Jennifer Carolan
New Schools Seed Fund - Principal

Joseph Wilson
MaRS Discovery District - Education Cluster

Mohsen Shahini
Top Hat Monocle - Cheif Academic Officer

Summary

The most successful entrepreneurs in the education market blend two mutually reinforcing bottom lines: social impact and financial sustainability.

Traditional charities and not-for-profits are feeling the squeeze of government cutbacks and a dwindling pool of private donations. Private for-profit corporations are often viewed with suspicion when they seek access to public classrooms. Both struggle to scale in the complexity of the education system.

Social entrepreneurs revel in the grey area between these two poles and find ways to make money while weaving social impact into their business models. By using Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) or by applying to become a B-Corp, education entrepreneurs can prove their social impact while depending on revenue streams outside government or foundation grants.

This panel will discuss social entrepreneurship in education and look at examples of education social ventures that have successfully scaled.

Event Type: Sessions
Category: Panel
Theme: Entrepreneurialism and Business