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SVI 2026

Canada’s longest-running social enterprise gathering.

September 15-19, 2027
Register Now!

Find your community. Support your business. Cultivate resilience in 2027.

If you believe business can be a force for positive social and economic change, you belong at Social Venture Institute (SVI). This five-day gathering at Hollyhock on Cortes Island, BC gives you space to step out of the day-to-day, think differently about your work, and build the relationships that can help carry your mission forward.

Join 100+ entrepreneurs, movement leaders, and impact investors who are building businesses and organizations with purpose.

The Gathering

Social Venture Institute is a place to step out of the day-to-day, step into what’s next, and learn with people who understand the work.

Through honest conversations, practical learning, and meaningful connection, you’ll have space to examine your business, challenge your assumptions, share what you’re learning, and discover new possibilities.

Because leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about developing the capacity to navigate uncertainty, make thoughtful choices, and build something that can last.

Register now with 2026 room and meal pricing! 

Enjoy more accommodation choices, and choose the stay that’s right for you, from oceanview rooms to shared accommodations or camping. Planning ahead also gives you time to coordinate with a friend, partner, or team.

* Early registration rates are available for a limited time.

Register Now

Your tuition includes

Attend the full 5-day gathering, including all sessions and engaging skill-building workshops.

5-Day In-Person Gathering

  • Arts-based facilitation and guided daily movement
  • True Confessions of a seasoned entrepreneur
  • Interactive Case Studies
  • Business Problem Solving Sessions
  • Marketplace of Ideas to share YOUR venture
  • Peer Coaching Circles
  • Skill Building Workshops
  • One-on-One Coaching

Join the Hollyhock Leadership Institute Newsletter

Want to stay connected to Social Venture Institute?

Sign up for the Hollyhock Leadership Institute Newsletter to be the first to hear about 2027 programming, speakers, scholarships, meetups and more.

Interactive Case Studies

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.

Case Study RavenSong
Case Study Joni
Case Study Gathering Place
Case Study Freshprep
Case Study Granville Island
Case Study Madeleine

Join us for an enriching experience designed to inspire, connect, and equip you with practical tools for your entrepreneurial journey.

Meet Your Team

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

Meaningful change takes shape when people come together to re-imagine what’s possible.

“SVI is an incredible experience for social purpose leaders. It provides tools to grow my enterprise while surrounding me with a community that speaks my language, understands the challenges, and inspires me along the path. The combination of learning, candid conversations, and genuine camaraderie has given me deep support and the reassurance that I am not alone.”

Lovena Harvey, Gathering Place Trading

“As someone who spends a lot of time in rooms like this, SVI stood out as one of the most meaningful leadership gatherings I’ve been part of. I was humbled by the brilliance and honesty of leaders doing truly inspiring work in the world. The co-created container really struck me – every voice mattered, and it felt like anyone in the room could have been on stage. Growth is rarely tidy, and SVI embraced that truth – messy, human, and beautiful all at once.“

Miranda Lievers, Thinkific

 “My time at Hollyhock was truly transformative! The space offered a rare combination of inspiration, reflection, and connection; a place where ideas and purpose come alive in the most natural way. Surrounded by breathtaking beauty and a deeply supportive community, I found the clarity and energy to reconnect with my mission and vision. I left feeling grounded, renewed, and deeply grateful.”

Tony Colley, Be One to Give

“SVI gave me something I hadn’t realized I was missing: a space to reconnect with my values, supported by a network of individuals ready to lift one another up. I walked away with lifelong friendships and collaborators, people who are genuinely invested in seeing each other thrive. It was more than an experience—it was a reawakening of purpose and possibility. I’m leaving SVI recharged and with a renewed sense of hope for the future. What a beautiful and uplifting experience.”

Deress Asghedom, Vaster

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.

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.

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!

This year’s sessions are designed to give you actionable tools you can bring straight back into your venture, whether you’re navigating growth, deepening your impact, or building long-term resilience.

Register Now
Social Venture Institute

Pricing and Accommodations

Package Pricing: View availability of accommodations and rates on the Registration Page.

Learn more about our accommodation types.

