2017 IMPACT REPORT SOCIAL INNOVATION LAB AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
ACCELERATING EMERGING VENTURES AND LEADERS TO CHANGE BALTIMORE AND THE WORLD
FROM THE DIRECTOR Thank you for your interest Social Innovation Lab’s 2017 Impact Report! During the 2016-17 program year, SIL undertook a number of new initiatives, including:
Launching our Bootcamp program to build a pipeline of innovators Awarding the inaugural $25,000 Cohort Prize to one peer-selected venture in our cohort Creating the mentor role of Neighbor-in-Residence to provide the cohort with guidance and connections to local government, neighborhood organizations, and community leaders Adding two full-day retreats for the cohort to learn and grow as leaders Leading conversations on social innovation and sharing our model at SXSW, SOCAP, and more.
In the following pages, you will see SIL’s impact to-date and specific milestones we helped our ventures achieve. I invite you to get in touch with our ventures or directly with me if you have ideas or suggestions to help us move our mission forward. Sincerely, Darius Graham, Director darius.graham@jhu.edu
ABOUT SOCIAL INNOVATION LAB The Social Innovation Lab (SIL) at Johns Hopkins University accelerates emerging ventures and leaders that seek to change Baltimore and the world. SIL provides the funding, mentorship, office space and workshops that help these innovative nonprofits, mission-driven companies and disruptive technologies to develop into thriving, sustainable ventures that make a measurable impact. SIL aims to: 1. Provide promising, emerging social ventures with the essential resources they need to reach milestones, achieve sustainability and scale faster 2. Foster and contribute generously to a collaborative and inclusive social entrepreneurship/innovation ecosystem in Baltimore 3. Retain and grow entrepreneurial talent in Baltimore 1
OUR IMPACT Ventures supported since 2011
Individuals trained via our Bootcamps
62
125
Funding secured by SIL ventures1
Hours of mentorship and coaching provided to the 2016-17 Cohort
$23M+
503
Individuals hired in paid roles by SIL ventures2
Venture leaders who found SIL helpful or instrumental in their success
351
97%
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES RECEIVED BY OUR VENTURES & THEIR LEADERS TED Fellowship; Ashoka Emerging Innovator; Forbes 30 Under 30; Open Society Institute – Baltimore Community Fellowship; Case Foundation Finding Fearless winner; InvestMaryland Challenge winner; Baltimore Business Journal 40 Under 40; Warnock Social Innovation Fellows; Baltimore Ravens Community Quarterback Award; United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award; Reimagine Education Award; Civic Hacker of the Year; Accenture Innovation in Technology Award; Towson University Business Plan Competition winner; JHU Business Plan Competition winner; U.S. State Department Innovator Program: Expo Milano; 2014 EPA People, Prosperity, and Planet (P3) Award; InfyMaker Award winner; PilotHealth winner
1
2
Figure accounts for all funding types including grants, investments, pledges, etc.; self-reported by ventures
Figure accounts for all paid roles including short-term and permanent roles, paid interns, consultants/contractors, part-time employees, and fulltime employees; self-reported by ventures
2
VENTURES HAVE APPEARED IN THESE PUBLICATIONS & MORE o o o o
The New York Times Popular Science Wired The Daily Record
o o o o
The Baltimore Sun Forbes Fast Company Baltimore Business Journal
o JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) o CNBC o Baltimore STYLE
THE COHORT PROGRAM Each Fall, SIL conducts a competitive application process where Baltimore-area residents and JHU students, faculty or staff can apply to seek support for a social venture. SIL seeks driven, experienced and altruistic applicants – people who have observed or experienced a problem, have been thoughtful and deliberate at developing a potential solution rooted in extensive research or experience, and are willing to exert extraordinary dedication to make the venture reach scale and achieve sustainability. SIL PROVIDES VENTURES IN THE COHORT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO:
1. Establish and refine strategies for growth and sustainability 2. Establish and meet critical milestones to move the venture forward 3. Connect and collaborate with other entrepreneurs. VENTURES IN THE COHORT RECEIVE:
$1,000 in unrestricted funding upon selection Potential to receive additional funding up to $25,000 via our peer-selected Cohort Prize Dedicated mentors and access to an extensive network of advisors including issue experts, experienced entrepreneurs and connections within the Johns Hopkins ecosystem One-on-one coaching and intensive support from the SIL Director Learning sessions and retreats where participants learn from experienced entrepreneurs and social sector leaders Access to co-working and meeting space Other critical forms of support and assistance as needed (such as marketing and communications) Opportunities to pitch potential funders and supporters at SIL events, including the annual Impact+Innovation Forum 3
