Upaya’s Partnership with Chicago Booth School of Business on Display at 2013 Social New Venture Competition

As part of the organization’s partnership with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Upaya’s Executive Director Sachi Shenoy recently joined a distinguished group of Booth alumni as final round judges for the school’s Social New Venture Competition (SNVC). While in Chicago, she also participated in the annual advisory board meeting of the school’s Social Enterprise Initiative.

The judging panel – which included leadership from organizations such as the Arabella Advisors, TransUnion Corp., CDW and Shorebank International – evaluated 16 finalists based on the strength of their business models and ability of their work to realize a positive social benefit. Upaya was well represented at the event.

The SNVC is lead by Chicago Booth Deputy Dean Robert Gertner, who also serves Upaya as an Advisor. Additionally, Upaya Board member Sonny Garg was involved in the planning of this year’s competition.

Upaya at Clinton Global Initiative Mid-Year Meeting

Upaya’s Executive Director Sachi Shenoy joined impact investing thought leaders from around the world at the Clinton Global Initiative’s May Mid-Year Meeting in New York City. Over the course of two days, the group discussed the ongoing maturation of the sector and explored the mechanisms needed to ensure that early-stage social businesses are given the support they need to launch, grow, and prepare for follow-on investment.

“I heard so often over the two day meeting that there are simply too few scale-ready, socially transformative businesses reaching the desks of impact investors, and that organizations like Upaya are exactly what is needed to solve this problem,” said Shenoy. “The conversation reaffirmed for me the power of Upaya’s model to empower small and growing businesses, build a pipeline of sound investment opportunities, and bring significant change to the people living below the extreme poverty line,” she said.

For more information on the Clinton Global Initiative, click

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Sachi Shenoy Judges Global Social Venture Competition, Discusses Job Creation for the Poorest with Berkeley-Haas Students

Upaya’s Executive Director Sachi Shenoy was among the distinguished business leaders invited to Berkeley, CA to judge the 18 finalists of the Haas School of Business’s annual Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC). Founded in 1999, the GSVC is the world’s longest running social business plan competition. In regional competitions held between November 2012 and April 2013, more than 650 entrant teams from 37 countries pitched their social impact business plans.

While in Berkeley, Sachi also joined peers from the Omidyar Network, Riders for Health, and The Citizens Foundation USA on a panel titled “Social Enterprises in the Developing World.” During the discussion she shared insights from Upaya’s experience creating jobs and measuring social change with Berkeley Haas students and GSVC participants. That video can be viewed in its entirety here or by clicking the video image below. For more information on the GSVC, please click here.