In-Residence Fall 2024 Syllabus
Daily Agenda October 22-31, 2024
This document outlines the schedule for the Fall 2024 In-Residence, a program of Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University. Please direct questions to Karen Runde at krunde@scu.edu.
Jump to a particular day:
Schedule Notes for Attendees
Social Entrepreneurs (SEs)
We look forward to your attendance at all of the sessions listed in this syllabus.
You will be assigned to a time slot for the second Mock Investor Meeting scheduled on Saturday, October 26.
To fully prepare for your time at In-Residence, please join this kickoff call to align the group, held via Zoom. If you don’t see the invitation on your calendar, please contact Karen at krunde@scu.edu.
Mock Investors
To fully prepare for the 2nd Mock Investor Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 26, please join this kickoff call to align the group, held via Zoom. If you don’t see the invitation on your calendar, please contact Karen at krunde@scu.edu.
You are invited to attend any of the sessions and events listed in this syllabus as you wish. We ask that at least one mentor per team attends each of the following events. For Mock Investor meetings, please join at least for the specific time your entrepreneur is presenting (see daily schedule below).
Wed. 10/23
- 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Program kickoff, icebreaker, networking, time with your social entrepreneur
- 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Happy Hour & Welcome Dinner
Thurs. 10/24
- 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Welcome Reception
Sat. 10/26
- 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Mock Investor Meeting
(join at least for the specific time your entrepreneur is presenting)
- 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Mock Investor Meeting
(join at least for the specific time your entrepreneur is presenting; see daily schedule below)
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Mentor Debrief
- 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM: SE/Mentor/Investor Happy Hour and Dinner
- 8:00 PM – Late: Halloween After Party at Brigit’s place
You are invited to attend and support the following sessions and events:
Wed. 10/23
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Pictures
Thurs. 10/24
- 5:00 PM – 15:30 PM: Pictures
- 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Welcome Reception
Sat. 10/26
- 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Fellowship Panel & Networking Happy Hour
- 8:00 PM: Halloween After Party at Brigit Helms’ place
Sun. 10/27
- 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Carbon Credit & Social Entrepreneurship Workshop
Tuesday, October 22
All guests should plan on arriving between 8AM and 8PM on Tuesday, October 22 to check in. Please let us know if you are unsure of how you are getting from the airport to Sonesta Suites or Santa Clara University. There are some public transportation options listed below.
Lodging will be at the Sonesta Suites, across the street from the main Santa Clara University campus and next to the Santa Clara Caltrain stop at El Camino Real.
Sonesta Suites:
481 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Public Transportation from SJC to Santa Clara Transit Center:
- The VTA bus (route 60) will transfer you for free from the San Jose Airport (SJC) to the Santa Clara Transit Center. Buses are available about every 20 minutes from the airport bus stop. See the full schedule here (select Weekday Southbound, select which San Jose Airport Terminal you are departing from (Terminal A or B), and select Santa Clara Transit Center for where you are arriving).
- The Santa Clara Transit Center is right next door to Sonesta Suites, and right across the street from Santa Clara University / Miller Center!
Public Transportation from SFO to Santa Clara Transit Center:
- At the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), you will need to make your way to the SFO BART Station (via walking or taking the free AirTrain from your terminal to the BART station).
- Take the BART (SOUTH-bound) from SFO to the Millbrae Caltrain Transfer Platform. This will cost $4.80 in exact change, or you can purchase a Clipper Card. Credit cards and mobile pay are not accepted.
- Take the Caltrain (SOUTH-bound) from Millbrae to the Santa Clara Transit Center. You can purchase your Caltrain ticket at a kiosk directly at the Millbrae Caltrain station (it will be about $8.25 in cash, credit, or debit), or download the Caltrain Mobile ticketing app, or purchase a Clipper Card.
- The Santa Clara Transit Center is right next door to Sonesta Suites and right across the street from Santa Clara University / Miller Center! See the campus map on page 2.
Wednesday, October 23
Fight the jetlag and share a meal with your fellow social entrepreneurs while listening to an overview of Santa Clara University and Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Join us in the Miller Center Office, on the Santa Clara University campus in the Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation (SCDI) building at the northeast corner, 4th floor (#4008). See campus map on page 2 for parking and walking instructions.
Brigit Helms & Karen Runde
Social entrepreneurs, staff, and students are invited to take professional headshots and group photos.
