SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS SELECTS 10 FINALISTS FROM SEED20 CLASS OF 2013, ANNOUNCES SPONSORS AND JUDGES PANEL
CHARLOTTE, NC – SEED20 (https://edk.wgr.mybluehost.me), an annual competition for nonprofit entrepreneurs launched by Social Venture Partners, has just announced the 10 finalists from SEED20’s Class of 2013 to pitch their ideas live at SEED20Unleashed! on March 7, 2013. They are:
- Beds For Kids
- Community Culinary School of Charlotte
- My 1st Suit
- Neet’s Sweets
- Playing for Others
- power2give.org
- Promising Pages
- Speak Up Magazine
- Swaraj Yoga
- The Learning Collaborative
The high-energy event on March 7th will be held at the Urban Garden, 1 Bank of America Center. At present, the event is sold out; however, a waitlist is available at http://2013seed20.eventbrite.com/. All 20 nonprofit entrepreneurs will be showcased on March 7th, with the top 10 finalists giving fast-paced three-minute “pitches” of their ideas to a panel of judges and to the live audience. Visit www.SEED20.org/ideas to learn more about the big ideas for social change proposed by this year’s SEED20.
The 2013 SEED20 judging panel includes:
- Mike Collins, Principal, Collins, Haynes & Lully Advertising, Host of Charlotte Talks
- Mike Elliott, Managing Partner, Noro-Moseley Partners
- Carol Hardison, CEO, Crisis Assistance Ministry
- Landra Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder, CARA B Naturally
- Julie Jones, Founder, Grub to Grub—last year’s SEED20 winner
- Paul Wetenhall, President, Ventureprise.
The ten finalists will compete for five cash awards totaling $45,000. The awards include: Judging Panel First, Second, and Third Place Awards of $20,000, $10,000 and $7,500, respectively; Coaches Award of $5,000; and the Audience Award of $2,500.
Last year, Mayor Foxx in his opening remarks deemed SEED20 “exactly what the doctor ordered for the city of Charlotte …. [It] is every bit as important as any economic development announcement we’ve ever had.” Click here to watch a highlight video from last year’s SEED20Unleashed!
In an effort to increase community engagement for social entrepreneurship, SEED20 created the CelebraTREE, an interactive mobile kiosk featuring a touch screen, photography, video clips, and engaging mechanical and technical interfacing. The CelebraTREE, designed to showcase SEED20’s innovative nonprofits and the energy and ideas they bring to our region, debuted at TEDx Charlotte on February 15th and will be moving around town to high traffic locations and special events, including SEED20Unleashed! on March 7th.
SEED20 (www.SEED20.org) is made possible with the generous support of our investors—
Knight Foundation, Bank of America, Duke Energy, Wells Fargo, UNC Charlotte, Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, McGuire Woods, Pamlico Capital, and Piedmont Natural Gas.
About Social Venture Partners
Social Venture Partners (SVP) is a diverse network of engaged individuals who address community needs through a new model of giving – Venture Philanthropy. SVP leverages the collective expertise, creativity, time, and financial resources of our members and their networks to develop and support promising social initiatives and nonprofits. In addition, SVP fosters a community of socially conscious and well-informed donors through engagement with investees, collaboration with other SVP partners, and participation in educational events. To learn more, please visit www.svpcharlotte.org.
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