Growing social enterprise in the Central Valley was the goal of #SoEnt 2017 “Social Entrepreneurship for the Common Good,” April 6, 2017, in Butler Church, 4884 E. Butler Ave., Fresno.
The Business Journal put #SoEnt 2017 on its front page April 14
The event, the first of its kind, was sponsored by the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and the Fresno Pacific University School of Business. More than 115 students and community members attended #SoEnt, including more than 70 representing various fields of study at FPU.
Participants connected with one another and area leaders in the field to think creatively about solving social issues through social business. Featured speaker Bryan Feil, CEO of Lanna Coffee Co. and FPU grad, told the story of his social enterprise. Featured guests also included Jake Soberal, Co-CEO of Bitwise Industries; Andrew Shinn, FPU instructor and social enterprise expert; and Tim Goetz, COO of Aplos Software. In all, there were 14 different breakout options.
Attendees also were invited to attend the Business Plan Workshop May 25, 2017, where those with ideas for social enterprises can take the next step and develop a business plan to pitch in the CCT’s annual Spark Tank event, this year on September 8. To learn more, visit cctfresno.org or contact Carlos Huerta at carlos.huerta@fresno.edu.