SXSW 2020 PanelPicker – Cast Your Vote by August 23!

Posted on August 8, 2019August 20, 2019 by Case Foundation

Each year, the Case Foundation looks forward to discussing exciting ideas from changemakers across the country at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive stage. This past March, we joined in the conversation at SXSW with a packed room for an author talk from our CEO Jean Case on her new book Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose, and led sessions on building more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and helping founders—particularly women and founders of color—learn to tell their stories.

This year, we submitted a number of ideas for the SXSW PanelPicker to allow for discussion around critical topics like the importance of fostering diversity in entrepreneurship, millennial engagement and providing an opportunity to shine a light on social movement and philanthropy leaders who often do not get the chance to tell their stories.

We need your help to get these panels to SXSW 2020. Below, you can learn more about the panels we submitted and how you can cast your vote for them. Not registered for SXSW 2020 yet? That’s okay! You don’t need to register to attend SXSW to vote. To vote, all you have to do is sign into, or create, a PanelPicker account. In addition to casting your vote, we would appreciate your help in elevating the conversation around these important topics by spreading the word on your social media accounts and encouraging your friends to participate in the voting process.

See our panels below and be sure to vote before SXSW PanelPicker voting closes on August 23rd!

Unicorns of Color: Where are they?

Everyone is searching for this year’s unicorns, startups that are valued over $1 billion. While they come from a wide range of industries, unicorns are overwhelmingly founded by white men. So, where are the unicorns of color? How can we break down the barriers that hold back founders of color from finding this kind of success? Unicorns of color shouldn’t be so rare. Join representatives from venture capital firms and ecosystem builders that focus on finding these future unicorns and igniting pathways to capital.

Speakers:

Sarah Koch, VP of Social Innovation, The Case Foundation
Renee Wittemyer, Sr Lead for Tech Innovation, Pivotal Ventures
Kathryn Finney, CEO, digitalundivided

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Where are the unicorns of color & how can we break down the barriers that hold back founders of color from finding this kind of success? @sarahtkoch @reneewittemyer & @KathrynFinney want to bring this discussion to SXSW. Vote for it now! https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/103019

Female Founders Breaking out of the Beauty Aisle

Female-founded companies receive only 2.2 percent of VC funding, and it’s even worse for those starting gender-neutral businesses. Many famous female-led unicorns from 2018 and 2019 were companies like Glossier, Rent the Runway and Third Love, all of which cater mostly to women. Crunchbase found gender-neutral businesses get 54 percent less funding than female-founded businesses that are female-focused. In a discussion moderated by Sarah Koch of the Case Foundation, Renee Wittemyer of Pivotal Ventures, Kristen Sonday of Paladin, and Sky Kelley of Avisare explore how women can find big success in building businesses outside of traditionally female-focused fields.

Speakers:

Sarah Koch, VP of Social Innovation, The Case Foundation
Sky Kelley, CEO/Founder, Avisare
Renee Wittemyer, Sr. Lead for Tech Innovation, Pivotal Ventures
Kristen Sonday, Co-Founder, Paladin

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Gender-neutral businesses get 54% less funding than female-founded businesses that are female-focused. Vote for @sarahtkoch @reneewittemyer @SkyKelley1 & @kristensonday’s SXSW panel on female founders breaking out of the beauty aisle. https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/103017

Millennials: The New Philanthropy Champions

10 years of research on the Millennial Generation from the Case Foundation has shown that Millennials are changing the way change is made. Millennials are more likely to give than generations before them, even with lower earnings and student debt. And with young Americans poised to inherit an estimated $30 trillion of wealth from baby boomers over the next 30 years, it’s not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ they start to change how they think about philanthropy and investing. Already we see young philanthropists and investors trying new ways of giving and making a social impact through day-to-day interactions and where they divert their resources. Learn how Millennials are changing the social impact sector and why your organization can’t afford to ignore this cohort, 80 million strong.

Speakers:

Jessica Zetzman, VP of Marketing and Communications, The Case Foundation
Steph Stephenson, Cordes Foundation
Derrick Feldmann, Ad Council/Cause and Social Influence Summit
Rachel Gerrol, Nexus Global

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Millennials are changing the how change is made & orgs can’t afford to ignore this cohort (80 million strong!). Uplift this conversation at SXSW by voting for a panel featuring @_stephxsteph, @derrickfeldmann, @RachelGerrol & @ActuallyJZ! https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/104412

It Takes a Village to Raise an Entrepreneur

It takes a village to raise an entrepreneur. When there are so many different actors within an entrepreneurship ecosystem, what is the best way to work together to create opportunities and wealth for an entire community? Unlikely allies have joined together in cities like Minneapolis, Cleveland and Kansas City to create networks, move capital and expand inclusive ecosystems. Investors, accelerators and foundations are finding their unique roles in their cities to create conditions for success for their entrepreneurs. Learn from the Case Foundation, Jumpstart, Center for Economic Inclusion and the Kauffman Foundation about their efforts to support ecosystems that will support entrepreneurs who live all across the country.

Speakers:

Sarah Koch, VP of Social Innovation, The Case Foundation
Cathy Belk, President, JumpStart Inc
Tawanna Black, Founder & CEO, Center for Economic Inclusion
Andy Stoll, Senior Program Officer, The Kauffman Foundation

Vote Here

Tweet your support: It takes a village to raise an entrepreneur. @sarahtkoch, @CathyBelk, @TawannaABlack & @andystoll are joining forces at #SXSW to share efforts to support ecosystems that will support entrepreneurs who live all across the country. Vote! 👇https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/103192

DIY: Women Starting their own VC Funds

It’s well known that female founders face discrimination raising venture capital funding (raising only 2.2 percent of all VC funding in 2018). What’s worse, only 8 percent of the top 100 venture capital firms have women partners. Women are choosing to break out of firms that are male-dominated and start raising their own funds, so they have power. When more women are on the other side of the table, yielding the power and influence, more female-founders will get their shot. However, female venture capitalists face tremendous obstacles when starting their own funds. Sutian Dong and Kimmy Paluch discuss their experience raising money and offer insight to those looking to jump into the arena; moderated by Sarah Koch from the Case Foundation.

Speakers:

Sarah Koch, VP of Social Innovation, The Case Foundation
Sutian Dong, Co-founder, Global Women in VC Directory
Kimmy Paluch, Managing Partner, Beta Boom

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Female VCs face tremendous obstacles when starting their own funds. On this proposed #SXSW panel, @sutiandong & @kimmypaluch share their experience raising money and offer insight to those looking to jump into the arena. Vote plz! https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/103673

Do This, Not That: How to Tell Your Startup Story

Take a deep dive during this interactive panel on how to tell your startup story and shine in front of reporters. Three seasoned journalists and experts in storytelling will share their tips for what makes an effective and compelling pitch, how to prepare for interviews both on-air and in person, fatal flaws to avoid when speaking with reporters and how to build effective relationships with media outlets. At the conclusion of the session, we will invite attendees to share their pitches with the journalists for feedback in real-time. Come to this session with your media pitch in hand.

Speakers:

Jade Floyd, VP of Communications, The Case Foundation
Kate Clark, Reporter, TechCrunch
Morgan Clendaniel, Senior Editor, Fast Company

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Interested in learning tips and tricks to successfully tell your #startup story and shine in front of reporters? Vote on #PanelPicker for this interactive #SXSW panel featuring @KateClarkTweets, @MClendaniel & @JadeFloydDC! https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/102490

Movement Makers: How Movements Drive Social Change

What makes a social movement? Successful movements are citizen-centered and formed from the grassroots up. Philanthropy has an important role to play in driving social change through movement building. These organizations breakthrough, capturing the interest and action of the masses. Learn how they inspire, educate and activate people to action – from social citizens who penned and passed 27 pieces of legislation for sexual assault survivors, to a public health organization that has reduced teen smoking to single digits and national group of coastal defenders who transform their passion to protect our oceans. Meet the movement makers.

Speakers:

Eric Asche, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, Truth Initiative
Chad Nelson, CEO, Surfrider Foundation
Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder of Rise
Jessica Zetzman, VP of Marketing and Communications, The Case Foundation

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Movement makers inspire, educate and activate people to action and @nguyen_amanda, @chadenelsen, @easche & @ActuallyJZ want to highlight them at #SXSW. Vote for their panel on #PanelPicker here! 👇https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/102610

The Million Dollar Club is Getting Less White

Why should the startup world care about what we call, the Million Dollar Club? Well, the median seed round raised by companies is approximately $600,000, so $1 million raised would indicate the startup has been able to raise additional funding after their seed round. Harlem Capital found 117 founders of color that raised over $1 million and Digitalundivided’s research found 34 Black women founders raised over $1 million in 2017—up from only 12 in 2015. That number continues to grow. By the end of 2017, 58 Latinx Women have raised over $1 million in venture funding. Hear from founders of color that accomplished this great achievement, how they did it and how we can support other founders to raise over $1 million in capital.

Speakers:

Sarah Koch, VP of Social Innovation, The Case Foundation
Carolyn Rodz, Co-founder, Hello Alice
Sky Kelley, Founder & CEO, Avisare

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Interested in a #SXSW panel featuring founders of color who made it into the Million Dollar Club? Vote here on #PanelPicker to get @carolynrodz & @SkyKelley1 on the stage for a discussion moderated by @sarahtkoch! https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/102199

When Women Hold the Wealth

Women are set to inherit $41 trillion of wealth over the next 40 years, and they are emerging as a driving force as investors, entrepreneurs and leaders of the impact investing movement. Women have also demonstrated that they often make purchasing decisions based on their personal values. So what happens when women hold the pocketbook? This panel will explore how leading female venture capitalists, female founders and investors are taking the reins in a male-dominated world.

Speakers:

Jean Case of The Case Foundation in conversation with other investors.

Vote Here

Tweet your support: Vote for this #SXSW panel on #PanelPicker that will explore how leading female venture capitalists, female founders and investors are taking the reins in a male-dominated world! @JeanCase, CEO of @CaseFoundation will lead the discussion: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/103693

No, Millennials Aren’t Ruining Everything

Even though headlines say Millennials are ruining the housing market, brick and mortar stores, and even marriage, Millennials have actually wielded their influence for social good over the past decade. During the past 10 years, the Case Foundation researched how Millennials interact with the world around them, seeking out possibilities across all aspects of their lives, pushing social movements forward and disrupting antiquated practices.

Speakers:

Matrika Bailey-Turner, Director of Social Innovation, The Case Foundation
Steven Olikara, Founder & President, Millennial Action Project
Derrick Feldmann, Managing Director, Principle Researcher, Cause and Social Influence
Jessica Clancy, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, NBCUniversal

Vote Here

Tweet your support: No, millennials aren’t ruining everything. In fact, research says the opposite. Help bring this important conversation to the stage by voting for a #SXSW panel featuring @StevenOlikara, @derrickfeldmann, @jsultzer, & @MatrikaBT! https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/102562

Every year, we are impressed with the conversations we are able to have at SXSW and the way we leave inspired to continue to make an impact. With your help, we will be able to ensure that these important topics are front and center at SXSW 2020 and that we use every possible tool in the toolbox to drive these important conversations forward.

