ABOUT INNOV8SOCIAL

Innov8social creates experiences, content, training, and tools to make social entrepreneurship and impact leadership more accessible and actionable. Our mission is to help individuals, universities, and companies reach their impact potential. Learn how we can help you.

SPEAKING

PUBLICATIONS

PRESS & MEDIA

NEWSLETTER

OUR STORY

Innov8social is on a mission to make social entrepreneurship more actionable, accessible, and transformative and to strengthen impact ecosystem building. We do this through consulting, designing and convening virtual and in-person workshops and convenings, and creating content such as courses, online resources, podcast episodes, and video content.

Innov8social has presented workshops at SXSW, Net Impact, Stanford Law School, Santa Clara University Law School, Berkeley Law School, General Assembly, WeWork, Sustainatopia, SF+Acumen, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, Capital One, and has been featured in Idealist Careers, SSIR, GOOD, Horyou, Women 3.0, Social Entrepreneur Podcast, The Good Radio Network, among other media.

Innov8social has co-created 20 Impactathon® events in nine cities across the US, serving over 750 participants ages 13-80+. Past Impactathon hosts include UCLA Anderson, Soka University, Harness All Possibilities, As You Sow, One World Training, Reid Foundation, and more. The goal of these interactive convenings is to engage new generations of problem-solvers and invite new leaders to the table of social entrepreneurship.

@innov8social

2020
The COVID19 pandemic leads to cancellations and brainstorming new paths forward.
Catalyzes an opportunity to think different, spot gaps, collaborate, convene, and build in new ways.
2019
15th US Impactathon® convenes, partnership signed for 1st international Impactathon® next year.
Begin seeing some of our 375+ Impactathon alumni go on to raise funds, make critical pivots, connect with each other, and create exponential impact. Innov8social marks 75+ speaking engagements. 500+ blog posts. 150+ episodes of The Impact Podcast. A growing online community.
2018
Began referring to our role as social impact ecosystem builders. Released a season of The Impact Podcast on this topic.
Through our near-decade of involvement in the social impact sector, it became more clear that developing only social entrepreneurs, impact investors, impact analysts, conscious consumers wouldn’t be enough. The broader goal and focus should be building resilient, robust social impact ecosystems.
2017
Speak and facilitate sessions at SXSW, Net Impact, and Opportunity Collaboration.

Connect with a broader, global social impact community.
2016
1st Impactathon® convenes in San Francisco.

This is the first live event for Innov8social. Fun fact, it is named Impactathon® after the characters in the book meet at an “Impactathon.”
2015
"51 Questions on Social Entrepreneurship" publishes as book, ebook, and audiobook.
Work with a design firm, numerous editors, a typesetter, and graphic designers to bring to book to reality. The Innov8social “tribe” of supporters, believers, and friends rises to successfully fund a crowdfunding campaign and provide invaluable feedback on the book.
2014
Audio interviews become podcasts and are published to streaming platforms.
The podcast goes on to be re-named “The Impact Podcast by Innov8social” and becomes available on podcast platforms. Work with talented sound designer and operations and research specialists to produce a weekly episode.
2013
Begin sharing knowledge through workshops on social media for impact, social enterprise, and legal structures.
Partner with youth leadership organizations and law schools to share this content to empower and inform students.
2012
Blog interview series that will become The Impact Podcast starts.
Milestone Content goes here
2011
Innov8social launches as a blog.

The journey starts in parallel with the passage of AB361 the “benefit corporation” legislation, which introduces a new social enterprise corporate form into law in California in 2011.

TEAM & TALENT

Neetal Parekh

Founder, CEO, Head of Programs and Content

Neetal Parekh is a social impact ecosystem builder and licensed attorney, with expertise in digital strategy, storytelling, and communications.

Neetal is the author of book 51 Questions on Social Entrepreneurship, host of The Impact Podcast by Innov8social, convener of Impactathon®, and a frequent speaker, facilitator, and moderator on topics including social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, and ways entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and consumers can build and strengthen ecosystems for social impact.

