2. 2
Spark change.
Microsoft knows solving today’s toughest social challenges
takes innovation, teamwork and big, bold ideas. That’s why we
partner with organizations and individuals around the world to
empower them with the tools they need to achieve more.
Microsoft is proud to support SVP Fast Pitch and world
changers like you.
microsoft.com/citizenship
3. 3
5 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE 5 MINUTES AT A TIME…
Welcome SVP Fast Pitch friends and family to the 5th Final Showdown!
Tonight’s event is all about action—people who see an opportunity to contribute to our
community and act, be they innovators, sponsors, donors, supporters, attendees, or our
army of volunteers.
Like many of the innovators you will see tonight, SVP Fast Pitch is moving from start-up to
adolescence. In our 5th year, we can boast some astounding numbers.
We’ve:
• Awarded over $1.2M in grants and investments.
• Provided thousands of hours in coaching, encouragement, and workshops to over
300 innovators, engaging hundreds of volunteers.
• Educated thousands of members of our community about the impact of social
entrepreneurship happening in our community.
I want to thank many people. Here’s to:
Our new guests for joining our family. Sit back. Be entertained and inspired by the
passion and commitment of ßinnovators who work hard every day to strengthen
our community.
Our ongoing friends and family, especially our SVP partners for providing the SVP
Fast Pitch innovators with a foundation for creating sustained impact.
Our sponsors and donors for encouraging and supporting the people and
organizations addressing the challenges of our community. By stepping up with
your resources, time, and support, we are able to run a program that can transform
an organization.
Our innovators, whether alumni, on stage, or in the audience, for seeing a problem
and being inspired to take action. You make our community great. This event is
for you!
And lastly, our volunteers for dedicating hundreds of hours of time. From marketing
to coaching to logistics, you have created a platform to encourage hundreds of
innovators to go out and change the world.
So sit back and be inspired—5 minutes at a time!
Maureen A. O’Hara
Lead Partner, SVP Fast Pitch Seattle 2015
WELCOME
4. 4
EVENT LINE-UP
5:00 – Registration & Social Innovation Exhibition
6:00 – Early Entrance to Auditorium: Social Impact Donors
6:15 – General Entrance: All Doors Open
6:30 – Welcome Lisa Nitze, Executive Director, SVP Seattle
Emcees Terrell Dorsey, Founder, Unleash the Brilliance
Will Poole, Managing Partner, Capria Ventures
FIVE-MINUTE PRESENTATIONS
14 Finalists
STUDENT VENTURE: HIGH SCHOOL
IntelliH2O
SafeWheel
STUDENT VENTURE: UNIVERSITY
JikoPower Inc.
TK Threads
STARTUP NONPROFIT
Ladybug House
M.U.S.T.
Prison Scholar Fund
ESTABLISHED NONPROFIT
OneWorld Now!
Salish Sea Expeditions
The Statehouse News Project
FOR-PROFIT
Deep Roots Foods
pala-linq
Play Works Studio
Vitruvian Energy, SPC
8:25 – Award Ceremony
Audience Voting & Check Presentations
9:00 – Reception
6. 6
AWARDS
THEMED AWARDS
These awards are directly chosen and funded by a select group of our sponsors.
MICROSOFT INNOVATION AWARD – $10,000
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to
achieve more. This award will support the project that most demonstrates that spirit.
WOMEN’S FUNDING ALLIANCE VENTURES FOR WOMEN – $5,000
Women’s Funding Alliance improves the lives of women and girls in Washington State. We
shine a spotlight on the most pressing issues and bring actionable solutions to philanthropy,
community-based organizations, business and government. We champion women’s
leadership and we invite our community to get personally involved in elevating the status of
all women and girls in our state.
OUTERWALL COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AWARD – $2,500
Outerwall is committed to supporting the environment and community in which we serve.
The Commitment to Diversity Award recognizes the organization that best exemplifies their
support of and contribution to enabling our diverse community.
COMCAST NBCUNIVERSAL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARD – $2,500
Comcast’s community initiative is to inspire each individual to make a positive impact
on society by harnessing the power of technology. This award supports the project that
connects our communities and most exemplifies the spirit of innovation.
GRAYLING MASTER STORYTELLER AWARD – $2,500
The first-ever Grayling Master Storyteller Award honors the individual whose storytelling is
masterful, creative, and passionate, because stories well told have the ability to transport,
transform, compel, and connect all of us in support of a winning idea.
Grayling Judges:
• Erica Beyer, Managing Director, Grayling
• Kerry Schimmelbusch, Vice President, Grayling
• Andrea Conrad, Director of Brand and Communications, zuilily
• Jessica Shapiro, Senior Director, Corporate Marketing, Concur
• Joe Paluska, Head of Communications, Maveron
AWARDS
7. 7
SEATTLE
Social Venture Partners is a philanthropic organization, but we do more than give
away money. We cultivate effective philanthropists, strengthen nonprofits, and
invest in collaborative solutions – in short, amplifying the impact of those out to do
good.
Over nearly two decades, SVP has worked with more than a thousand people—
transforming how they give and creating ripple effects in the community as 70%
increased their giving and volunteerism. We have supported 100 nonprofits,
providing $15 million and more than 34,000 skilled volunteer hours to strengthen
these organizations and accelerate collective action.
Driving all of this work is a single vision: a community in which, regardless of
income or race, all children receive an excellent education and all people live and
work in a healthy environment.
