Success at the Social Venture Innovation Challenge for ECenter Students

 This past fall, Executive Director Ian Grant coached a fantastic group of UNH undergraduate and graduate students on their ideas and presentations for the 2019 Social Venture Innovation Challenge, hosted by the Center for Social Innovation and Enterprise. Read on to learn more about the students and their ideas. Helping students succeed with their ideas is one of the ECenter's favorite pursuits!

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From left to right: Ian Grant, Haley Burns, Cameron Horack, Chris Hollis,
Marisa Rafal, Megan Estes, and Kendra Bostick.

1st Place - Student Track

Kendra Bostick ’23, Education (Ph.D.)

Kendra's idea, Transform Classrooms with Kikori, is an easy-to-use digital platform that helps educators improve their students' social, emotional, and academic outcomes with experiential education activities aligned with curriculum, training, and impact measurement tools. "The ECenter has been an incredible support in my journey as an entrepreneur.  As someone lacking business experience, Ian Grant has readily supported and encouraged me in a number of areas.  This has allowed us to refine our message and apply for and win the Social Venture Application. He is also an incredible resource for other grants and opportunities including the NSF

I-Corps Program and potential summer programming," said Kendra. Watch Kendra's submission video here.

2nd Place - Student Track

Chris Hollis '22, Undeclared

Chris is working on Ambrosia Fabrics, developing nontoxic and sustainable performance fabrics for furniture that are made from hemp and bamboo. Watch Chris' SVIC submission video here.

3rd Place - Student Track

Marisa Rafal '19, '20G, Master of Public Policy

Marisa started the NH Toy Library Network, a NH college-student-run initiative to support children's equitable access to toys, decrease waste, and reduce college-to-community siloing. Pictured above with Marisa is invaluable teammate Megan Estes. "Working with the ECenter was vital. They gave multiple 1:1 practice sessions, all with expert insights that really made me feel so much better equipped for competition day. I am very grateful for all the support the ECenter has given the NHTLN, and I'm honored to have had the chance to participate in SVIC," said Marisa. Watch Marisa's submission video here.

1st Place - Community Track

Haley Burns ’20, Business Entrepreneurship

Haley's idea, V'ice Haiti, is a Social Venture in Haiti that delivers affordable vitamin supplementation to the people who need it most by employing Haitian youth and mothers as micro-franchisees. Watch Haley's submission video here.