RevHubOC - The Orange County Center for Innovation & Social Enterprise

We recently wrapped up our latest “Ignite Impact” business ideation cohort, and we’re delighted to share some future-shaping work and social innovation from these visionary ventures! Two standout entrepreneurs, Sevan Chanakian and Lucia Fernandes Stanislas, are making strides toward a more innovative and socially conscious future. Sevan Chanakian’s Solid Insights is tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time by recovering critical elements from waste streams to fuel the decarbonization of the US energy grid. Reflecting on her time in the program, Chanakian shares, “This experience has elevated the company's visibility and facilitated the development of key connections with future stakeholders in the waste collection and hydrogen industries.” Lúcia Stanislas founded Impactify to empower organizations across sectors like education, healthcare, and economic development to measure and scale their social impact. Stanislas described her program experience: “I’ve gained clarity on my niche and market positioning…The overall experience helped me to build more confidence and flow.” #ImpactDriven #Innovation #RevHubCohort #Sustainability #SocialEnterprise

November 21st is National Social Entrepreneurship Day! It also marks RevHub’s fifth anniversary (Coincidence? We’ll let you decide!). This milestone inspires us to reflect with gratitude on the last five transformative years. Since November 2019, we’ve pursued a single mission: enabling entrepreneurs to tackle the world’s pressing social and environmental issues. Back then, social enterprise was just gaining recognition in the USA. Fast forward to today—social entrepreneurship is thriving, and RevHub has become a driving force in Orange County, Southern California, and beyond. Our growth would not have been possible without our visionary partners, investors, and champions. Together, we’ve built a vibrant ecosystem of like-minded changemakers. Some big wins include: - Developing Orange County’s first climate-focused business incubators with UC Irvine. - Established “RevFund” and built a significant portfolio of scalable impact-first ventures. - Partnering with Sustain SoCal to bridge social enterprises and the corporate sector. - Creating AgTech and Food Systems tracks with the Samueli Foundation and @OC Hunger Alliance. - Securing $8.5 million in state funding to expand support for the social enterprise ecosystem. - Winning two U.S. Small Business Administration Administration Growth Accelerator Fund competitions. Launching NorthSTAR OC with a robust group of impact-focused collaborative partners, resulting in: - 1,819,133 individuals exposed to Entrepreneurship Pathways through Outreach. - 10,327 individuals engaged in Business Exploration. - 3,898 individuals engaged in Business Ideation. - 2,518 individuals engaged in Business Incubation. - 144 new businesses formed. - Supporting a diverse cohort of entrepreneurs: 59% women, 56% non-White, and 88% from low-income backgrounds. This journey has been extraordinary, but we’re just getting started. With entrepreneurial determination, we’ve created lasting impact—and it drives us to do even more. Here’s to the next chapter of bold ideas and meaningful change. #NationalSocialEntrepreneurshipDay #5YearsOfImpact #RevHub #SocialEnterprise #Gratitude #OnwardAndUpward

Our most recent Ignite Impact Business Ideation Cohort brought together a group of remarkable founders ready to make a difference. Through intensive workshops, collaborative sessions, and one-on-one mentorship, each participant strengthened their social ventures and gained the skills to drive their missions forward. Together, they formed a community dedicated to addressing today’s most pressing challenges with innovative solutions. We’re incredibly proud of their progress and excited to see the change they’ll continue to make in the world. Jerónimo Diosque, New Organs Biotech | Bioengineers organs to help solve the human transplant organ shortage. Hamed 'K' Khandan, Dr. Eng., Universal Informatics LLC | Develops universal application platforms that work across all devices and languages. Lucia Fernandes Stanislas, Impactify | Enables organizations to measure and communicate their social impact effectively. Brian lovejoy, Lovejoy Tech | Directly captures CO2 for safer, onsite carbonation solutions. Olga Solodukhina, Oomka. io | Provides AI-powered tools to streamline corporate learning processes. Shari M., Love in Design | Fosters neuroinclusive workplaces for autistic employees. Pennie Douglas, M.Ed., William H. Douglas Foundation | Grassroots community-based organization offering college access pathways for underserved students in California. Paloma Gonzalez, Be the Sunshine | Empowers individuals with trauma-informed coaching and community support. Sevan Chanakian, Solid Insights | Advances recycling of critical materials to support sustainable energy solutions. Wendee Close, Goals2Life | Platform helping users set and achieve personal goals with built-in accountability. Join us in thanking these outstanding entrepreneurs for their achievements and following their journey! #SocialImpact #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #RevHubCohort #FutureLeaders #ImpactInvesting #SupportStartups #PurposeDriven

Right-fit capital is a much-needed game-changer for?social?enterprises. Read the full article to learn why.

