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Entrepreneurs for the common good

Institute for Social Innovation

Creating solutions to the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges

The Institute for Social Innovation seeks to establish the University of St. Thomas as a national leader in social innovation and entrepreneurship. This is done by inspiring and equipping anyone who is passionate about finding solutions to the world's most pressing social and environmental challenges to see themselves as innovators and entrepreneurs for the common good.

Contact

Billy Mzenga, M.A.

Director, Institute for Social Innovation
Phone Number
(651) 962-4278

The Institute for Social Innovation Offerings

  • Impact Leaders Summit
  • The Zesbaugh Scholarship
  • Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge
  • Women’s Equity Hackathon
  • Impact Leaders Summit

    The Institute for Social Innovation and Social Enterprise MSP are partnering to convene leaders from the Twin Cities Impact sector for an interactive summit. The gathering will address the need for opportunities for impact leaders to convene with other like-minded organizations, gain tools to enhance their missions, and address their unique challenges. This summit will provide a platform for leaders to balance their broader impact goals with personal well-being, access skills and strategies tailored to their needs, and connect with valuable resources to support their organizations effectively.

    Learn about the Event

    The Zesbaugh Scholarship

    The Zesbaugh Scholarship for Social Good is a 2-year, $15,000 per year scholarship for individuals who are passionate about creating innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to societal problems. This one-of-a-kind scholarship program nurtures students into innovative, social entrepreneurial leaders through specialized programming, mentorship and participation in pitch events to receive feedback on their business ideas.

    Learn more about the Zesbaugh Scholarship

    Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge

    The Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge inspires student social entrepreneurs around the world to connect and create business solutions that address social and environmental challenges. Since 2011, they have connected more than 3,000 students from more than 25 countries around the world - including Australia, South Korea, Rwanda, the Philippines, Ghana, Mexico, and Peru—recognizing their outstanding social ventures based on positive impact and financial sustainability. To date, they have distributed more than $700,000 in funding and in kind-services, to seed the most innovative and promising global ventures

    Learn more about Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge 

    Women’s Equity Hackathon

    A collaboration between the Institute for Social Innovation, the Luann Dummer Center for Women, and Women in Business. This event provided St. Thomas students with an opportunity to reflect on the potential to solve social inequities through innovation and entrepreneurship. Students had 100 minutes to work collaboratively to develop a concept and present it to a panel of women entrepreneurs.

    Date: Thursday, October 17, 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
    Location: Iversen Hearth Room (ASC 340), University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus

    Sign Up Now on TommieLink

    Impact Leaders Summit

    The Institute for Social Innovation and Social Enterprise MSP are partnering to convene leaders from the Twin Cities Impact sector for an interactive summit. The gathering will address the need for opportunities for impact leaders to convene with other like-minded organizations, gain tools to enhance their missions, and address their unique challenges. This summit will provide a platform for leaders to balance their broader impact goals with personal well-being, access skills and strategies tailored to their needs, and connect with valuable resources to support their organizations effectively.

    Learn about the Event

    The Zesbaugh Scholarship

    The Zesbaugh Scholarship for Social Good is a 2-year, $15,000 per year scholarship for individuals who are passionate about creating innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to societal problems. This one-of-a-kind scholarship program nurtures students into innovative, social entrepreneurial leaders through specialized programming, mentorship and participation in pitch events to receive feedback on their business ideas.

    Learn more about the Zesbaugh Scholarship

    Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge

    The Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge inspires student social entrepreneurs around the world to connect and create business solutions that address social and environmental challenges. Since 2011, they have connected more than 3,000 students from more than 25 countries around the world - including Australia, South Korea, Rwanda, the Philippines, Ghana, Mexico, and Peru—recognizing their outstanding social ventures based on positive impact and financial sustainability. To date, they have distributed more than $700,000 in funding and in kind-services, to seed the most innovative and promising global ventures

    Learn more about Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge 

    Women’s Equity Hackathon

    A collaboration between the Institute for Social Innovation, the Luann Dummer Center for Women, and Women in Business. This event provided St. Thomas students with an opportunity to reflect on the potential to solve social inequities through innovation and entrepreneurship. Students had 100 minutes to work collaboratively to develop a concept and present it to a panel of women entrepreneurs.

    Date: Thursday, October 17, 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
    Location: Iversen Hearth Room (ASC 340), University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus

    Sign Up Now on TommieLink

    Innovation in Action: Snapshots of Change

    A team at the Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon our Zesbaugh Scholars Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge Womens Hackathon Entrance Sign Team Presenting at Hackathon Team Presenting at Hackathon Team Planning for Hackathon Team Planning for Hackathon

    Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon

    In celebration of Women's History Month, the Institute for Social Innovation collaborated with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and Women in Business to host the inaugural Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon. This event offered St. Thomas students a unique platform to explore innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to gender inequities.

    Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon

    In celebration of Women's History Month, the Institute for Social Innovation collaborated with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and Women in Business to host the inaugural Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon. This event offered St. Thomas students a unique platform to explore innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to gender inequities.

    Our 2024 Zesbaugh Scholars

    Pictured are our Zesbaugh Scholars. This distinctive program develops future social entrepreneurial leaders through specialized mentorship, innovative programming, and real-world pitch experiences. These students are cultivating transformative ideas to address critical social challenges and drive meaningful change.

    Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge in San Diego

    St. Thomas students Maria Magambo, Beamlak Tesfahun Petros, and Zekidus Petros along with Schulze School staff and faculty, at the 2024 Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge at the University of San Diego this past June.

    Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon

    In celebration of Women's History Month, the Institute for Social Innovation collaborated with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and Women in Business to host the inaugural Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon. This event offered St. Thomas students a unique platform to explore innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to gender inequities.

    Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon

    In celebration of Women's History Month, the Institute for Social Innovation collaborated with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and Women in Business to host the inaugural Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon. This event offered St. Thomas students a unique platform to explore innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to gender inequities.

    Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon

    In celebration of Women's History Month, the Institute for Social Innovation collaborated with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and Women in Business to host the inaugural Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon. This event offered St. Thomas students a unique platform to explore innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to gender inequities.

    Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon

    In celebration of Women's History Month, the Institute for Social Innovation collaborated with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and Women in Business to host the inaugural Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon. This event offered St. Thomas students a unique platform to explore innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to gender inequities.

    Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon

    In celebration of Women's History Month, the Institute for Social Innovation collaborated with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and Women in Business to host the inaugural Serving Women Through Entrepreneurship Hackathon. This event offered St. Thomas students a unique platform to explore innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to gender inequities.