PROVIDENCE, RI – Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) hosted the 2024 Rhode Island Impact Business Showcase on Thursday night, a unique event focused on highlighting the achievements of recent SEG program participants. The showcase featured some of the most innovative and socially responsible businesses and nonprofits in the state. From sustainable fashion to eco-friendly products, the event offered a glimpse into the future of Rhode Island’s community-focused ventures. This year’s Showcase was made possible by presenting sponsor, Citizens, and scale sponsors, Insperity and Plant City.
“I want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to this year’s extraordinary group of entrepreneurs. Our showcase truly brings together each and every component of the SEG ecosystem and community,” said Julie Owens, Chief Executive Officer of SEG. “A big thank you goes out to the alumni, staff, volunteers, and funders who helped to make this signature event a success. This is just the beginning for these innovative social enterprises!”
Five entrepreneurs from SEG’s Accelerator Program unveiled their groundbreaking concepts for a chance to snag impressive awards, including the first place Citizens Prize – $10,000, second place Kelly Impact Prize – $5,000, and the SiliconXL Audience Choice Award – $1,000.
The participating ventures and winners included:
- Citizens Prize Winner:Project Insulin – Eric Moyal
- Project Insulin’s mission is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable insulin. Our primary focus is to create our own generic insulin and distribute it directly to patients at cost regardless
- Kelly Impact Prize Winner: The Lil’ Rhody Coffee Company, LP– Vincent Emery
- Lil’ Rhody globally sources coffees and roasts them using a sustainable roasting method that produces 80% less CO2 then traditional roasting methods.
- SiliconXL Audience Choice Award Winner: BORN-O UNIFORMS– Elizabeth Borno
- BORN-O UNIFORMS support the well-being of healthcare professionals by providing them with safe, comfortable, fashionable and affordable medical uniforms.
- Facilitate Change, LLC– Andrea Gomez & Victoria Rodriguez
- Facilitate Change, LLC creates spaces through needs assessment, executive coaching, and staff facilitation to imagine and implement a more equitable workplace culture.
- Sashoonya – Aleksandra Azbel
- Sashoonya is a textile art and design company that creates sustainable, naturally dyed textile products using local materials and dyes derived from our natural surroundings in New England.
“This award brings a sense of validation and recognition that the broader community is starting to see the work we’re doing and resonating with how important it is,” said Eric Moyal, the founder of Project Insulin and winner of the $10,000 Citizens Prize. “We’re going to be using the funding to get our message out there to people around the country and, and be a beacon for the diabetes community. We’re going to make sure that insulin is affordable and accessible to everyone.”
The esteemed panelist of judges who decided the evening’s winners included Melisa Carrascova, Claude Arnell Milhouse, and Kelley McShane.
“We decided to go with Project Insulin due to the overwhelming impacts. We recognized the ability for Eric and his team to make a difference in the world. The impact he has made since August of 2023, already funding over $180,000–we really believe that the $10,000 will make a huge impact in order to get him to the next step and stage in his business,” said Melisa Carrascova, the VP of Business Banking Market Manager at Citizens.
The showcase was held at Farm Fresh Rhode Island in Providence. During the evening, attendees had the opportunity to explore 30 demo booths, showcasing the entrepreneurs and ventures from SEG’s Ideator, Incubator, Incubadora (En Español), and Accelerator programs. The program also included remarks from SEG alumni, Harrison Grigsby, the founder of Hope Scholars Initiative.
About Social Enterprise Greenhouse:
SEG accelerates impact by providing inclusive support and networks for entrepreneurs and businesses committed to positive societal and economic change. SEG fosters an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders who work to enable a more just, equitable, and resilient economy. SEG is based in Rhode Island and operates statewide virtually and from sites in Providence, Newport, and Pawtucket/Central Falls. Its network of 2,000+ enterprises and 200+ business and community leaders contributes time, expertise, and funding to grow Rhode Island’s social impact ecosystem. To learn more, visit www.segreenhouse.org.
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Media Contact (For SEG)
Chelsea DeCesare, Half Street Strategic Consulting
401.286.9037 | Chelsea@halfstreetgroup.com