Neetal holds a B.A. in International Political Science from UCLA, where she interned at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, India. She pursued her interest in international work through volunteering in rural India and studying public human rights law in Geneva and Strasbourg. Her past experience includes strategy roles at FindLaw, Calvert Foundation, Net Impact, and a handful of early-stage startups. She also served as Chief of Product and Impact at an education company (and public benefit corporation) where she designed and delivered entrepreneurship and business education.

Neetal has participated as a fellow in StartingBloc, Boem Media Fellowship at Opportunity Collaboration, Hive Global Leaders, and New Leaders Council, where she also served on the Advisory Board. She also engaged with the Executive team of VLAB, the MIT Enterprise Forum Bay Area Chapter at Stanford University, as Outreach Chair, and serves on the Advisory Board for SXSW Pitch Advisory Board.

A passionate advocate for social entrepreneurship and impact innovation, Neetal believes that this field empowers us to creatively re-imagine how businesses and individuals can create meaningful impact and lasting value.

Leon Wang

Tech + Community

MS Biomimcry, Singularity University

Jaco Rossouw

Research + Comms

Business, Univ of South Africa

Ioana Ghimuș

Event Design

Design Thinking, Researcher

Jonathan Lam

Web Development

UI Design/Development

Satinder Singh

Wordpress Developer

Envato Elite Author

Skitzo Housecat

Sound Design

Music, Photography, Art

Rajan Kasetty

Advisory Board

A Cleantech Incubator,
The 22 Fund

Selected Speaking Engagements

What the Hackathon? – Speaker on Panel at Inventures Calgary 2019
Impactathon® at Impact Hub SF – Convener of social impact hackathon 2019
Impactathon® at UCLA Anderson – Co-convener of social impact hackathon 2019
Impactathon® at Soka University – Convener of social impact hackathon 2019
Impactathon® New York Cith with HAP – Convener of social impact hackathon 2018
Impactathon® Customer Successfor Good SF – Convener of social impact hackathon 2018
Impactathon® Open Doors at Stanford d.school – Convener of social impact hackathon 2018
Impactathon® at One World Hacking Food Festival – Convener of social impact hackathon 2018
Where Philanthropy and Business Collide – Speaker on Keynote Panel at Berkeley Law School 2018
Social Enterprise Course – Instructor for high school students at Stanford University, CA 2017
Impactathon® at UCLA Anderson – Convener of social impact hackathon workshop 2017
Social Entrepreneurship for Founders: Five Things – SXSW 2017, Austin, TX 2017
Build Your Brand, Find Your Tribe – Workshop at Impact Hub Santa Barbara, CA 2017
Emcee – First Startup Pitch Event at Net Impact Conference 2016, Philadelphia, PA 2016
Failure, Pivots, and Problem-Solving Mindset – Speaker at SF+Acumen quarterly event, SF 2016
Impactathon® at TechShop SF – Convener at 1st Impactathon, interactive social impact workshop for changemakers, TechShop SF 2016
5 Things Every Founder Should Know About Social Entrepreneurship – Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, SF 2016
Social Innovation Law, Policy, and Legal Structures – lecture to Santa Clara University Law students 2016
5 Things Every Founder Should Know About Social Entrepreneurship – Speaker, GSVlabs 2015
Social Enterprise & Startup Law – Speaker, Stanford Law School, NASALSA 2015
Launching a Business in the SF Bay Area – Panel for international women entrepreneurs hosted by The Expat Woman 2014
Perfecting Your Pitch & Startup Sunday – to New Leaders Council Silicon Valley Fellows 2014
South Bay First Thursdays’: Tech Talk: API Leadership in the Technology Industry – Moderator 2013
Dare to Give Back – Panel for NetIP San Francisco Conference 2013
Blogging & Social Media 101 – to UC Berkeley Law students in Green-Collar Communities Clinic 2012

