the end of 10 weeks you will feel knowledgeable and confident to begin your own entrepreneurial journey.

HERE’S WHAT YOU WILL LEARN…

Weeks 1-5: Explore your purpose as an impact entrepreneur. Discover your areas of interest. Map opportunities for impact as part of climate action.

Together, we’ll begin with some of the big questions you may be asking yourself, such as:

  • What is impact entrepreneurship and how are entrepreneurs playing a role in climate action?
  • 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 6-10: 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 my impact?

ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES

Want to understand how to build an impact enterprise? Here are the skills you will gain from this course:

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 a sustainable business model

ELIGIBILITY

Are you motivated to create positive change? Are you an emerging leader looking to make a difference in the world? Are you interested in being a part of climate action?

Check out our criteria below to see if you are eligible for this exciting program!

Applicant Requirements:
Courses are hosted on Zoom. Please note that sessions will be recorded. Must be 18 or older to apply. Program is delivered in English. Participants should understand, read, write and speak English fluently.

Participant Commitment:

  • Attend at least 9 out of the 10 Zoom course sessions
  • Complete relevant coursework and exercises
  • Connect with your peer-led small groups and arrange to meet for 4 sessions outside of course sessions.

Certificate of Completion!
Participants who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Centre for Social Innovation & Climate Ventures. A certificate of completion from this program will signify that participants understand the building blocks of Impact Entrepreneurship.

FAQ

This program is free to participants! You must be motivated and able to commit to completing the course.

This is a 10-week long program. Our online class meets once per week for 3 hours on Zoom and participants communicate in our Slack workspace. Classes are held Tuesdays. We also foster networking opportunities in our virtual space on Gather.

You can still apply! You will learn the foundations of social entrepreneurship and explore how your solution may fit into climate action. However, case studies and guest speakers will have a climate focus.

Once you’ve been accepted to the program, we will send you some reading and a couple exercises that will help you prepare for this course. Make sure to take the time to complete the work and invest in your journey ahead.

No! It’s not required that you have a clear idea to participate. In fact, many participants use the first four weeks of the program to do further research, learn and test ideas. Throughout the course you will develop entrepreneurial competencies and skills that will serve you throughout your career. Many successful impact entrepreneurs begin as socially and environmentally conscious citizens who are passionate and in search of meaningful solutions to pressing challenges.

You will need to dedicate an average of 2-4 hours outside of our live learning sessions per week to complete the work for the following session.

It is important that you participate in the live learning sessions and come ready to engage with the material, facilitator and other participants, having already completed your action work.

As a perk to this course, you will receive access to a custom #Slack community where you may further connect with other participants and the course facilitator. Use this community to get to know your fellow colleagues and further develop your network!

This 10-week course will provide you with the tools needed to start building a successful impact enterprise, either for-profit or nonprofit. Upon completion of the program, you will have developed working models that you can continue to test and validate as you pursue your mission.

The Centre for Social Innovation is a community and launchpad for impact entrepreneurship and innovation. We have been supporting entrepreneurs for over 18 years and have over 3,000 members. Climate Ventures is our initiative dedicated to supporting climate entrepreneurs and innovators. This course has been developed with experts and practitioners, and designed to provide you with the skills, tools and knowledge you need. Plus, this course has been designed specifically for Impact Entrepreneurship, teaching you how to create meaningful impact including in response to the climate crisis. This course has consistently being rated as “exceptional” by participants. 

You will need a laptop/computer with a webcam, headphones/earbuds with a microphone, and access to a reliable internet connection to be able to participate in weekly, live learning sessions and to download and read through weekly materials. The technology platforms we will be using are Zoom, Slack, Google Suite, and Mural. It is suggested that you keep a detailed journal to track your weekly progress and enterprise research. We will provide slide decks from each session as well as a recording of the session for your continued learning.

This course offers the most value to those who are in the “Ideation” and “Discovery” phases of their entrepreneurial journey. 

Ideation: Entrepreneur with an idea, initial exploration.

Discovery: Value proposition established, testing ideas, proof of concept achieved, identifying customers.

Yes, if you are committed, have the time to fully participate, and are passionate about creating positive change in the world, then this is a great place to begin. IE101 gives you the opportunity to develop your storytelling skills, research abilities, and entrepreneurial competencies to understand and begin to address complex social and environmental challenges.

PARTNERS & FUNDERS

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Funder, Partner

The RBC Foundation

The RBC Foundation is focused on preparing youth for the future of work, protecting the environment, and helping emerging artists thrive. RBC Foundation is contributing funding and expertise to support Earth Tech and its participants.
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Partner

Lean4Flourishing

Lean4Flourishing co-creates programs that support entrepreneurs in designing businesses that embed and embody the Sustainable Development Goals.