Social Enterprise Greenhouse Selects 17 Social Ventures for Fall 2020 Impact Accelerator

Providence, R.I. (October 21, 2020) – Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) announced today that 17 social ventures have been selected to participate in its Fall 2020 Impact Accelerator program. The Impact Accelerator offers a customized curriculum, peer learning, and access to a network of experts in addition to the entire SEG Advisor network to help social entrepreneurs grow their businesses in Rhode Island and beyond.

The purpose of SEG’s Impact Accelerator program is to stimulate innovation in Rhode Island and to help create more successful, sustainable “do well, do good” businesses, leading to a more just, equitable, and resilient economy. The three-month program is being conducted virtually using the Zoom platform and culminates with a Pitch Night on January 13, 2021.

SEG’s 2020 Impact Accelerator is delivered in partnership with Brown University and is funded by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s Back to Work RI Initiative, Delta Dental, Newman’s Own Foundation, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and the Island Foundation. A total of 188 social ventures have graduated from SEG’s Accelerator programs since 2010.

Participants chosen for SEG’s Fall 2020 Impact Accelerator are as follows:

EmTech Care Labs develops daily care management technologies for independent living and aging in place, including Care-Wallet, a mobile and web-based software to help family caregivers collaboratively manage in-home eldercare and provide timely and cost-effective care. Founder: Aarabi Balasubramanian, Cambridge, Mass.

Gnome Surf is a nonprofit Surf Therapy organization that aims to create a community for families and to inspire a world where kids of all abilities, races, and socio-economic background have equal opportunity, love, kindness, and happiness. Founder: Chris Antao of Fall River, Mass.

iNERDE Inc. intends to fill the gap between the skills needed to succeed in the modern world and the skills being taught in most schools in Africa, addressing Africa’s pressing need for effective STEAM education through curriculum development and dissemination and professional development for teachers and educators. Founder: Mohamed Kante of North Providence, R.I.

Includesign (formerly LapSnap) is a Rhode Island-based product design company with the goal of creating products that empower individuals with disabilities around the world. Founder: Diana Perkins of Newton, Mass.

LUNA Community Care is a disability justice led and centered organization that serves caregivers and their disabled children in the Greater Providence area by providing wraparound peer support, caregiving solutions, and access to our online and in-person community care group, Village Nurture. Founder: Casey Gallagher, LMHC, of Providence, R.I.

Mala Hierba offers yard education and permaculture solutions to invasive species and weeds. We see the yard as an ecosystem, not just a collection of plants. Our consulting helps you think strategically about your backyard. Founder: Sam Smiley (they/them/theirs) of Providence, R.I.

My Grandson is a concierge and delivery service for vulnerable individuals in the 65+ community, not only to assist with daily physical tasks but to create and provide meaningful interaction. Founder: Ned Roosevelt of Sugar Hill, N.H.

Omena‘s mission is to equip children with the social and emotional intelligence tools to nurture a more self-loving, self-aware, and empathic generation with more self-esteem that is empowered to foster healthy relationships and reduce abuse and violence in Madagascar. Founder: Francesca Raoelison of Antananarivo, Madagascar

Otraway provides mission-driven organizations with quality customer service, unique branded products, and impactful solutions to connect the community. President: Amanda Mottola of Warwick

Outsider Collective is an artist community and gallery space located in the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, R.I. with a mission to build community and belonging through art and unity for every ability. Cofounders: Jessica Angelone and Carrie Hyde of Pawtucket, R.I.

PAWS Pet Grooming provides a transformational experience with a local feel that fosters an ecosystem of support and trust for the pet owner, staff, and individualized care of pets. Founder: David O’Connor of Charlestown, R.I.

Ram Head Sports is a sports protection apparel company with its own unique patented padded products designed to help prevent concussions and other sports-related injuries while making change in the community. Founder: John Lopes of Pawtucket, R.I.

Root Literacy Design LLC empowers educators by providing them with individualized training grounded in evidence-based methods for teaching students how to read and write. Founder: Heather Ballantine of Portsmouth, R.I.

Social Skills in Motion is a holistic, children and youth center that provides therapeutic interventions through sports and movement based programming to enhance social emotional development in marginalized communities in New York City. Founders: Sara Czworniak and Giana Quinterno of New York, N.Y.

The FLY Initiative (Financial Literacy Youth) addresses the issues of disparities in financial literacy resources, cultural inequities and family engagement challenges through a culturally responsive financial literacy program, grounded in the value of experiential learning and featuring a holistic multi-generational approach. Founder: Marcy Reyes of Cranston, R.I.

Urban Perinatal Education Center exists to provide necessary perinatal health and wellness education to those who need it most and are adversely impacted by poor health outcomes in their reproductive life course. Founder: Quatia Osorio of Providence, R.I.

Your Story is a purpose-driven community that enables individuals, teams, communities and organizations to realize their potential to positively impact the world. Co-Founders: Matthew Eriksen of North Kingstown, R.I., and Ariel Galipeau of Quincy, Mass.

About Social Enterprise Greenhouse
Social Enterprise Greenhouse creates positive social and economic impact by providing social entrepreneurs and enterprises with the tools and networks they need to thrive. We also foster an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders who work to enable a more just, equitable and resilient economy. SEG operates statewide in Rhode Island from three programming sites in Providence, Newport, and Pawtucket/Central Falls. Our network of 600+ enterprises and 250+ 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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Contact:
Karen Donovan
Communications Director
kdonovan@segreenhouse.org