Out-innovating Silicon Valley: How Nonprofits and B-corps are Using Innovative Business Models to Keep Progressive Technology Progressive
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Thursday, Jul. 16 1:30 PM (Eastern)
Ends: Thursday, Jul. 16 2:45 PM (Eastern)
To build the next generation of technology to power progressives, a handful of innovators are thinking differently about how to fund and build a tech startup on sustainable progressive values. Utilizing non-profit and alternative corporate structures, building creative funding streams and partnering with progressive institutions and financiers, these innovators are building all new business models for the progressive movement. Come see how nonprofits and alternative corporations in partnership with progressive institutions are in some cases out-innovating Silicon Valley, finding new ways of financing their start-up and growth and building technology that stays progressive for the long haul.
Moderator
Brian Young
Brian Young is the co-founder and Managing Director at the Corporate Action Network, a hub to support campaigns fighting corporate abuse with innovative organizing technology and tactics. Previously, he directed John Kerry’s digital operations in his political and official offices, including overseeing fundraising and organizing using Senator Kerry’s 3-million+ contact email list and revamping the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s web presence. He also consulted on Howard Dean’s ground-breaking Presidential campaign, ran a Congressional campaign, and, before getting involved in politics, was an award-winning documentary filmmaker.
Panelists
Jessica Hyejin Lee
Jess is an undocumented activist turned tech entrepreneur. She is the founder & CEO of HandStack, a web & mobile app providing the fastest way to organize thousands of people in real time.
Previously, she was a community organizer at DreamActivist Pennsylvania, where she organized civil disobedience actions and marches to empower fellow undocumented people.
Julie Menter
Julie Menter is the Manager of Investor Relations for New Media Ventures, a national network of early stage investors supporting startups that create progressive political change.
Throughout her career, Julie has searched for opportunities to make a positive impact on the world around her. As a strategy consultant, first with the Boston Consulting Group and then with Blu Skye Sustainability Consulting, she has worked with large companies and non-profit organizations to redefine what good business means.
Julie is also a co-founder of the GreenerMind Summit: a 3-day retreat for change makers in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is originally from France where she received her MBA.
Other sessions: Start-up Bootcamp: How to Get Your Big Idea Funded
Jason Rosenbaum
Jason is an activist, organizer, and musician living in Washington, DC. At the Action Network, he helps design and build new online organizing tools for progressives.
Nathan Woodhull
Nathan Woodhull is the founder of ControlShift Labs which builds software that empowers ordinary people with digital tools to collaborate on and win their own campaigns for social change. He previously lead the Innovation Lab at the Democratic National Committee and has held software engineering roles at a variety of social justice organizations and technology startups.