Discussing Social & Community Innovation

When you think of innovative startups, what usually comes to mind is hoodie-wearing Millennials solving problems they see in the world. Often those “problems” seem trivial as this tweet lampooned three years ago.

https://twitter.com/azizshamim/status/595285234880491521?lang=en

But some innovators are focusing on social outcomes — and by “social” I mean for the benefit of the community, not social media. Today, I attended a panel discussion on  social and community innovation. The moderator was Tito Jackson, former Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate, and the speakers included several innovators in the Boston startup community, including Justin Kang, Executive Director of City Awake and VP of Economic Growth at Boston Chamber of Commerce. The focus was on how startups that focus on social impact can gain a foothold and grow.