NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

SOCAP, the world’s largest conference for social enterprise and impact investing, launches SOCAP Open and is accepting session ideas for SOCAP15, now through June 7th.

The social capital market is being built by individuals from around the world, diverse in gender, ethnicity, location, expertise, and opinion. This year’sSocial Capital Markets Conference (SOCAP) seeks to capture these diverse perspectives, and more, through SOCAP Open, a community submission and voting platform for session ideas to shape and advance the conversation at SOCAP15. SOCAP is dedicated to accelerating a new global market at the intersection of money and meaning.

“There is as much inspiration and experience in the crowd as on stage, so we invite our community to help us plan this convening and design great sessions through SOCAP Open,” said Kevin Jones, SOCAP co-founder.

The SOCAP15 conference will take place in San Francisco, October 6-9, 2015, with more than 100 sessions that bring together entrepreneurs, funders, thinkers, and doers to grow the social capital markets. SOCAP15 will feature expanded opportunities for interaction through participatory sessions and programming for individuals, to share inspirational stories and deepen practitioner insights. In addition, an engaging lineup of panels will stimulate dialogue among stakeholders.

Anyone with an idea to forward social innovation is welcome to submit ideas to SOCAP Open, now through June 7th. Selected session leads will receive a complimentary ticket to SOCAP15 and discounts for participating panelists. Selected session leads who have already purchased tickets will be refunded. Discounted SOCAP15 tickets are also available to all, for a limited time, through Eventbrite.

Session types that can be submitted for consideration through SOCAP Open, for potential inclusion at SOCAP15 include:

• Keynote – A 10-12 minute talk shares expertise, an inspiring story, a call to action, or key insight for the SOCAP community.
• Panel – Composed of 3-5 people, and a panel moderator, panels are part presentation, and part conversation and Q&A with the audience.
• Interactive Workshop – Workshops, design sessions, intentional networkings, and other facilitated modes help attendees meet, collaborate, and work through challenges.
• Docent/Curated Experience – Curated experiences throughout the Fort Mason campus to engage attendees by sparking collaboration and new ways of thinking.
• Film / Music / Art – Artistic forms of creating and advancing social and environmental change show or exhibit within scheduled content or elsewhere in the SOCAP experience.

The launch of SOCAP Open coincides with the announcement of themes for SOCAP15: Impact Investing, Meaning, Divest/Invest, Financial Inclusion, Neighborhood Economics, Professional Development, Living in the Future, and Sustainable Supply Chain. For full content theme descriptions and event details, visit http://socap15.socialcapitalmarkets.net/socap15-event-details/socap15-themes/.

SOCAP Open session ideas are not restricted to established themes. People are welcome to propose additional topics that deserve attention or they can add to an existing theme to deepen the knowledge base.

SOCAP Open 2015 Dates

• May 7 – SOCAP Open is live (submissions welcome)
• June 7 – Final day to submit an idea to SOCAP Open
• June 8-19 – Commenting and voting period (sessions open for voting)
• June 20-29 – Judging panel and final selection by SOCAP15 Content Team
• June 30 – Winning sessions announced to session organizers

About SOCAP

SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) is a world-renowned conference series dedicated to increasing the flow of capital toward social good. Our annual flagship event in San Francisco is the leading gathering for impact investors and social entrepreneurs. We take a unique approach that emphasizes cross-sector convening and gathers voices across a broad spectrum to catalyze unexpected yet impactful connections. From the leading edge to established players, SOCAP brings together global innovators, investors, foundations, governments, institutions, and social entrepreneurs to build the world we want to leave to future generations. We actively seek out opportunities to accelerate the market at the intersection of money and meaning and, in pursuit of that goal, have convened more than 10,000 people since our founding in 2008. SOCAP is a convening platform operated by Mission Hub LLC (MissionHUB).

About MissionHub

Established in 2009, MissionHUB operates a network of Impact Hub co-working campuses in San Francisco, Berkeley, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., as well as the annual SOCAP conference for impact investors. As a part of the global Impact Hub network of over 11,000 members, we help entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses that drive social and environmental good. We believe trust, collaboration, and courage shape communities where ideas and change can thrive. These core values make up our DNA and guide us in reaching social and environmental benchmarks. Being a B Corp strengthens our resolve to achieve higher standards, and empowers change-makers in our community to do the same. Since 2008, SOCAP has brought together social impact leaders to connect and present their ideas to a global audience. Our annual flagship event in San Francisco is the largest conference for impact investors and social entrepreneurs. Visit www.mission-hub.com to learn more.