SXSW 2019: The Must Attend Sessions and Events

Posted on February 26, 2019August 21, 2019 by Case Foundation

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, it’s SXSW season. The annual pilgrimage to Austin starts soon with more than 430,000 people from across the globe coming for content, concerts, community and good food. This year, SXSW Conference programming is organized into 25 tracks divided among Interactive, Film, Music and Convergence, presented in a variety of session formats.

This year’s keynote speakers are not to be missed and include Michael Pollan and Tim Ferriss, Emmy Award-winning journalist Maria Shriver, storyteller Brené Brown, investor Arlan Hamilton, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, philanthropist Priscilla Chan, politico Alexandria Ocasio Cortez with Briahna Gray, Vox Media’s Jim Bankoff and Soledad O’Brien, Kara Swisher of Recode, WIRED Editor in Chief Nicholas Thompson, actress and producer Olivia Wilde, Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger in a conversation with Kevin Systrom and Josh Constine, musician and creative A$AP Rocky and many more.

Each year, SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people expand their knowledge and foster the opportunity to meet fellow innovators on a mission to change the world. It is THE essential destination for social impact leaders, startup founders, investors, philanthropists and innovators. The Case Foundation team is excited to announce that we will join thousands of movers and shakers to take the stage for four sessions this year:

Be Fearless Book Talk and Signing March 9th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center, Room 9ABC

Our CEO Jean Case will take the stage for a Be Fearless book talk and signing, moderated by journalist Soledad O’Brien. Hear her share a mix of storytelling and strategy, practical tips and inspiration to teach you how to put these five principles to work so to spark the sorts of remarkable breakthroughs that can change the world. Copies if the book will be available at the SXSW bookstore. Pick up your copy of Be Fearless and bring it with you!

Be Fearless: A Discussion with Jean Case March 9th from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Upstairs at Parkside

Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and our CEO, Jean Case, for a discussion on all things Be Fearless. Jean Case will bring to life the principles at the center of Be Fearless, which aims to break the myths surrounding the road to success and changing the world. Following Jean’s talk, we’ll hear from an impressive group of women about their fearless endeavors along their professional and personal journeys.

How to Tell Your Startup Story March 12th from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon D

Jade Floyd (that’s me!) will moderate a session on How to Tell Your Startup Story featuring Veronica Dagher of the Wall Street Journal, Jean Ellen Cowgill from Bloomberg’s TicToc and Catherine Clifford from CNBC. Attendees will learn their tips for founders seeking to break their next big story, what makes an effective and compelling pitch, how to build relationships with reporters and how to make your company stand out. At the session’s conclusion, we will invite attendees to share their pitches with the journalists for feedback in real time (one-minute pitch each).

The Overlooked Future of US Entrepreneurs: Latinx March 12th from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon E

My colleague Jessica Zetzman will moderate a conversation exploring programs supporting Latinx entrepreneurs, what tips they have for recruiting investment and how together we can foster more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems. Speakers include Dyan Gibbens of Trumbull Unmanned, Marcos Gonzalez from Vamos Ventures and C’Pher Gresham from Seed Spot.

In addition to sessions, attendees can experience an endless number of houses and activations like the #WeDC House (led by the D.C. Economic Partnership), the Jane Club House, the Bumble House, the Google Lab, Capital Factory’s VIP Lounge, the Global Innovation Zone hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Girls Lounge (The Female Quotient), Startup of the Year House, Fast Company Grill and Create & Cultivate. Also, Generation Titans, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Google, Envolve Entrepreneurship, and the Soze Agency will launch the inaugural Titan Generator at Google Austin offices.

And per usual, when in Austin, one must eat–and eat well. In addition to the hundreds of SXSW sessions and parties, you’ll find top-notch Texas restaurants and food trucks to keep you busy. Our team of former Texans here at the Case Foundation recommends a new set of restaurants to check out this year: Darcy’s Donkey, Carpenters Hall, Dean’s One Trick Pony, Domo Alley-Gato and old timers like Holy Roller, Franklin Barbecue, Kerlin BBQ, El Naranjo, Tamale House East, Launderette, La Barbeque, Le Politque, Emmer & Rye, Tiger Fork and Hula Hut. For those looking for a memorable sunset and a scenic drive, try the Oasis on Lake Travis.

But when it does come to sessions, we at the Case Foundation have done our homework so you don’t have to. We researched every single session at SXSW this year and have detailed over 30 that should be on your radar:

March 8th

How Washington DC is Changing Female Funding, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Join speakers Jennifer Abramson of Rethink Impact, Shelly Bell of Black Girl Ventures, Vanessa Dawson of The Vinetta Project and Brian Kenner from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for a conversation on why Washington, D.C. is the capital of inclusive innovation.

Non-Obvious Trends Changing The Future In 2019, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Austin Convention Center

Start your SXSW right by joining this exclusive session filled with highlights from the all new ninth edition of the WSJ bestselling book Non-Obvious, where non-boring trend curator Rohit Bhargava will offer an inside look at some of the latest trends from his popular annual report.

Propelling the Next Gen of Creative Entrepreneurs, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Join industry experts from Barney’s, Etsy, Demestik and Poshmark for an inside look at how online marketplaces have allowed entrepreneurs to find success on their own terms, regardless of gender, age or education.

Equitable Growth Ecosystems for Entrepreneurs, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Explore how we can tackle the funding gap and ensure that future minority and women entrepreneurs don’t face the same funding challenges.

So You Want to be a Change Agent: A Survival Guide, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., JW Marriott

This presentation by a veteran change agent who brought meaningful change to CIA will give you the practical skills to not just overcome organizational obstacles, but to prosper and succeed as a change agent.

Breaking Barriers: Lessons on Diversity in Tech presented by Capital One, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Antone’s Capital One House

Code 2040 and Capital One team up for a conversation with organizational leaders and change agents about empowering diversity champions across the tech industry and increasing representation of Black and Latinx technologists.

Meaningful Conversations with Maria Shriver Podcast, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., JW Marriott

Building on the success of her instant No. 1 NY Times-bestselling book, I’ve Been Thinking…: Reflections, Prayers and Meditations for a Meaningful Life, Maria Shriver continues to explore the life topics, issues and ideas that we’re all thinking about.

PitchTexas Party, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., HandleBar

Grab a cocktail at PitchTexas, the startup pitch competition for university graduate students, with a total of $50,000 in prize money. Immediately following the contest, UT president Gregory L. Fenves invites you to celebrate UT at SXSW with the contestants.

March 10th

Leading Women: Who Run the World? Girls. presented by Amplify Philly, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pour Choices

This talk explores what a disrupter looks like. Hear stories from female changemakers of finance, healthcare, communications and entertainment to unpack the essential ingredients, challenges, and exhilaration of innovation and learn how gender plays into being a disruptor. Panel includes representatives from Vanguard Innovation Studio, Comcast, Jefferson Health and Chariot Solutions.

Womanhood, Motherhood, and Entrepreneurship, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Gender bias and business has been intertwined in a problematic way. Through real life accounts of gender bias (magnified for mothers and women of color), this innovating panel paints womanhood and motherhood not as a hindrance to entrepreneurship, but as essential to creating a healthier, wealthier and more equitable world. This panel includes individuals from Happy Woman Foundation, Marigold Capital and Gell.

Startup Cities: Puerto Rico, 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

This session will explore how Puerto Rico’s business environment is a combination of tax incentives, public policy, support organizations, human capital and infrastructure with a modern Caribbean lifestyle. With the support of local entrepreneurship programs, an international startup accelerator, and a non-profit created to promote innovation in the island, Puerto Rico is becoming a startup city with hundreds of ideas advancing to become globally focused companies. The island’s entrepreneurial spirit has attracted international startups, investors and service providers to view Puerto Rico as an innovation hub. Marie Custodio from Parallel 18 will present.

Black Tech Meet Up, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fairmont

This meet up will connect black tech founders, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals and those interested in breaking into the tech space. This event aims to connect companies with diverse talent and start-ups with investors. Avant-Garde Network and Heartspace NYC host.

March 11

All the Startup Ladies: Reimagining the VC Scene, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

The panelists will discuss how they have moved beyond the statistics, and propose practical solutions, debating how to leverage women’s unique traits as founders, funders and customers to create a parallel investment ecosystem. Panelists include Daina Trout of Health-Ade Kombucha, Tosca Musk of Passionflix Inc, Maxine Kozler Koven of LDR Ventures and Sarah Chambliss of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLC.

Startup Journey as Told By Black and Latinx Women, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

ProjectDiane 2018, a report by Case Foundation grantee digitalundivided, revealed that Black women raised only .0006% of the total $424.7 billion of tech venture funding since 2009. The amount for Latinx women is even smaller. Join this panel of Black & Latinx startup founders as they have a candid conversation about the journey through entrepreneurship, from incubators, to pivots, setbacks and first rounds of funding. Panelists include digitalundivided graduates from The Labz, Vamos Ladies, Quirktastic Media and Sola Travelers.

Supporting Youth in Entrepreneurship, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

A recent study stated that 95% of Fortune 500 CEOs are white males. By supporting youth innovation, we can change that statistic. Hear from Gen Z entrepreneurs on why a breeding ground for youth entrepreneurial involvement is critical to shifting the narrative for minorities in corporate culture. These youth will discuss innovative instruments which can be used to challenge inequalities perpetuated by institutionalized forms of bias. Panelists are students at University of Pennsylvania and have created their own companies, including ToxSafe, Threading Twine, ELEVATE Senior and SOAR (Students for Oncological Aid and Relief).

Startup-Corporate Partnerships Key To Austin Innovation, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

According to Boston Consulting Group, 95% of startups wish to develop long-term corporate partnerships. Panelists will discuss how Austin-area companies are approaching innovation differently, what startup-corporate partnerships mean today and how both startups and corporations can find the right fit. Speakers are from Dell, Kilroy Blockchain, Oracle and Bunker Labs.

Remote Entrepreneurship in the Digital World, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., JW Marriott

Session leaders will speak to the learnings, opportunities, and challenges of becoming location independent. Exploring such topics as what it’s like to run a fully distributed team, how life on the road increase productivity, efficiency and communication, as well as all the different ways remote entrepreneurship is changing the way we live and work. Panelists include speakers from Maverick Investor Group, Gallaher Edge, TJR Films & To The Nines Menswear, and Vitaly Design Ltd.