SVP SEATTLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Norm Bontje Mike Cadigan
Linda Hendrickson Austin McNamee
Lisa Merrill Tony Mestres
Kathy O’Driscoll Julie Pham
Racquel Russell Tim Schottman
Katje Shaye Todd Vogel
Sherri Wolson David Woolley-Wilson
SVP SEATTLE STAFF
Lisa Nitze, Executive Director
Megan Bartot, Project Coordinator
Lynn Coriano, Deputy Director
Sally Gillis, Senior Manager – Collective Action
Juliet Le, Program Associate – Philanthropy Development
Ben Mitchell, Program Associate – Community Investment
Mike Quinn, Senior Manager – Capacity Building
Willow Russell, Communications Director
Rebecca Stephens, Senior Manager – Philanthropy Development
Brooke Williams, Outreach Associate
11. 11
FOR-PROFIT:
These for-profit and hybrid companies are seed-stage startups, founded in
the last three years and actively looking to scale.
STARTUP NONPROFITS:
This track is for startup nonprofit organizations, founded in the last three years
and/or having an annual operating budget $100,000.
ESTABLISHED NONPROFITS:
These are larger and more established organizations (older than three years
and/or budget greater than $100,000) interested in funding for new programs
and initiatives.
STUDENT-LED VENTURES (HIGH SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY):
These student-led social ventures (non-profit, business, club, or initiative) have
been started within the past three years and are still active today.
FAST PITCH PROGRAM TRACKS
12. 12
SOCIETAL IMPACT
Societal impact is the first and most important criterion for SVP Fast Pitch. Every
organization must have a measurable means of creating change and solutions for
clearly-articulated social issues. Is it clear what the organization accomplishes, and how
it makes a difference? Have the leaders described how outcomes have changed (or
will) for their target population as a result of their programs? What scale of impact, with
quantifiable measures, does or could this organization produce?
INNOVATION
SVP Fast Pitch Seattle is all about shining a light on the most innovative ideas for social
impact in the Puget Sound region. How innovative and unique is the organization’s
approach? Is it a breakthrough new product, service, delivery, or structure? Improvement
over current methods? Are they addressing an emerging social issue or an old issue in a
creative way? Will the innovation stand the test of time? Does their innovation distinguish
them from other organizations and contribute significantly to their projected impact?
SUSTAINABILITY
There are a variety of environmental, economic, and societal definitions of sustainability.
In the case of SVP Fast Pitch, we are looking to evaluate the ability of the program or
venture to carry out its mission and achieve projected impact(s) on a continuous basis
over time, without exhausting available resources, financial or otherwise. In the simplest
sense, a soup kitchen that purchases food with donor money and distributes to those in
need is not sustainable without continuing donor funding. An organization that sources
raw ingredients at a low cost and prepares food that can be both sold for a profit and
distributed to those in need, all on a break-even-or-better basis over time is sustainable.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Early stage investors, both for-profit and nonprofit, must bet heavily on the leadership
and core team of an organization. Many good concepts fail due to poor leadership
and many flawed concepts are corrected and led to success by great leaders. Has the
individual demonstrated strong leadership in the past? Does s/he have a leadership
presence that others will want to follow? Has s/he assembled a strong team of advisors,
contributors, and/or partners? Are they bold and convicted in their presentation of ideas?
CLARITY OF CONCEPT
Much of the SVP Fast Pitch competition depends on what innovators can present in a
short amount of time. Strong pitches tell a story that connects emotionally as well as
rationally and are presented with energy and conviction. There are any number
of additional criteria that could be used to assess an enterprise, and every venture is
unique. This item includes scoring for criteria not mentioned above such as market
understanding, collaboration and partnerships, appropriate use of technology, com-
petitive analysis, potential for global relevance, etc. Presentations should make good
tradeoffs regarding what can be presented in the allotted time.
JUDGING RUBRIC
13. 13
JUDGES
ANDY COOK is a General Manager at bgC3 where he manages online,
social, and incubation projects including Gates Notes and Big History. Prior
to bgC3, Andy spent 10 years at Microsoft in both marketing and product
management roles. Andy’s experience spans a wide range of industries
and sectors, having worked in venture capital, investment banking, brand
strategy, and even as an instructor and development officer for Outward
Bound. Andy holds a BA degree from University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Duke
University.
ROBBIE BACH worked at Microsoft for 22 years where he was a
marketing leader in the successful development of Microsoft Office and
led the creation and development of the Xbox business. Bach retired in
2010 as Microsoft’s President of the Entertainment and Devices Division.
Robbie now works as a Civic Engineer with corporate, philanthropic, and
civic organizations who are driving positive change in our communities.
He speaks, lectures, and teaches extensively. In 2015, he completed his first book, Xbox
Revisited: A Game Plan for Corporate and Civic Renewal. For more information, see www.
robbiebach.com. Robbie serves on the national board of governors for the Boys and Girls
Clubs of America; the board of directors of the United States Olympic Committee, Sonos Inc.,
and Year-Up Seattle; and the board of advisors for Brooks Running Company and the Space
Needle, Inc.
He was an Arjay Miller Scholar at the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he earned
his MBA, and a Morehead Scholar at UNC where he earned his degree in economics and was
also named an Academic All-American on the Tar Heel’s tennis team.
