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In Its 5th Year SOCAP12 Convenes Social Enterprise & Impact Investing Community in San Francisco as Sector Estimates at $650 Billion

Rockefeller Foundation, Omidyar Network, Halloran Philanthropies, Hewlett Foundation Among Supporting Partners

In Its 5th Year SOCAP12 Convenes Social Enterprise & Impact Investing Community in San Francisco as Sector Estimates at $650 Billion

Rockefeller Foundation, Omidyar Network, Halloran Philanthropies, Hewlett Foundation Among Supporting Partners

Published 09-20-12

Submitted by Social Capital Markets

Social Capital Markets Conference 2012 (SOCAP12), THE convener of the social entrepreneur and impact investing community in the U.S., will host its annual gathering October 1-4 in San Francisco. The sector was recently estimated at $650 billion in marketplace potential – almost 5 times its estimated potential just two years ago. SOCAP, now in its 5th year, will focus heavily on the many aspects of impact investing, convening more than 1,000 key investors, entrepreneurs, foundations and business leaders who are doing business within the sector.

“In the past five years the impact investing space has gone from a nascent movement to an emerging global reality,” said SOCAP Founder, Kevin Jones. “The maturing of the sector reflects a growing desire and expectation among investors and the public, that business both help solve the world’s most pressing problems and be accountable not just for financial performance, but societal impact as well.”

While some sector investment opportunities already provide market rate returns, it’s evident that enterprise philanthropy is still needed in order to unlock impact investing’s full market potential, much like Mircofinance ten years ago. This year’s reports and largest transactions reveal a sector that ranges the full spectrum from mature assets to the earliest of stages. Key sector developments this year include:

  • The most recent data demonstrates a $650 billion market potential for impact investing per the “Gateways to Impact Report”, a collaboration of leading entities in the sector.
  • The Monitor Group’s “From Blueprint to Scale” report, also produced by leading voices in the space, recognized that in order to make this potential new force for business mature and sustainable, impact philanthropy is needed to scale.
  • Nearly $4.4 billion was invested in 2,200 impact investing deals in 2011, almost exactly twice as many as in 2010, according to “Accelerating Impact”, a new report by the Rockefeller Foundation.

“The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support SOCAP12, and the committed industry leaders that will help nurture and grow the impact investing sector,” said Dr. Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation. “As the Foundation approaches its centennial year, we recognize that the next 100 years will require more dollars than philanthropy and governments have to solve the world’s most significant challenges. With its capacity to unlock private capital, the field of impact investing, which the Rockefeller Foundation has supported since 2008, is representative of a next chapter in philanthropy, one that focuses on bringing together unlikely partners to solve social challenges.”

For three days each year SOCAP becomes a social enterprise ecosystem where peers catch-up on a year of developments while accessing input from sector leaders and veterans. Thought provoking sessions and evening mixers foster conversations, new collaborations and at times, even funding. New this year, the SOCAP Design Series takes advantage of having many valuable minds in one place; bringing them together for in-depth sessions meant to yield new actionable ideas resulting in impact, while moving solutions and businesses forward. Attendees will represent over 45 countries this year. This year’s program highlights include:

  • Keynotes from Jeff Raikes, CEO of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Judith Rodin, President, The Rockefeller Foundation, Matt Bannick, Managing Partner, Omidyar Network, Majora Carter and Paul Polak, Founder, International Development Enterprises (IDE).
  • The impact driven SOCAP Design Series brings together experts, investors and entrepreneurs focusing on one of six areas. Each session will comprise a 15-minute plenary, 50-minute expert panel, followed by a two-hour design workshop. Themes include: The Blue Economy (all things water), Reworking the Term Sheet, Local Economies, The New Economy, Gender Lens Investing and Redesigning the Market.
  • With a common thread of impact investing, this year’s track themes include: Meaning, Impact Investor, Tech 4 Good, Next Stage Philanthropy, New Economy, Intermediaries, Deep/Local/Connected, Early Stage, Public Private.

SOCAP12 kicks off with “The Impact Accelerator @ SOCAP”, a weekend of activities for the most promising social entrepreneurs from around the world.  The weekend will be led by impact accelerator leaders from HUB Ventures, The Unreasonable Institute, Village Capital, Echoing Green, Greenstart, Global Social Benefit Incubator, DASRA, and more.  The program also includes participation in Google’s Entrepreneur Week.

“SOCAP is the premier convening of social entrepreneurs and those passionate in the belief that markets can bring about positive change in the world,” said Omidyar Network Managing Partner, Matt Bannick. “Kevin Jones and the team have again pulled together a compelling program; one that promises to explore the pressing questions of the day, such as the future of impact investing.” 

Premier support for SOCAP12 comes from the Omidyar Network, Rockefeller Foundation and Halloran Philanthropies. Social entrepreneurs from around the country will have the opportunity to participate in this year’s conference thanks to the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. A special SOCAP12 themed campaign on Indiegogo will allow conference attendees to support their choice of five social enterprises. Those who cannot attend SOCAP12 in person can still view parts of the conference via Livestream.

About The Social Capital Markets Conference
Based in San Francisco, California, SOCAP is a multi-platform organization dedicated to expanding impact investing and the flow of capital towards social good. Our event series connects innovators worldwide – investors, foundations, institutions and social entrepreneurs – to build a market at the intersection of money and meaning. SOCAP has received global recognition as a leader in the impact investing space. SOCAP events are a part of an organization that includes Hub Bay Area, Hub Ventures and Hub Cities. For more information visit: http://socialcapitalmarkets.net

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Social Capital Markets

Social Capital Markets

SOCAP is a multi-platform organization dedicated to the flow of capital towards social good. Our event series connects innovators worldwide - investors, foundations, institutions and social entrepreneurs - to build a market at the intersection of money and meaning. SOCAP has received global recognition as a leader in the social capital space.

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