Influencing the Cause Meet Up, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Fairmont

This is a networking session to introduce influencers to digital communicators, strategists, and managers who can potentially collaborate to work on social good issues, causes, and projects. This meet up with Women in Digital and Black Bloggers Connect will discuss the best practices when working on joint projects.

Austin Technopreneurs Changing The World, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Austin is well known for its burgeoning technopreneur scene which got its start with Dell Technologies, built out of a UT dorm room back in the 80s. But local entrepreneurs are going a step further building businesses with a core focus on transforming lives with technology. Come hear from Austin’s own DivInc, along with Dell Technologies, Tiffs Treats and Cuvee Coffee to see how they weave a social mission into the fabric of their business.

Startups, Partnerships, Trends and Google, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Google is know for creating various opportunities for startups to partner and work with- beyond typical funding. Opportunities range from support/assistance on core products to custom partnerships. This session will uncover how Silicon Valley tech companies assess and review the trends driving these partnerships. Panelists include representatives from Google, Anchor and Overtime.

How Diversity Became our Implicit Bias, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Fairmont

Dailey is one example of a company that went through an administrative shift that changed how employees looked at their deeply-rooted company culture. From the nuts-and-bolts of pay equity audits to socially conscious creative projects, join Dailey’s leadership for a panel discussion about how diverse leadership can create a space in which all kinds of people thrive.

Angel Investor Meet Up, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fairmont

Are you an angel investor or considering becoming one? Join representatives from Angel Capital Association (ACA) and Alliance of Texas Angel Networks (ATAN) for a conversation about the topics impacting angel investing today. If you’re newer to angel investing, angel groups are a great avenue to build your understanding and confidence as an investor. Join your peers to discuss these topics, make connections, and exchange ideas about the future of angel investing.

A Black and White Perspective on Entrepreneurship, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

In this interview-style session, Ikechi Nwabuisi, an entrepreneur and son of Nigerian immigrants, will interview Jason Ford, a founder who sold his business in 2014 to Bazaarvoice. Ikechi and Jason bring an insider perspective to the crossroads of entrepreneurship and diversity, highlighting different levels of access and resources that shape their experiences.

March 12th

Cultivating Entrepreneurship in Challenging Places, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

As new tools and technologies enable startup ecosystems around the world, entrepreneurs in these communities are starting to plug themselves into global markets. This panel will draw from their experiences in fostering new ecosystems in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America to illuminate promising solutions to these challenges. Join this session which including Affinis Labs, Pomona Impact, Samasource and Invest2innovate.

Return on Inclusion: Generations of Women at Work, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

This panel of professionals in their 30s, 40s, and 60s will take a generational approach to questions around women in the workplace as they explore the value of gender diversity, why empowering women matters, and how each generation is uniquely suited to effect change. Panelists include women from T3, Women Rising, Facebook and Spredfast.

Welcome to the New Era of Philanthropy, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., The LINE

The field of philanthropy is undergoing a transformation, as new models of giving are empowering more women and communities of color to lead through giving. Case in point: in #GivingTuesday 2017, 65% of all donations came from women. This panel will explore who these new philanthropists are, what motivates them and how they are new models for helping to democratize philanthropy. Join experts from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Facebook and the YWCA as they share new research, digital data and real-world insights.

VCs Reality Check for AI Hype, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Is AI everything? This panel will discuss the types of AI startups VCs look to fund, showing investment dollars are shifting away from unproven futuristic ideas and toward more pragmatic, foundational AI infrastructure. Panelists from Blumberg Capital, Venture Capital Journal, New Enterprise Associates Inc and Verizon Ventures will also discuss the specifics they look for when assessing an AI company in the pitch room.

March 13th

A Blueprint for Corporate Innovation & Inclusion, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

For 132 years, HearstLab has survived within the media sphere, but modern challenges are pressing old companies to evolve rapidly. This presentation will share an insider’s look at Hearst’s blueprint on how they successfully select and integrate startups into their diverse organization. HearstLab goes well beyond the typical accelerator model and puts clear emphasis on the positive impact it has on all constituents including startup founders, Hearst executive leaders and all Hearst employees, and how the Lab has helped identify rising talent, encourage collaboration and create new businesses.

Diversity in Tech and the Future of Black Communities, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

This session convenes some of the country’s most forward-thinking scholars to discuss how the lack of diversity throughout the tech ecosystem will impact social equality, employment, prosperity and the future of Black communities. Panelists include individuals from the Inclusion Clearinghouse, The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Kapor Center for Social Impact and Quality Education for Minorities Network

What other sessions are on your radar? Share them with us on on social media @CaseFoundation. We hope to see you at SXSW!

SXSW 2019 PanelPicker—Cast Your Vote by August 30!

Posted on August 13, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

Each year, we enjoy getting together with innovators and changemakers at South by Southwest (SXSW) to discuss important and compelling work and share some of our learnings on the SXSW Interactive stage. Last March, members of the Case Foundation team lead four panel discussions with incredible experts about developments in areas such as diversity in entrepreneurship, making movements through user generated content and business journalism. Each provided us with insights and inspiration we have tapped since to inform our ongoing work.

This year, we’ve identified 12 panels to recommend for the 2019 SXSW stage that could bring together engaging panelists and leaders who will bring to life timely topics such as the role fearlessness plays in the work of leaders from all walks of life, what the future of Latinx entrepreneurship looks like, how startups can get their story out, the importance of young voices in our society and at the voting booth and opportunities for organizations to harness the power of data, analytics and open source to increase their impact.

We believe that these will be a valuable addition to the important dialogue that will take place in Austin at SXSW 2019—and we need your help getting these discussions the time they deserve on stage! Below you’ll find information on each panel and how you can vote for them. While casting your vote, don’t forget to spread the word with the social messages below and encourage your friends and networks to vote as well.

See our panels below and be sure to vote before SXSW PanelPicker voting ends August 30th!

Fearless Changemakers Tell All

What does it mean to be fearless? It means experimenting, taking risks, being willing to strike unlikely alliances and accepting the possibility of failure while still pressing forward. Meet the fearless changemakers setting audacious goals and acting urgently and boldly. Jean Case of the Case Foundation sits down with three leaders who explore the extraordinary core qualities of great changemakers and find out how being fearless helped them succeed. They’ll share their stories and strategies to inspire attendees to fearlessly tackle the world’s most pressing issues.

Speakers

Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation
Enric Sala, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society
Jordyn Schara, Founder and Executive Director, HOPE (Helping Our Peers Excel)
Loretta Claiborne, Vice Chair and Chief Inspiration Officer, Special Olympics

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How to Tell Your Startup Story

Take a deep dive during this interactive session featuring leading journalists covering startups, venture capital and technology. Seasoned journalists will be moderated in a discussion by the Case Foundation. You’ll learn their tips for founders seeking to break their next big story, what makes an effective and compelling pitch, how to build relationships with reporters and how to make your company stand out. At the session’s conclusion, we will invite attendees to share their pitches with the journalists for feedback in real time. Please come to this session with your media pitch in hand.

Speakers

Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, the Case Foundation
Veronica Dagher, Host, WSJ Secrets of Wealthy Women podcast; senior wealth management reporter, Wall Street Journal
Emily Chang, San Francisco-based anchor and executive producer of “Bloomberg Technology”

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The Fearless Story Behind José Andrés’ Success

What does it mean to be fearless? It means experimenting, taking risks, being willing to strike unlikely alliances and accepting the possibility of failure while still pressing forward. Meet the fearless changemakers setting audacious goals and acting urgently and boldly. Jean Case of the Case Foundation sits down with chef José Andrés as they explore the core qualities of great changemakers and find out how being fearless led to his success. They’ll share their stories and strategies to inspire attendees to fearlessly tackle the world’s most pressing issues.

Speakers

Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation
Jose Andres, Founder, World Central Kitchen

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Listen Up! Young American Voices Matter

Marches. Protests. Tweets. Votes. These are just a few of the many ways that young Americans made their voices heard in 2018. With fearless passions and the drive to create meaningful change, they brought a national spotlight to the issues they care about. Now, it’s your turn. Join our workshop, share your story and learn how to elevate your voice from some of today’s most innovative young activists and organizers.

Speakers

Sean Tennerson, Director, Social Innovation, the Case Foundation
Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder, Rise
Derrick Feldman, Managing Director, Influence SG

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Facebook Watch—a New Tool for Social Movements

At the end of 2017, Facebook rolled out a new feature: a platform to stream shows. Facebook Watch has become a key tool for organizations to tell their stories and bring big issues to light in a new way while reaching a broader audience—with some even going as far as to call it “the new Netflix.” What are the benefits of this new platform and how might it work for your organization? The Case Foundation, ATTN and The Influencer Collective share how organizations with a variety of resources and needs can make Facebook Watch work for them. Together they bring knowledge from working on shows with a wide range of budgets, production levels and audience sizes and will bring high level takeaways on how to get started, evaluate show needs, build a story arc and analyze success.

Speakers

Jessica Zetzman, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, The Case Foundation
Clare Stein, Creative Director, ATTN:
Jennifer Sherman, Founder and Chief Strategist, Influencer Collective

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Making Data and Analytics Work for Your Brand

Data-informed decision making is only as good as an organization’s understanding of the data on hand. Faced with that challenge at the Case Foundation, the team responsible for digital analytics and reporting set out to construct a dashboard that directly and efficiently compiled key data from multiple websites in one place. Using this tool, project and program leaders can see real time performance using key filters like top blog authors, page views, time on page, new users, downloads, top performing pages and posts and email campaign performance. Hear from the team that designed this tool and learn how the organization uses it, their efforts to adapt their work to best fit what the data indicates, and how attendees can launch their own version of the dashboard for free.

Speakers

Jessica Zetzman, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, Case Foundation
John Jones, VP Interactive Strategies, Case Foundation

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How B Corps Are Leading Open Source

In a time when trust in technology is in question, B Corps are finding a way to deliver innovative technology to their customers without sacrificing trust: through open source. By doing so, these companies are not only establishing a stronger level of trust but also democratizing technology for many. Hear from open source leaders, Zach Burke of Exygy, Jason Wilkinson of Firespring, and John Jones of the Case Foundation in a panel moderated by the Case Foundation’s Jade Floyd.

Speakers

John Jones, Vice President of Interactive Strategies, the Case Foundation
Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, the Case Foundation
Jason Wilkinson, Chief Technology Officer, Firespring
Zach Berke, Founder and Managing Partner, Exygy

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The Overlooked Future of US Entrepreneurs: Latinx

The Latinx community accounts for more than half of the population growth in the US, but Latinx founders represent less than 2% of venture-backed companies. Hear from Latinx entrepreneurs and the investors who back them to understand who they are, what they’re building and why they’re going to make you money. Attendees will learn what funds and resources are available for Latinx entrepreneurs and how you can support more inclusive startup ecosystems.