When RITA BROGAN, PRR’s Chairman of the Board, purchased
PRR nearly 30 years ago she had a vision of engaging communities
in meaningful ways to advance people, planet, and place. To that end,
she has played a major role as a consensus builder and facilitator for
transportation infrastructure, community development, and public facilities
projects in the U.S. Her public sector career prior to joining PRR included
serving as Seattle Metro’s first appointed woman Superintendent of Public
Transportation Development where she led a major transformation of the agency from transit
to the integration of multiple transportation modes. She also served as chief land use advisor
to King County Executive Randy Revelle, where she mediated agreements leading to King
County’s first Comprehensive Plan and revived King County’s agriculture and open space
preservation program. She has been honored by WTS International as their 2015 Woman of
the Year, as a Marketing Immortal by Marketing Inc. (2014), the Port of Seattle’s Small Business
Champion (2013), and as the Distinguished Alumna of the UW Department of Communications
(2012).
14. 14
JUDGESJUDGES
LISA COHEN is the founding executive director of the Washington
Global Health Alliance (WGHA), a coalition of the state’s leading global
health research and development organizations. Lisa oversees WGHA’s
strategic direction including mobilizing Washington state’s global health
sector, cultivating global health champions, and advocating on behalf of
global health organizations.
Prior to the formation of WGHA, Ms. Cohen spent 25 years as executive producer and
managing editor for a number of Seattle television news departments. She taught journalism
at the University of Washington, She served as interim executive director for Seattle CityClub.
She currently serves on the governance boards for Global to Local, Seattle CityClub, and the
Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association as well as numerous civic advisory
committees. She earned her BA and MA degrees in Broadcast Journalism and International
Communications respectively from the University of Washington.
RICH KAPLAN is the leader of the Microsoft Alumni Network, which is a
group of more than 12,000 of the world’s most incredible philanthropists,
innovators, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and CEOs working
together to make the world a better place. It’s where former employees
connect and network with each other, as well as enjoy membership
benefits and programs. Rich’s goal is to strengthen and grow the Microsoft
alumni community. With more than 25 years of leadership and experience
listening to customers and building communities at Microsoft, Rich is continually engaging with
alumni to learn how the Network can better serve them. He also works to cultivate strong,
collaborative relationships with Microsoft and other key partners. Rich also sits on the Board
of Ambassadors at Fred Hutch Cancer Research.
JANET LEVINGER is a Social Impact Leader in the Seattle area. Her
vision is to create opportunity through engagement, advocacy, and
philanthropy. Her focus areas include education, civic engagement, and
reproductive rights.
Janet has been an SVP partner since 1997. She served on the SVP
Seattle board from 2009-2015 and was its board chair for two years.
She currently serves on the boards of The Seattle Foundation, Thrive
Washington, the League of Education Voters, Eastside Pathways (which she co-founded), the
Center for Reproductive Rights, and Crosscut.com. She is a founder and Emeritus Trustee of
Eastside Prep School.
Janet worked in high tech for 16 years. She has a BA in English with honors from
Brown University.
15. 15
DR. SANDRA MADRID is serving part-time as Special Assistant to the Vice
President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity at the University
of Washington. She retired from the University of Washington School of
Law in August 2013. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of
Washington and her B.A. from Colorado State University in Pueblo. Public
Service is a passion for Dr. Madrid and she has served on numerous boards
and commissions. Currently she is a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of King
County and the YWCA of Seattle/King/Snohomish Counties (Chair Elect). She is on the Advisory
boards of the Executive Development Institute, ALPFA, UW Multicultural Alumni Partnership,
Public Service Leadership Diversity Initiative Committee, US Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Northwest Chamber and the Girl Scouts of Western Washington.
She has chaired several boards, three at the national level. Locally she has chaired United Way
of King County, Leadership Tomorrow and KUOW/KCMU. She also was a founding member and
first Chair of the Washington State Hispanic Bar Association, now known as the Latina/o Bar
Association of Washington.
JENS MOLBAK has a passion for social entrepreneurship, innovation,
and venture investing. In 1990, Jens founded Coinstar with the goal of
creating a company that could simultaneously benefit the private, public,
and non-profit sectors. Coinstar pioneered self-service coin counting
kiosks to conveniently convert loose coins into cash while also acceping
donations for charitable organizations including UNICEF, The Red Cross,
and WWF. Coinstar also worked collaboratively with the Fed, US Mint, and
Royal UK Mint. The company has processed over $40 billion and raised over $80 million
for non-profits. Jens is also the founder of WinWin, which is focused on new ventures
that create synergistic benefits for all three sectors. WinWin is reviewing public sector
agencies and departments, seeking entrepreneurial opportunities for innovation and
collaboration.
Jens is the owner of Molbak’s Garden + Home. He serves on the Boards of the Space
Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, University of Washington Bothell, KeyMe and Town
Hall. He is a past trustee of the Lakeside School. He holds an M.B.A. from Stanford
University and a B.A. from Yale University.
16. 16
JUDGESJUDGES
DAWN TRUDEAU spent over 20 years in the software industry in
general management, product development, marketing, and business
systems capacities. A former Microsoft Corporation executive she held a
variety of leadership positions in her 14 year tenure, heading up divisions
in Database and Development tools and Consumer Products. For the past
17 years she has helped emerging non-profits develop their capacity to
deliver their programs with maximum effectiveness.
In 2008 Trudeau and three other women purchased the Women’s National Basketball
Association team the Seattle Storm. She served as Chairperson of the ownership group from
2009-2013 and is still active in the management of the business.
Trudeau is past-President of the Board of the Economic Opportunity Institute, a member of the
University of Washington Women’s Center Advisory Board. She served on the Board of Social
Venture Partners International. She is past Co-Chair of Social Venture Partners Seattle and
current co-Chair of SVP Seattle’s Diversity, Cultural Competency and Equity group. She is an
Advisory Board member of Artifact Technologies. She serves on the Microsoft Alumni Network
board and Chairs the Seattle Storm Foundation board.
