Social Enterprise Greenhouse launches accelerator class

THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Greenhouse has announced its 2015 accelerator class. Above, from left, Social Enterprise Greenhouse CEO Kelly Ramirez, intern Kendre Rodriguez, Communications and Development Manager Marissa Tuccelli and SEEED Summit Manager Julie Meros. / PBN FILE PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELY
THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Greenhouse has announced its 2015 accelerator class. Above, from left, Social Enterprise Greenhouse CEO Kelly Ramirez, intern Kendre Rodriguez, Communications and Development Manager Marissa Tuccelli and SEEED Summit Manager Julie Meros. / PBN FILE PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELY

PROVIDENCE – From water treatment systems and recycled fashion to toys for children of all abilities and a food truck for the hungry, Social Enterprise Greenhouse’s 2015 accelerator class features entrepreneurs launching a variety of initiatives.
Approximately 150 attended the launch on Jan. 15 at the Founder’s League, according to Kelly Ramirez, Social Enterprise Greenhouse CEO.
Ramirez said the event was attended by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline.
She said all 16 entrepreneurs made their pitches.
“It was really fantastic,” she said.
The entrepreneurs – who hail from Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts – will participate in a 12-week program, including an online portion with Brown University.

In its fifth year, the SEG Accelerator has launched businesses including Solar Sister, an organization aiming to eliminate energy poverty; Maternova, an e-commerce marketplace helping to save mothers and infants in childbirth; and Capital Good Fund, a nonprofit providing financial services to underserved families.

The 2015 SEG accelerator participants are:

  • 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, which develops playthings to encourage independence and exploration among children of all abilities. Entrepreneur is Cynthia Poon.
  • HMSolution, which 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, which assists private, nonprofit and government agencies with documenting, evaluating and improving their programmatic investments, while offering “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. 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 organization 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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