2016-17 COHORT BY THE NUMBERS:
4
SQUADZ
squadz.com Connecting community members to play pickup sports, while generating revenue for community centers and recreation facilities TEAM LEADER: Nikhil Panu, graduate student, Whiting School of Engineering MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Initiated partnership with Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks; developed on-boarding process for venues; developed performance metrics for venues; launched beta test of concierge service
PROJECT CHARMIFY projectcharmify.org Empowering and teaching high school students to bring community-driven programming to vacant neighborhood spaces TEAM LEADERS: Elyse Oliver, undergraduate student, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences; Darius Irani, undergraduate student, Whiting School of Engineering; Jack Alpert, undergraduate student, Whiting School of Engineering MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Developed new program model focused on engaging high school students in design process; grew team from two to seventeen; launched pilot program; won $20,000 JHU Idea Lab Challenge
BENT CARROT
facebook.com/bentcarrotbaltimore Connecting households in food deserts with the tools they need to prepare fresh, healthy meals TEAM LEADER: Mark Corser, community member MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Developed new program model; created revenue-generating strategy; recruited five community partners to distribute kitchen kits; hosted series of community dinners to build trust and gain feedback
THE PORTABLE ALTERNATIVE CRIB
theimpactfulsolution.net
Providing education and tools to help lower the occurrence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome across Maryland TEAM LEADER: Shantell Roberts, community member MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Designed and implemented revenue-generating strategy; established new program model; partnered with initial distribution sites; won SIL’s $25,000 Cohort Prize
5
LACSTATION
lacstation.com Providing supplies and support to breastfeeding moms at work TEAM LEADER: Meg Stoltzfus, JHU staff MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Developed prototype for second-generation vending machine; refined business model; refined value proposition and marketing strategy; solidified IP ownership
THE LISTENING LAB
thebco.org A music education program that teaches students concentration, awareness and listening skills through a series of classroom sessions and live orchestra concerts (a program of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra) TEAM LEADER: Rebecca Smithorn, alumnus, Peabody Institute MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Solidified relationship with parent organization; designed and implemented revenue-generating strategy; formed partnerships with schools to launch pilot programs
B-360
b360baltimore.org
Using dirt bike culture as a platform to repair and build relationships in the community, provide a pathway to career opportunities and unite the community TEAM LEADER: Brittany Young, community member MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Initiated conversations with policy-makers and law enforcement; designed and implemented curriculum; launched pilot program; formed community partnerships; developed brand
THE WHOLE TEACHER
wholeteacher.org Increasing the health, happiness and retention of educators by streaming wellness programming into schools TEAM LEADER: Jenna Shaw, alumnus, School of Education MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Completed extensive customer discovery and validation; developed revenue model; refined program model to be more data-driven and technology-based; initiated partnership with teacher organization
6
SUNRISE HEALTH
sunrisehealth.co A mobile app for anonymous, text-based, group psychotherapy that uses artificial intelligence to scale clinicians in an enterprise setting (formerly known as Beacon) TEAM LEADERS: Shrenik Jain, undergraduate student, Whiting School of Engineering; Ravi Shah, alumnus, Whiting School of Engineering MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Formed partnerships for beta tests; rebranded; recruited advisory board members; launched pilots
INTELEHEALTH
intelehealth.io A mobile app that improves access to comprehensive primary health care for remote and underserved communities through telemedicine TEAM LEADERS: Neha Goel, graduate student, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Amal Alam, graduate student, Whiting School of Engineering MILESTONES ACHIEVED DURING PROGRAM: Solidified pricing strategy; secured multiple clients; met product development milestones; developed sales pipeline
