In mid September, 140 business leaders and social entrepreneurs gathered on Cortes Island to share challenges, successes, and experiences with peers during the 16th Annual Social Venture Institute at Hollyhock.

On June 23rd, Alter Eco, a Renewal2 portfolio company, was featured in the printed Edition of The New York Times.  The article presented Alter Eco as a successful social venture that is able to attract “talented people” and specifically names Alter Eco's VP of Sales Kate Tierney as a prime example.  Writer Susan Moran explains how “tough times may be increasing interest in social ventures” and uses an Alter Eco as an example of a firm that supports “companies that are doing the right thing right from the start”.

Joel Solomon has joined RSF Social Finance as Entrepreneur-at-Large. With two decades of impact investing experience, Joel will leverage his community connections to support RSF's growth.

An inspirational write-up in Granvile Magazine about the Social Venture Network Local Gathering last month.

Growing local wealth in Vancouver through social venture networking
By Emily Jubenvill, March 11, 2011
Granville Magazine

Vancouver is quickly becoming a hub for social ventures and community investing where a triple-bottom-line approach ensures business is giving back to the community

I didn't really know what to expect as I rode the quiet elevator up to Joel and Dana Bass Solomon's Downtown Eastside apartment. The occasion: the Social Venture Network Local Gathering, an evening of networking with people from some of North America's top values-based investment firms, businesses and non-profit organizations.

The other night I attended a local gathering of folks organized by Social Venture Network, Renewal Partners, B-Lab, Vancity and RSF Social Finance. It was billed as “an evening of connections and collaboration” and it went down at the home of Dana and Joel Solomon, a couple whose names are synonymous with the success of values-driven businesses in this city and who we’ll be bringing you more about in the future...

A new business memoir by Tweezerman’s founder, Renewal friend and SVN member, shows how a lot of pluck and a bit of luck can lead to success.