See All

2019

2018

2017

So You Made a Video/Podcast/Campaign, Now What – Workshop at Opportunity Collaboration 2017, Ixtapa, Mexico
Nobody Really Knows How To Use Social Media – Workshop at Opportunity Collaboration 2017
How to Podcast! – Workshop at Opportunity Collaboration 2017, Ixtapa, Mexico
Building Inclusive Cultures in the Workplace – Moderator at the Global Career Summit by The Expat Woman
From Zero to Podcast – Workshop at Impact Hub Santa Barbara, CA
Impact Film Discussion – Moderating online SIMA RAMA filmmaker panel for “Tomorrow We Disappear”
Introduction to Social Enterprise – Talk at Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, CA

2016

Confessions of a Social Entrepreneur – Panel at Net Impact Conference
Social Enterprise, Spirituality, and Impact – Book talk at East West Bookshop, Mountain View, CA
Unlocking Social Media for Employers – Speaker at AJLA 2016, SF
Graduation Remarks – New Leaders Council 2016 Fellows’ Graduation, San Jose, CA
5 Things Every Founder Should Know About Social Entrepreneurship – Unconference session at Hive Global Leaders, SF
Book Talk and Moderation of Women CEO Social Entrepreneur Panel – The Expat Woman US at WeWork in SF
What I’ve Learned About Social Impact – Conversation with Minerva Schools, inaugural undergraduate class, San Francisco
Keynote Address on Life in Resonance – Annual Womens’ Conference hosted by BAPS, Orange County, CA
5 Things Every Founder Should Know About Social Entrepreneurship – Protohack meetup at General Assembly SF
Book Talk on “51 Questions on Social Entrepreneurship – unconference session at StartingBloc Los Angeles

2015

How to Find and Build Audience – Facilitator, Small Group Workshop, StoryU in SF
Tips for Leading Great On-Air Interviews – Speaker, Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara, GSVLabs
Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Storytelling – Speaker, Youth Leadership Conference, Stanford Asian Liver Center
StartupWeekend #Tech4Good – Mentor, to aspiring social entrepreneurs at 3rd annual social good SW at Impact Hub SF
Sharing Economy Challenge – Judge, Uptima Business Bootcamp Hackathon at Impact Hub Berkeley
Pitch2Sharks Pitch Event – 2 minute pitch to 5 VC’s hosted by The Expat Woman in SF
Crash Course on Social Enterprise Law – Speaker, Presentation and panel talk at Stanford Law School
Social Entrepreneurship: US and Abroad – Speaker, Webinar with Penn State Malini Foundation Fellows
Compelling Storytelling & Pitching – Speaker, New Leaders Council 2015 Fellows
T-Talk: Panel of Entrepreneurs – Moderator, Thinktomi event with VC and founders
Social Good Tech Week Pitches – Judge, Social Good Tech Week SF
Social Impact Storytelling – Speaker, Thinktomi workshop for Social Venture Partner Sacramento “Fast Pitch” program
Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship – Speaker/facilitator, Thinktomi class to aspiring South Korean entrepreneurs

2014

Lean Impact Workshop – Mentor for aspiring social entrepreneurs at The Lean Startup Conference
Social Innovation: Law & CSR – lecture to Santa Clara Law students
Exploring Opportunity in Social Innovation– talk to Global Nepali Professional Network Kurakani
Train the Teacher – co-facilitated Thinktomi teacher training to integrate in high school curriculum
Thinktomi Entrepreneurs’ Playbook – facilitating various classes to NIPA, KOTRA, OKTA etc.
Hello, blog – introduction to blogging to New Leaders Council Silicon Valley Fellows
T-Talk: Intimate Conversation on Social Entrepreneurship – Facilitated fireside chats with leaders from Tumml, GoVoluntr, and Singularity University
Lean Approach to Startups & Business Model Canvas – facilitated curriculum for Thinktomi classes, 2013-2014