Ohio University invites regional entrepreneurs to the Appalachian Social Enterprise Summit

Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, Rural Action, Coalfield Development and other regional partners will be hosting the area’s largest gathering of social entrepreneurs this year at the Appalachian Social Enterprise Summit Oct.10-11. 

The summit will invite social entrepreneurs and interested investors to network and exchange ideas. It will be an opportunity to support compassionate leaders in our communities and learn about the model of social entrepreneurship.

The event will begin on Oct. 10 with a learning journey that will take attendees to social enterprises and sites throughout Athens County. The tour will start in Glouster at the Athens County Land Bank and proceed to Dirty Girl Coffee, True Pigments, ACEnet and Passion Works Studio in Athens. 

Following the tour, attendees will enjoy a farm-to-table dinner and happy hour hosted at local Athens restaurant Casa Nueva. 

The next day, Oct. 11, will kick off the official social enterprise summit at the Walter Hall Rotunda on OHIO’s Athens campus. 

Faith Knutsen, director of social innovation and entrepreneurship for the Voinovich School, said the University is proud to collaborate with such renowned social enterprise innovators as Rural Action and Coalfield Development to learn together with the entire 13-state impact community.  

The conference will feature a variety of speakers, breakout sessions, workshops and a pitch competition. 

Session topics will include:

• What is Social Enterprise and why is it important for Appalachia?
• Pathways to Success
• Opportunity Sectors for Social Entrepreneurship

The summit will conclude with a pitch competition for startup and ideation-level social enterprises and ideators. Social entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to share their ideas and concepts regarding their own social enterprise in front of a panel of judges. 

All entrants will receive professional mentoring, and a generous donation from Invest Appalachia will enable up to $10,000 in recoverable grants for winning enterprises. In addition, the University-affiliated winner will receive the honor of displaying the White Water Rapids Pitch Competition Trophy for an entire year. 

Paul Patton, chief innovation officer at Rural Action, said the organization is excited to be working with the Voinovich School, Ohio University, and partners throughout the Central Appalachian region to bring together social entrepreneurs, practitioners and students. 

“The learning journey on October 10th and the summit on the 11th will highlight so many local entrepreneurs like Dirty Girl Coffee, Passion Works Studios, and True Pigments,” Patton said.

The registration deadline for the pitch competition is midnight on Sept. 23. For more information and to register for the summit, visit https://ruralaction.org/our-work/social-enterprise/appalachian-social-enterprise-summit/.