Christian Social Venture Fund Backs Mission-Driven Entrepreneurs
Dave Blanchard and Josh Kwan are unabashed about their faith providing the motivation for their desire to change the world for good. They founded Praxis, a nonprofit entity that works as venture accelerator to groom social entrepreneurs and back them financially, specifically as way to express their faith and help like-minded entrepreneurs succeed.
The Praxis Academy provides entrepreneurial training with a Christ-centered approach to select undergraduates.
On Monday, June 2, 2014 at 2:00 Eastern, Dave and Josh will join me for a live discussion about how their faith shapes their work. Tune in here then to watch the interview live.
You can download an audio podcast here or subscribe via iTunes.
More about Praxis:
Praxis is a venture group, structured as a non-profit, that focuses on equipping and resourcing a growing portfolio of faith-motivated entrepreneurs who have committed their lives to cultural and social impact, renewing the spirit of our age one organization at a time. Praxis was conceived in 2010 by Dave Blanchard, then a Principal Designer at IDEO, and Josh Kwan, the Director of International Giving for the David Weekley Family Foundation, and developed in collaboration with Q, a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society.
Each year, Praxis welcomes 12 businesses and 12 nonprofits into our two Accelerator programs, where we provide the top-decision makers in these organizations with the knowledge, network, and personal discipleship necessary to build sustainable, high-impact organizations. In the summer of 2014, we’ll also launch Praxis Academy, a summer program focused on training Christ-following undergraduates at the intersection of faith, startups, and culture. Academy graduates will have a chance to apply for our Future Founders program, where they’ll have an unique opportunity to do a summer apprenticeship with our Accelerator alumni.
Dave’s bio:
Dave is an entrepreneur passionate about bringing new ideas to life to have a positive impact on society. Prior to Praxis, he was a Principal Business Designer at IDEO, an innovation consultancy, where he focused on venture design, startups, and social innovation. Earlier in his career, he co-founded DiscLive, a company working at the intersection of music and technology. He graduated from Babson College with a concentration on entrepreneurship, and also completed graduate work at Northwestern University, earning an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and an MEM in Design from the McCormick School. Dave’s social enterprise experience also includes four years on the Board of Governors of Opportunity International as well as a stint on the One Acre Fund Governing Board. He lives in Manhattan and is part of the Trinity Grace Church community.
Josh’s bio:
Josh is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build companies and nonprofits that shape culture and create virtue in the world. Before starting Praxis, he served as the Director of International Giving for the David Weekley Family Foundation, where he continues to act as an adviser helping provide growth capital to a portfolio of young nonprofits tackling global poverty. His contributions to these organizations include strategic planning, financial assessment, and serving on the Board of Directors. Josh co-founded Carpenters Code, a startup that creates mobile apps that encourage and enliven the practice of spiritual disciplines. Additionally, he is on the executive committee of the Big Bang Philanthropy Group and the board of directors at Village Schools International. He graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Government, and has an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He and his family reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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