SEG celebrates 2015 accelerator grads, opening of SEG Hub

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE GREENHOUSE celebrated its 2015 SEG accelerator graduates and the grand opening of its SEG Hub at 10 Davol Square on Thursday night. / COURTESY MONIQUE BOSCH
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE GREENHOUSE celebrated its 2015 SEG accelerator graduates and the grand opening of its SEG Hub at 10 Davol Square on Thursday night. / COURTESY MONIQUE BOSCH

(Updated 1:34 p.m.) PROVIDENCE – Social Enterprise Greenhouse celebrated its 2015 SEG accelerator graduates and the grand opening of its SEG Hub at 10 Davol Square on Thursday night, an event that attracted approximately 250 people, according to Kelly Ramirez, CEO of SEG.
She said attending dignitaries including U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline, R.I. Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner and City Councilor Seth Yurdin.
“We are excited to be part of the increasingly vibrant jewelry district and confident that being in such a visible location will help raise awareness about the growing numbers of do well do good businesses. And of course we can’t think of a better partner/landlord than Brown University,” Ramirez said.

The new headquarters was developed through a lease and programmatic partnership with Brown University.

“The energy at the event was palpable. There are so many business and community leaders that came together to make the new SEG Hub a reality. The real inspiration of the evening came from learning about the 16 innovative impact businesses that graduated from the 2015 SEG Accelerator. They are all creating jobs and improving our communities,” Ramirez said.

SEG serves Rhode Island’s social enterprise sector by providing services that support social enterprises at every stage of their venture development.

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The accelerator graduates were:

  • West Elmwood Housing’s Sankofa World Market, a weekly market connecting residents of Providence’s West End with opportunities for increased income and healthy, affordable and culturally-appropriate foods. Entrepreneur is Rachel Newman Greene.
  • Increment develops playthings for inclusion, to encourage independence and exploration among children of all abilities. Entrepreneur is Cynthia Poon.
  • HMSolution provides prepackaged water treatment systems for the removal of arsenic and 15 other chemicals to water suppliers at 10 times lower operational costs. Entrepreneurs are Margaret Lengerich and Constanza Lengerich.
  • Murray/Zoll & Associates assists private, nonprofit and government agencies with documenting, evaluating and improving their programmatic investments and offers low-bono services for emerging charitable organizations. Entrepreneurs are Katie Murray and Susan Zoll.
  • CleanPowerPerks rewards people that choose clean energy with exclusive discounts from sustainable businesses and brands. By partnering with clean power providers, they accelerate adoption of wind and solar in the United States. Entrepreneur is Tess O’Brien.
  • EarthFrendz creates recycled fashion and employs impoverished men and women in India. Entrepreneur is Priya Samant.
  • EbenGroup uses a one-for-one model selling rucksacks and giving school supplies to those in need as well as 10 percent of the profits to educational programs. Entrepreneur is Candace McCreary.
  • EcoMadera Forest Conservation is a sustainable forestry and wood products company that promotes a co-operative ownership structure and manages forestland in Ecuador. Entrepreneur is Peter Pinchot.
  • Fit2Cook offers educational programs for children to promote healthy eating and lifestyles into adulthood. Entrepreneurs are Karen Salvatore and Tracy DeSantis.
  • Food4Good offers nourishing meals for the hungry, subsidized by purchased meals, all from a low-overhead cost food truck. Entrepreneur is Julius Searight.
  • Moving Mountains provides outdoor education programming for urban youth to promote academic achievement and social-emotional development. Entrepreneur is Ivy Sokol.
  • Rhode Island Urban Debate League engages students in policy debate programs in order to improve academic outcomes and increase college readiness. Entrepreneur is Ashley Belanger.
  • TextUp combines a Web app and an automated texting hotline to increase transparency and improve access to social services for the homeless and near-homeless. Entrepreneur is Eric Bai.
  • Accountability Lab is a nonprofit that empowers citizens in developing countries to build creative tools for integrity and anti-corruption in their communities. Entrepreneurs are Anne Sophie Lambert and Blair Glencorse.
  • evox OmniMedia PBC is a quality of life television network and marketplace that provides content and more than 14,000 eco-friendly products. Entrepreneur is Xavier Dubois.
  • Swell Organics will repurpose old mill and manufacturing spaces with highly efficient indoor vertical farming systems known as Aquaponics, producing fresh local produce year round. Entrepreneurs are Ethan Tucker and Ely Beckman.

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