ED THOMAS is Managing Partner for the Deloitte Seattle office and
serves as Lead Client Service Partner for a number of large corporations
and enterprises. He leads Deloitte’s Strategic Client Program in Seattle,
focusing on global client service excellence and bringing the right
resources and insight to our clients and is the Dean of one of Deloitte’s
senior leadership program, “the Art of the Story.”
Ed brings 30 years of professional leadership and experience to his clients and the
marketplace. Ed has benefited greatly from a diversity of experiences, including as a
corporate lawyer, as a partner in Deloitte’s Merger & Acquisitions Services group, as Chief
of Staff to Deloitte’s Managing Partner and subsequent Global CEO, and as a regional Tax
Managing Partner, and now as a global lead client service partner and marketplace leader for
Seattle and Washington state.
TAMARA POWER-DRUTIS is the Executive Director at Crosscut Public
Media, the Pacific Northwest’s reader-supported, independent, non-
profit electronic journal. Like Crosscut, Tamara believes that an informed
public is essential to solving the challenges of our time. She is a Jackson
Leadership Fellow and serves as a Trustee of the World Affairs Council,
where she served on the board of the Young Professionals International
Network. Tamara is the former Communications Coordinator at the
University of Washington’s Center on Reinventing Public Education, a research and policy
center developing system wide solutions for K–12 public education. She began her career
as a Research Associate at Ross Strategic, supporting diverse teams and executives working
on policy and program development for national environmental information management
systems. Tamara holds a B.A. in Political Science from Pacific Lutheran University, where she
served as the Vice President of the Associated Student Body and was a Sustainability Fellow.
17. 17
HIGHSCHOOL
PRESENTER: CHRISTOPHER LEE
FOUNDER AND INNOVATOR
IntelliH2O consists of an iPhone app and an accompanying low-energy
bluetooth probe. With it, you now have the capability to know if your water is
really safe to drink. All you have to do is launch the app and stick the probe
into your water. It’s that simple. With IntelliH2O, you don’t have to physically
be with your water to see if its clean. You don’t even need an internet
connection because everything relies on Bluetooth.
IntelliH2O provides a historical graph feature, allowing the user to monitor
the status of water over time to see if the quality is improving or deteriorating.
In addition, IntelliH2O is social media enabled. At the push of a button,
IntelliH2O automatically compiles a tweet detailing your water quality and
(optionally) the user’s location. IntelliH2O is so versatile that it can be used
in a myriad of situations—you can be at home, traveling locally or abroad,
backpacking and hiking, or just in a restaurant with no wifi and IntelliH2O will
still work. Our keychain solution is very small and portable, and is the perfect
blend of software and hardware. IntelliH2O is your 21st century solution to
test for water purity.
www.intellininja.net
IntelliH2O is a low-cost water purity tester app
that connects to a portable keychain probe;
you can test, track, and share the quality of
your water anywhere without Wifi.
18. 18
SafeWheel strives to make roads safer by using innovative and
inexpensive technology to help prevent drunk driving.
PRESENTER: SHAURYA AGGARWAL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Our company offers a steering wheel cover that continuously measures a
driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) through his or her hands. If the BAC
is too high, the SafeWheel device will send an SMS alert to the driver’s
emergency contacts in addition to providing audio and visual warnings to the
driver. Also, the SafeWheel measures autonomously, has a high accuracy and
is low maintenance.
Surveys we have conducted show that parents of teenage drivers as well as
casual drinkers are interested in the SafeWheel’s features. Also, interviews
with insurance agencies, trucking companies, bus fleet managers and
automobile manufacturers have shown that many large businesses are
interested in our product.
We have already constructed a proof of concept prototype and are currently
coding the software component of the SafeWheel. We plan to launch the
company in January of 2016 and will take steps to improve the SafeWheel in
the following years.
www.safewheel.weebly.com
HIGHSCHOOL
19. 19
PRESENTER: RYAN AHEARN
PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER
JikoPower is developing a simple, affordable device that can transform waste
heat from a cook stove into useful power. This device will provide substantial
cost and time savings to off-grid families in the developing world, many of
whom travel for hours and pay to charge critical electronics, like mobile
phones. During the average time a family in Sub-Saharan Africa spends
cooking each day, our device can charge two mobile phones, improving
access to vital resources like financial services, emergency communication,
and business logistics.
JikoPower is looking to partner with African telecom companies in order to
better reach our initial target market in Kenya. These telecoms currently lose
revenue from people minimizing their mobile phone use to conserve battery
power. By tapping the established sales channels of the African telecoms,
JikoPower can more easily reach its customers and boost mobile phone use
in off-grid rural areas.
JikoPower’s innovative thermo-electric technology earned both the Grand
Prize and Clean Energy Prize at this year’s Alaska Airlines Environmental
Innovation Challenge, and the Sustainable Advantage Award at the UW
Business Plan Competition. The company is currently in the Jones + Foster
Accelerator Program organized by UW’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship.
www.jikopowerinc.com
UNIVERSITY
JikoPower is providing carbon-neutral off-grid energy solutions for
people in the developing world by turning cook stoves into personal
power stations with one easy to use device.
