While I try to look at everything I cover on this blog from many angles, when it comes to coverage of the Unreasonable Institute, I am completely biased. I think that they are filling a vital education gap (and hopefully, increasingly, a funding gap) in our sector with panache and joie de vivre and if you're an early-stage social entrepreneur who wants a significant competitive advantage and amazingly supportive community, you'd be nuts not to apply.
For those who haven't read about the Unreasonable Institute, the program was founded in 2009 and held its first summer incubator in 2010. The program is an 8-week live-in program in Boulder, Colorado. During that time, entrepreneurs live together and learn from one another, and are treated to daily sessions with mentors who are experts in topics ranging from branding to business development and beyond.
In addition to that support, they have the opportunity to come away from the summer with a meaningful dose of new funding. The Unreasonable Institute hosts one of First Light Venture's Village Capital programs, which means that the entrepreneurs actually make the decisions about funding, as well. Last year, funding went to mobile money gateway Kopo Kopo, direct trade coffee company Liga Masiva, and ethical toilet paper company Who Gives A Crap?
Something I think will be different than last year will be an emphasis on curricular trajectory. The program is anchored by the relationships between the Unreasonable entrepreneurs and mentors, but last year, there wasn't a clear, linear path through the content that the mentors we're providing. This coming year, the program will be divided into 5 weeks for business development and 3 weeks on execution and outreach.
The application process -- which has just opened -- �involves a first round written application, a second round of interviews, and most interestingly, a third round fundraising battle royale. The program costs $10,000, but entrepreneurs aren't allowed to pay. They have to fundraise it all online in a test of entrepreneurial mettle.
I can't say enough good things about the program and the people behind it. Stop reading now and go apply.
And if you still need convincing, watch the first of ten episodes of Unreasonable TV from the 2010 institute.
Unreasonable TV: Episode 1 - Unreasonable Beginnings from Unreasonable Institute on Vimeo.
Photo credit: Daniel Epstein
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