Bainbridge Island’s marine science education nonprofit, Salish Sea Expeditions, grabbed first place in the “established nonprofit” category at Social Venture Partners Fast Pitch‘s final showdown event, not on the softball field but at McCaw Hall October 27. The event is a business pitch competition for innovative nonprofit and for-profit social impact entrepreneurs. More than 900 people attended the event. Salish won $27,500 for the first-place finish as well as a $500 angel check.
SSE, which engages kids in grades 5-12 through student-led research and hands-on learning, much of it at sea, was one of 14 finalists competing for more than $400,000 in grants and investments.
Salish Executive Director Seth Muir delivered the 5-minute pitch for Salish’s plan to expand its program capacity by investing in a larger vessel. He appeared on stage in bright-orange foul-weather gear to ask investors for $50,000. Purchase of the vessel will allow Salish to serve eight times the number of students who currently participate in the organization’s boat-based learning programs.
After the event, Muir said he was “honored to be in the company of so many amazing innovators.” But he was even more excited about the funding, which, he said, “will help get us closer to our goal of giving every student in Washington the opportunity to participate in student-led research on Puget Sound.”
SVP’s Fast Pitch event is designed to encourage “organizations that are solving today’s important social problems and making a positive impact in the Greater Puget Sound area.” In its first four years, SVP Fast Pitch winners have earned over $1.2 million in investments and grants.
You can see who the other winners were here.
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