Speakers

Sarah Koch, VP Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Dyan Gibbens, CEO, Trumbull Unmanned
C’pher Gresham, VP of Communities, SEED SPOT
Marcos Gonzalez, Managing Partner, VamosVentures

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Social Impact Meet Up

Join the Case Foundation, Kapor Center for Social Impact and Sunshine Sachs as we unite social sector leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropy practitioners for a SXSW Meet Up. Connect with fellow changemakers and share new ideas, collaborate and ideate on how you can create meaningful change together. We invite everyone in the social sector—from foundation staff to philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, social entrepreneurs and social impact businesses to gather. Meet those like you who are changing the world.

Speakers

Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, the Case Foundation

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Is Texas the Silicon Valley 2.0?

Venture capital investments may be focused on the coasts, but some of the largest and most successful companies have been started in middle America in cities like Houston, Dallas and Austin. Learn from the entrepreneurs, investors and supporters who have created bustling startup ecosystems across Texas. Find out what kind of partnerships and resources your city may already have to lead the way for startup growth in your community.

Speakers

Sarah Koch, VP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Naji Kelley, Founder & CEO, BLNDED Media
Saleha Khumawala, Professor – Robert Grinaker Professor of Accounting and Founding Director, SURE Program, University of Houston

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Philanthropy’s New Role In Open Source

As technology continues to define shifts in society, it is essential that the social sector has access to the best technology. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Case Foundation see a future in this as leaders in creating useful, open source tools for entire sectors to use that open doors for changemakers to unlock innovation, better achieve their missions, and ultimately, change the world. Hear from the Case Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and GitHub on how that’s starting to happen.

Speaker

John Jones, Vice President of Interactive Strategies, the Case Foundation
Kosta Peric, Deputy Director, Financial Services for the Poor, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Admas Kanyagia, Senior Director of Social Impact, GitHub

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With your support, we hope we’ll get to take the stage next March in Austin and share our work and insights on these exciting movements. To catch up on our presence at SXSW in 2018, check out our Twitter moments which featured live updates from each of our panels, and watch these video interviews with some of the founders, funders and ecosystem builders in attendance who shared their exciting work with us. We loved getting to make a splash at SXSW this past spring and get wait to get the chance to do it again!

The Future of Business Will Be More Female

Posted on May 21, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

This Spring, the Case Foundation brought together a dynamic slate of female founders at SXSW for a conversation on why we believe the future of business is female. Case Foundation Board Member, Sonal Shah, who heads Georgetown University’s Beeck Center on Social Impact & Innovation led a discussion with Stephanie Lampkin from Blendoor, Jennifer Stybel from the Rent the Runway Foundation and Cindy Whitehead from The Pink Ceiling. Together they explored why intentionality around equal opportunity for women is key to building and funding a successful startup enterprise and the new pathways for investing in women-led companies.

Lampkin, who founded Blendoor, works with hundreds of tech companies—from Salesforce, to Google, Microsoft and more eliminating unconscious bias in job hiring by creating identity-blind applications. Meanwhile, Whitehead—who sold a company for more than $1 billion dollars three years ago—shared more on how she raised money to fund her company in unconventional ways. Her new company, The Pink Ceiling, provides seed investing and commercial support for female-led startups. The panelists each shared how they pay it forward by making early bets on other women-led companies and providing support for female entrepreneurs. Jennifer Stybel shared how Rent the Runway Foundation is doing just that. She, along with Whitehead and Lampkin are building a pipeline of women-led startups set to change the world.

Watch their conversation above.

33 SXSW Sessions You Shouldn’t Miss in 2018

Posted on February 23, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of SXSW, the world renowned gathering that unites more than 420,000 people from across the globe. Each year SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people expand their knowledge and have the opportunity to meet fellow innovators on a mission to change the world. Featured speakers at this year’s gathering include philanthropist and investor Melinda Gates; internationally renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés; tech pioneer and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki; social influencers like Karlie Kloss, Guy Raz and Eric Liedtke; and many more. The festival is the essential destination for social impact leaders, startup founders, investors, philanthropists and innovators.

The Case Foundation team is excited to announce that we will take the stage at four sessions this year and that we are also partnering with TechCo where we will host a series of video interviews with startup founders, investors and ecosystem builders dedicated to pushing the Inclusive Entrepreneurship movement forward. Be on the lookout for our Facebook LIVE videos from SXSW debuting on March 10th HERE. We also invite you to check out the Startup Night SXSW 2018 presented by the Kauffman Foundation in partnership with TechCo, as part of their annual Startup of the Year program.

Some other events we’re excited to attend are Latinas in Tech, a showcase with Latina stars in the tech industry who will have a candid conversation on the state of entrepreneurship for female founders of color and how we can move the industry forward. Attendees can also check out a panel with Kansas Senator, Jerry Moran, as he takes the stage with business and policy experts who will discuss a variety of issues that are impacting entrepreneurs during their session on Supporting Startups to Fuel American Competitiveness.

And while in Austin, one must eat, and eat well. In addition to the hundreds of SX sessions and parties, you’ll find top-notch Texas restaurants and food trucks to keep you busy. Our team of former Texans here at the Case Foundation recommends Micklethwait Craft Meats, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ—the Austin outpost of famed Black’s Barbecue, Launderette, Franklin’s Barbeque, Le Politque, Emmer & Rye, Tiger Fork and Hula Hut. For those looking for a memorable sunset, try the Oasis on Lake Travis.

Keeping with tradition, the Case Foundation has done your homework for you and detailed the 33 can’t miss sessions that are guaranteed to challenge your mind and change your view of the world at SXSW. Mark your calendars and see you there!

