Calling all changemakers and social entrepreneurs driven to find new ways to uplift communities and alleviate poverty in a post-pandemic world.

Join participants from hubs around the world for a two-day virtual Impactathon® where you have a chance to deepen your understanding about what causes poverty locally and globally and work in teams to develop solutions.

Poverty, in this moment

Since launching this unique Impactathon in early June, covid19 cases have surged and systemic racism has emerged as a global movement. Poverty is a critical part of this story. Estimates for global poverty have been increased by 50M attributed to covid-19 (Brookings).

An Impactathon focusing on the mindset of “building an inclusive future”

For this 16th Impactathon® Innov8social is partnering with Join the Journey, an international empowerment organization, to take participants on a journey of discovery– diving into realities much of the world faces living day-to-day without stable electricity, water, and paved roads–and exploring how covid-19 affects these issues. Teams will work together to ask questions, research existing solutions, identify gaps, and brainstorm and build approaches to build a thriving future using innovative strategies and existing technologies in a sprint-to-the-finish 24-hour push. Teams with the best solutions can earn cash prizes.

Hear from a handful of speakers and mentors who have started social enterprises and impact organizations that have helped hundreds of thousands of people. You will hear their candid experiences in how they navigated unique challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset.

No background in social impact is required. Bring a deep curiosity, a sense of empathy, and a problemsolving mindset. We will walk you through design-thinking approaches to understanding a problem and developing solutions. If you have ever felt a deep desire to create positive impact, whether locally in your city or globally for the world, this event was designed for you

Don’t have a team? Don’t worry. You’ll have an opportunity to pair up either in the lead-up to the event or in the first few hours. This Impactathon is about inclusion…and we want you to feel included!

Agenda*

Friday, Aug 21st 2020

12:00 pm EST | 9:00 am PST | 7:00 pm Nairobi — Kickoff & welcome

12:30 pm EST — Release of scenarios + Impact Talks

1:15 pm EST — Virtual speed networking & team formation

2:00 pm EST — Impact Workshop + teams complete Milestone 1

3:15 pm EST — Pitch deck overview

4:00 pm EST — Impact Catalyst informal panel talks and OH + hackathon group time

Saturday, Aug 22nd 2020

10:00 am EST | 7:00 am PST | 5:00 pm Nairobi — Day 2 welcome + Milestone 2 + Pitch slot signup

10:45 am EST — Impact Talk

12:30 pm EST — Team tech checks

1:00 pm EST — Final pitches

4:00 pm EST — Winners announced + Judges’ comments + closing remark

*agenda is subject to change

Impact Talk Speakers include

• Mike Sehzue, Partner at Global SouthxSouth, Founder of Miseh Distilling Company. Social Entrepreneur, Impact Investing Advisor.
• Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza, Founder & Executive Director of the African Education Program. Systems thinker in poverty alleviation.

Impact Catalysts and Panel Speakers include

• Ezenwayi Amaechi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship, Johnson & Wales University, Market Strategist. Social Entrepreneur.
• Heather Arora, M.S. in Organizational Behavior, Founder of Purple Plants. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Marc Alain Boucicault, Founder and CEO at Banj. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• David Babbs, PhD Social Work (Social Innovation), Activist, Macro, Veteran. Educator.
• Brendan Barbato, Startup pitch expertise, Brand & Partnerships. Social Entrepreneur.
• Chuck Brown, Founder of Orion Consulting, Social Enterprise Alliance Board Member. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Nick Brown, Founder at Clear Purchase. International Payment System Expert.
• Theresa L Carpenter, Navy Public Affairs Officer, Communication Professional, Advocate for women and companion animals.
• Adam Cole, Founder of Join the Journey, US Navy Servicemember. Social Entrepreneur.
• Gloria Ferrer, International Economic Development Specialist, Partner at COMPETITIVENESS. Founder of KINADONA. Social Entrepreneur.
• Miloni Gandhi, Founder and Principal International LLC, Adjunct Faculty Foothill College. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Andrew Hening, Co-founder Opening Doors Marin, Director of Homeless Planning & Outreach San Rafael. Systems Thinker.
• Prasad Jaladi, Chief Facilitator of Suraksha.Social Entrepreneur.
• Cate Johnson, Founder ArborRevolutions, Innovation Catalyst, Advisor, Facilitator. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Mary Patrick Kavanaugh, Director of Special Projects at Soka University. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Mark Lovett, Founder of Storytelling with Impact, TEDx organizer. Impact Storyteller.
• Mwihaki Muraguri, Storysmith, Principal at Paukwa House. Impact Storyteller.
• KP Naidu, VP Benetech Labs. Poverty Alleviation Systems Thinker.
• Pamela O’Brien, Director of Development at African Education Program, International Development Strategist.
• Adeniyi Oluokun, Co-founder at Consulting Youth, Co-founder at Access Drive. Social Entrepreneur.
• Mark Papia, Head of Content & Communications at iMerit Technology Services. Social Intrapreneur.
• Neetal Parekh, Founder of Innov8social, Host of the Impact Podcast, Author. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Brian Walker, Founder of Culture Bridge, Social Intrapreneur. Social Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Leon Wang, M.S. in Biomimicry, ABAR Intersectional Environmentalist. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
• Gillian Foster Wilkinson, Microfinance Learning Manager at HOPE International. Microfinance Specialist.

