Social Innovation Camp: Changing the World One Weekend at a Time

Last weekend in London, I witnessed what I would call a series of miracles that soon could be a part of our everyday waking lives, or at least the lives of my friends in the United Kingdom.  The Social Innovation Camp hosted by The Young Foundation was a barcamp/startup weekend sort of event for social entrepreneurs, people looking to do good and make enough money to be sustainable.  If what I saw was as indicative of the scene in London as I believe, this is perhaps one of the major epicenters of transforming the world into the better place that we all know it can be. There is a really great write up of the whole weekend over on the SI Camp Blog.

Besides meeting tons of brilliant people like, I learned a lot about how to facilitate these sorts of events, how to empower better team collaboration and the deep seated desire that so many people the world over have to engage in what I call The Noble Pursuit.  I also confirmed that London is still one of the best cities in the world, and perhaps the only other city I would actually live in other than San Francisco.

I hope to work with a foundation or two in the Bay Area, along with my AdHocnium colleague JD Lasica to bring this sort of event to my home soon.  We are working on several great ideas I hope to tell you all about very soon that is related to our work with AdHocnium and JD’s work on Media Innovation Camp.

As I sat there last Sunday afternoon, I was impressed by the final presentations of the seven social startups created oer the weekend.  Each one progressed in dramatic ways from where they were at the prior Friday night when things got underway.  I personally had a chance to sit in on parts of the discussions on almost all of them and contribute little bits here and there, in an advisory sort of role.  As an outsider, I didn’t want to get too deep, but I did want to be a ‘useful visitor’, which is actually the team I spent the most time with and hopefully the one I contributed the most real value to.  I hope to continue to advise them over the years ahead to ensure it is successful.  It is something that I would surely use, as I suspect you would too.

A full write up on the process and the judging talks further about the prizes. Our Useful Visitor team came in 2nd place behind GoodGym. Their concept is interesting and has potential, but there are some security concerns.  The idea is that this service can enable people to do good while running, walking or biking by pairing them up with people who need help, companionship or support.  Recruit people staying healthy to run errands for people and just stop by for a visit.  Kind of like Big Brothers, but perhaps its more like BigRunners Will share some more thoughts on them in the coming days.

The other teams were We-Need, OwnGrown, AccessCity, Carbon Co-Op and PostPost. I will write up something on each of them next week along with some recommendations / advice but you can read more about them, see their presentations and check out the web sites they built by clicking on their names above.  In the meantime, I thought I would hand out some of my own awards.  This isn’t an attempt to make sure ‘everyone feels like a winner’, especially since I didn’t get to see everyone closely.  Rather this is just my appreciation of what I saw as some really great accomplishments that should be recognized.

Awards

• Most Prepared: We-Need
  Craig came in with a ton of planning diagrams and ideas – he really understands the problems faced by the people he is trying to help at a deep level and it showed.
• Best Research: GoodGym
  The team went out during the weekend and interviewed runners as to whether they would use the service… they actually signed up 10+ volunteers!
• Best Name Change: OwnGrown
  Prior to the weekend, this startup was called Vegsy – clearly, OwnGrown is a multi million dollar brand.
• Best Web Site: PostPost
  The UI is simple simple, the site looks fantastic.
• Best Team: Useful Visitor
  Well, this is a bit self-serving, but I really do mean it – with such a big team, to execute as well as we did and work so well together, I am really proud of everyone.
• Best Presentation: GoodGym
  Ivo Gormley was the epitome of dry British comedy and his presentation was superbly crafted.  Bravo.
• Best Post Presentation Q&A: Useful Visitor
  OK, again a bit of self interest here, but I didn’t see many other people get an applause line for their responses in Q&A so I was impressed…
• Most Easily Sustainable: OwnGrown
  I agree with the remark of one of the judges, this should be a real business.  I think it is perhaps a co-op as well, but it is surely a market.  If people don’t pay on the transaction level, they should at least be paid members.  Who doesn’t want locally grown produce at a reasonable price?
• Best Presentation Stunt: OwnGrown
  Towards the end of the presentation, they brought in a huge tray of vegetables because ’someone in the room ordered them’
• Most Needed: We-Need
  I can’t overstate this point – we need, We-Need.  There are too many people who need help from the system which is unable to connect with them properly.  Please support this effort in any way you can.
• Most Important / Biggest Impact: Carbon Co-Op
  One person can make a difference, but a village of people, working together to change the local energy consumption rates can make a huge difference.
• Most Valuable Player(s):The Young Foundation
  There are some really great people here doing important work.  This would have not happened without them opening their minds, their hearts and their offices – thank you so very much.

All in all, this was one of the most gratifying things in which I have participated in a long time.  Big thanks to The Young Foundation, Dan, Kati, Anna and all my new friends for welcoming me into your space this past weekend.  Hopefully we can find ways to work together again in the future.

PS – more of my photos from the weekend are available on Flickr.Technorati Tags: sicamp, social innovation camp, barcamp, social entrepreneurs, social startups