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ABOUT THE COMPETITION

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

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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.  ​

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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. 

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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

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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.

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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. 

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Raquel Castro Casas
Communications Manager


 

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Daniela Rivas

Fundraising & Project Coordinator

Epic challenge

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Patricia Kuziomko
Mentorship Coordinator

EDUCATIONAL

ADVISORY BOARD

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Busiswe Mandleni

Mangosuthu Institute of Technology,

South Africa

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Jeremy Alan Woods

University of California, Bakersfield, USA 

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Jay Fisher 

Durham College, Canada

Cuzette Du Plessis

University of Limpopo, South Africa

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Maurizio Sobrero

University of Bologna, Italy

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Leon Dawson

University of West Indies

Ruth Andrews

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

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Dirk Soma

Kaua'i Community College, Hawaii

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Joost Jacobs

University of Aruba

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Debbie Magnezy

Northeastern University, USA

Caroline Cannon

Dartmouth University

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Aleksandar Erceg

Associate Professor at Ekonomski fakultet u Osijeku, Croatia

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Orlando Harris

San Francisco State University

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Kamilah Cole

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

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Hachemi Aliouche

Director, Rosenberg International Franchise Center, University of New Hampshire

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Kevin Baker

Durham College, Ontario Canada

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Kendal Stewart 
Columbia University 

SOCIAL FRANCHISE
ADVISORY BOARD

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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.

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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; 

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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. 

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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. 

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Peter Holt

Peter D. Holt has been active in the franchise community managing franchise systems in both domestic and international markets for over 35 years.  Most recently, in 2016 was appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Joint, www.thejoint.com, the largest franchised network of chiropractic clinics in the world with nearly 700 clinics systemwide.  The Joint is a publicly traded company on NASDAQ (JYNT) based in Scottsdale, AZ.  

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