7
BOOTCAMPS During the 2016-17 program year, SIL launched a new program to support early stage innovators. The bootcamps are a one-day, intensive training for people looking to gain or enhance the skills essential for launching and leading a social venture. Our goals with the bootcamps are twofold: 1. To reach beyond our typical network of self-identified innovators – we want to reach more students and community members from various backgrounds who want to create change but who may not see themselves as innovators 2. To build a pipeline of applicants for our core program and other entrepreneur-supporting programs in Baltimore – we want to help people at the earliest stages build their new ventures on a solid foundation so they can start smart and avoid common mistakes and pitfalls DURING THE 2016-17 YEAR, OUR BOOTCAMPS PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 125 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE SKILLS, TOOLS AND CONNECTIONS TO SPARK CHANGE IN BALTIMORE AND BEYOND. FALL 2016 BOOTCAMP: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 S T Recap: ventures.jhu.edu/impact-bootcamp-2016-social-innovation-lab SPRING 2017 BOOTCAMP: SATURDAY, APRIL 22 ND Recap: ventures.jhu.edu/sil-bootcamp-inspires-budding-social-entrepreneurs
“What the Bootcamp provided me was the momentum to keep going. I realized I wasn’t alone in this very infant state of my idea. Darius was able to provide very specific action plans and action items that I could take home and run with.” – Sabrina “Being around others who are undergoing the same challenges or who have similar questions as I do made me feel better about where I was. It also made me a lot more passionate about what we’re doing.” – James 8
CONVENING & COLLABORATING IMPACT+INNOVATION FORUM On April 25th, SIL hosted the Impact+Innovation Forum – our annual event showcasing ventures in the cohort. Venture leaders from our 2016-17 Cohort shared the stories behind their inspiration and innovation to an audience of more than 200 people, including JHU administrators, JHU students and community leaders.
$25,000 Cohort Prize New at this year’s Forum was the surprise announcement of our inaugural $25,000 Cohort Prize, which was awarded to Shantell Roberts’ Portable Alternative Crib. This prize was created to help further accelerate a venture in the cohort, and the winner was selected by the cohort via our peer feedback process. (Read how we designed and implemented the peer feedback process: http://tinyurl.com/silpeer)
View the recap of our Impact+Innovation Forum: tinyurl.com/silforum17recap
9
LEADING THE CONVERSATION
During the 2016-17 program year, SIL Director Darius Graham contributed to important conversations on social innovation and entrepreneurship by sharing insights and best practices from our work. SOCAP (SOCIAL CAPITAL MARKETS CONFERENCE) San Francisco – September 16th, 2016 Baltimore on the Rise: Collaborating to Build an Inclusive Ecosystem of Change ASHOKA U EXCHANGE Miami – March 2nd, 2017 University Incubators as Innovation Generators
SXSW (SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST) Austin, TX – March 14th, 2017 Lessons on Building an Urban Innovation Ecosystem LIGHT CITY Baltimore – April 6th, 2017 Building a Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem DESHPANDE SYMPOSIUM FOR INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION Lowell, MA – June 14th, 2017 Social Entrepreneurship on Campus: Methodologies and Models
10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SPONSORS Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, Baltimore Development Corporation, T. Rowe Price Foundation, Hoffberger Family Philanthropies INNOVATORS-IN-RESIDENCE Adrian Bordone, Sarah Hemminger, Xavier Hughes, Rahama Wright MENTORS & COHORT SESSION SPEAKERS Nnamdi Etoh, Kerrie Carden, Jess Solomon, Lara Hall, Kasim Ahmad, Jamie McDonald, Matt Gallagher, Panagis Galiatsatos, Seal Bin-Han, Param Shah, Siddhi Sundar, Allen Eghrari, Laurin Hodge NEIGHBOR-IN-RESIDENCE Nan Rohrer SOCIAL DESIGN FELLOWS Matt Barr, Devika Menon ADVISORY BOARD Amanda Allen, Olga Brillman, John Brothers, Cinnamon Dornsife, Allen Eghrari, Rodney Foxworth, Fagan Harris, Sarah Hemminger, Philip Leaf, Jamie McDonald, Carrie Nieman, Kunal Parikh, Sonia Sarkar, Sebastian Seiguer, Phil Spector
CONNECT WITH US WEBSITE: ventures.jhu.edu/sil SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: tinyurl.com/silsubscribe FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TheSocialInnovationLab
TWITTER: twitter.com/SIL_Baltimore
SUPPORT OUR MISSION: https://ventures.jhu.edu/give 11