20. 20
PRESENTER: AUSTIN HARRIS
CEO, FOUNDER, CO-FOUNDER
TK Threads is a for-profit apparel manufacturing company that can produce
any cut-and-sew item. Our products are made with eco-friendly fabric from
a domestic mill. They are competitively priced, and quality assured beyond
industry standards. Our advisor Jessica Watson has been a top-selling
designer for over a decade, giving us access to relevant designs. TK Threads
not only produces high-quality and cost-competitive garments, but does
so in order to provide sustainable employment for refugees and formerly
trafficked women. TK Thread partners with Real Escape from the Sex Trade
and World Relief Seattle, which provide support and services to these
marginalized women, and Muses, that provides training in apparel production.
TK Threads is the next step, offering long-term employment to these women.
We are viable because of our decentralized manufacturing model, a 20%
profit margin, quality-assured and cost-competitive products, a strategy for
sustainable growth, and local partners that allow us to focus on what we do
best: employing marginalized women through manufacturing apparel. Our
team has been successful in other Social Venture competitions, and we have
extensive experience in working with vulnerable populations.
www.tkthreads.co
TK Threads works to empower formerly oppressed women through
long-term employment in apparel manufacturing.
UNIVERSITY
21. 21
PRESENTER: SUZANNE GWYNN
FOUNDER
Currently in the United States there are over 3,000 hospices for adults, about
400 for pets, and only 2 for children. The lack of end-of-life care options for
children is an issue in this country that is widely experienced but narrowly
discussed. We are 30 years behind the developed world in providing
freestanding pediatric hospice options for the families in our communities,
and Ladybug House stands to change that.
As a nonprofit, the goal of Ladybug House is to build and operate Seattle’s
first freestanding palliative care home and hospice for children. The
innovative home will consist of healthcare professionals, support staff, and
volunteers who provide 24/7 care and support for both the children and
their families. We will give them a unique home-like environment allowing
everyone to be together, making memories and building legacies. We will
meet families’ needs as they define them for as long as they need us. At
Ladybug House, we will celebrate every moment, every day, and every life.
www.ladybughouse.org
STARTUPNONPROFIT
Ladybug House will be the first hospice for children in the PNW. “If we
cannot add days to the life of a child, we will add life to their days.”
22. 22
PRESENTER: RICK NEWELL
FOUNDER
MUST is helping break the cycle of poverty by filling the void of positive
male role models in the urban core. We hire promising young men and equip
them to fulfill their own potential and give back to younger kids in the same
community through mentorship.
MUST provides mentoring jobs to young men in their 20s who grew up in
at-risk environments and who now want to attend college. MUST pairs the
mentors with high school freshmen currently in at-risk environments. For four
years relationships are built within a culture of education and hope. For four
years the younger guys watch the older guys and begin to think, “They come
from the same place I do. If they can do it… so can I.”
Activities include weekly breakfasts, fun and new group experiences on
weekends, job shadowing and tutoring. Mentors and youth are building
relationships with peers headed in the same direction. We say, “Show me
your friends and I will show you your future.”
Each high school dropout costs society on average $600,000 over the
course of their lifetime. Positive male role models help break the cycle of
poverty. Big impact beings with one relationship.
www.MentoringisaMUST.org
STARTUPNON-PROFIT
MUST pays young men in their 20s, who grew up in at-risk
environments, to attend college and mentor youth who are at risk of
dropping out of high school.
23. 23
PRESENTER: DIRK VAN VELZEN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Prison Scholar Fund (PSF) continues to provide funding for
independent, paper-based correspondence courses and on-site college
prison programs for American inmates. We are now forging ahead with
new, innovative programs.
The PSF is developing digital learning programs to increase inmate
access to postsecondary education. We are working with the University
of Washington to implement a pilot program of cached online classes,
with plans to roll-out nationally. The PSF is also partnering with Code
Fellows in Seattle to develop an on-site coding program that teaches
students full-stack development, so that they leave prison with
highly marketable skills. What’s more, we are working with hardware
manufacturers, such as Edovo, to deliver secure tablets that inmates can
take back to their living units to complete their coursework.
Finally, we are positioning ourselves to utilize a relatively new form of
financing through social impact bonds, opening doors to the capital
needed to drive large-scale social change. The Prison Scholar Fund
envisions a world that values humanity and invests in education for all.
www.prisonscholars.org
STARTUPNONPROFIT
The Prison Scholar Fund supports
incarcerated students pursuing
postsecondary education, where they
develop skills valued in the labor market,
which reduces the likelihood that they will
ever come back to prison.
24. 24
ESTABLISHEDNON-PROFIT
PRESENTER: JENNIFER TANAKA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OneWorld Now!’s (OWN) vision is that all young Americans have access to
transformative international education. OWN is a pioneer in opening up life-
changing opportunities to underserved students through our unique approach
to developing future global leaders. OWN combines foreign language learning
(Chinese, Arabic), leadership training for 21st century skills, mentoring, and
access to study abroad scholarships in China and Arabic-speaking countries.
We’re now adapting our successful model for online platforms.
Since 2002 when we launched a pilot program with twelve students, we’ve
worked with over 1,500 students from more than fifteen high schools in
Seattle. Our constituency primarily consists of high school students who
historically have had less access to international education and leadership
development opportunities. At least 80% of students are eligible for the free
or reduced-price lunch program, over 95% identify as minorities and nearly
two-thirds will be first-generation college students.
Ninety eight percent of OWN graduates enrolled in college and more
than 98% have graduated from high school. OWN alumni have received
prestigious scholarships and appointments from the Department of State,
Department of Energy, Fulbright, Foreign Language and Area Studies
Fellowship, and more.
www.oneworldnow.org
OneWorld Now! will adapt its award-
winning global leadership curriculum
to give US high school students
opportunities for meaningful online
exchanges with peers from China and
the broader Middle East.
