Aspire will return in 2021 as an in-person celebration of the social enterprise community in Central Ohio! The seventh annual event will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Brick House Blue at Bridge Park in Dublin, 6605 Longshore St.
Connect with social enterprise founders, supporters and engaged community members during networking time from 6 – 7 p.m. Programming kicks off at 7 p.m. with a keynote interview featuring Bill Tucker, executive director of Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub in Cincinnati and Susan Post, editor of The Metropreneur. Learn more about the socially-conscious business community in Cincinnati and the impacts Flywheel has helped to create through its services and programming.
Aspire 2021 will also feature the ninth annual Social Enterprise of the Year Awards presented in partnership with SocialVentures. The awards are designed to recognize the varying business models, stages and sizes of social enterprises that are making an impact on the Columbus community. Two honors will be awarded in 2021, including the Emerging Social Enterprise of the Year Award and Social Enterprise of the Year Award.
The Emerging Social Enterprise of the Year Award recognizes local for-profit businesses, independent nonprofits or businesses of an existing nonprofit with a socially-driven mission that are in the early stages of their business development or operational for less than 18 months.
Finalists for the 2021 Award include:
- 180 Demo
- Renter Mentor
- What the Waffle
The Social Enterprise of the Year Award recognizes social enterprises of any structure with a social mission and demonstrable impact that have also helped to give social enterprise a name as a way to do business in Central Ohio.
Finalists for the 2021 Award include:
- Franklinton Cycle Works
- Growlers Dog Bones
- The Roosevelt Foundation
Learn more about this year’s finalists here!
Three finalists are recognized in each category, with a panel of judges featuring past award winners and members of the business community selecting the winners based on an application that evaluates the business’ mission and social impact.
Tickets for Aspire 2021 are $15 and include beverages and light bites from a local, food-based social enterprise.
Aspire is made possible with support from SocialVentures and Barnes & Thornburg.
For more information and to buy your tickets for Aspire 2021, click here.
