1. StoryShifter: A New Entertainment Portal for the Social
Good
StoryShifter is an entertainment driven software and data science solution for the social good industry.
StoryShifter operates as a B2B2C company with UN/NGO agencies and socially responsible brands as its business customers and socially conscious millenials as its target
users.
The pain point its solving is that there is no go-to site for socially responsible entertainment.
The Problem
The problem StoryShifter is addressing is that there is no "go-to" site for entertainment focused on the social good. This is surprising given that research shows consumers are
more often looking for products based on their environmental/social impact and the majority of millennials choose their workplace based on its purpose. StoryShifter is testing the
hypothesis that users want a destination where they can consume socially conscious entertainment and support creatives/organizations they believe.
"The entertainment sector lags behind most others in corporate environmental and sustainability reporting." -
Claremont McKenna College’s Roberts Environmental Center
The Solution
Provide an online entertainment portal that attracts millennials through socially conscious art, fashion and entertainment while collecting and analyzing data on their viewing habits
and subsequent action steps.
VIEW DEMO AT WWW.STORYSHIFTER.COM
The Competition
Social impact organizations are attracting millennials who are concerned about social issues but not collecting data on what types of stories and narrative engages them and
inspires them to act.
Competitive Advantages
Market Validation & Traction
Market Validation is currently underway with an open solicitation for creative content from various content producer via the FilmFreeway film submission platform. We will also be
creating a sign up page and soliciting members to gauge the potential audience for StoryShifter. I am developing a survey for representatives of UN/NGO agencies, CSR directors
and others to gauge their interest. This section will be updated once we have that information.
"Like science and medicine, [story] plays a major role in impacting and influencing the equation for
dynamically moving our human history forward; for improving our lives; for tearing down the walls that have
long separated us from one another; for connecting, informing, engaging, and inspiring positive social change;
for enlightening and enriching our culture and society; for illuminating our hearts and minds and elevating our
consciousness; and, for delighting and entertaining us, all at once."
Teri Schwartz, Dean, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
(Story, Social Responsibility and the Case for a New Model for Entertainment and Performing Arts
Education, Forbes)
The Team & Advisors
The Ask
Looking for $150,000 in seed financing, mentorship, accelerator programs.
StoryShifter
www.storyshifter.com / www.lisarussellfilms.com
lisa@lisarussellfilms.com
125 Ryerson Street
Brooklyn, NY 11205 +1-917-554-4126
Millennials are the biggest
consumers of entertainment
and more engaged with
social causes than any other
generation.
Yet the entertainment industry and UN/NGO sector
remain widely divided in terms of content and culture
that attract millennials..
Millennials will support
brands that support causes
they care about.
Over 90% of millennials aged 21-34 years old will switch
to a brand associated with a good cause yet mainstream
entertainment brands do not provide opportunities for
engagement around causes.
Content producers of social
issue programs do not
understand their audiences.
There are no feedback mechanisms, film rankings, box
office numbers for social good entertainment to gauge
what type of content is effective and resonates with
which demographics and inspires them to act.
StoryShifter: Big data +
entertainment + social
good.
Every view and every click increases social
engagement through collection of data, sharing,
taking a survey, donating, supporting a socially
conscious brand, or signing a petition. Users earn
"reward points" for their actions which translate to free
or reduced tickets to live events from their favorite
artists or swag.
Solicits creative content
from different content
producers.
The platform will house films, videos, PSAs, music,
songs, poetry, creative writing all with a social good
focus.
Netflix model.
StoryShifter will utilize big data and the Netflix model to
collect and analyze users viewing habits and
generate reports for content producers.
Market Size
Total market (4 million UN/NGO agencies + 6 million businesses with CSR) = 10 million
StoryShifter market share = 1 million
Why Now?
Millennials represent $2.45 trillion in spending power, reports Adweek, 70% of them will spend more on brands supporting causes they care about.
,Millennials are universally more engaged in corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, according to the newly released 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study.
The study, the most comprehensive snapshot of how Millennials engage with CSR efforts in the U.S., reveals more than nine-in-10 Millennials would switch brands to one
associated with a cause (91% vs. 85% U.S. average) and two-thirds use social media to engage around CSR (66% vs. 53% U.S. average).
Millennials are far more likely to use social media to address or engage with companies around social and environmental issues (66% vs. 53% U.S. average). Although most
Millennials turn to social channels to share and learn, there is also a portion that uses this medium as an avenue to participate in a direct dialogue with companies or
contribute to CSR efforts.
For entertainment and media executives, the formula for success is shifting radically. No longer is it enough to develop content for eyeballs. Now, its critical to create a fan-
centric business.
As fans spend more time on their digital devices, they feel more personally connected to their favorite artists — so much so that they crave more live, direct interactions with
them.
Outcome of US elections will create more loyal customers who seek comfort from socially good content.
Works with artists and fans to end extreme poverty
by 2030.
Global Citizens Festival uses live entertainment to
increase social action.
However, their festival only takes place once a year
and there is no feedback on the impact it has.
StoryShifter will reach concerned millennials where
they regularly consume entertainment - online.
The United Nations Official YouTube Channel has
110,795 subscribers who can watch a variety of
channels specific to their interests.
The video content does not appeal to a general
audience.
StoryShifter will curate the most impactful, inspiring
and moving creative content on humanitarian issues
so that users watch for entertainment purposes.
OkayAfrica is the premiere online destination for
African music, African fashion and culture.
It's YouTube channel has 3,390 subscribers, many
of whom are Africans or of the African diaspora.
However, OkayAfrica does not combine its
popularity and influence around African culture to
the social good.
StoryShifter will become a destination that houses
popular entertainment focused on social issues with
opportunities for viewers to act.
Unique Feature
StoryShifter will utilize principles of machine learning and
big data so that it can quantify its work and influence the
culture around humanitarian storytelling.
First to Market
StoryShifter will have unique partnerships with content
producers such as independent filmmakers, artists, ad
agencies and UN/NGO organizations to maximize
access to content and reach.
Proprietary Technology
StoryShifter will develop an algorithm similar to Netflix
that will make "recommended programs" for users
based on their previous viewing habits and
demographics.
Lisa Russell, MPH
Founder/Chief Executive Officer
Lisa Russell is an Emmy-award winning filmmaker with a Masters in Public Health
(MPH) who has been producing films and creative campaigns for UN/NGO agencies
for the past 10+ years.
She launched StoryShifter when she delivered her first TED Talk for Johnson &
Johnson (TEDxJNJ: Big Data) and is currently in the seed funding stage and is
working on building a solid, diverse tech team.
You can learn more about her work by visiting www.governessfilms.com.
Joe Manfredonia
Advisor
Joe Manfredonia is currently founder and manager of the Johnson & Johnson "Data
Labs", a rapid prototyping facility for predictive analytics, machine learning, and
artificial intelligence applications. Previously, Joe was Regional Service Owner
where he was responsible for delivery of a shared Predictive Analytics service
offering across the US-based enterprise and managed a portfolio of data science
work that spans 2 regions, 4 sectors, and is supported by a team of 5 full-time JNJ
data scientists and a rotating pod of 6 coop students from local universities.
Funding Goals
Currently seeking $125,,000 in seed money.
Text Field
Point. Click. Type.
This is a pretty straightforward text editor. You can even place images, tables, and
links.
Timeline
Idea: October 6, 2016
Seed financing: November, 2016 -January, 2017
Key Hire: February, 2017
Minimal Viable Product: March, 2017
Private Beta Launch: April, 2017
Public Launch: September, 2017
Funding Allocations
$125,000
20% Salaries
20% IT
20% Legal
20% Marketing
20% R&D