25. 25
PRESENTER: SETH MUIR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SSE was founded ~20 years ago to create a unique science education
program for middle and high school students during the school year aboard
a sailing research vessel. Our first programs were conducted on S/V Carlyn
in the spring of 1997 and since then, Salish has evolved into a full-fledged
educational institution serving over 1400 students annually. Following inquiry-
based methodologies, students are given ownership of all aspects of their
learning experience, and they develop an appreciation for science, maritime
trades and the Puget Sound that they carry back to their classrooms.
Our programs are organized from Bainbridge Island, and occur throughout
Puget Sound between October and May ranging from Olympia to the San
Juan Islands. Our curriculum has constantly improved thanks to a rigorous
evaluation process and feedback from our Board, Council and passionate
stakeholders. Besides our central boat-based oceanography and maritime
skills lessons, our offerings now include a diverse range of STEM curricula,
land-based watershed programs, summer camps, and deep partnerships with
other local groups.
As our success grows, so do our plans to serve more students by launching a
second vessel and integrating more fully into the regional STEM and maritime
communities through novel partnerships and collaborations.
www.salish.org
ESTABLISHEDNONPROFIT
SSE’s mission is “inspiring students to
develop critical thinking and creativity
through student-led scientific research
on Puget Sound”. Our acclaimed
programs connect curiosity and
confidence in STEM and maritime
fields.
26. 26
PRESENTER: JASON ALCORN
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
More than $6 billion in cuts hit newsrooms in recent years, which means less
information, fewer and shorter stories, and more pieces based on a single
source. The Statehouse News Project helps solve these problems. Ahead of
the legislative session, we invite citizens to pledge support to specific areas
of capitol reporting. This year our pilot raised nearly $5,000 from 50 donors
to cover key bills in Olympia dealing with climate change, wildfire, and clean
water. Now we want to bring reporting to areas that you care about most.
We’re doing this because journalism is indispensable to a healthy democracy,
fighting for accountability and giving communities information they need to
advocate for change.
Behind the project are the award-winning journalists of InvestigateWest.
We launched in 2009 as a champion for public-service journalism after the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper closed. We publish unbiased, in-depth
stories that are read and watched by millions. We build tools that equip
the public to participate in our democracy and collaborate with dozens of
news partners on journalism that makes a difference, including The New
York Times, KING 5 Television, KUOW Public Radio, The Portland Tribune,
Willamette Week, Seattle Weekly, and KCTS 9 Television.
invw.org/fastpitch
The Statehouse News Project by InvestigateWest empowers citizens
to fund and direct unbiased capitol reporting, giving communities the
information they need to advocate for change.
ESTABLISHEDNON-PROFIT
27. 27
FOR-PROFIT
PRESENTER: TANIKKA WATFORD
CO-FOUNDER/CEO
Deep Roots Foods, LLC is a start-up certified MWBE Tumwater Washington
based local foods innovation leader. Deep Roots Foods is a GMO-free and a
gluten-free small batch co-packer.
In everything we do we believe in creating better local economies through
foods. We believe in supporting our small and local farmers. We believe that
all foods should not be created the same. Thus, thinking outside the box of
the status quo in supply chains. The way we think outside of the box is to
source all raw ingredients and packaging locally, while creating services that
allow for companies of all sizes to be stewards in our community by driving
the creation of healthy, safe, and environmentally friendly foods. We are more
than a co-packer or a service; we are a local vantage point food supply chain
innovation leader, who believes we all can be deeply rooted by our foods to
our communities, to our regions, and to the world. Come join our Deep Roots
Foods Family and start to be the change that every one of us can be and will
be together.
www.deeprootsfoods.com
FOR-PROFIT
Deep Roots Foods is a small batch food processing, and co-packer that
not only inspires local food economy, but brings access to large and
local markets for local food businesses.
28. 28
PRESENTER: DANIELA LUZI TUDOR
CEO / CO-FOUNDER
Alcohol and drug addiction is a life long treatable disease that affects millions
of people and their loved ones in the U.S.; that number is on the rise! There
are 338,000 people in recovery in the Puget Sound area and up to 80%
relapse annually, many ending up in deaths. We discovered through user
research and clinical studies that preventing relapse is one part performing
daily mind+body+spirit activities that pertain to one’s recovery and one part
staying in constant communication with support group members.
The pala-linq platform empowers the customer to track daily activities while their
support group members receive nudges of encouragement and rewards for keeping
in constant communication via a mobile application and wearable technology.
Since we started in November 2014 and completed the prototype, we have
garnered the commitment from prominent treatment centers in Washington to
purchase and deploy the pala-linq platform once the product is market ready.
Over the next 2 years, we will reach the 243 treatment centers in Washington
State; an average of 40,000 customers per year along with their support
group network and their families. Using these methods and tools, we will
modify the platform accordingly to deploy this service to populations affected
by other forms of addiction over time.
www.palalinq.com
FOR-PROFIT
Pala-linq’s the first comprehensive platform providing recovering
alcoholics and addicts an empowering method to manage their unique
recovery programs, 24/7.
29. 29
FOR-PROFIT
PRESENTER: ADRIANA MOSCATELLI
FOUNDER, CEO
Play Works Studio designs connected robot games that encourage girls and
boys to discover a passion for science, technology, engineering, art and
math. We believe that play should be equal and that girls and boys should be
encouraged to play and learn together.
