Social Venture Institute Hollyhock 2010 Supporters

Sub Pop Records, a world-renowned independent record label located in Seattle, Washington, was founded in 1988 by Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt. Sub Pop has released more than 700 recordings by artists including Nirvana, Soundgarden, the Postal Service, the Shins, Iron & Wine, Wolf Parade, and Flight of the Conchords.

Vancity was founded in 1946 to provide financial services to people from all walks of life. Since then, it has grown to become the largest credit union in English-speaking Canada, with more than $12.3 billion in assets. Vancity serves more than 363,000 members through 57 branches located throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Squamish and Victoria. Vancity uses a triple bottom line business model, driven not only by a commitment to financial success, but to environmental and social sustainability as well and a commitment to corporate social responsibility, to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.

Partners

GrowthWorks offers regionally based retail venture capital funds (RVCs) across Canada. These GrowthWorks managed funds include the Working Opportunity Fund, GrowthWorks Canadian Fund, GrowthWorks Commercialization Fund, and GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund. They manage funds with a total of over $800 million in assets, with a primary focus on Canada’s most promising sectors: information technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

Tides Canada provides innovative philanthropic, financial and project management services for change makers — philanthropists, foundations, activists, and civil organizations.  We pool the best ideas, strategies, people, and capital to achieve the greatest impacts on the key environmental and social issues of our time. As experts who share your values, we work on issues like habitat protection, marine conservation, water resources, climate and energy, arctic policy, food systems and urban sustainability.  An example of our leadership role can be seen in the Great Bear Rainforest – the largest integrated conservation program in North American history. Tides Canada led the national fundraising campaign and enabled coalition building among Canada’s leading environmental organizations to help ensure a healthy future for the Great Bear Rainforest – now one of the most protected forest regions in the world.

GaiaWorks is interested in strategic North American partners to capitalize on its twelve-year success in the Japanese market. Tokyo-based and Canadian-owned, GaiaWorks has sold in excess of $15m of environmental products, and is projected to continue to grow exponentially. Our mission is to benefit innovative companies and society at large by providing access to the lucrative Japanese market for socially and environmentally beneficial products and services.

SAP is the world leader in collaborative business software, working with a highly skilled team to optimize every day its customers’ IT systems, connecting small and medium size businesses and helping almost 100,000 customers worldwide to navigate through the present times of economic and social challenges. SAP solutions provide deep insight into customer business processes and enable sustainable business practices. From supply chain management to smart metering to carbon accounting and sustainability performance management, SAP solutions allow customers to manage complex data requirements and make more sustainable decisions.

Renewal2 invests in change by providing an opportunity for investors to participate in the development of businesses at the forefront of social and environmental innovation. Led by the Renewal Partners management team, Renewal2 builds upon over a decade of experience in successful high impact investing.

Octopus Strategies is an accomplished, international team, focused on helping organizations to achieve world-changing goals and missions. We stand at the forefront of a new era of communication tools and tactics, constantly aware that a good story told well is timeless. We know that passion needs focus to be effective, and we believe success needs a greater purpose to be truly valued. We focus on brand, communication and fundraising strategy. We are inspired by those who have a vision of a world made better by their organizations. 

Established in 1976, Horizon Distributors is a privately-owned Canadian company providing Canada’s largest selection of organic and natural products in the dry, chill, frozen and household cleaning categories. During its history, Horizon has emerged as an established industry leader, becoming the preferred distributor to both independent retailers and major natural and mass market grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market® and Planet Organic Market, and an array of natural foods stores, buying clubs, wholesalers, restaurants, bakeries, cafés and commissaries. Horizon is the cornerstone of the Horizon Group, a privately held, national network of Canadian businesses concerned with the distribution, private labelling, import and brand management of organic, natural and gourmet foods, health and beauty aids and nutritional supplements.

Supporters

Climate Smart is a Vancouver-based social enterprise launched by Ecotrust Canada in 2009. It is the leading provider of business-skills training for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in managing and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This training is supported by an online GHG management software application, which was rated No. 1 for SMEs in North America in an independent study by Carbonzero. Climate Smart provides a comprehensive and cost-effective service, including training and technical support, specifically designed for the large but under-serviced SME market. Climate Smart's work with over 200 businesses to date demonstrates that SMEs can reduce their carbon footprints while cutting costs and building responsible, trusted brands.

Ever since Village Real Estate Services began in 1996, we’ve focused on the real estate consumer seeking alternatives to cookie-cutter houses and urban sprawl. Village strives to recycle housing, with an emphasis on older, established neighbourhoods. We also support in-fill and condo/loft opportunities in midtown and the core business district, unlike many brokerages that cater primarily to suburban subdivisions and new developments. But most importantly, Village is about new ideas. We’re adaptable to a changing marketplace, and we strive to sharpen our skills in implementing new approaches as we pursue our business and social objectives. Our aim is to build stronger, more progressive communities and to find new ways to create community-oriented and neighbourhood wealth.

Co-Sponsors

Hollyhock, Canada's Leading Educational Retreat Centre offers a vast array of programs, welcomes holiday guests and day visitors, and rents its facilities for conferences and private gatherings. From March through November, this unique West Coast ocean-side paradise attracts program and conference participants from around the world. Guests come to develop skills, further professional networks, enliven artistic expression, deepen personal practice, and relax and recharge in a setting of spectacular natural beauty. Hollyhock exists to inspire, nourish and support people who are making the world better. Organic garden inspired cuisine and cozy accommodations augment abundant opportunities for learning, exploration and discovery.

In-Kind Sponsors