Andrew Wolk

People, Ideas, and Why I’m Going to SOCAP09

Posted on 27. Aug, 2009 in Public Innovation, Role of Government, Social Capital Markets, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation

Next week I’ll be heading out to San Francisco to attend the SOCAP09 (Social Capital Markets) conference. This marks the 2nd year of the conference, and boy have they already made quite a splash! Last year, despite the recession, it was sold out. This year looks to be the same…and with a stellar line up of programming and people.

Why am I going? Kevin Jones, a founder of SOCAP as well as Good Capital, has a knack for bringing together great people, interesting content, all while utilizing the latest technology.

On the people side, representatives from all three sectors will be there, including Sonal Shah from the White House Office of Social Innovation, Kris Prendergast from the Social Enterprise Alliance, Jim Fruchterman from Benetech, Bill Strathmann from Network for Good, many staffers from Acumen Fund, Don Shaffer from RSF Social Finance, George Overholser from Nonprofit Finance Fund, Darell Hammond from KaBOOM!, Jacob Harold from the Hewlett Foundation, and Matthew Bishop from the Economist (click here to see a full list of speakers). I’m really looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting and learning from new ones.

The content also has some interesting spins, including showcasing the capital market spectrum on Day One and creating a new narrative to social impact on Day Two. Of course, I am very much looking forward to hearing Sonal Shah’s keynote to open the conference, as well as participating with her, Carla Javits from REDF, and Vanessa Kirsch from New Profit, Inc. on a panel following the keynote, moderated by Jeff Bradach from Bridgespan, on “Social Innovation and the Administration.”  What are the questions and topics you hope we address?

Lastly, their use of technology is pretty amazing.  You’ll be able to follow the conversation I’m participating in on Twitter at #socap09.DDSIA, as well as other content at #SOCAP09 (see full list of hashtags here), but start following #SOCAP09 now since people are already posting their ideas and thoughts to the conversation. I’m also really impressed with their Connection Concierge for conference attendees, which consists of discussion forums, attendee profiles, and social networking tools.

Just two years in, SOCAP is leading the way on creating a forum for dialogue on some of the most pressing questions in the world of social capital markets. I hope to see you there!

Tags: acumen fund, benetech, bill strathmann, bridgespan, carla javits, darell hammond, don schaffer, economist, george overholser, good capital, hewlett foundation, jacob harold, jeff bradach, jim fruchterman, kaboom!, kevin jones, kris prendergast, matthew bishop, network for good, new profit inc., nonprofit finance fund, redf, rsf social finance, socap09, social capital marketplace, social enterprise alliance, social media, sonal shah, vanessa kirsch, white house office of social innovation