Strategyn Expands Offering to Social Sector with Launch of Center for Social Innovation -- New Center in the Running for $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant
2010-06-01
Austin, TX – June 1, 2010 – Strategyn, Inc., an industry leader in innovation management, today announced the launch of the Center for Social Innovation, a division of Strategyn, Inc., that focuses on the needs of non-profit organizations, government agencies and corporate foundations. The Center serves as a facilitator, advisor and innovation partner to the social sector solving problems in the areas of economic development, conservation, healthcare and education.
“For 20 years, Strategyn has worked with the private sector helping them to establish effective innovation strategies and drive them through implementation,” said Sandy Bates, Co-Founder of Strategyn Center for Social Innovation. “With the launch of the Center, we are able to apply Strategyn’s award-winning innovation techniques to solve the social issues that plague our world and our everyday lives, giving us the ability to work for the greater good.”
As part of the Center’s initiatives, the company has applied for a $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to help improve aid distribution in areas devastated by a natural disaster. With the grant funding, the Center will be able to:
- Identify obstacles in getting aid to natural disaster areas through a comprehensive audit
- Uncover and understand the needs of victims, aid groups and government response teams during a natural disaster
- Create a solutions database and build a platform for collaboration among government, non-profit and corporate entities to innovate disaster relief efforts in the US
“Although we can’t prevent or predict the next massive earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire or tornado, we can be prepared to effectively deploy aid after a natural disaster,” added Bates. “This project will analyze relief efforts following major disasters throughout the United States and examine the overall effectiveness of the aid. Once we fully understand the problem, we will engage a nationwide effort to develop innovative solutions that improve disaster relief processes in the U.S.”
In 2010, the Pepsi Refresh Project will give away more than $20 million to refresh the world, one idea at a time. Each month, Pepsi will award up to $1.3 million in grants to the ideas with the most votes. Pepsi will accept up to 1,000 new ideas every month and the public decides who wins. From June 1 through June 30, each visitor to the Pepsi Refresh Project website will be able to cast 10 votes per day for the proposal of their choice. Help the Strategyn Center for Social Innovation aid those devastated by natural disasters by voting at http://refresheverything.com/strategyncsi.
About the Pepsi Refresh Project
In an effort to support those who generate innovative, optimistic ideas, the Pepsi Refresh Project (www.refresheverything.com) will award more than $20 million in 2010 to move communities forward. Individuals can apply for grants to benefit a variety of projects and site visitors can vote for the best ideas for funding. The Pepsi Refresh Project is an evolution of the Refresh Everything initiative Pepsi launched in 2009, which showed the brand as an optimistic catalyst for idea creation, leading to an ever-refreshing world. Pepsi will fund projects that make a difference in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods and Education.
About Strategyn
Strategyn has been a leader in innovation management for nearly 20 years partnering with companies across the globe to solve their unique innovation challenges. Through the company’s patented Outcome-Driven Innovation® (ODI) process, companies can discover high-growth emerging markets, unlock hidden opportunities, and create breakthrough products and services. Strategyn’s 40 employees worldwide have worked successfully with companies such as Chiquita Brands, Colgate-Palmolive, Hallmark, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft Corporation, Motorola , Pfizer and WellPoint, helping them establish effective innovation strategies and driving them through implementation. Founded in 1991, Strategyn, Inc. serves as a holding company for Strategyn Consulting, Strategyn Institute, Strategyn Ventures, and the Strategyn Center for Social Innovation – all innovation-advancing businesses. For more information visit: www.strategyn.com.
