Social entrepreneurs are a separate breed from their fellow entrepreneurs. They not only take on the challenge of starting a business, but they also strive for their businesses to have a social impact. The Elevate Prize Foundation, in collaboration with MIT Solve, seeks to recognize social entrepreneurs for their inspiring accomplishments, as well as provide funding that will further their socially focused efforts.
The Foundation just announced the 23 finalists for its Elevate Prize Competition who are vying for a share of the $5 million in prizes that will be awarded to ten change makers. Each winner will receive a minimum of $300,000 as well as leadership development services, mentorship, and capacity building opportunities. In addition, the Foundation’s strategic marketing and media experts will help them build their platforms, moving them forward to become social impact influencers.
“We are profoundly inspired by this year’s diverse set of finalists and their ability to lead and catalyze change through such a challenging time.” said Carolina García Jayaram, Executive Director of the Elevate Prize Foundation. “While they are already an exceptional group of innovators, we look forward to amplifying their work and supporting them in building a larger platform so they can scale their impact.”
Recognizing “unsung heroes” is the Foundation’s top goal, giving public exposure to both winners and finalists. However, The Foundation also knows that funding is critical for these inspiring social entrepreneurs to have the great success they deserve. Prize money enables the founders and their teams to rigorously execute their business plans, scaling their models and operations more quickly.
While social media gives great visibility to entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, The Foundation promotes stories about entrepreneurs and business owners who are committed to social change. They hope they will inspire others to follow the same path of social entrepreneurship. This is of particular importance for young entrepreneurs, even as early as high school, who are just starting to explore an entrepreneurial career path. The goal is to open them up to business models that help society.
Businessman, philanthropist, and author Joseph Deitch launched The Foundation in 2019. It now has a strong partner in MIT Solve that serves as a marketplace for social impact innovation. The MIT organization’s initiative supports tech-based social entrepreneurs through the open Innovation Challenges they conduct.
Social entrepreneurs from around the world gather together in MIT’s innovation ecosystem where the member community supports aspiring social entrepreneurs. Their innovative ideas are recognized for their potential to have a lasting, transformational positive impact.
Over 1200 applicants were reviewed in the areas of health, education, climate change and equality. The Elevation Prize finalists were chosen by a renowned judging panel, composed of purpose-driven leaders from business, academia, and media. From these 23 finalists, ten award winning entrepreneurs will be honored this coming October.
They are:
- Amanda Alexander, Executive Director & Founder of the Detroit Justice Center (US)
- Alexandra Clare, Co-Founder & CEO of Re:Coded (US)
- Heidi Binko, Executive Director & Co-Founder of the Just Transition Fund (US)
- Krista Donaldson, PhD, CEO of Equalize Health (India, Kenya and US)
- Tanyella Evans, Co-Creator & Executive Director of NABU Global Inc (Rwanda, Haiti and US)
- Marisa Hamamoto, Founder & Artistic Director of Infinite Flow Dance Company (US)
- Aparna Hegde, Founder, Chairperson & Managing Trustee of ARMMAN (India)
- Alexia Hilbertidou, Founder & CEO of GirlBoss NZ (New Zealand)
- Twesigye Jackson Kaguri, Founder of Nyaka (Uganda)
- Kaushik Kappagantulu, Co-Founder & CEO of Kheyti (India)
- Doreen Kessy, Chief Business Officer of Ubongo (Tanzania)
- Ndinini Kimesera Sikar, Founder & Executive Director of the Maasai Women Development Organization (MWEDO) (Kenya)
- Heejae Lim, Founder & CEO of TalkingPoints (US)
- Enrique Lomnitz, Founder & General Director of Isla Urbana (Mexico)
- Nick Monzi, Co-Founder & CEO of Learn Fresh (US)
- Anthony Myint, Co-Executive Director of Zero Foodprint (US)
- Uzoma Orchingwa, Founder & CEO of Ameelio (US)
- Yuriko Oda, Founder & CEO of WheeLog (Japan)
- Amy Paulson, Co-Founder & CEO of Healing Together (US)
- Alexander Roque, President & Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center (US)
- Lina Sergie Attar, Founder & CEO of the Karam Foundation (supporting Syrian refugees)
- Rebecca van Bergen, Founder & Executive Director of Nest (US)
- Tony Weaver, Founder of Weird Enough Productions (US)
The finalists come from countries all over the world such as Japan, India, Tanzania, among others. Just over half are U.S. based with the following five reflecting just a portion:
- The Just Transition Fund helps coal-impacted communities build strong, resilient and diversified new economies that work for everyone.
- TalkingPoints is a two-way multilingual family engagement platform helping teachers and families to stay connected via text message.
- Learn Fresh makes STEM learning fun for all students through programs like NBA Math Hoops.
- Zero Foodprint (ZFP) focuses on food businesses and their customers to help farmers turn bad carbon into good carbon.
- Weird Enough Productions is a a social impact organization that uses diverse stories to empower young people and the adults that support them.
“We applaud the finalists of this year’s Elevate Prize—which includes innovations that move the needle on everything from neonatal health to ending mass incarceration. Solve is honored to be a part of recognizing such vital work,” said Alex Amouyel, Executive Director, MIT Solve.
The Elevate Prize Foundation, in just two years since its founding, is well on its way to fulfill its mission of giving well deserved visibility to inspiring successful social entrepreneurs who are serving as role models for others to follow.