Engaging Millennials to Support Education, Mar 8, 2018 – 11:00am – 12:00pm Nnamdi Asomugha of The Asomugha Foundation and Derrick Feldmann of Achieve will discuss the current state of education and how a generation can support educational advancement for all of America’s youth. Feldmann will also debut the newest study from the Millennial Impact Project, a multi-year study in partnership with the Case Foundation on how Millennials engage with causes.
Attracting VC Investment Outside of Silicon Valley, Mar 9, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm presented by Capital Factory—hear from three VC’s who recently made investments in Texas-based startups to find out what factors they considered and how you can make your pitch stand out from the rest.
Opening Sessions at the HBCUSXSW18 House, Mar 9, 2018 – 1:00pm – 5:00pm featuring presentations on navigating SXSW, high demand technology careers, high growth company building, and multi-generational wealth creation. Featured speakers include Janice Bryant Howroyd (Founder, ACT-1 Global), Brian Bracken (Founder, Kairos & $KRS), Yulkendy Valdez (Founder, Project 99), Pat Kirkland, (Founder, Pat Kirkland Leadership), Samson Williams (Cofounder, Axes & Eggs), Jamarlin Martin (Founder & CEO, Moguldom), Arif Gursel (Founder & CEO, Black TechUnion), Sheena Allen (Founder, Capway), Rodney Williams (Cofounder, Lisnr), Dave Parker (Founder, Six Month Startup), Alicia Jones (Financial Education & Coach, Journey To Wealth), Berto Horne (Founder, The Perfect Gentlemen) and more.
Return on Inclusion: Investing in Diverse Startups, Mar 9, 2018 – 2:00pm – 3:00pm featuring Arlan Hamilton from Backstage Capital, Kai Bond from Comcast Ventures/Catalyst Fund, Sutian Dong from the Female Founders Fund and Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures, panelists will discuss the challenges that entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds face as they look to raise money and build their businesses, and will explore how startups can leverage their diverse perspective as a competitive advantage.
Giving Back Rocks: How Austin Brands Do It, Mar 9, 2018 – 5:00pm – 6:00pm what do a jewelry designer, hair care billionaire, tennis player, and hospital have in common? Successful businesses that give back to the community, while remaining “on brand.” This session highlights how an unconventional collection of panelists: Kendra Scott, John Paul DeJoria, Andy Roddick, Austin’s St. David’s HealthCare—leverage their individual talents and brands for serious philanthropy.
Improving Diversity and Reducing Harassment in VC, Mar 10, 2018 – 11:00am – 12:00pm join Reed Albergotti, a reporter at The Information; Niniane Wang founder & CEO of Evertoon; and Sarah Kunst founder & CEO at Proday.co as they discuss the culture within the VC community, ideas around improving diversity among decision-makers at VC firms, and the climate for women in tech.
Film + Storytelling in a Politically-Charged Era, Mar 10, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:00pm national Geographic leads a conversation on how private and nonprofit sectors have stepped up to tell the stories of those affected by political actions, increasing activism and empathy. This panel features creative industry pros – top Hollywood directors and execs – sharing how they partner the profit-bearing potential of the business world with visionary storytelling to make waves on Capitol Hill.
Latinas Removing Barriers in Tech, Mar 10, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm this session explores the role of Latinas in tech both as users and as leaders of tech companies. Join Carolina Casares of Yahoo Latin America and Spain, Kety Esquivel from Edelman, Claudia Romo Edelman of UNICEF and Samira Saba of Smartmatic for the discussion.
New Girls’ Network: Women Funding Women, Mar 10, 2018 – 2:00pm – 3:00pm leaders from iFundWomen, Portfolia and Belle Capital USA share insights on the vast and growing ecosystem of organizations looking to capitalize on the underserved market of women-led companies.
Convergence Keynote: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Mar 10, 2018 – 2:00pm – 3:00pm Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic leads a conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates — national correspondent for The Atlantic, best-selling author, and current scribe of Black Panther comics—about culture, politics, and social issues in the Age of Trump.
Where Are the Women? How to Diversify Journalism, Mar 10, 2018 – 3:30pm – 4:30pm four leading female print and multimedia journalists from the BBC, The Fuller Project, Vignette Interactive and Women Photograph shed light on the gender imbalance in journalism through the lens of their own global reporting.
The End of Global Hunger? AI Will Make it Work, Mar 10, 2018 – 3:30pm – 4:30pm panelists from XPRIZE, Google, Gates Foundation and the UN World Food Programme will discuss how AI’s disruptive potential could help end global hunger.
Creating New Stories of Immigration, Mar 10, 2018 – 3:30pm – 4:30pm narratives of immigration play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and public policy, but nuanced narratives are all too often missing or ignored. The story of the individual, model immigrant is exalted, but what of those who don’t fit this image? Panelists working from varying perspectives and platforms will discuss their efforts to create new forms of storytelling that represent the immigrant experience in all its contours and speak to those on multiple sides of the issue.
Tech-no-color: Advancing Women of Color in Tech, Mar 10, 2018 – 3:30pm – 4:30pm a panel including Aubrey Blanche of Atlassian, Lafawn Davis of Twilio, Y-Vonne Hutchinson of ReadySet and Janet Ikpa of HIRED will shine a light on how to further build diversity and inclusion strategies with a focus on women of color.
Resistance & Disruption Through Diversity & Data, Mar 10, 2018 – 5:00pm – 6:00pm join Hilary Sloan, director of business development at ShopStyle; Nicolette Mason, diversity pioneer and founder; and Blake Gifford, attorney and digital influencer, as they discuss the power of activism and the opportunities for influencers to take a stand.
The Future of Business is Female, Mar 11, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm join Sonal Shah, Executive Director of the Beeck Center and Case Foundation Board Member as she leads a discussion with Stephanie Lampkin from Blendoor, Jennifer Stybel from the Rent the Runway Foundation and Cindy Whitehead from The Pink Ceiling exploring why intentionality around equal opportunity for women is a cornerstone to building and funding a successful startup enterprise and how new research and the #MeToo movement have opened up new pathways for investing in women leaders.
Corporate VC: The Firms, The Myths, The Legends, Mar 11, 2018 – 5:00pm – 6:00pm corporate Venture Capital is the topic of discussion in this session with Iris Capital, Orange Digital Ventures and Verizon Ventures led by Crunchbase/TechCrunch. They share more on the the rise of Corporate VC, the benefits they can offer startups and the key differences and similarities they share with traditional VC firms.
Minority Report: Engaging Kids of Color in Tech, Mar 12, 2018 – 9:30am – 10:30am Kimberly Bryant of Black Girls Gode, Laura Donnelly from Latinitas, Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar of Border Kids Code and Daniel Lucio of Google Fiber take the stage to share how high-touch programs are engaging minority youth in the tech world and inspiring them to go from becoming tech consumers to tech creators.
A Better World: Next-Gen Tech for Social Good, Mar 12, 2018 – 9:30am – 10:30am presented by CI&T—speakers from KnowTheChain, Thorn and Comrade share how companies are harnessing the power of technologies to amplify a social cause or mission.
Designers Who Broke the Internet, Mar 12, 2018 – 11:00am – 12:00pm join some of the designers behind Hulu, Twitter and Instagram to hear what their rationale and guiding principles were when they disrupted their respective ecosystems.
Women Rule, Mar 12, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm join POLITICO’s Editor Carrie Budoff Brown as she sits down with female leaders on the Women Rule podcast to talk power, politics and policy, and explore how dynamics shift when women have a seat at the table.
Black Women & The Invisible Billion Dollar Startup, Mar 12, 2018 – 5:00pm – 6:00pm breaking down barriers for black women founders is hard. Join TresseNoire, Be Nimble, Precursor VC and KeepUp for a conversation about how they are creating solutions to support black female founders and drive toward a world where the next billion dollar founder is a black woman.
Latino Entrepreneurship: Scaling to Excellence, Mar 13, 2018 – 9:30am – 10:30am how can Latino entrepreneurs manage the challenges to scaling their businesses and what resources are available to assist them? Check out this panel discussion featuring entrepreneurs and leaders that have dealt with this problem.
Democratizing AI for Individuals & Organizations, Mar 13, 2018 – 9:30am – 10:30am AI is the focus of the conversation when Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Director of Stanford’s Artificial Intelligence Lab and Chief Scientist of AI/ML at Google Cloud; Megan Smith, CEO of shift7 and former U.S. CTO; and Joanne Chen, Partner at Foundation Capital take the stage. They will discuss the enormous potential AI has for improving the world, from increasing productivity to creating new medicines, as well as the challenges that it must overcome to produce these results.
The Truth about Diversity in Tech, Mar 13, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm Vice President of Public Policy at Lyft, Joe Okpaku discusses what drove him to pursue work at an early stage tech startup, how he thrives as a black executive in Silicon Valley, and offers advice to others looking to blaze their own unique career paths and improve people’s lives.
Agents of Mass Construction, Mar 13, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm filmmakers and environmentalists are teaming up to leverage film and storytelling to make a positive impact for nature. Mission Blue’s Sylvia Earle, Exposure Lab’s Jeff Orlowski, race car driver Leilani Munter and academy award winner Louie Psihoyos make media that Psihoyos calls “weapons of mass construction.” They will discuss taking viewers to the depths of the oceans and up close with endangered wildlife to turn audiences into agents for change.
Earth v. Mars: The Future of Exploration, Mar 13, 2018 – 12:30pm – 1:30pm National Geographic unites renowned explorers and astronauts as they dive deep into the future of expeditions on Earth, Mars and beyond. Speakers include Brian Skerry and Nadia Drake of National Geographic, as well as Leland Melvin and Nicole Scott from NASA. Together they will share the risks and rewards of pushing the limits of our capabilities as a species; breakthroughs in the potential to make a new home on the Red Planet; and surprising insights that are making us rethink staying put right here on Earth.
Why Black Women are 2018’s Best Investment, Mar 13, 2018 – 3:30pm – 4:30pm The Case Foundation sits down with inclusive entrepreneurship champions providing important connections, training and mentorships for entrepreneurs, as well as with the investors and influencers working to change the way capital and media attention flows to diverse entrepreneurs. Our VP of Social Innovation Sarah Koch will moderate a conversation with Cheryl Contee of Fission Strategy and Kathryn Finney of digitalundivided.
Creating a Movement Through User Generated Content, Mar 13, 2018 – 3:30pm – 4:30pm User Generated Content (UGC) has quickly become a valuable form of marketing, and today’s rich analytics environment means we have more information than ever about how people are reacting to brands and using different platforms. But creating a campaign that leverages UGC across multiple channels—playing to each of their strengths—remains a challenge for many marketers. Join Kate Coughlin from National Geographic, Megan Bond from the ONE Campaign, Monique Carswell from Comcast NBCUniversal and Jessica Zetzman from the Case Foundation to explore how to use UGC to break through.
How Can Venture Capital Achieve Gender Parity? Mar 13, 2018 – 5:00pm – 6:00pm how can women seize more of the venture capital pie? Doree Shafrir, senior tech writer for BuzzFeed News and author of STARTUP: A NOVEL, will moderate a panel with Trail Mix Ventures GP and entrepreneur Soraya Darabi, Homebrew founder and partner Hunter Walk, and Parity Partners program director Natalia Quintero.
Journalists Shattering the Business Status Quo, Mar 14, 2018 – 2:00pm – 3:00pm join a compelling conversation about how journalists and editors are conquering stereotypes and busting myths every day through their digital, online and print platforms. Seasoned media influencers share how news agencies are crafting stories about entrepreneurs of color, female founders, and the inclusive ecosystems that shatter the status quo. Jade Floyd of the Case Foundation will moderate a discussion with Megan Rose Dickey from TechCrunch, Valentina Zarya from Fortune Magazine and Vanessa De Luca from Essence Magazine.
Building a Bada#$ Business Against All Odds, Mar 15, 2018 – 2:00pm – 3:00pm this session is taught by experienced entrepreneurs from underrepresented sectors of tech who’ve made something out of nothing. Join Danielle Leslie from Course Alchemy, Tara Reed from Apps Without Code, Thomas Stovall from Candid/I’m Black in Tech and Aniyia Williams from Tinsel as they discuss the challenges they overcame and the opportunities they created.
How Tech Hubs Outside SV Lead The Way on Diversity, Mar 15, 2018 – 2:00pm – 3:00pm Detroit, Kansas City, Coeur D’Alene, Chattanooga: Cities with robust tech ecosystems show how starting a company outside Silicon Valley can create more opportunities to under-represented entrepreneurs and elevate diverse business ideas. Speakers from St. Martins Press, SLACK, UBS and Innovation Collective take the stage.

Finally, I’m excited to also serve as a WeDC Ambassador this year where I will be joined by fellow Washington, D.C. creatives, chefs, makers, entrepreneurs and innovators who each represent DC’s vibrant business sectors. Led by the Washington DC Economic Partnership and Executive Office of the Mayor, D.C. is committed to inclusive innovation focusing on providing access, opportunity and resources to the people, companies and organizations. Be sure to check out the many #WeDC House events taking place at SX this year.

Have a session you want us to share that didn’t make the list? Tweet us @CaseFoundation and @JadeFloydDC

23 Conferences on Our Radar in 2018

Posted on January 17, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

It’s that time of year! The beginning of a new rotation around the sun when we all start to prioritize our goals for the next 365 days. One of my resolutions this year is to make meaningful connections and expand my knowledge of subjects both known and unknown. There’s no better way to do so then to step out of the office occasionally and travel to a new region for a few days of learning. Our team at the Case Foundation does just that, attending and speaking at dozens of conferences and events across the globe.

Last year we took the stage at events like SXSW, Essence Festival and the Forbes Philanthropy Summit. We had the chance to talk Impact Investing with the masses at gatherings like the first-ever Forbes Impact Investing Summit, the Financial Times Investing for Good, the NYPL Business Leadership Council, Web Summit, Wharton Social Impact Investing Conference and more. And our Inclusive Entrepreneurship team took the stage at key events like the Women’s Global Leadership Forum, Atlantic Magazine’s Social Impact Forum and Black and Brown Founders.

We know that time is precious and there are countless conferences and events for you to consider in 2018 to expand your knowledge. Here’s our take on 23 conferences to attend this year in the world of philanthropy, Impact Investing, Millennial engagement and Inclusive Entrepreneurship:

