The Best Way to Support an Unreasonable Dream

I have to hand it to the Unreasonable Institute. These dudes are really making it happen. And with the opening of their "Finalists Marketplace," they've officially invited everyone into their big experiment to create an incubator and launchpad for social ventures.

I first heard about the Unreasonable Institute about a year ago, as I was keeping my eyes open for someone who was going to completely redefine the model of technology venture incubators like TechStars and Y Combinator. At that point, while the Unreasonable Institute had run a pilot, they were only just beginning to really dig into what would come next.

Since then, they've recruited dozens of enthusiastic mentors, partnered with the Gray Ghost/First Light Ventures Village Capital fund to bring $150,000 in seed funding to the table, and most importantly, culled through hundred of applications to settle on the 40+ finalists -- 25 of which will travel to Boulder, CO next summer for the inaugural program.

The Finalists Marketplace is UI's way of selecting the two dozen or so entrepreneurs to attend the Institute. To make it work, every entrepreneur has to use the opportunity to solicit from supporters the $6,500 in donations required to attend. The first 25 to raise the money will get invited to attend. This is UI's method of covering their operating costs without putting an undue burden on their attendees and incorporating an entrepreneurial skill (mobilization) into the selection process. The amount that anyone person can give is limited and only slowly raised week by week, in order to ward against the "rich uncle" problem.

As you get excited about supporting these great up-and-coming social entrepreneurs, here are a few of my overall thoughts on UI:

1) This is a seriously quality group of entrepreneurs. I won't name names, but the group includes Pop!Tech Social Innovation fellows, Echoing Green fellows, and more than a few projects that I've had on my radar as "must-watch" initiatives. I think that quality extends across the entire pool.

2) There is a project for everyone to support here. This is one online action platform that makes it easy and worth your time to find a project or two you like, donate, and share it with everyone you know. The projects are incredibly diverse, ranging from shelter for disaster victims to SMS-based credit to sexual violence prevention to clean energy.

3) This is a great chance to support an international entrepreneur. Compared to entrepreneurs in the U.S., international entrepreneurs are likely still to be at something of a disadvantage, thanks to restrictions in access to technology and information, to say nothing of likely relative differences of social networks. I know the folks at UI have done their best to address this (creating a pathway for people to use cash donations, for example). Their US-based projects are absolutely incredible, but I also love how well-balanced UI's list of finalists is, with representation across 15 other countries. So if you're looking for a way to go beyond just donations, being a social network ambassador for one of UI's international projects is a great option.

Check out the Finalists Marketplace now, and please use the comments section of this blog to let us know who you're supporting and why.

Photo Credit: ronnie44052