The Social Enterprise Collaborative
The Utah Social Enterprise Collaborative (USEC) is a network of individuals and entities dedicated to building and supporting social enterprise in Utah. Members include nonprofit organizations, social purpose businesses, grant makers, lenders and investors, educators, corporations, and individuals.
USEC was formed to find sustainable and innovative solutions to the social, environmental, and economic challenges facing Utah. We foster enterprises across the profit spectrum that increase employment for Utahns with life challenges, reduce the dependence of nonprofits on annual giving, and provide a social and economic return on investment.
We do this through education, networking and peer support, strategic partnerships and by increasing public awareness of the long term, positive impact of social enterprise. We collaborate to connect members with employees and customers, sources of capital, marketing opportunities, and technical resources and expertise.
On July 31, 2012, The Business Resource Center at Utah Valley University and the Utah Social Enterprise Collaborative (USEC) hosted “Nail It then Scale It: Business Model Generation Training” for staff and board members of local non-profit organizations. This workshop focused on implementing effective projects using the tools developed for smart start-ups. Thanks to our sponsors: the American Express Center for Community Development, GE Capital Financial Inc., and Morgan Stanley Bank N.A. for their support.
Read the full report here: 
Nail It then Scale It Report.pdf
Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance Marriott School of Management , BYU
The Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance is an academic center for students, faculty, and practitioners that works to find social innovations to some of today's most important social problems.
Fairbourne Consulting is a business innovation firm aimed at helping build equitable, profitable, and scalable businesses that can help alleviate poverty and impact the 4 billion people at the base of the economic pyramid.
Miller Business Resource Center, SLCC
The Miller Business Resource Center at Salt Lake Community College offers services and support to entrepreneurs and small business owners through on-site internal resources and outside partners.
Mountain America Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit, full service financial institution aimed at helping members enjoy a good life by providing them a positive incentive to save and manage their finances.
SCORE is a non profit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow, and achieve their goals through education and mentor-ship.
Stormey Sweitzer is a social impact strategist who's aim is to help aspiring social entrepreneurs and corporate and nonprofit intrapreneurs take action on their ideas for changing the world in a way that is financially sustainable and even profitable.
Thayne Center for Service & Learning
The Thayne Center for Service & Learning at Salt Lake Community College works to establish capacity-building relationships with community organizations, facilitate service-learning development opportunities for faculty and coordinate service leadership programs for students looking to change the world.
The Institute for New Enterprise, Westminster College
The Institute for New Enterprise at Westminster College fosters and develop the skills critical to successful entrepreneurial leadership-innovating, validating, planning, funding, and launching new ventures.
The Social Innovation Incubator, UVU
The UVU Social Innovation Incubator provides critical support to social entrepreneurs whose concepts possess the potential for significant social impact and student engagement.
Utah Department of Workforce Services
The Utah Department of Workforce Services goal is to strengthen Utah's economy by supporting the economic stability and quality of our workforce
Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development
The goal of the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development is to nurture an environment where Utah companies can be successful and the business community can create jobs that raise Utah's citizen's standard of living.
Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund
The Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund is a private, non-profit, multi-bank community development financial institution, (CDFI), whose mission is to provide financing and management support to entrepreneurs in start-up and existing firms that do not have access to traditional funding sources - in particular, those who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
BoomStartup is a mentorship-driven investor program aiming to help entrepreneurs launch their dreams.
The Foundry, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah
The Foundry is a program sponsored by the David Eccles School of Business that is open to anyone in the community who has a passion to help create new and enduring businesses.
Grow Utah Ventures is a non-profit entity dedicated to growing, supporting and sustaining entrepreneurship in Utah. They work to accelerate the creation of innovative, entrepreneur-led businesses that will strengthen and expand the future growth of Utah's economy.
Innoventures Capital Partners is the manager of the UTFC family of funds in Salt Lake City, they invest in small companies throughout the region by providing subordinated debt to start-up and growing businesses.
NorthFront Entrepreneur Alliance
The NorthFront Entrepreneur Alliance aims to bring entrepreneurs in Northern Utah together to learn, network, share ideas, find needed resources, and recognize accomplishments within the group. The Alliance hopes to foster and promote entrepreneurship in Northern Utah.
The Pete Suazo Business Center is a business resource committed to the development and empowerment of the Latino/Hispanic and other under served communities. They provide assistance to help existing and potential minority entrepreneurs succeed and build wealth.
Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center, University of Utah
The Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center provides unique educational opportunity through real world business experiences to help young entrepreneurs be better prepared to understand and assume the risks of business ownership and management.
Utah Association of Financial Services
The Utah Association of Financial Services works to promote and foster the Utah financial services industry through effective leadership, member involvement, education, public affairs, media relations, strategic alliance development, and grassroots advocacy.
Zions Business Resource Center
The Zions Business Resource Center offers resources and information for those launching a new business or looking to grown one. Services include counselling on creating business plans, budgeting, licensing and more, all comlimentary thanks to Zions Bank.
We had a wonderful morning of speed mentoring with 25 friends of Devin Thorpe. As Sandra Hufford with Solid Carbon Products noted "It was great to meet these wonderful people making such a difference in our communities."
Devin Thorpe is our kind of person. He called the foundation, asked what he could do to help, and in a matter of weeks arranged for 25 very talented people to spend 90 minutes with the agencies that make our community what it is. From the Tracy Aviary to the Casino Star Theater in tiny Gunnison, these organizations are open to new ways to do business, and our business community is ready to assist.
Welcome to our new and returning 'enlightened entrepreneurs', and to the nonprofits form the Utah Social Enterprise Collaborative who came prepared with a tough business problem. Special thanks to Tanner+ Co fo letting us use their beautiful facility and to Joel Nelson, our Lassonde Fellow for organizing the event. If you'd like to join our merry band, just give a call - e promise you'll enjoy your interaction, expand your business network, and do a lot of good in a short period of time. As Adam Castro with Rees Capital wrote: "I had a great time and was happy to give advice to truly talented and giving people / organizations."