Grab lunch and hear about the unique history of one of the most innovative places in the world, as told by long-time Mentor and Stanford lecturer.
Bret Waters
A detailed review of the In-Residence with information on what to expect and how to prepare for making the most out of the program.
Karen Runde & Paul Belknap
An interactive networking session for Social Entrepreneurs and Mentors which will include mindfulness, culture awareness, building your own personal board of directors, and an energetic Give-Get needs matching exercise.
Lynne Anderson, Cynthia Lang, Ed Vargas, Heidi Eisips, Jitendra Mudhol, Lance Descourouez, Sharon Bunyard, Rev. Sonia Russell and David Walker of Blackfullness-Mindfulness for Black People
Join your fellow entrepreneurs for casual bites and drinks to wind down the day.
Thursday, October 24
Join us for breakfast in the Miller Center Office.
Making Your Cause Irresistible: Learn how to create a brand that attracts customers and funders.
Discover how to stand out in a crowded marketplace and captivate hearts with your cause. This workshop will equip you with the tools to differentiate your social enterprise, uncover your authentic voice, and craft a compelling brand story that resonates deeply with your target audience. Learn how to identify your unique value proposition, develop a strong brand identity, and create marketing strategies that drive engagement and support.
Miller Center Emeritus Entrepreneur Sarah Lin
Join us for lunch in the Miller Center office.
In this session we’ll learn by doing, and doing and doing again. After a brief lecture on pitching do’s and don’ts, we’ll break off into groups and share our perfectly imperfect pitches with each other. Then we’ll repeatedly revisit those pitches with different objectives in mind: seeing if there are new ways to frame your business, or a new side of it to highlight.
James Lee
Get to know your fellow social entrepreneurs and the Miller Center community over a glass of wine and heavy appetizers.
5:30 PM: Registration & refreshments
6:00 PM: Welcome remarks from Brigit Helms
6:10 PM: Social Impact Excellence Award ceremony
6:30 PM: Cohort introduction and 3 minute pitches
7:20 PM: Networking
8:00 PM: Event ends
Eventbrite Link HERE
Friday, October 25
Join us for breakfast in the Miller Center office.
Bring your biggest Leadership & HR challenges to this interactive group session where you’ll reflect on your own organization’s culture and learn from your fellow participants and Miller Center Entrepreneurs about their leadership and HR best practices.
Leslie Hansen & Karen Runde
with Miller Center Emeritus Entrepreneurs Ayla Schlosser, Galen Welsch, Luis Sanabria and Rob Terenzi
Grab lunch and listen to an interactive discussion with special guest speaker, John Marks
The current fundraising environment is one of the toughest in recent memory, so we all need all the help we can get to be successful. In this session we’ll leverage the collective knowledge of select Emeritus Entrepreneurs and the cohort to learn what has worked, and hasn’t, to raise the money you need to scale your business and your impact. Come for the real talk and stay for the empathy of your fellow entrepreneurs.
Paul Belknap
with Miller Center Emeritus Entrepreneurs Chris Zaw, Morgan Babbs, Antonio Nuno, and Sanjay Banka
In this session you’ll learn – and then put into practice – the things that will make you an effective networker at SOCAP. In addition to actionable guidance on how to best network at SOCAP, you’ll also hear from fellow Miller Center entrepreneurs about their networking wins and failures, and then get to practice your own pitch to get some real-time feedback.
Sarah Sterling
with Miller Center Entrepreneurs Antonio Nuno, Wes Meier
(Specific mentors and Social Entrepreneurs will be notified by Karen R. for scheduling.)
Wind down the day over drinks and dinner with your fellow entrepreneur cohort peers.
Saturday, October 26
Join us for breakfast in the Miller Center office
This session will simulate a due diligence meeting with an impact investor. The format will be similar to the first session, but the panelists will probe deeper into your full business plan, challenge assumptions, and discuss the details of your requested financing.
Paul Belknap & Karen Runde
Join us for lunch in the Miller Center Office.
Debrief on what worked and what can be improved upon.
Lynne Anderson & Sharon Bunyard
Join your fellow social entrepreneurs and investors for a casual wind down to the day, starting with a brief update on Miller Center Capital.
Paul Belknap
Join us for dinner in the Miller Center Office.
Continue the festivities with a spooky after-party at Brigit’s place. Costumes are encouraged! Sharing an Uber is also encouraged as parking is limited.