Judges include

• Radha Basu, CEO of iMerit Technology Services, Founder of Frugal Innovation Lab at Santa Clara University.
• Will Harris, CEO of Willpower Consulting, Chairman of Willpower Humanitarian Foundation.
• Grace Rodriguez, CEO/Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston, Advisor to Social Enterprises
• Eric Van Trump, Board Member at Join the Journey, Entrepreneur.

Cash Prizes

Join the Journey is awarding cash prizes of $2,000+ to top teams.

Who Should Attend

• Social entrepreneurs with proven ideas and traction who are looking to scale their work.
• Student changemakers
• Young Professionals looking to learn more about social enterprise
• Experienced/retired professionals seeking to leverage expertise for social good
• The veteran tech community
• Faith-based groups seeking to serve through social innovation

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

SDG Goal 1 is Eliminating Poverty. From the UN, “The decline of global extreme poverty continues, but has slowed…. People who continue to live in extreme poverty face deep, entrenched deprivation often exacerbated by violent conflicts and vulnerability to disasters. Strong social protection systems and government spending on key services often help those left behind get back on their feet and escape poverty, but these services need to be brought to scale.”

Open to All

This event is open to all participants and is not based upon participant race, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic background, sexuality, and gender.

Financial Aid

Please email [email protected] or [email protected] in case in need of financial support. Early bird rates are also available until 8/7/2020.

Outreach/Ecosystem Partnership

We welcome aligned partners to share Impactathon with their communities and be featured in our marketing efforts. To learn more about how to become a media partner, email [email protected] or [email protected]

Impact Report + Sponsorship

Read the Impact Report to learn more about this event and the impact we seek to co-create! We welcome community and corporate sponsors to make this event come to life. Contact us to sponsor a team, sponsor an award, or be an in-kind supporter. Email [email protected].

More about past Impactathons here.

Join a virtual discussion with Phillip Yates, Founder/CEO of Equiliberty, on the impact of race on our current virus + violence crises; followed by best practices from the Impact Hub community’s work on AIDE – Access, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity – to support and empower change-makers of color in the United States.

We will discuss:

1. How COVID-19 threatens African-American communities and community-based businesses; and how social enterprises like Equiliberty can help expand access for underinvested communities to asset-building opportunities through shared ownership.

2. How persistent police violence has inspired a generation of new civil rights leaders that has America re-thinking power structures, long-standing institutions, and governance.

3. How this new movement to end racism and violence against Black Americans and people of color has influenced so many people across the country and around the world to action, that 2020 may turn out to be a pivotal moment in human history.

4. How we can collaboratively envision what our world can look and work like under new systems that offer economic growth and justice for all, and co-create what might be.

Helping spark and lead discussion:

Phillip J. Yates – Attorney (Yates & Associates, PLLC); CEO/Founder of Equiliberty, Inc.; Board Chair of Impact Hub Houston.

Phillip founded Equiliberty to end poverty by helping people learn how to use their existing resources and talents to grow thriving businesses, create jobs, and develop strong local economies that contribute to global prosperity. It leverages technology to democratize access to credit and provides the tools for creators to build infrastructure and self-sustainable revenue models that ultimately promote economic growth and justice for all.

Phillip Yates is also a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Diversity Fund Houston. The Diversity Fund Houston is a micro venture fund created to invest in black and brown tech founders during the “friends and family” round. Prior to founding Diversity Fund Houston, Phillip helped establish a pre-venture business incubator for minorities at the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL). In this role, he focused on identifying key resources to assist startups and early-stage founders with opportunities to scale . Since its inception, this program has helped over 5,000 minority entrepreneurs join the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Phillip is a licensed attorney in the State of Texas and the Southern District of the United States where he practices Bankruptcy and Corporate law. He also sits on the board for Lone Star Justice Alliance, League of Women Voters Houston, 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, and serves as General Counsel for the Business Angel Minority Association (baMa) and Chairman of Impact Hub Houston, which connects and empowers people working to solve social problems in our city and around the world.

Grace Rodriguez – CEO/Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston

Grace has helped spread ideas, create experiences, and spur action as a speaker, facilitator, producer and community developer for diverse companies and organizations, directly reaching over 296,000 people in the past decade. During Hurricane Harvey, she helped disseminate information to a quarter of a million people throughout Houston, and helped Sketch City’s tech volunteers connect with resources to effectively inform, rescue, shelter and feed people across the region. Grace has promoted Houston;s creative and startup communities to over 17,000 people over seven years of leading “Houston at SXSW;” and was responsible for engaging and energizing 800+ high-profile participants as TED’s “TEDActive” Creative Director.

Grace mentors startups and entrepreneurs at MassChallenge TX, Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (LILIE), Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at UH Bauer College, Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute (TMCx), and Capital Factory. She serves on the boards of Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH) and Writers in the Schools (WITS), and is the lead organizer of Women In Tech: Houston (WIT:H) and TEDxHouston.

Grace is also as an active member of the: Nationswell Council; Kauffman ESHIP Ecosystem Developers community; Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE); City of Houston Women and Minority Business Task Force; Houston Exponential Startup Development Organizations Roundtable; and the Page 30 Coalition.