MAKERS Conference, February 5-7 (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA) explores new ways to make shock waves, unleash our collective power and lift each other up as we fight for causes that matter. Last year’s conference included speakers like Gloria Steinem, Eva Longoria, Priscilla Chan, Sheryl Sandberg, Diane von Furstenberg and Gabby Douglas.
Economist Impact Investing Forum, February 15 (New York, NY) join Economist editors and 200 financiers, institutional investors, policymakers, academics, impact investors and philanthropists at the second iteration of Investing for Impact: risk, return and the future of the world. Our CEO Jean Case is scheduled to take the stage with Liesel Pritzker Simmons, co-founder of the Blue Haven Initiative in a conversation on why investing in women founders is the ultimate return.
SXSW Interactive, March 9-17 (Austin, TX) we would be remiss if we didn’t give a shoutout to the conference of all conferences. Tens of thousands of attendees gather for hundreds of sessions on topics related to social good, investing, entrepreneurship, art, music and more. Our Case Foundation team will take the stage at four sessions that week, and we look forward to seeing many of you while in Austin. Speakers this year will include Melinda Gates, Alex Chung, Mark Cuban, Michael Dell, Kathryn Finney, Cindy Whitehead, Ira Glass, Walter Isaacson, Ezra Klein, Megan Smith, Gary Vaynerchuk and many more.
Women’s Private Equity Summit, March 9-11 (Half Moon Bay, CA) brings together more than 500 female private equity and venture capital leaders for discussion and networking.
Skoll World Forum, April 10-13 (Oxford, England) launched by the Skoll Foundation, accelerates entrepreneurial approaches and solutions to the world’s most pressing problems by uniting social entrepreneurs in a pursuit of learning, leverage and large-scale social change. Past speakers have included President of the World Bank Group Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Winnie Byanyima of Oxfam International and Hamdi Ulukaya of the yogurt empire Chobani.
Nonprofit Technology Conference, April 11-13 (New Orleans, LA) features over 100 educational sessions, an exhibit hall highlighting the latest nonprofit products and services and networking events each day. Be sure to check out our session on open source philanthropy with our VP of Interactive Strategies, John Jones.
Women in the World Summit, April 12-14 (New York, NY) presents powerful new female role models whose personal stories illuminate the most pressing international issues. Speakers last year included Scarlett Johansson, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Diane von Furstenberg and many more luminaries.
Tech Inclusion, Spring 2018 (Washington, DC) brings the industry together to drive solutions to diversity and inclusion. Attendees include executives, hiring managers, human resources, data scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and diversity and inclusion advocates.
Vanity Fair Founder’s Fair, April 20 (New York, NY) slated for its second year, this gathering highlights the accomplishments of ambitious women entrepreneurs and explores ways to help them unleash even greater growth for their businesses and their brands.
Good Tech Fest, May 22-24 (Detroit, MI) is for anyone using data and technology to drive impact. It’s for the doers and practitioners. The people on the ground. The leaders that are wanting to find innovative ways to leverage technology, and the technologists wanting to apply their skills for real global change.
US SIF Annual Conference, May 30-June 1 (Washington, DC) gives you the opportunity to network with leaders of sustainable, responsible and Impact Investing. Hear from leading investors, CEOs and policymakers, and to learn about new approaches, trends and policy developments in the field.
MCON, June (Washington, DC) join 1,000 passionate individuals who come together to channel their enthusiasm into action for today’s most pressing issues. MCON gathers leaders, entrepreneurs and cause enthusiasts of all generations to discuss problems and find creative solutions to the challenges of today.
Forbes Impact Investing Summit, June 12-13 (New York, NY) this invitation only event for doers and investors who believe in investing in companies that can change the world is a new offering from Forbes and it’s certain to make an impression. Join seasoned impact investors who are moving capital and leading the next generation of investment.
NextGen Summit, June 18 (New York, NY) unites a global community of young entrepreneurs. The 2017 Next Gen Summit welcomed dozens of investors and founders of billion dollar brands and companies, NBA and NFL stars, Shark Tank alums, world-renowned fitness experts and underwater drone creators.
Aspen Ideas Festival, June 21-30 (Aspen, CO) unites leaders and influencers from around the globe for inquisitive discussions on the ideas and issues that shape our lives and challenge our times. Hundreds of award winning journalists, global leaders, scientists and explorers, former secretaries of states, startup founders and investors take the stage each year.
Fortune Most Powerful Women, October 1-3 (Laguna Niguel, CA) MPW has evolved into the world’s most extraordinary leadership community, convening the preeminent women in business—along with select leaders in government, philanthropy, education and the arts—for wide-ranging conversations that inspire and deliver practical advice. The program features one-on-one interviews, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions and high-level networking.
Communications Network, October 10-12 (San Francisco, CA) brings together more than 500 social sector communications professionals from foundations and organizations across the globe for engaging dialogues on using the power of storytelling to drive social impact, demystifying design and the making of movements.
Global Impact Investing Network Forum, October 30-31 (Paris, France) investors from around the globe convene for the preeminent gathering of active impact investors and those who are interested in building an Impact Investing practice. Hosted by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) and PEI Media, the Forum aims to advance and scale the market through insight from industry leaders, leading-edge research and unrivaled networking opportunities.
PopTech, October 31-November 3 (Point Lookout, ME) is a robust gathering of more than 600 scientists, technologists, humanitarians, designers, artists, innovators, corporate and governmental leaders, academics and those who defy tidy categorization.
Inc Women’s Summit, Fall 2018 (New York, NY) unites savvy female business leaders with diverse backgrounds, passions, and pursuits for a day of dynamic exchanges and innovative business ideas. Speakers have included the likes of Spanx CEO Sara Blakely, Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, Maria Malcolm Beck of Bluemercury and more.
Blavity Afrotech, Fall 2018 (Silicon Valley, CA) unites founders and employees of some of the fastest-growing tech startups to share the tactics and strategies they use to grow their products and businesses. Conversations range from raising venture funding, combining tech and culture, user design workshops, growth hacking and more.
Washington Ideas, October 2-4 (Washington, DC) is an annual must-attend event bringing the most consequential people and issues to D.C. featuring hundreds of political leaders and those shaping the future of business, science, technology, arts and journalism.
Fast Company Innovation Festival, Fall 2018 (New York, NY) taking place across NYC, the festival features dozens of events in content tracks ranging from tech to design, leadership to creativity, fashion to healthcare and more. CEOs and influencers from companies and organizations like Bloomberg Philanthropies, CARE, DonorsChoose.org, Robin Hood, Swell Investing and more.
Bonus: LIVE anything! Live content from media brands is a hot ticket for 2018 both in person and online. Check out the many upcoming LIVE events from media entities like Forbes, Washington Post, Bloomberg, AXIOS 360 and The Atlantic announced each week.

There are countless other gatherings you can consider like TED, Fortune Most Powerful Women Next Gen, the Code Conference, the Milken Global Conference, Wharton Social Impact Conference and the Sustainable Brands Conference series. Be sure to check out our past conferences we have featured in our blog from 2017 HERE and 2016 HERE. Many of these events take place year-after-year, so be sure to keep them on your radar in 2018 and beyond.

Get in the Arena: 20 People, Groups and Ideas that Inspired Us in 2017

Posted on December 11, 2017October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

In honor of the 20th anniversary of our founding, the Case Foundation dedicated 2017 to “Getting in the Arena.” Inspired by Teddy Roosevelt’s call to civic participation in his 1910 “Man in the Arena” speech, we focused on bringing forward ideas, stories and events that highlighted people and ideas that can change the world and encouraged others to do so too. To kick off the year, Steve and I wrote about how, over the initial 20 years of work, we had challenged ourselves and others to get off the sidelines and “Get in the Arena” to address our most pressing challenges. We also recommitted to this ethos moving forward and called on others to share how they were Getting in the Arena. As the year wraps up, we are using the last 20 days of our 20th year to shine the light on 20 people, groups and ideas that inspired us this year.

As part of this celebration, we highlighted many action-oriented change makers tackling issues from entrepreneurship, to the digital divide, to innovation in communities across the US and beyond, to citizen-centered civic engagement.

We also wanted people to share how they were getting in the arena and created a venue to inspire attendees at SXSW in Austin. In addition to creating an environment where SXSW aficionados could learn about how they could make an impact in the Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing spaces, see how VR could be used for good and use a ribbon wall to pledge how they were going to Get In The Arena, the Case Foundation hosted a 360° OrcaVue video that attendees could hop into to “Get In the Arena.” We loved seeing people like Loic Le Meur and Leila Janah and Jeremiah Owyang share their excitement for jumping off the sidelines and getting in the arena—Steve and I joined in too.

In June, we helped bring together young leaders from across the country who want to turn their interest into action at MCON, the marquee event on Millennial cause engagement that we helped found. We partnered with NBCUniversal to host a #GetInTheArena lounge where Millennial attendees shared how they’re turning interest into action. We were so inspired by the hundreds of stories we recorded that we are sharing a few—including Angela Richardson of BUILD, Elizabeth Lindsey of Byte Back and Dan Thiede of CERTS—as part of this 20 day campaign.

While our 20th year may be coming to an end, our commitment to shining the spotlight on those who are changing the world continues. This fall, I announced that I’m writing a book about the Be Fearless principles the Case Foundation have been promoting since 2012. The book will feature stories of fearless people and organizations—big and small, historical and modern—making big bets, experimenting, building unlikely alliances of changemakers, confronting and living through failure and letting urgency conquer fear. And to build on the legacy of work we’ve done on Be Fearless, we launched Finding Fearless where you can post short descriptions of what inspires you—whether it’s from your own journey or that of another individual, nonprofit, corporation or startup—and how they put Be Fearless to work.

Finally, we launched the Be Fearless show on Facebook Watch, featuring profiles of fearless changemakers who embody the Be Fearless principles and are making a difference across the globe. As part of the end of the year celebration, we will highlight some of the many inspiring stories we created, like the story of Pristine Seas, the Special Olympics and the Okavango Delta. Get ready to see those pop back up on our social media channels and stay tuned for even more new episodes in the coming months.

Kicking off tomorrow, we’re excited to spend our last 20 days of 2017 shining the spotlight on the people, groups and ideas that truly embody what it means to #GetInTheArena on the most pressing issues. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and tell us how you got in the arena in 2017 using #GetInTheArena.

SXSW 2018 PanelPicker—Cast Your Vote by August 25!

Posted on August 9, 2017August 8, 2019 by Case Foundation

Every year, the Case Foundation and our partners love to share some of our exciting work and ideas that we find compelling from the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive stage. This past March, we celebrated the Case Foundation’s 20^th anniversary at SXSW by hosting the #GetInTheArena lounge and presenting on four panels. We got to talk about Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Impact Investing, millennial engagement, social good and the important role citizens play in science in the 21^st century. We worked with incredible speakers and learned invaluable lessons on innovation across movements.

This year, we submitted 14 panel ideas for the SXSW PanelPicker that discuss topics like diversity in entrepreneurship, women in Impact Investing, millennial engagement, open source technology, business journalism, user generated content, digital analytics and more.

We need your help getting them to SXSW 2018. Below you’ll find out about each panel and how you can vote for them. In addition to casting your vote, you can help these important topics be part of the discussion at SXSW by spreading the word with the social messages below and encouraging your friends and networks to vote as well.

See our panels below and be sure to vote before SXSW PanelPicker voting ends on August 25th!

Under Her Eye: Women Are Our Future

Women—nearly 4 billion strong—are our business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, global leaders, journalists, scientists, philanthropists and CEOs making their mark on the world today. Women multiply the impact of an investment made in them by building businesses that outperform, creating better lives for their family and cultivating strong communities. Explore why women are vital to long-term business and community success and meet dynamic female leaders championing other women.

Speakers

Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President of Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Jennifer Stybel, Executive Director, Rent the Runway Foundation
Cindy Whitehead, Founder & CEO, The Pink Ceiling
Stephanie Lampkin, Founder & CEO, Blendoor

Vote Here

Tweet this: Why are women vital to long-term business success? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s #SXSW2018 panel to find out: https://bit.ly/2wqwcSP

Gen Unaware: Can Millennials Invest for Impact?

The next generation of investors are bringing increased attention to the world of sustainable and impactful investing. As more investors and consumers put real focus on how companies stack up on environmental, social and governance criteria, these factors influence markets, and by extension, business. Learn new strategies that can turn you into an impact investor today.

