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Social Venture Institute (SVI)

September 17-21, 2025
Level up yourself, your network, and your business
Join us for our 30th anniversary at SVI 2025! More Speakers and updates will be announced soon. Pre-register today!

If you believe that business can (and should) be a catalyst for social and economic transformation, you belong at Social Venture Institute.

Join Canada’s longest-running social enterprise gathering to find the inspiration, resources, and relationships you need to propel your mission forward. SVI is a five-day oceanside gathering of 100+ CEOs, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, movement leaders, and impact investors.

Invest in yourself and your relationships.

Take the time to work on your business, instead of in your business.

Join us at SVI Hollyhock.

Wondering if this is for you? Fill out the form and our team will help answer your questions.


Speakers

Kyle Empringham

Co-Executive Director, Finance and Development
The Starfish Canada

Meet Your Team

SVI Hollyhock is produced by a team of entrepreneurs, investors, and facilitators committed to your growth:

Vanessa Richards

SVI & SVI Virtual Lead Facilitator
Director, vanessarichards.com

Mark Busse

Consultant, Facilitator, and Coach
Independent

Nicole Ebert

Partnerships & Ecosystems Lead
Hollyhock Leadership Institute
people eating on the deck

Find out why SVI sells out every year:

There’s a reason that SVI has a Net Promoter Score of 92; Every year, 100% of participants agree that after attending SVI, they have new connections and renewed energy to support their work in the world.

  • Find your people: Entrepreneurship can be lonely, this is an opportunity to connect with like-minded leaders who share your values
  • Practical problem-solving: Bring your real-world challenges to One-on-One Advisors, Peer Coaching Circles, and Case Studies to level up your thinking and leave with tangible takeaways to operate more effectively
  • Form lasting relationships: SVI relationships last a lifetime. Show up as your whole self, meeting partners, clients, board members, and friends. You also join a lifelong community of 3,000+ SVI alumni who champion and support one another year-round.
  • Restore and Re-Energize: Take time for yourself to get inspired again in beautiful natural setting. Experience the rejuvenation that comes from reconnecting with your passion.
Be a part of the magic
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True Confessions

Real stories. Hard lessons. Brave leaders.We start each SVI with a True Confessions storytelling presentation. True Confessions are not canned speeches about how to become a wildly successful entrepreneur. They’re personal stories from leaders who have faced enormous challenges and made some big mistakes that they’re willing to talk about. They’re also real-life stories from leaders who made a decision to do something meaningful and were successful in doing so.

The True Confessions model is all about offering honest, vulnerable experiences of seasoned leaders so that listeners can apply lessons of trials and triumphs to their own venture.

Save your spot for SVI 2025
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Interactive Case Studies & Business Problem Solving Sessions

Big, bold challenges teach us all. At SVI we will feature enterprises that have identified a specific strategic challenge to a panel of experts. The format of SVI is highly interactive and experiential. Participants present their business problems to a panel of experienced business leaders and fellow participants. In return, they receive advice, tools, and resources to strengthen and grow their enterprise in a socially conscious way.

Apply to present a Case Study at SVI! Bring your business challenge to the room and tap into the wisdom of values-aligned leaders.

Click here to submit a Case Study. (submissions close May 30)

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Skill Building Workshops

Learn practical tools and tactics in SVI workshops. Workshop topics cover sales, marketing, finance, strategy, and leadership. Stay tuned for the full workshop list!

Got skills to share? Submit a 90-minute workshop proposal for SVI and help fellow leaders grow while building your own impact within this community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs.

Click here to submit a workshop proposal. 

Agenda

2025 Agenda coming Soon! See the 2024 Detailed Program Agenda

Pricing

A group of people cheering in the garden of Hollyhock, during SVI Women.

Tuition: $1200 CAD

Meals & Accommodation:

  • Campus stay rates are in addition to tuition, and range from $750-2000 depending on your accommodation choice. Campus rates include:
    • Accommodation
    • 3 gourmet meals a day
    • Unlimited coffee & tea
    • Daily movement activities
    • Hot tubs, sauna, and campus facilities
  • Want to stay off-campus? For additional commuter accommodation options, please contact [email protected]

Embrace Ease in your Journey to Hollyhock

Participant Charter

  • Take the stress out of travel and ride the Social Venture Institute Participant Charter. For your convenience, Hollyhock organizes a charter to take you directly to Cortes Island with pickups in Vancouver and Nanaimo. Enjoy comfortable air conditioning, and an extra opportunity to connect with your fellow participants on board. Top your trip off with a 30-minute boat ride across the Salish Sea, keeping an eye out for whales, seals, and eagles!
  • Limited seats available, reserve your spot here.

Flights

  • If your time is tight, and you will be arriving into Vancouver too late to join our participant charter, you may be interested in travelling on a direct flight to Cortes with VanCity Seaplanes: you can register your interest here. Please note, flights can only go ahead with a minimum number of passengers. Private charters are also bookable directly.

Full travel options

  • If you’d prefer to organise your own travel to and from Hollyhock, check out our Travel Itinerary for suggested options and costs.

Scholarships:

  • Hollyhock recognizes that economic opportunity is not currently equal. Our scholarship program is one of our key strategies to expand program access to underrepresented and marginalized communities. A limited number of scholarships are available with awards ranging from partial to full tuition
  • We encourage applicants from those whose identities intersect with, but are not limited to: Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, newcomers, youth, and elders
  • Learn more about the scholarship process and apply here

Accessibility Information

Join 100+ fellow CEOs, investors, and social venture leaders at SVI!

Our Partners

Thank you to our community partners for helping support, uplift, and work together to eliminate barriers to equity and economic access!

Coast Capital
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