The RoBees robot platform supports many game styles while teaching girls
and boys (ages 6+) subjects aligned with common core standards. RoBees
can be used to teach fictional reading, phonics, writing, speaking and
listening, math, geometry, social studies, life sciences, computer programming
fundamentals and 21st
century skills. The platform was originally designed
to teach the basics of programming: implementing loops, if statements,
functions, recursion, etc. Players use a mobile application to program robots
and solve puzzles and challenges. Children build game boards with tiles,
choose characters, and use accessories and card games to create their own
stories and puzzles.
Children learn important STEAM skills in the context of solving problems
collaboratively in a project-based learning environment. Most importantly,
children are having too much fun to even know that they are learning!
www.playw.pw
FOR-PROFIT
Play Works Studio designs connected Robot Games for girls and boys
ages 6 to 100! Our mission is to encourage children to discover a
passion for science and technology.
30. 30
PRESENTER: ZACK MCMURRY
PRESIDENT
Our biofuel is a locally-sourced transportation fuel that can be produced in
every community for $2.50 per gallon by recycling biosolids, which are the
dirt-like organic material that remains after sewage is treated at your local
wastewater facility. This biofuel has a low carbon footprint and can power
both gasoline and diesel engines.
With the U.S. Department of Energy currently predicting NO decrease in
U.S. petroleum consumption through the year 2040, we are addressing the
climate challenge head-on with this sustainable, cost-effective solution. In just
the Puget Sound region alone, we produce 400,000 tons of biosolids each
year, or enough to create 20 million gallons of biofuel. But we don’t want to
stop with biosolids: our process can also utilize animal and agricultural waste,
which gives us the potential to create enough biofuel to completely REPLACE
fossil fuels in our transportation sector.
This patented biofuel technology was developed over the past 7 years in
partnership with the National Science Foundation and Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, among others. Now our team is ready to produce biofuel in a
Seattle facility and to collaborate with King County’s innovative wastewater
division to bring this amazing biofuel to market!
www.vitruvianenergy.com
FOR-PROFIT
Vitruvian Energy is a socially-conscious startup with a technology that
converts municipal sewage into a biofuel that can be used in existing
motor vehicle engines.
31. 31
STUDENT VENTURE: HIGH SCHOOL
Art Beyond Us
Art Beyond Us is a fellowship program that helps amateur artists grow and
harness their passion for the greater good of the environment.
Reclaimed Grounds
We aim to make the most out of every coffee bean and create a renewable
source of bio-diesel from them to create a cleaner energy security for our
customers.
STUDENT VENTURE: UNIVERSITY
Step Stone www.step-stone.me
Step Stone is a web-based application that helps homeless shelters and
homeless individuals attain information on the resources available to them.
Yessler Terrace Food Pod
Yessler Terrace Food Pod seeks to create a food cart pod that will provide
grant opportunities for people in need to reach their entrepreneurial and
culinary goals.
STARTUP NONPROFIT
MarketShare www.buildthemarket.org
Our mission is to build an international food market in Seattle that
empowers food entrepreneurs from immigrant and refugee communities.
ResearcHQ.org researchq.org
ResearcHQ.org provides the civic sector access to trustworthy academic
partners to increase timely, relevant, and cost-effective research that can
readily improve society.
STYLE www.learningwithstyle.com
STYLE’s (Songwriting Through Youth Literature Education) mission is to
ignite students’ passion for literature through collaborative songwriting
education.
SEMIFINALISTSSEMIFINALISTS
32. 32
ESTABLISHED NONPROFIT
21 Progress www.21progress.org
21 Progress is a social justice organization that encourages youth
leadership from communities of color to advance a just society
through innovative campaigns and leadership development programs.
Academy for Precision Learning Inclusive High School www.aplschool.org
Academy for Precision Learning is launching an innovative and inclusive
high school for students across the autism spectrum and typically-
developing peers.
Seattle CityClub www.seattlecityclub.org
Civic Boot Camp is a day-long training to educate, connect, and empow-
er Puget Sound residents so they can make a difference as community
leaders.
FOR-PROFIT
Arqlite www.arqlite.rocks
Arqlite turns waste into value. Arqlite effectively utilizes non-recyclable
and recyclable waste plastic by converting it into an artificial stone
aggregate.
GiveSafe www.withgivesafe.org
for 200 million citygoers that will pass by 2 million homeless in the U.S.
this year, GiveSage has created a way to give in seconds without carry-
ing a dollar on hand.
Inquiry Partners www.inquirypartners.com
Inquiry Partners develops web-based tools to help teachers engage
students in developing 21st
Century learning skills.
StageTrade www.stagetrade.org
StageTrade is an online marketplace for Performing Arts organizations to
buy, sell and rent production assets, such as sets, costumes, and props.
VetStartups www.vetstartups.org
VetStartups trains veterans to be developers, designers, and entrepreneurs
to launch new careers and tech startups in organic, vibrant ecosystems
across the nation.