Your Investment

Your investment includes full access to this 5-day program, including workshops, plenaries, peer coaching circles, faculty mentorship, and ongoing access to the SVI alumni network.

Lock in 2026 rates by Oct 31st! Program fees vary by accommodation type and fall within the following ranges.

  • Private room $2,660-3200
  • Shared room $1920-2460
  • Camping $1900
  • Commuter $1760 (off-campus accommodation)

What’s Included

  • Program tuition
  • Accommodation
  • 3 Garden-to-table buffet meals a day 
  • Unlimited coffee & tea
  • Daily movement and wellness activities
  • Access to hot tubs, sauna, and campus facilities

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
  • We will be opening scholarships shortly!

Scholarships and Participant Charter Signups open in Spring 2027

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!
  • We will be updating participant charter registration details soon!

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. 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 Directions page for suggested options and costs.

Accessibility Information

Terms & Conditions

FAQs

SVI is a five-day gathering for social entrepreneurs, movement leaders, and impact investors who believe business can (and should) be a catalyst for social and economic transformation.

Through workshops, case studies, peer learning, and strategic conversations, participants explore business challenges and opportunities while discovering how lasting change is built through relationships, reciprocity, and long-term thinking.

SVI is designed for:

  • Social entrepreneurs
  • Nonprofit leaders
  • B Corps
  • Cooperative founders
  • Indigenous leaders
  • Community economic development professionals
  • Impact investors
  • Artists building social enterprises

Whether you’re just starting out or leading a large organization, you’ll find practical lessons, meaningful connections, and opportunities for collaboration.

Over five immersive days, participants engage in honest conversations, practical learning, and collaborative problem-solving designed to strengthen both their ventures and their leadership.

The program features deeply personal “True Confessions” from experienced entrepreneurs and interactive Case Studies that explore real business challenges alongside peers and seasoned mentors. SVI speakers and facilitators lead workshops in strategy, finance, marketing, and leadership, offering practical tools and fresh perspectives.

Attendees leave with actionable ideas, renewed confidence, and a supportive community to help them navigate whatever comes next.

Topics for SVI 2027 will be announced soon

  • Scaling purpose-driven organizations
  • Strategic leadership
  • Decision-making in uncertainty
  • Creative systems thinking
  • Organizational resilience
  • Impact investing and social finance
  • Mission-driven growth
  • Sustainable business strategy
  • Founder resilience
  • Peer learning and collaborative problem-solving
  • Morning movement, ocean swim, hot tub or sauna
  • Fresh buffet breakfast
  • Morning plenary sessions
  • Interactive Case Studies
  • Locally-inspired lunch
  • Workshops and skill-building sessions
  • Peer coaching and networking
  • Small-group discussions
  • Garden-to table buffet dinner
  • Evening conversations and community gatherings

Yes.

Networking is a core part of the SVI experience. Participants connect through facilitated discussions, peer coaching circles, meals, informal gatherings, and collaborative workshops.
Many attendees leave with new partners, collaborators, and lasting professional relationships.

SVI features business leaders and impact investors from across North America.

Your registration includes:

  • Full access to all conference programming
  • Accommodation on campus
  • Three meals per day
  • Unlimited coffee and tea
  • Wellness and movement activities
  • Access to campus amenities, including hot tubs and sauna
  • Networking and community-building events

SVI takes place at Hollyhock on Cortes Island, BC creating an environment that encourages deeper learning, stronger relationships, and more meaningful conversations than a typical conference setting.

Charter signups open Spring 2027, which includes coordinated transportation from Vancouver and Nanaimo.

Travel Directions page here.

A limited number of scholarships are available to help reduce financial barriers to participation.

We particularly encourage applications from individuals and communities that are underrepresented in leadership spaces, including Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, disabled, youth, and elder communities.

A limited number of scholarships are still available. Information and application details can be found here.

Hollyhock is committed to creating an accessible and welcoming experience. Learn more here.

If you have specific accessibility requirements, dietary needs, or accommodation requests, please contact our team before the event so we can support your participation.

Expect a relaxed, collaborative environment where learning continues long after sessions end.

Some of the most valuable conversations happen over meals, during walks around campus, or while connecting with other participants between sessions.

Still have questions?

Contact [email protected]