News

Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator brings student concepts to reality

Aug 3, 2012

Over the last semester, students at the Beedie School of Business have been bringing to life projects to address tomorrow’s social, environmental and economic challenges with help from the new Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator (SEA) program. The brainchild of Beedie lecturer Shawn Smith, the program ran for six weeks at the SFU Surrey campus, with $10,000 in support from Vancity, and allowed students to enter as teams or individuals in order to generate a feasible business […]

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Students create a recipe for success

Jul 6, 2012

The following article was published by Burnaby Now on July 6, 2012. Two Simon Fraser University students have created a business where immigrant women host cooking classes; gaining work experience while sharing their cultures. Surrey resident Chantelle Buffie and New Westminster’s Sonam Swarup – both in their early 20s – came up with Fusion Kitchen in a social entrepreneurship class at SFU. “It was just natural for us to gravitate towards working with immigrant women. […]

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Beedie students building socially impactful careers

Jun 20, 2012

As a result of economic uncertainty and a less-than-optimal employment outlook both globally and locally, some students at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University are taking an alternative path to growing their careers. In the process, they are making hands-on contributions to the economy and society through entrepreneurial activity, community engagement, and international development. A case in point is Education Generation, founded by Shawn Smith, a Beedie School of Business alumnus and […]

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Students help Vancouver reach zero waste goals

Jun 15, 2012

Students at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business are using their sustainability-in-business acumen to help the City of Vancouver and other B.C. jurisdictions reach their zero waste goals. Annually, SFU’s MBA students undertake real-world sustainability projects for clients across Canada. This year, they are working with the Recycling Council of British Columbia (RCBC) and the city in a project that is also being supported by the packaging division of Walmart Canada. Both RCBC and the city have mandated zero-waste goals, at a time when the province is moving towards “extended producer responsibility” — which puts the onus of waste disposal on product manufacturers and retailers. Students in the MBA sustainability class and the undergraduate course Managing for Sustainability (Bus 489), both taught by Stephanie Bertels, a Beedie School assistant professor, are designing companies or processes that close existing gaps in the consumer recycling landscape – from discarded computers and electronics to take-out food packaging.

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New program accelerates social ventures

May 16, 2012

Contact: Shawn Smith, Beedie School, 778.782.9262, ssmithe@sfu.ca Derek Moscato, Beedie School, 778.782.5038, derek_moscato@sfu.ca Chantelle Buffie, 604.763.7211, clb14@sfu.ca Sonam Swarup, 604.809.5477, slswarup@sfu.ca Lorraine Wilson, 778.837.0394, mediarelations@vancity.com Students at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University can further their social venture ideas with the launch of the new Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator (SEA) program, starting this semester at the SFU Surrey campus. The program provides students with the resources to generate feasible business models, meet with clients to discuss project details, and gain an […]

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Beedie launches social venture accelerator program

Mar 21, 2012

The Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University is launching a new social venture accelerator program, the SFU Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator (SEA), designed specifically for entrepreneurial students with social impact ideas or an interest in helping teams launch social ventures. Sponsored by Vancity, the SEA will help students move ideas from concept to reality, and aims to develop entrepreneurs that will help address tomorrow’s social, environmental, and economic challenges. Designed for students looking to […]

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