The Social Entrepreneurship Engagement & Development Lab (SEED Lab) is an initiative developed in collaboration with the Center for Social Innovation at University of California, Riverside, and Independent Sector.

SEED Lab is a 10-month pre-accelerator for social entrepreneurs aiming to tap the deep reservoir of unrecognized talent within marginalized and under-served communities and support their efforts to identify and develop pioneering paths out of inherited problems that have buried and muffled those voices. The program was designed to support the implementation of visionary ideas into similarly powerful tools to generate social impact, deepen civic engagement, and bring about empowerment and sustainable change. SEED Lab prioritizes social entrepreneurs who, despite their talent, commitment, vision and social impact potential, do not yet have the opportunity to be part of a learning environment, engage with fellow change makers, learn from mentors or access resources and networks.

The inaugural cohort meets between July 2018 and May 2019 for six on-campus modules tackling various issues related to social entrepreneurship, with guest speakers, group workshops, one-on-one sessions, customized mentorship, networking, and various other opportunities.

Meet the 2018-2019 SEED Lab Cohort!

SEED Lab was possible with the generous support from The Weingart Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The Community Foundation, Bourns Trust, corporate and private donors.