Catalytic Capital: Fueling Bold Solutions for a Better Tomorrow ???? Tackling the world's greatest challenges through entrepreneurship requires innovation, creativity, and tenacity. Yet many groundbreaking solutions never see the light of day because they lack access to the right kind of capital. The result is that many nascent entrepreneurs give up on their social and environmental missions to fit more conventional investment demands. So, why is this happening? Investors often view early-stage social enterprises as risky or concessionary, partly because these ventures may lack traditional profit metrics. Even impact investors can hesitate, assuming these businesses can’t provide strong financial returns. However, this perception overlooks the potential of scalable social enterprises to deliver both impact and profitability. By redefining success metrics to include social and environmental value, investors can unlock opportunities that yield meaningful returns beyond finances. This type of investment philosophy is broadly accepted as “catalytic capital” and offers a vital alternative that can reshape our world. With its patient, flexible, and risk-tolerant approach, catalytic capital enables impact-focused ventures to stay true to their mission, providing the runway they need to scale sustainably without compromising on their core values. “Catalytic capital is foundational to the impact economy, injecting patient, risk-tolerant, concessionary, and flexible dollars to impact enterprises,” notes Impact Entrepreneur. “For much of the past decade, catalytic capital has arguably served as the ‘R&D’ arm for the broader field, helping to seed innovative impact investing market developments.” By funding innovative models and taking calculated risks, catalytic capital supports the development of sustainable, high-impact solutions that traditional capital often overlooks. Bridging the “Valley of Death” ??? For many social enterprises, there’s a critical funding gap between the startup phase and mainstream investment readiness, often known as the “valley of death.” Here, catalytic capital proves invaluable by providing flexible funding options, such as: Loan guarantees to help secure additional financing ?? Blended models that combine grants, loans, and equity ?? Patient capital that offers extended time for enterprises to scale ? This is where RevHub thrives—providing early-stage capital through innovative blended models that combine philanthropic capital (grants), financing, and equity investments to support social enterprises at every growth stage. By aligning profitability with purpose, RevHub empowers investors and social enterprises to champion solutions that are not only transformative, but also sustainable. Are you ready to invest in meaningful change? ?? Explore how catalytic capital is reshaping social enterprise, or join the conversation below: How do you see catalytic capital transforming social entrepreneurship? Share your thoughts!

Global Entrepreneurship Week is here—a celebration of innovation, possibility, and the power of people to make a meaningful difference. Entrepreneurship is more than just a profession; it’s a mindset that brings us together, empowering anyone to tackle challenges and create solutions that improve lives and communities. ?? This week, we celebrate all ventures that go beyond profits to make a positive impact. Social enterprise offers a path for businesses to succeed financially and drive real change—showing that doing good and doing well can go hand in hand. ???? The data speaks for itself: companies with strong CSR programs see up to a 30% increase in employee productivity, while businesses dedicated to social impact achieve up to 11% higher valuation premiums. Organizations focused on social responsibility are also twice as likely to avoid costly reputational risks. Further, 71% of global consumers prefer to buy from brands aligned with positive social impact, and 88% of executives report CSR drives customer loyalty. ?? Profitability and social impact aren’t opposites; they complement each other, creating value for everyone. ???? Global Entrepreneurship Week is truly a phenomenal opportunity to celebrate the power of entrepreneurship in shaping a brighter future for us all. ?? RevHub is grateful for those visionaries, innovators, and champions leading the way. ????

Capital is the bridge from idea to impact—especially for founders who face added challenges in accessing resources. For women and BIPOC-led startups, securing the right funding can be a game-changer, but too often, the path is filled with barriers. RevHub steps in to help founders navigate these hurdles by supporting them in accessing non-dilutive grants that fuel growth without the weight of debt or the sacrifice of equity. This approach enables founders to build resilient, sustainable businesses that can thrive in competitive markets. With access to non-dilutive funding, founders are empowered to focus fully on their goals, innovate with confidence, and make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond. What potential could you unlock with access to this kind of support? We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas below!?

The?November 10th?deadline is approaching fast. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the support you need to launch, grow, and thrive. Click the link to apply now, and let’s build your vision together! https://lnkd.in/eKnYQB6V

Can you get early-stage funding without diluting your ownership? YES! That’s the advantage of early-stage non-dilutive capital. Non-dilutive capital is key to de-risking a venture for future investors, as it allows startups to validate their business model, build traction, and prove market fit without giving up equity early. By reducing the perceived risk, these ventures become more attractive to investors down the line, who can see a clearer path to scalability and profitability. Not surprisingly, startups using innovation or business grants to take their ideas to market, for example, are twice as likely to attract venture capital investment. ?? They also build a stronger market presence—on average, 40% more competitive. RevHub’s guidance can make accessing these resources more straightforward, positioning founders to innovate boldly without compromising equity. What difference would non-dilutive funding make for your business? Drop your thoughts below! ?? #StrategicFunding #ScaleSmart #ImpactInvesting #MarketCompetitiveness #GrowthPotential #StartupSuccess #FundingPathways

How do you grow without giving up control? Grants offer a path to real innovation without compromising an entrepreneur’s ability to pursue social and environmental returns without the “mission drift” that can come from being beholden to investor expectations. Programs like the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Grant —designed to give founders the capital they need to build their breakthrough ideas without the weight. This non-dilutive funding is critical to social enterprise and a key strategic objective at RevHub. We help entrepreneurs identify and access the capital they need to develop their innovative solutions and accelerate growth that fuels long-term impact. ?? What project would you bring to life if you had early-stage non-dilutive funding? #NonDilutiveFunding #InnovationUnlocked #GrantOpportunities #StartupGrowth #FundingFreedom #RevHubInsights #BuildWithPurpose