Oxford University's Saïd Business School - Flash forum - TEDxVolcano

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 | University News

Social entrepreneurs prevented by volcanic ash from returning home from this week's Skoll World Forum at Oxford University's Saïd Business School, decided, in true entrepreneurial spirit, to make the most of it.

Nathaniel Whittemore, founder of AssetMap, and a group of his fellow social entrepreneurs threw an impromptu event with the support of TED, the non-profit organisation devoted to spreading great ideas.

The TEDxVolcano, put together in 36 hours, featured talks by thinkers who were stranded by the volcano, film clips and the sounds of Susheela Raman. Speakers included:

• Matthew Bishop, Economist New York Bureau Chief 
• Cara Mertes, director of the Sundance Documentary Film Program
• Larry Brilliant, president of Skoll Global Threats Fund
• Peter Greenberg, CBS travel correspondent
• Chris Fralic, First Round Capital
• Sally Osberg, Skoll Foundation executive director
• Jim Fruchterman, CEO of Benetech and MacArthur "genius" fellow
• Rita King, CEO of Dancing Ink Productions
• Jim Berk, CEO of Participant Media

The event was also livestreamed to over 1,000 non-attendees.

In a separate initiative, the Global Impact Investing Network held what it called its 'First Annual GIIN Volcanic Ash Refugees Impact Investing Dinner". The annual post-Skoll party hosted in London by microfinance lender Kiva also proved popular.

It seems that social entrepreneurs never stop.