Social Business

Key Note Speaker:

Muhammad Yunus

Winner 2006 Nobel Peace Prize

Founder Grameen Bank

Sessions with:

John Hatch, Founder, FINCA

Alex Counts, Co-Founder Grameen Foundation

Conference Overview

Gap Analysis and Problem Statement

As the microcredit movement has focused its efforts on funding small women-owned businesses, younger members of these families have received unprecedented education and training. Now looking for economic opportunities for themselves, these young people often have no venues for their creativity and talents.

Challenges and Obstacles in Addressing Youth Poverty

Access to resources is often not the core issue to addressing youth poverty. Explore systemic barriers.

Social Business and Youth - What is Working, Lessons Learned,
Possible Solutions

Revolutionaries, Rule Breakers and Progressive Thinkers: Going Deeper, Thinking Differently -
To Solve the Problem of Youth Poverty.

What is Next - Goal Setting and Action Planning

Group brainstorming: examine the academic, private, non-profit and government sectors, develop strategies for influencing policy, enhancing academic research, encouraging multi-sector partnerships, sustainable philanthropy and social business models which economic opportunities for youth.
The conference will be adjourned with a call to action to meet again in two years to measure progress.

Conference Purpose

Name the Problem, Discover the Solution, Create the Change!

In March 2008, leading microcredit practitioners, academics, students, multinational corporations, nongovernmental organizations, businesses concerned with the triple bottom line and sustainable philanthropy, governmental organizations focused on youth, groups devoted to social business, and change agents will gather to explore the opportunities associated with social business and microeconomic development for youth and to create new avenues for ending poverty.

This conference is designed as an action space for social entrepreneurs, microfinance practitioners, business leaders, students, and thought influencers who address the issue of poverty with a particular focus on youth. Social business creates wealth, jobs, and solutions to current problems and supports the community and the environment while also meeting bottom line objectives. Change agents come in different sizes and shapes, from a corporation changing an industry to a young adult using discarded plastic bottles for home insulation. To effect change we must invest in it! This conference will identify and offer leadership opportunities, demonstrate social business projects, and stimulate new social business ventures around the world, all in an effort to profile and address issues related to youth poverty.

In response to a challenge by Dr. Yunus, the conference is showcasing a Social Business Plan competition to coincide with Dr. Yunus’ visit to Denver Colorado.

The goal of the competition is to encourage entrepreneurs to create social businesses that positively impact poverty with a focus on youth. Winners of the competition will receive seed money funding for the business.

Additional information on the Social Business Plan Competition can be found at