(Location will be shared in the WhatsApp Groupchat)
Sunday, October 27
Check out of Sonesta Suites and bring your luggage to the Miller Center Office.
Bring all of your belongings with you to the Miller Center Office for breakfast and program feedback.
Karen Runde & Kevin Kraver
In this discussion, we’ll share best practices and case studies from experts and alumni utilizing AI. Learn about opportunities and resources for utilizing AI to grow your business and increase your impact. Our panel will cover issues around AI and governance, ethical considerations, healthcare, and practical tools. Miller Center alum will share how they are utilizing AI to drive economic growth and improve the lives of underserved populations.
Brigit Helms
with Krutika Ravishankar and Ann Skeet
Submit any updated final deliverables before boarding the bus! (Karen R will be checking!)
12:00 PM: Leave SCU with bag lunches and luggage loaded on bus:
- Visit Apple Park Visitor Center for photo op, unique experiences, and a view of Apple’s corporate headquarters
- Short hike or relax outdoors at Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
(hiking route map) - Drive down Sand Hill Road (the epicenter of venture capital) and through Stanford University campus
- Walk from Stanford’s main quad (photo op) to The Treehouse at Stanford for beer, wine, and snacks
6:00 PM Depart Stanford for San Francisco and the King George Hotel
Lodging will be at the King George Hotel, located in downtown San Francisco, one block from Union Square. This is a short (1 km/11-12 minute) walk from Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where SOCAP 2024 is taking place.
King George Hotel, 334 Mason Street, San Francisco, California 94102
Monday, October 28
Plan to meet in the SOCAP registration area at 7 AM sharp!
Understand the showcase event flow, and visit the venue for the October 29 Showcase. You will not have time to rehearse your full pitch.
Karen Runde & Sarah Sterling (SOCAP)
SOCAP Free Time
Join Miller Center and partners Acumen, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, and Stanford Seed for a social impact ecosystem happy hour.
Capacity is limited so contact Lydia Hultquist to confirm RSVP lhultquist@scu.edu
Tuesday, October 29
Breakfast Huddle w/ social entrepreneurs
AI & Social Entrepreneurship Session
Through real-world examples and insightful discussions, facilitators will showcase how AI catalyzes social innovation, improving lives in underserved populations while confronting challenges and ethical considerations for a more sustainable and equitable world.
Brigit Helms
with Krutika Ravishankar, Irina Raicu
Miller Center 2024 Social Enterprise Ignite Talk
All SEs are to arrive at 10:15 AM at Goldman Hall
The showcase will start promptly at 10:45 AM.
As part of Miller Center’s Fall In-Residence and the SOCAP Entrepreneur Program, this is an opportunity to pitch your enterprise to SOCAP attendees and investors
Karen Runde
and Fall In-Residence Cohort Entrepreneurs
This interactive workshop probes innovative financing instruments beyond traditional VC. We’ll examine how to mobilize investment and bridge the gap between philanthropy and market-rate returns.
Brigit Helms
with Dan Barker, Diana Sierra, Caroline Bressan
Meet us at Miller Center’s SOCAP booth to take a group photo of all Miller Center Entrepreneurs attending SOCAP 2024.
Wednesday, October 30
Final day of SOCAP
Thursday, October 31
All guests should check out no earlier than 11 AM and no later than 4 PM on Thursday, October 31.
Campus Map
Parking & Walking Instructions
Miller Center is on the Santa Clara University campus at 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA. We are located in the Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation (SCDI) building at the northeast corner, 4th floor.
Enter Santa Clara University through the main entrance at Palm Drive and El Camino Real. Continue driving on Palm Drive. Turn left to enter the Main Parking Structure and park, hanging your permit on your rearview mirror. Once parked, walk west (opposite of Stanton Field) to the double door entrance to the SCDI building. Enter the building and turn right at the first hallway (once you reach the café). Take Elevator #2 to the fourth floor*, and Miller Center is located across from the elevator at #4008 (see fourth floor map below).
On weekdays, you will need to stop by the Miller Center Office to pick up your free parking pass from a staff member, and then hang your permit on the rearview mirror of your car.
*Please note that the elevators and stairs at the front wings of the building do not go all the way up to the fourth floor. You will need to be at the back of the SCDI building (closest to the Main Parking Structure) to get up to the 4th floor.
Floor 4 – SCDI
Floor 3 – SCDI
Floor 2 – SCDI
Directory of Attendees