Mobilize.org Acquires Sparkseed to Launch Innovative Millennial Fellowship Program
Merger Leads to Extensive Growth in Networking Opportunities for Millennial Social Entrepreneurs
Washington, D.C. (July 18, 2011) – Sparkseed, the leading incubator for Millennial social innovators, is joining forces with Mobilize.org, to create a broader support network and investment vehicle for Millennial social entrepreneurs.
Mobilize.org, an organization that empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to social problems, will integrate Sparkseed’s social investment strategy and training into its programming. The fusion will enhance Mobilize.org and Sparkseed’s efforts to launch successful Millennial-led civic ventures.
“For the last three years, the Sparkseed team worked hard to do everything we can to support the next generation of entrepreneurs by applying business principles to solve the world’s toughest problems,” Sparkseed founder Mike Del Ponte said. “This acquisition accelerates Sparkseed’s ability to do just that.”
As a result, the new Mobilize.org Fellowship Program will be a 12-month virtual and in-person leadership development curriculum that equips Millennials with the skills and resources they need to become civic entrepreneurs. Through partnerships with civic leaders, civic organizations and community institutions, the Mobilize.org Fellowship Program trains and prepares winners from each Mobilize.org summit to successfully launch and implement civic entrepreneurial ventures in their communities and on their campuses.
“We are ecstatic to include Sparkseed’s stellar network of thought leaders and its program model as part of Mobilize.org’s mission of investing in quality civic leadership,” said Maya Enista, CEO of Mobilize.org. “Mike’s valuable insight on our board of directors will be an incredible asset for guidance in our ability to support Millennial entrepreneurs.”
After successfully completing the program, Mobilize.org Fellows will have a fully developed project plan, including a 12-month timeline and budget, a personal or team mentor with experience that corresponds to their project and a financial investment to launch and support their civic venture.
Since its inception, Mobilize.org has funded and launched more than 34 Millennial-led projects that support initiatives to help overcome financial literacy for the Millennial Generation, environmental sustainability, and challenges young veterans face reintegrating into civilian life. Sparkseed has successfully supported 15 social ventures since the launch of its pilot program in 2007.
To join the conversation and to learn more, visit www.Mobiilze.org, follow the team on Twitter @mob_org, or join them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Mobilize.org.
About Mobilize.org
Mobilize.org empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to social problems. Utilizing technology and social networking to connect Millennials on and offline, its national Mobilize.org Summits convene Millennials from around the country to discuss issues impacting the Millennial Generation and to develop sustainable solutions to address them.