Speakers

Rehana Nathoo, Vice President, Case Foundation
Jennifer Pryce, President and CEO, Calvert Social Investment Foundation
Dave Fanger, Founder and CEO, Swell Investing
Megan Hryndza, Founder & CEO, Mighty Deposits

Vote Here

Tweet this: Interested in learning about how Millennials can invest for impact? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel from @CaseFoundation https://bit.ly/2vGwBlQ

Building a More Inclusive Startup Culture

Leading women in tech continue to speak out about injustices in working with tech executives and investors, but gender and racial imbalances remain. Meanwhile, Paris, London and other European cities are pouring money into innovative startups. This panel will explore how government, big tech and investors can help build a more inclusive and innovative startup ecosystem. The panelists will also discuss getting past the unconscious biases of VCs that tend to invest in founders who resemble them.

Speakers

Kenya Wiley, Founder and CEO, Fashion Innovation Alliance
Janett Martinez, CEO, LOOMIA
Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Erik Moe, Artist and Writer, Erik Moe Creative

Vote Here

Tweet this: I’m hoping to discuss how to increase diversity in the startup world at #SXSW2018. Vote for my panel here: https://bit.ly/2vj28Zb

Get in the Arena: Fearless Changemakers Tell All

Meet the leaders, activists and social entrepreneurs who drive and inspire us to change the world. From igniting civic engagement, to creating sustainable oceans, and leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs of color, these social impact champions are catalyzing efforts to create transformative change. Join the Case Foundation as they explore the breakthrough organizations and individuals who are taking bold risks, and failing forward in order to produce exponential social returns.

Speakers

Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President of Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Derrick Feldman, President, Achieve
Daniela Fernandez, Founder & CEO, Sustainable Oceans Alliance
Adam Foss, Fmr. Assistant District Attorney, Prosecutor Impact

Vote Here

Tweet this: Want to know how social impact champions are living our #BeFearless principles? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel https://bit.ly/2vdyJkG

The Overlooked Future of Entrepreneurship: Latinx

The Latinx community accounts for more than half of the population growth in the US, but Latinx entrepreneurs represent less than two percent of venture-backed companies. Hear from Latinx entrepreneurs and the investors who back them to understand who they are, what they’re building and why investors should be paying attention to this important group of entrepreneurs.

Speakers

Sarah Koch, VP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Dyan Gibbens, President, Trumbull Unmanned
Kristen Sonday, Co-Founder, Paladin
Carolina Huaranca, Principal, Kapor Capital

Vote Here

Tweet this: Want to hear about the future of Latinx entrepreneurship at #SXSW2018? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s panel here: https://bit.ly/2vfMtJV

Creating a Movement through User Generated Content

User Generated Content (UGC) has quickly become a valuable form of marketing, and today’s rich analytics environment means we have more information than ever about how people are reacting to brands and using different platforms. But creating a campaign that leverages UGC across multiple channels—playing to each of their strengths—remains a challenge for many marketers. Join Nat Geo, ONE Campaign, NBCU and the Case Foundation to see how they are creating cross-platform campaigns centered on UGC.

Speakers

Jessica Zetzman, Director of Digital Communications and Marketing, Case Foundation
Monique Carswell, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Comcast NBCUniversal
Kate Coughlin, Director, Audience Development , National Geographic Partners
Meagan Bond, Creative Director, ONE Campaign

Vote Here

Tweet this: Want to learn how to create a movement w/ user generated content @ #SXSW2018? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s panel here https://bit.ly/2vdxO3t

Women and Wealth: The Drivers of Impact Investing

With news of the $41 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer, there’s a real opportunity to change the face of social impact. Wealthy women are taking over familial decision making, armed with a view of the world that blends profit and purpose. Young millennial women are also making waves to disrupt traditional structures and try their own hand at changing the world. This panel will examine the role women will play to truly tip the Impact Investing movement.

Speakers

Rehana Nathoo, Vice President , Case Foundation
Jackie VanderBrug, Managing Director, U.S. Trust
Kesha Cash, General Partner, Impact America Fund
Anna Marie Wascher, Founder, Flat World Partners

Vote Here

Tweet this: How are women driving Impact Investing? Help @CaseFoundation discuss at #SXSW2018 by voting for this panel on #ImpInv https://bit.ly/2wnK002

No Margin, No Mission: Building Social Enterprises

Social enterprise is not always not-for-profit and having a great idea is not enough to create a sustainable impact venture. Generating revenue via sales or fundraising is critical to the sustainability of social enterprises. Learn from experts on how to weave mission throughout the fabric of impact ventures, while transforming idea into viable businesses. Join Halcyon for this session to see how we do it!

Speakers

Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President for Social Innovation, Case Foundation
William Eggers, Executive Director, Center for Government Insights, Deloitte
Melissa Bradley, Professor, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
Ryan Ross, Program Director, Halcyon Incubator, Halcyon

Vote Here

Tweet this: Want to know how a for-profit startup can be a high-impact social enterprise? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel: https://bit.ly/2vgqfZV

Build It & They’ll Come! Data Viz for the Dataless

Data visualizations are a great way to communicate a complex subject or issue, but how can you leverage this powerful storytelling tool with imperfect data? By being fearless! Using the Case Foundation’s Impact Investing Network Map as a case study, we’ll dig in with data science & impact investing experts to discuss leveraging available resources & creative problem solving to build a useful data visualization platform, while creating conditions and infrastructure to meet your eventual objective

Speakers

Sheila Herrling, SVP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Cathy Clark, Director, CASE i3 Initiative on Impact Investing, CASE at Duke University, Fuqua School of Business
Rayid Ghani, Director, Center for Data Science and Public Policy, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago

Vote Here

Tweet this: How does the Network Map leverage data visualization with imperfect data? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel to find out: https://bit.ly/2fqyAoy

The $1 Million Club

Fewer than twenty African American woman have raised more than a million dollars in venture capital. What’s going on here? Meet some of those women and the investors who back them. Learn why they are building the next breakthrough businesses that will change America.

Speakers

Sarah Koch, VP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Kathryn Finney, Founder/CEO, digitalundivided
Cheryl Contee, Co-Founder, Fission Strategy and Attentive.ly
Kellee James, Founder, Mercaris

Vote Here

Tweet this: <20 African American women have raised over $1M in VC. Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel that will discuss the issue https://bit.ly/2ujOo2I

Improving Digital Communications Through Analytics

In the fast moving world of digital communications, it can be hard to find the time to step back and evaluate what is working, what is not, and where there is room to innovate—but doing so has never been more critical. In this hands on workshop, take some time to learn how to build an internal Analytics, SEO and KPI’s (ASK) team, set up regular, smart digital experiments and report them out to senior staff in a way that is relevant, interesting and actionable.

Speakers

Jessica Zetzman, Director of Digital Communications and Marketing, Case Foundation
John Jones, VP of Interactive Strategies, Case Foundation

Vote Here

Tweet this: Want to learn how to step up your digital comms & analytics game @ #SXSW2018? Vote for this panel from @CaseFoundation https://bit.ly/2vd8muR

Next Frontier in Philanthropy: Open Source

As technology continues to be a pivotal element of social-change oriented activities, it is imperative that these efforts have access and tools to use open source software. Leaders from both the nonprofit and technology sectors explain why recognizing open source contributions made by individuals and organizations as a new form of philanthropy is crucial to the future of both sectors. This includes well-established projects but it also increasingly includes purpose-built technologies.

Speakers

John Jones, Vice President of Interactive Strategies, Case Foundation
Dave Hollander, Data Scientist, Foundation Center
Andrew Means, Co-founder, The Impact Lab
Daniel Doubrovkine, CTO, Artsy

Vote Here

Tweet this: #OpenSource is the next trend in philanthropy. Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel that will discuss how the 2 come together https://bit.ly/2uAeKJ5

Millennial Activism in the Trump Presidency

On Saturday, Jan 21, 2017 we witnessed a massive shift in social issue engagement. Millennials took to the streets with an energy, never before seen for this generation. Petitions began to drive online voice to real-life action, showing Millennials what issues affect them, how to contact reps and where to meet for protests. But what does all of this energy add up to? What do Millennials really care about and what action are they taking? Join a discussion on the research tackling these questions.

Speakers

Sean Tennerson, Program Officer, Case Foundation
Derrick Feldmann, President, Achieve Agency
Clare Kenny, Campaigns Manager, GLAAD
Abdi Soltani, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union or Northern California

Vote Here

Tweet this: How did the 2016 election affect Millennial activism? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel that will look at the research https://bit.ly/2hDq0Dr

Covering America: Journalists Challenging the Business

Journalists are conquering stereotypes and busting myths everyday through their digital, online and print platforms. Meanwhile, newsrooms are taking increased steps to cover diverse audiences and the changing demographics of business in America. The Case Foundation leads the conversation on how news agencies are sharing stories that shatter the status quo. Seasoned journalists share how they are covering communities of color, inclusive networks and entrepreneurs who are the new faces of business.

Speakers

Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, Case Foundation
Esha Chhabra, Freelance Journalist
Shadi Rahimi, Senior Producer, AJ+
Megan Rose Dickey , Reporter, Tech Crunch

Vote Here

Tweet this: How are journalists’ stories changing entrepreneurship? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s #SXSW2018 panel to find out: https://bit.ly/2vLy23m

A Message From SXSW: The Undiscovered Next Big Thing

Posted on March 29, 2017October 30, 2018 by Case Foundation

For many years, SXSW has been the place to go to see the new thing, the new product, the new trend. Market leading products like Twitter took off when they launched at the annual Austin conference and hit shows like Game of Thrones and stars like Jay Z have flocked to Austin to join in the fun and be associated with the newest trends.

Each year as I head to SXSW, I can’t help but wonder what the “next big thing” might be that will have the conference abuzz. This year, it wasn’t a product and it wasn’t a personality. Instead, it was a powerful idea: double down on the secret sauce that has made America great by expanding the pool of entrepreneurs who are building great companies and bringing new innovations. And while the idea itself may seem simple, the potential for transformative impact is extraordinary. And for any investor, this idea represents a potential new source of innovation, talent and access to untapped markets.