SEMIFINALISTS
33. 33
STUDENT VENTURE: HIGH SCHOOL
Cancer We Care
STUDENT VENTURE: UNIVERSITY
Point www.pointapp.info
STARTUP NONPROFIT
The Anchor Project www.theanchorproject.org
FutureFirstUSA www.futurefirstusa.org
Live Fearless Foundation www.livefearlessfoundation.com
Repurpose Inc. www.repurposecompostables.com
Seattle ReCreative www.seattlerecreative.org
Washington C.A.N. www.changeaddictionnow.org
ESTABLISHED NONPROFIT
EndBrainCancer Initiative/TimeGAP www.endbraincancer.org
FoodCircles www.ugm.org
HomeAid Puget Sound www.homeaidpugetsound.org
Link(206) www.sustainableseattle.org
Math Moms www.wsaheadstarteceap.com
Skate Like A Girl www.skatelikeagirl.com
Washington Bikes www.wabikes.org
FOR-PROFIT
Community Supported Biocycling www.impactbioenergy.com/csb
Infinut www.infinut.com
LegacyCaring, Inc www.legacycaring.com
Oliver www.partnersforourchildren.org
Sprout Care Company www.sproutcarecompany.com
TruMedicines www.trumedicines.com
QUARTERFINALISTS
34. 34
THANK YOU
SVP FAST PITCH VOLUNTEERS 2015
SVP Fast Pitch is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who have spent hundreds
of hours designing, coordinating, and delivering the SVP Fast Pitch
program. Thank you, team!
JoAnne Baldwin
Kathleen Barth
Lisa Bontje
Andrew Boyd
Ryan Calafato
Marrione Camacho
Michael Castle
Roberta Christensen
Jackie Coes
Lee Crain
Terrell Dorsey
Deborah Drake
Jon Dulude
Marie Farrell
Anthea Fernandes
Patricia Friel
Amanda Gibbons
Christine Gilbert
Adam Graham-Silverman
Diane Halcoussis
Sydney Hallman
Michelle Harden
Josh Holland
Nadine Kano
Janet Levinger
Michael “Luni” Libes
Leah Marshall
Lisa Merrill
Conor Moore
Maureen O’Hara
Bob O’Hara
Yoko Okano
Wuen Ong
Julie Pham
Will Poole*
Mike Ross
Shae Sakamoto
Jill Seidel
Kalika Shah
Terri Sharkey
Debbie Sladek
Michael Sladek
Haresh Ved
Todd Vogel
Mary Waite
Debby Fry Wilson
Joyce Zhou
Anne Fisher
Elizabeth Foley
Mark Gau
Kara Gibson
Ben Gonio
Ben Hansen
Geoff Harris
Gregory Heller
Josh Herst
Johnna Hobgood
Shari Hofer
Brian Howe
Nick Hubert
Marc Hyman
Sarah Imbach
Tripp Jarden
Annalisa Johnson
Bill Kaghan
Tamra Kammin
Jack Knellinger
Dan Kranzler
Dwight Krossa
Leo Lam
Scott Leber
Diem Lie
Charlie Liekweg
Paul Lippert
Janet Livingstone
Phoebe Lipkis
Peter McKiernan
Shane McNamee
Prady Misra
Jon Mittmann
Jens Molbak
Jennifer Molloy
Tammy Munson
Eric Murray
Sue Oliver
Kevin Owyang
Perry Panchmatia Troy
Reumping
Annie Richmond
Dianne Riter
Bo Roth
Steven Rubenstein
Kerry Schimmelbusch
John Sechrest
Erin Schiavone
Sunil Shah
Anisha Shankar
Rob Short
David Sielaff
David Sniderman
Lucinda Stewart
Sacha Stjepanovic
Gary Stute
David Summers
Vivian Sun
E. Russell Tarleton
Kim Tennican
David Thompson
Brian Vincent
Jonathan Webster
Lisa Weil
Peter Weiss
Steven Wells
Alessandra Zielinski
In addition to the Core Team, more than 100 other community volunteers have do-
nated their time and energy to every aspect of this program. We want to thank ev-
eryone on the following list, as well as the few people we may have missed. Without
this community engagement, the SVP Fast Pitch program could not have delivered
the value it did to the innovators you are seeing tonight.
John Alderson
Reed Atkin
Mary Batterson
Alan Blickenstaff
Marlin Blizinsky
Kelly Bolander
Norm Bontje
Andrew Boyd
Dhevi Broecker
Jesse Burns
Jeff Callender
Michael Cavitt
Dino Christofilis
Jonathan Cluts
Jacob Colker
Erik Conroy
Lee Crain
Sarah Daniels
Ken Deering
Patrick Donka
Simran Dua
Maura Fallon
Michele Freed
36. 36
ES T . 1 9 95
MICROSOF T
ALUMNI
NETWORK
Facilitating real connections
between intelligent, enthusiastic
people and important work.
We are proud to partner with, and
support the work of SVP Fast Pitch.
Are you a Microsoft alum?
Join your network today.
www.microsoftalumni.com
38. 38
We’re proud to be part of your missions. We’re proud to deliver the software and services that power
philanthropy. We’re proud to provide a network that connects the entire philanthropic community. But most of
all, we’re proud to serve as the technology partner for those following their passions and changing the world.
At Blackbaud, we’re equal parts
heart and smart.
• Learn more at blackbaud.com
TWEET YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS @COMCASTWA.
1-800-COMCAST | www.comcast.com
COMCAST PROUDLY SUPPORTS
SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS
IN THEIR MISSION TO SERVE
OUR COMMUNITY.
Comcast helps us all dream big by teaming up with groups like
Social Venture Partners who work to inspire and connect our community.
We are proud to award the Comcast NBCUniversal Technology Innovation Award.
40. 40
[insert answer here]
Hey Seattle, what’s your potential?
Amplify Your Impact
WWW.SVPSEATTLE.ORG
What change do you want to see in our community?
What role will you play? Who will you share it with?
At SVP, we’re going beyond philanthropy.
Want to join the ride?
