What’s Ahead for Social Entrepreneurship?

Posted in: AERIOS, Behavioral Marketing by admin on 08/15/2011

Imagine the results if you combined some of the strongest forces in capitalism, marketing and social networking to make the world a better place.

We had the opportunity to attend Common Pitch the other night at the historic Boulder Theater. It’s a key event of COMMON, a creative community for rapidly prototyping social ventures. http://www.common.is/about-common/

COMMON’s co-founder, Alex Bogusky, is a name familiar to most marketers. He’s one of the most famous ad men of all time who grew agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky to worldwide fame and inspired many of the branding world’s top talent to re-locate to Boulder. Last year, Alex gave up all the $ millions from big clients like Burger King and Volkswagen – now dedicating his life to building a larger movement around the principles of sustainability and using business to do social good.

(Alex’s “FearLess Cottage” HQ also happens to be right around the corner from the little 100-year-old building that houses Aerios’ Boulder field office.)

Wow! The event was like a night of “Dancing with the Entrepreneurs.”

Ten young “social entrepreneurs” from Europe, India and the US each got 5 minutes to pitch their business idea to an audience of 500 imbibing revelers (+ thousands more via the web) – all in an E-Town like atmosphere of “doing good” – complete with a love-fest critique by a panel of four judges reminiscent of American Idol. The audience was a mix of creatives, suits, groupies, and venture capitalists – who likely appreciated the anonymity of the big party style event.

One of the winning entrepreneurs has a cheap, simple solution to boosting solar power efficiency she prototyped in an African village. Another is introducing a new solar/LED multi-use light that has potential to replace all the toxic kerosene lamps in the Third World. Another has a quick/easy/cheap shower system that can provide a new source for village- or tribal-level commerce – while significantly reducing the astounding number of deaths worldwide from diseases resulting from low hygiene. You can check out these and other great ideas here http://www.common.is/pitch/entrepreneurs/.

This Social Entrepreneurship movement shows that capitalism can be a tremendous force for social good and helping the planet – and still make a TON of $ for all its stakeholders.

Net-net, it was a very inspiring evening.