ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Our virtual global competition recognizes the best social ventures that create self-sustainable markets at the Bottom of the Pyramid.


MISSION
The Social Ventures Foundation mission is to facilitate sustainable market creation at the Bottom of the Pyramid by identifying, promoting and facilitating the investment in social ventures that employ the poor to lift the livelihoods of the poor.



OUR APPROACH
EPIC, the End Poverty Innovation Challenge is focused on engaging the next generation of social entrepreneurs from post secondary institutions worldwide in developing the next generation of social ventures that lift the livelihoods of the poor.


SIX STAGES OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ASSESS THE POVERTY REDUCTION CHALLENGES IN YOUR COMMUNITY
CONDUCT A COMMERCIAL PROOF OF CONCEPT
CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL VENTURE THAT MEETS A CHALLENGE
EXECUTE SOCIAL
VENTURE LOCALLY
MARKET RESEARCH & DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE , FIELD TEST IT IN COMMUNITY
SCALE NATIONALLY WITH
SOCIAL FRANCHISING
past speakers
PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES TO DATE...
Anglia Ruskin University, UK
Bahamas Baptist Community College, Bahamas
Bowdoin College, USA
Bryant University, USA
California Lutheran University, USA
California State University Bakersfield, USA
Case Western Reserve University, USA
College Of The Holy Cross, USA
Dartmouth College, USA
Durham College, Canada
Galen University, Belize
John Paul The Great Catholic University, USA
Kaua`i Community College, USA
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
Lingnan University of Hong Kong
Mangosuthu University of Technology, S. Africa
University of Basel, Switzerland
Miami of Ohio, USA
Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
North Idaho College, USA
Northeastern University, USA
New York University, USA
Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy
Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Belize
Rhodes University, South Africa
San Francisco State University, USA
Santa Clara University, USA
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa
Seneca College, Canada
St. Johns College, Canada
Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
University of Michigan, USA
Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala
University of Aruba
University of Bologna, Italy
University of Exeter, UK
University of Liverpool, UK
University of Portland, USA
University of Sterling, UK
University of West Indies, Bahamas
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA
University of Southern California, USA
University of San Diego, USA
Warner Pacific University, USA
Ozyegin University, Turkey
Estonian Social Enterprise Network
University of Wisconsin-Parkside, USA
University of Limpopo, South Africa
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Solent University, UK
University of Turin, Italy
Wayne University, USA
Wingate University, USA
Wits University, South Africa
The University of Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas
Asociatia Social Incubator
sOCIAL VENTURES TEAM
TEAM

Marc Blumenthal
Executive Director
Marc has been involved in a variety of startups in the fields of Education, Medical Devices, Plasma Fusion, and Aerospace. He founded SVF in 2017 and has been involved in the enterprise on a full-time basis.

Gabriela Lavagni
Latin America & Caribbean Manager
Marketer and Project Manager with 15+ years of international experience in retail, consumer goods, education and human rights. Specialized in Change Management, Leadership and Innovation.

Raquel Castro Casas
Communications Manager

Daniela Rivas
Fundraising & Project Coordinator
Epic challenge

Patricia Kuziomko
Mentorship Coordinator
EDUCATIONAL
ADVISORY BOARD

Busiswe Mandleni
Mangosuthu Institute of Technology,
South Africa

Jeremy Alan Woods
University of California, Bakersfield, USA


Jay Fisher
Durham College, Canada
Cuzette Du Plessis
University of Limpopo, South Africa

Maurizio Sobrero
University of Bologna, Italy

Astrid Delgado
Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala


Leon Dawson
University of West Indies
Ruth Andrews
Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Dirk Soma
Kaua'i Community College, Hawaii

Joost Jacobs
University of Aruba


Debbie Magnezy
Northeastern University, USA
Caroline Cannon
Dartmouth University

Aleksandar Erceg
Associate Professor at Ekonomski fakultet u Osijeku, Croatia

Orlando Harris
San Francisco State University

Kamilah Cole
Assistant Director, Center for Undergraduate Research & Creativity at Clark Atlanta University

Hachemi Aliouche
Director, Rosenberg International Franchise Center, University of New Hampshire

Kevin Baker
Durham College, Ontario Canada

Mike Hernandez
International Relations Coordinator, UNASA, El Salvador,

Kendal Stewart
Columbia University
SOCIAL FRANCHISE
ADVISORY BOARD

Bill Edwards
William Edwards, CEO and Global Advisor, Edwards Global Services, Inc., has 4+ decades of international experience, has lived in 7 countries and directed projects in over 50 countries. His executive experience in the oil & gas, technology, education, franchise and market research sectors. Mr. Edwards’ company has twice received the U.S. Presidential award for export excellence.

Albert Kong
Albert Kong has more than 32 years of franchising experience. He and his team have helped over 1300 companies in over 10 Asian countries in franchising & related consulting work; he has built a network of over 70 strategic partners in over 50 nations; he’s a board member at many franchise-related bodies including the World Franchise Council, Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation and Franchising & Licensing Association Singapore;

Julie McBride
Julie McBride is a thought leader in the field of social franchising and was recently named one of “Five Innovative Consultants that are changing the world” in Inc. Magazine. Julie’s experience using the franchise model to scale social businesses spans 20 years, five continents, and several industries including healthcare, water, sanitation, agribusiness, clean energy, and education.

Bob Jones
Robert Jones grew up in Lahore. Pakistan as the son of a U.S. Foreign Service Officer As they say, "living in a foreign country as a child is like stepping in wet cement, it leaves a lasting impression for life." He was the U.S. Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo for 4 years (from 2008 - 2012) and was very involved with the emergency relief and projects in Haiti after the devastating Jan 2010 earthquake.
