SOCAP strives to offer diverse content across the spectrum of business and capital innovation advancing social and environmental impact. SOCAP Open is a public submission platform that helps us source suggestions directly from our community. As in past years, SOCAP16 will include interactive sessions, panel discussions, workshops, and storytelling opportunities. By proposing a session idea and/or voting, we invite you to add your unique voice to the conversation.
A major objective of the new Sustainable Development Goals is to encourage a more integrated approach to addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges. Adopting sustainable food production that also improves health can mitigate crises like under-nutrition and create new sources of income that reduce the need for …
The world increasingly sees the importance of user-centric solutions that are demand-driven, relevant, and affordable. Today’s innovation ecosystem is diffuse, with smart ideas coming from every corner of the world. Empowered by digital platforms and new forms of financing, the opportunities for accelerating innovation—wherever it starts—have never …
The impact of climate change is stressing arable land and water resources, which will increasingly impact food systems, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. We know it’s possible to respond effectively to these challenges by recognizing and drawing on the interconnected components of climate, agriculture, nutrition, health, …
Daryl Collins, author of Portfolios of the Poor and MD of Bankable Frontier Associates (BFA), will present new work funded by the Omidyar Network that characterizes the role women play in low income households in Mexico, India and Kenya. This new research leverages a set of Financial …
Today, more than one billion people do not have access to clean, pathogen-free, safe drinking water. According the World Health Organization (WHO), “by 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas.” Water purity is an ever-growing global problem, and today’s solutions for water …
Right now, in sub-Saharan population growth is rapidly outstripping infrastructure development. Healthcare need is growing exponentially faster than care delivery systems, stymieing economic growth. Trying to implement a US or EU model of healthcare delivery to meet urgent demand in these conditions is a zero sum game. …
The number of social entrepreneurs tackling problems across Africa is increasing with many innovative solutions and strong entrepreneurs rising to the challenge. This panel will provide a practitioner’s perspective in an interactive Panel session with incubators, hubs, social entrepreneurs and global non-profits who will highlight some of …
Over the past 5 years across the African continent, tech hubs, donor dollars and accelerators have started giving way to Angel Investors, Seed Funds, and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. As the cost of connectivity fell and mobile adoption neared 90%, “Silicon Savannah” was hyped as the next big thing …
Over the past 5 years across the African continent, tech hubs, donor dollars and accelerators have started giving way to Angel Investors, Seed Funds, and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. As the cost of connectivity fell and mobile adoption neared 90%, “Silicon Savannah” was hyped as the next big thing …
Entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses frequently turn to accelerator programs for support. But are these programs effective? As accelerators continue to proliferate in developing countries, we must ask critical questions about what is and is not working. This panel showcases three studies of accelerator effectiveness across …
Utility-scale renewable energy generation in the Global South needs to take structural, social and cultural factors carefully into consideration, since the most competitive renewable energy sources are often on land that belongs to indigenous and other vulnerable communities. Institutional ESG safeguards are failing to mitigate social risk …
With over $250M in debt and equity funding + 4x yoy growth in the off grid solar industry across India and Africa + over 10M households reached - this year is going to be the tipping point for the off grid solar industry. In impact investing, off …
Many practitioners recognize that Africa has many opportunities for impact investment. However many perceive the continent as a challenging destination despite the significant impact potential. On this panel, impact investors operating at the African frontline will share their experiences and help to demystify the African impact investment …
Important 2016 Dates
- JUNE 3
Final day to submit an idea. - JUNE 4-15
Commenting and voting period. All sessions open for voting. - JUNE 16-28
Judging panel and final selection by SOCAP16 Content Team. - JUNE 29
Winning sessions announced to session organizers.
