Social Innovation Summit Convenes Business, Investor and Non-Profit Leaders to Explore Creative Approaches to Driving Social Transformation

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., November 28, 2012 /3BL Media/ - At a time when publicly traded, privately held and mission-driven organizations in ever greater numbers are incorporating social responsibility and shared value into their overall strategies, executives of all stripes are keenly aware of the need to identify market opportunities that produce sustainable financial while driving positive social and environmental outcomes through scalable innovations.

The Social Innovation Summit — a two day private forum focused on building partnerships and identifying potential solutions to the world’s greatest social  and environmental challenges — is the forum of choice for these executives and thought leaders representing the Fortune 500, the venture capital community and other high-profile organizations across the public and private sectors.

“Global business leaders are seeing both social and financial returns from their innovative approaches to doing business, but there is still a misconception that doing good while doing well isn’t possible,” said Zeev Klein, General Partner at Landmark Ventures, the event host. “The Social Innovation Summit provides an opportunity to learn from the success of leading players from every industry who are thriving in their sectors and setting practical examples of real world leadership of aligning profit with purpose.”

This year’s event will highlight:

• The role global connectivity plays in improving educational outcomes across underserved communities worldwide. Featured speakers to include: Sal Khan, CEO and Founder of the Khan Academy, who will deliver the closing keynote; Tony Bates, the President of Skype; and Hunter Walk, Head of YouTube’s Social Good Initiatives. Additionally, Microsoft will reveal the winners of the second annual YouthSpark Imagine Cup Grants, a three-year, $3 million competitive grant program that provides students with funding and support to help transform their Imagine Cup project into a business or nonprofit that will address a specific social issue.

• How companies are re-tooling and leveraging their own value chain to create positive social and environmental outcomes through “social intraprenuership” — executives working to create and implement better business practices from the inside out. Executives from the Coca-Cola Company, Hewlett-Packard and Walmart to present examples and case studies.

• The power of social media-powered celebrity platforms to connect with and mobilize people to create stronger, healthier communities. Featured speakers to include: Padma Lakshmi, Actress, Model and Co-Founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America; Brian Clay, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist; and Barbara Bush, Executive Director of the Global Health Corps.

The December 4-5 event — the fourth since its inception — will take place in Silicon Valley at the Computer History Museum. To date, more than 100 partnerships have been formed from introductions made at the Social Innovation Summit. These partnerships have resulted in millions of dollars in cash and in-kind grants and the identification of numerous philanthropic opportunities.

To participate virtually in the Social Innovation Summit and track and engage in Summit-related conversations, follow the official event hashtag #SIS12 and the handle @socinnovation.

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide is managing media relations and communications for the Social Innovation Summit. To request media credentials or to schedule an interview with any event speakers, please contact Amy Dunn at adunn@waggeneredstrom.com or + 1 503 443 7878.

About Landmark Ventures

Landmark Ventures, founded in 1995, is a leading boutique Advisory Firm and Global Investment Bank focused on the Digital Media, Internet, Communications, Cleantech, Hardware and Enterprise Software sectors. We serve a diverse client base of entrepreneurs, growth-oriented private companies, leading public companies and investment funds providing a platform of services including:  Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Raising, Corporate Development, and Business/Market Development.

Our core strengths include extensive personal relationships across the financial and strategic landscapes, unparalleled market insights and deep global perspectives with a focus on cross-border transactions across North America, Europe, Asia and Israel. We believe in the core value of focusing on issues that are “Big Enough to Matter, Small Enough to Win.”

The Social Innovation Summit was founded as extension of Landmark’s corporate philanthropy program leveraging our convening power to identify, explore and actualize partnership opportunities across the business, technology & community sectors. It represents our passion for fostering growth and innovation within the for-profit sector and applying these same business principles to the non-profit sector. To learn more, visit http://www.LandmarkVentures.com.

About Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide is a global, integrated communications agency. For more than 25 years the independently owned firm has developed strategic communications programs for innovative and world-changing clients, working to influence markets, inspire people and improve lives. The agency has more than 800 employees in 18 offices around the world, and its Global Alliance partners expand the agency’s reach to more than 80 additional international markets. Waggener Edstrom has seven global practices: Analyst Relations, Consumer, Corporate, Healthcare, Public Affairs, Technology and WE Social Innovation, along with its WE Studio D^® digital strategies group. To learn more, visit http://www.WaggenerEdstrom.com.