Programs | Explore | Impactify

Do you see social, cultural, or environmental problems which can be solved in innovative ways?

Geometric squares overlayed in grid fashion above background of trees in a valley

Or do you want to impact the world in a positive way while doing your future job? You can be that change maker. You can be the social innovator. Join this series to make your impact on the world, and make it a better place.

About this program

Impactify is a 6-session program designed to give students the skills and the confidence needed to be the next generation of change-makers. It will help students gain awareness of social innovation and entrepreneurship, build a common vocabulary around it, and develop practical skills by taking them on a guided journey of hypothesizing a social venture of their own.

Interested? Open to all, this program doesn’t requires you to have an idea of your own. The only thing required is the passion for change.

Eligibility

  • Be a student at an Atlantic Canadian university or college
  • Be available for the sessions listed above
  • Have a passion for change

Benefits to students

  • $3000 of cash prizes to be won on the Pitch Day
  • Refreshments will be provided for in-person events
  • Get introduced to the impact economy and social innovation
  • Prepare for further Dal Innovates programming
  • Network with other entrepreneurs

Program facilitator

Narinder Dhami, a Canada Top 40 Under 40 2019 honouree, has worked across sectors and silos, bringing depth, perspective, and rigour to her work in North America and the Global South. She is the President of the Sonor Foundation, Executive Lead of New Power Labs, Managing Partner at Marigold Capital and an Advisor to Justice Fund. Narinder has been recognized as a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader. 

Across the last decade, she designed and scaled two social ventures: as the Managing Director she built LEAP | Pecaut Centre for Social Impact, an innovator in venture philanthropy, and as the founding Executive Director of Rise Asset Development she built a microfund for individuals with a history of mental health and addiction challenges. Her work spans to the Global South where she helped grow the Première Agence de Microfinance across Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and worked on the portfolio team with Acumen in Ghana and Nigeria. 

She is a lecturer at Ryerson University and Narinder co-created the first course in microfinance and impact investing at the University of Toronto. Narinder also currently serves on the board of Community Foundations of Canada, Acumen Canada, Venture for Canada, The Circle and CAFIID.

Program sessions

  • Introduction to Impact Economy and Impact Assessment
  • Theory of Change, Impact, and Growth Metrics
  • Customer Discovery and Value Proposition
  • Impact Business Modelling
  • Impact Funding and Pitching
  • Forming a Team and Next Steps
  • Practice Pitch Session
  • Pitch Session

Registration

Keep checking this space for the latest registration details.

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Impactify is made possible by the support of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)