A double header: two contestants in two different competitions in southern California. One contestant from a non-profit company, a social enterprise, the other a brand new startup competing in an open mic bake-off.

How do non-profits compete for capital? Would a fast pitch help? Or are too many local investors reeling from the declines in the stock market? Melanie Stephens runs the non-profit Centro Latino for Literacy where they use the web to teach literacy. She's in a fast pitch competition hosted by the LA Social Venture Partners and USC's Stevens Institute. The non-profits will be judged on:

1) Social Impact
2) Innovative Approach
3) the Pitch (presentation style, etc.)

Come to the Social Innovation Fast Pitch at 4pm Oct 29th, 2008.

Rania Nasis is the second contestant; she won first place in Survivor 4, an open mic competition hosted by TCVN. She's just getting started with her startup.

Show #188 (42:27)