This was my message and the message of the Case Foundation as we went to SXSW, but we didn’t expect to find similar sentiments echoing from the SXSW stage throughout the conference, in hallway conversations and at cocktail parties. And it was the central message in my fireside chat with Reena Ninan of CBS News. Like any “hot” issue, there is usually some arresting set of facts that serves to ignite passions. In this case, the data is so stark that it provides a great entrée for the topic more broadly. Consider this data on the state of venture capital investing in the United States:

78% of venture capital goes to just 3 states—California, New York and Massachusetts;
90% of that venture capital goes to companies founded by men, leaving just 10% going to female founded companies
Only 1% of this venture capital is going to African-American founded companies

At the same time, women owned firms are growing 5 times faster than the national average. And a growing body of data reports that both women-run firms and firms with diverse teams, outperform their counterparts. First Round Capital, for instance, reported when it separated out performance in its portfolio of companies, it found that female-led firms outperformed their counterparts by 60%. Traditional investing is starting to realize that perhaps diversifying leadership is a business imperative to boost performance, with the point driven home most clearly from State Street Global Advisors, with trillions of dollars of assets under management, State Street placed a bronze statue of a young girl staring down Wall Street’s bull, and matched it with a message that they will use their proxy power if needed to ensure those firms in their portfolio diversify leadership. Sure, investing in more women and people of color is a social justice issue, but it is also a powerful economic opportunity for investors and for our nation.

This was the topic of a Ted Talk I gave a few months ago and it was great to see the SXSW attendees engage so eagerly on this subject—from world-class investors looking for paths to these untapped segments, to reporters hearing from more diverse voices and perspectives on the panels they led, to entrepreneurs from these segments asking how they can find the funders who get this and are willing to listen to good ideas, no matter the gender, color of skin or geography.

And I was not alone at SXSW in talking about these issues.

Beth Comstock, Vice Chair of GE, spoke eloquently about the efforts GE was taking to look for great ideas in more diverse places and how they were building more flexible workplace rules so all could succeed at GE.
Aspect Ventures founding partner Theresia Gouw, BBG Ventures President and managing partner Susan Lyne, and Joyus founder/CEO and angel investor Sukhinder Singh Cassidy joined Fortune senior editor Kristen Bellstrom on a panel on Monday to talk about the lack of diversity in VC funding for women and share suggestions about steps to take to change the status quo.
Dan Lyons, a tech journalist, former Silicon Valley screenwriter and author of the New York Times best-seller, “Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Startup Bubble” spoke in his SXSW panel about how “bro culture” and bias were holding back the industry and how we had to change the way they thought about hiring and promoting to ensure our most actively funded companies did not become too insular.
And Case Foundation chairman (and my husband), Steve Case, talked about the “Rise of the Rest” initiative that he runs separately from the Foundation, spotlighting and funding entrepreneurs across America, from places between the coasts that investors often ignore, but where the vast majority of our Fortune 500 companies in America were started.

And the programing and general conversation around SXSW supported this yearning for more leadership and support for a wider community of innovators. At the National Geographic venue on 6th street, National Geographic Explorers who came from non-traditional backgrounds were greeted by thousands of SXSW attendees. These included Albert Yu-Min Lin, who spoke about maintaining his passion for exploration after losing a limb, and how those in the field have the responsibility to tell the stories and make a difference. David Lang, who is designing and building underwater robots that are being used by citizens to explore oceans, rivers and lakes in ways that have never been accessible to non-academic and government officials; and Erika Bergman, who leads Google Hangouts as she pilots her submarine so all can get the chance to see the discoveries she is making thousands of feet underwater. All of these Explorers leveraged their unique backgrounds and passions to explore in ways that were outside the norm, bringing new perspectives to their work and opening doors to citizen science that had previously been closed.

Finally, this call for a wider pool of innovators was echoed by Vice President Biden as he made an impassioned plea at SXSW to support cancer research. He called on SXSW attendees to use their diverse skills and backgrounds to participate in cancer research, trials and to lend their minds and access to improve detection, prevention and treatment of cancer. In calling on more innovative thinking and engaging more diverse participants, Vice President Biden said “If we did nothing more than break down the silos preventing greater collaboration because of the way the system has been built up—not intentionally—over the last 50 years, we can extend the life of a lot of people with cancer.”

While SXSW is often known for opening our eyes to new products, this year’s SXSW was a venue where the message was clear: the next undiscovered big thing is people and the innovations that those not traditionally in the mainstream can bring to the table. Frankly, it was a breath of fresh air and we, at the Case Foundation, stand ready to keep the momentum started at SXSW going so we can see real change in the faces and ideas of the innovators who power the next generation of ideas.

Tech and Innovation Is Center-Stage in SXSW #GetInTheArena Lounge

Posted on March 12, 2017October 30, 2018 by Case Foundation

We’re excited to be celebrating our 20th anniversary at South by Southwest (SXSW) this year by hosting the SXSW Impact #GetInTheArena lounge, dedicated to both the work we our doing at the Foundation, as well as the great work of our partners and innovators in the philanthropy space to push the sector, democratize giving and encourage turning interest in social causes into action. Throughout the lounge, we’re employing some innovative technologies as well as featuring how taking creative approaches to technology has made some of our work this year possible.

Faces of Founders

When first entering the SXGood #GetInTheArena lounge, visitors will see an installation dedicated to our #FacesofFounders campaign. Launch in the fall of 2016, the #FacesofFounders campaign was designed to celebrate all supporters of inclusive entrepreneurship through a photo submission portal and hosted a crowdsourced competition to feature five entrepreneurship stories on Fast Company. Technology played a huge role in both the photo and story capture calls to action. We built the #FacesofFounders campaign website to capture photos from visitors, allowing them to choose their own custom filters and overlays, and to allow visitors to share their stories of their own entrepreneurial journeys through a series of prompts and questions.

Later, we used those story submissions and a custom judging platform built into the site to find the five entrepreneurial stories we featured on Fast Company. The ability for visitors to tell their own story within the site allowed us to rapidly gather a critical mass of stories, and the back-end judging platform provided us a streamlined platform for finding the best stories to feature.

In fact, we’re so excited about the judging platform that powered #FacesofFounders that we will be releasing it as an open source platform on GitHub later this year. On GitHub, the tool will be available for both groups looking to leverage the tool for their own campaign or initiative and to developers looking to contribute features and bugfixes.

#FacesofFounders recently debuted a Medium Publication dedicated to discussions about entrepreneurship, race, place and gender. The publication will feature thought provoking articles on leveling the entrepreneurship playing field along with profiles of dynamic, diverse entrepreneurs who stand out for their pioneering work. We look forward to exploring ways that Medium and other technology platforms can continue to enforce and enhance our inclusive entrepreneurship work.

Oculus VR for Good

As visitors walk back through the space, they’ll encounter one of our first partner stations: Oculus VR for Good. Virtual reality (VR), particularly its applications for social good, will be one of the most discussed technologies at SXSW this year, and at our lounge, visitors will be able to experience how Oculus is leading that effort.

Our extensive research into Millennials tells us that building passion for a cause is paramount to its success, and that perpetuates a need to continually find innovative and novel ways to tell stories that attract audiences. VR is that medium right now because of the immersive nature of the experience— the ability to transport a viewer to a totally different environment gives storytellers and experience creators the ability to give users an entirely different individual’s experience. What is next for the VR, and what I expect to see at SXSW, are innovations around multi-user and conversational experiences. Up to now, the social good space has known VR largely for the breathtaking VR documentaries such as Clouds of Sidra. The content produced is immersive, moving and inspirational, but right now it is just a one-way communication. To even better arm social good movements, it would be amazing to see how we can incorporate more than one user in a VR experience and allow those users to communicate.

GoodWorld

Moving to the next partner station, visitors will experience a station run by our friends at GoodWorld, a donation platform that allows individuals to give on social media by simply using a hashtag and the handle of the organization they want to give to. GoodWorld’s platform then takes care of the rest. We’re excited by this technology because it practically obliterates the barrier to entry for giving by moving the donation process from within a website to social media, where potential donors interact everyday—something that is essential to digitally building strong movements.

Impact Investing Network Map

This next area in the lounge will feature some technology that we are very proud of. It will be a sneak-peek of our Impact Investing Network Map. The Network Map shows the connections between investors, companies and funds within impact investing, a preliminary data visualization of the investors and companies in the impact investing space. Sourcing data from APIs on ImpactSpace and CrunchBase, the Network Map builds a captivating graph-style visualization of the investment connections between these entities, based on our existing dataset. Users will be able to explore companies, investors, impact objectives, industries and other facets to learn more about the potential for this exciting space.

Powering this site are a few technologies we have not used in the past including the visualization library SigmaJS and the NoSQL databsse Neo4J. Graph data, the term for the type of information displayed in the Network Map, can scale poorly on both the frontend and backend, but the unique combination of these pieces of software allows the Network Map to effortlessly store, serve and render the thousands of data points provided by our partners.

#GetInTheArena StoryScope

At the end of visitors’ experience in our lounge, they’ll encounter the last piece of technology we’re excited for—the FoxTales StoryScope. It’s an installation that makes 360 video accessible to everyone. Visitors to our space will be able to experience this first hand and “get in the area” with their own StoryScope video. After the StoryScope captures the video, it emails it to the participants who can then share it on social media. The entire experience gives visitors a creative new way to engage with their social networks and experience an organization’s brand. Participants walk away with a very tangible reminder of their commitment to #GetInTheArena and turn their interest in social good into action, and it serves as a public way of sharing that commitment with others and building momentum around the causes they care about.

We’re excited to attend SXSW every year to not only show the work we’ve been doing, but also to gather ideas and collaborate with technologists from all over. SXSW is famous for the celebrities it attracts, but we also know it as a source of inspiration and the genesis of totally new innovations that continually evolve digital strategies and tactics around giving. We’ll be sharing some of those ideas in a post after SXSW.

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Unicorns of Color: Where are they?

Female Founders Breaking out of the Beauty Aisle

Millennials: The New Philanthropy Champions

It Takes a Village to Raise an Entrepreneur

DIY: Women Starting their own VC Funds

Do This, Not That: How to Tell Your Startup Story

Movement Makers: How Movements Drive Social Change

The Million Dollar Club is Getting Less White

When Women Hold the Wealth

No, Millennials Aren’t Ruining Everything

Fearless Changemakers Tell All

How to Tell Your Startup Story

The Fearless Story Behind José Andrés’ Success

Listen Up! Young American Voices Matter

Facebook Watch—a New Tool for Social Movements

Making Data and Analytics Work for Your Brand

How B Corps Are Leading Open Source

The Overlooked Future of US Entrepreneurs: Latinx

Social Impact Meet Up

Is Texas the Silicon Valley 2.0?

Philanthropy’s New Role In Open Source

Under Her Eye: Women Are Our Future

Gen Unaware: Can Millennials Invest for Impact?

Building a More Inclusive Startup Culture

Get in the Arena: Fearless Changemakers Tell All

The Overlooked Future of Entrepreneurship: Latinx

Creating a Movement through User Generated Content

Women and Wealth: The Drivers of Impact Investing

No Margin, No Mission: Building Social Enterprises

Build It & They’ll Come! Data Viz for the Dataless

The $1 Million Club

Improving Digital Communications Through Analytics

Next Frontier in Philanthropy: Open Source

Millennial Activism in the Trump Presidency

Covering America: Journalists Challenging the Business

#GetInTheArena StoryScope

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