Learn About Exciting New Additions to the SOCAP Framework
At SOCAP Global, we are constantly evolving to address the needs of our community and the pressing, ever-changing challenges our world faces. Taking into consideration feedback from past SOCAP attendees, the inaugural Content Curation Councils of global subject matter experts, and the newly minted SOCAP Global team, there are a variety of additions to the SOCAP framework for this year’s event.
We shifted to a shorter schedule with three full days of content to reduce travel expenses without minimizing valuable content and conversations, revitalized the Entrepreneur Program with unique offerings to benefit both founders and investors, and launched a global travel initiative to support our international attendees.
We’ve also introduced elements that offer new opportunities to connect, celebrate the artistic and cultural setting of the event, and provide a platform to maximize deal flow. Learn more about these additions and updates below, and be sure to register for SOCAP23, October 23 to 25 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco!
New Schedule, Expanded Footprint
SOCAP23 kicks off first thing Monday morning with our inspiring Opening Ceremony co-hosted by Raven Indigenous Impact Fund in the Yerba Buena Gardens, followed by three full days of content and ample opportunities for networking. The event concludes Wednesday evening at the SOCAP Garden Party. Like last year, the reception will take place in the beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens to celebrate our community with live music and delicious fare from local food trucks.
Arts and culture have an important influence on driving systemic change. We’re excited to continue our partnership with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) and host SOCAP23 at this venue for the second year in a row. New this year and taking place during SOCAP23 is the Bay Area Now 9 exhibit. It is the ninth iteration of YBCA’s signature triennial exhibition highlighting over 30 multidisciplinary Bay Area artists.
Located across the street from Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) will host a number of sessions at this year’s SOCAP conference. We’re delighted to partner with UpStart to bring this distinguished cultural institution that prides itself on providing a welcoming place for visitors to connect through dialogue and shared experiences with the arts to SOCAP. Check out the SOCAP23 agenda to learn more about the sessions that will take place at the CJM.
Content Designed For You
The SOCAP23 content tracks and schedule are carefully curated to help connect attendees with others in their field. With the help of our twelve Content Curation Councils, the SOCAP23 agenda includes sessions designed to invite collaboration and inspire action. We will focus on meaningful conversations and provide serendipitous opportunities to meet. SOCAP23 invites you to take advantage of the cross-sectional attendance with intention.
Delegate-led discussions are intentionally designed to develop deeper relationships and knowledge within a focused group of practitioners who are invested in the topic. This meet-up format does away with stages and holds space for everyone to be at the center of smaller group discussions that aim at weaving new connections. All of these sessions are derived from SOCAP Open submissions and are designed not as panels or keynotes but to explore a topic and work together toward potential solutions. Session leaders will have a maximum of 10 minutes to present an idea and up to three questions for the participants to discuss, offer opportunities for action, and build trust among new actors.
SOCAP23 will also host Dream.Org’s first-ever Justice Innovation Prize pitch event, awarding $1 million for transformative ideas to end mass incarceration in the United States. The session, taking place on Tuesday, October 24, will showcase pitches from five finalists to a distinguished panel of judges that include leaders from the worlds of finance, politics, and media.
SOCAP23 attendees are invited to a special screening of the new documentary Uncharitable, which exposes the challenges and limitations that constrain nonprofits and unveils the incredible future we could build by liberating these organizations. The film will be introduced by its director, Stephen Gyllenhaal, who has been directing and producing TV and film for over 40 years. An audience Q&A with Stephen will follow the screening.
Directly Connecting Funders & Entrepreneurs
Through our partnership with Toniic, investors can more easily connect with founders from the entrepreneur programs via Investor Matchmaking. Toniic’s platform matches founders with investors actively looking to invest based on their area of focus. Investors attending SOCAP23 can apply to be part of the matchmaking process free of charge by checking the interest box at registration.
For the first time in SOCAP’s history, dedicated space is reserved for all who are committed to working with, supporting, and investing in entrepreneurs. The Global Entrepreneurship Lounge was created to provide more intentional spaces for networking and connections between people working in a similar space. It will be an ideal location for founders and funders to mingle.
Uplifting Impactful Organizations Through Unique Partnership Offerings
We are pleased to showcase the work of our partners with SOCAP23 attendees. This year, we’re delighted to provide a platform for UNICEF and their partners to unveil the first-ever child lens investing approach, showcasing bottom-line benefits when the needs of children are prioritized. We’re also hosting international partners, including Deloitte Tohmatsu from Japan, and expanding opportunities for multi-year partnerships. We are thrilled to have multi-year partnerships with Prudential, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, MacArthur Foundation, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, Skoll, Halloran Philanthropies, and W.K. Kellogg.
There are limited partnership opportunities available for this year’s event! SOCAP offers unique ways to showcase your work by collaborating on opportunities such as Lightning Talks — dynamic, fast-paced talks that inspire action — and a Funder Showcase, which aims to drive meaningful connections in the investment journey. If you are interested in partnering with SOCAP this year, please reach out to Tova Lobatz, SOCAP Global’s Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships (tova@socapglobal.com), and visit our partner page for more information.
