There were nearly 900 attendees from 32 countries on 40 panels, and more than 100 speakers at this year’s three day Social Capital Markets annual event. Today was the last day and the tweets are already steadily streaming in. The event, now in its second run, was created to match up social investors with foundations, development and government agencies, entrepreneurs and each other. From the positive feedback, I would say it was a success.
Here’s an overview from the SOCAP09 website:
What to expect at SOCAP09!
SoCap09 will have two days of overview plenaries and deep-dive sessions and workshops, followed by a third day of participant-led sessions. Join us as we explore:
• The Social Capital Movement Across the Globe
• Social venture funds’ prominent role in the new economy
• The rise and future effects of infrastructure groups and intermediaries moving organizations to scale
• Mainstream players entering the social and environmental arena
• The sophistication of social investing pioneers
• Raising money for impact investing in a downturn economy
• Capital working together: Going forensic on effective partnerships
Working with the Government
• Understand the Obama Administration’s focus on social innovation and how to gain access to opportunities for partnership
• Creating common ground and effective collaboration between the private sector and development agencies
Seeking Answers to Intractable Problems
• Moving beyond Microfinance
• Market based solutions for the base of the pyramid
• Learning from and listening to indigenous cultures about integrated sustainability
Structure and Value of Social Enterprise
• New corporate structures, including hybrid businesses and L3C organizations
• Creating metrics and value around social change
Media and Technology
• Progressive media that moves people to action
• Mobile technology platforms worthy of investment
It looks like they covered a lot of ground in three days!
Social Capital Markets’ co-founder Kevin Jones said this about SOCAP09, “SOCAP brings together the big players and their rigorous processes with the folks who are just starting out in this space. You know, there are a lot of conversations about the future happening around the world, but mostly they’re taking place inside walled gardens. The thing that I’m most proud of is that this conference builds bridges between these gardens, and between them and the street.”
In attendance were many ‘big players‘ that we have featured here on SocialEarth, [Kiva, Skoll Foundation, Food Inc., IDEO, Acumen and many others].I will keep you posted on the thoughts on the conference and its impact on the attendees and SOCAP themselves. So far the Canadians seem impressed, michaelshapcott just posted this on Twitter: “Canadians came, we were inspired, and we’re heading home with solid plans to rev up social capital markets”.
The overall goal of SOCAP? To borrow Kevin Jones’ metaphor – is to build network bridges that connect gardens together and makes a greener world for us all. Sounds great doesn’t it?
I hope that is the general feeling of all who attnded the conference, and I hope to see you all at ‘the intersection of money and meaning’.
Social Capital Markets – SOCAP09
SoCap09 will bring together a unique mix of the world’s top social innovators, investors, donors, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders, today’s leading catalysts of change from across the globe.
- Organization Type: Non-Profit
- Website: socialcapitalmarkets.net
- Founder(s): Kevin Jones and Mark Beam
- Founded: 2008
- Location:San Francisco, CA
- See complete company list here
Sources: socialcapitalmarkets.net; thehuffingtonpost.com
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