What is a social venture?
Wikipedia defines it like this: A social venture is an undertaking by a firm or organization established by a social entrepreneur that seeks to provide systemic solutions to achieve a sustainable, social objective.
What is a COMMON Accelerator Event?
Accelerator events can happen anywhere and any time the community can muster enough energy and passion around an idea or venture.
Does an idea submitted in the COMMON community have to make a product?
No. Services can fall under the category of social ventures. Grameen Bank is a good example.
Is COMMON a startup incubator?
Not in the traditional sense. Our present goals are to build national excitement around social entrepreneurialism, draw attention to the amazing concepts for social good we come across in our community and our events, and help the entrepreneurs moving these ideas forward thrive.
Other incubators or accelerators offer structured programs in trade for equity in entrepreneurs’ companies. We might expand to provide that service in the future, but it’s not our focus right now.
How does COMMON make money?
We currently make money by collaborating with major brands and organizations on creative and ecologically sound product or business model innovations. When our website moves out of beta in the coming months, it will include a digital extension of this that we’re pretty excited about.
Does COMMON ever fund companies?
To date, we haven’t formally invested in any companies outside of two internal projects called COMMON Cycles and COMMON Hoops.
Do companies participating in a COMMON Pitch or other event automatically become a part of COMMON?
No, companies will not become part of COMMON by applying to or participating in one of our events. They’re all yours.
How can I become a COMMON company?
We accept a very limited number of applications from businesses interested in becoming a COMMON company. To learn more about the application process, email us.
Who are COMMON’s competitors?
We currently view the small number of people in the social venture acceleration space as collaborators more than competitors – and if we do get to a point where there’s competition, we’ll view it as a healthy indicator of much-needed industry growth.
How can I get involved?
You can start by joining the community or following us on twitter.
