Combining social purpose with profit with Dan and Lisa Graham

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Friday, September 20, 2019

The Center for Creative Entrepreneurship continued its successful speaker series Pathways to Entrepreneurship this fall by bringing social innovation trailblazers Dan and Lisa Graham, who spoke to a full house on Sept 17.  

In a fireside chat with Jan Ryan on “Combining Social Purpose with Profit,” these two UT alums shared their passion as a couple for the intersection between social innovation and entrepreneurial activity. 

A nationally recognized expert on social entrepreneurship and co-creator of “Philanthropitch” and Center for Social Innovation, Dan Graham launched a $280 million company while he was a student at UT.  

Notley Ventures, the company Dan and Lisa Graham co-founded, is rewriting the rules around how to grow a successful non-profit, and their unique blend of philanthropy and entrepreneurial principles has inspired many people.

What starts here changes the world

Dan and Lisa Graham, though both UT alums, were on different trajectories during their student days. He was studying computer science philosophy, while she majored in communications studies and history as an undergraduate and went on to pursue a graduate degree at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Interestingly both of them came from families who believed in education, social service and community building.

What started as a web development venture for Dan evolved into Build A Sign in 2005. The company was bootstrapped with the intention to help businesses with signage that could be ordered easily and at a low cost online. Nothing is ever easy, and Dan described the early days from prototyping, to licensing software to traditional sign companies, only to be told that the internet was a fad. 

Living on the edge

Dan recalled the days when he believed that if there was a brick wall, you could punch your way through it. They had a lot of close calls and nearly went out of business. But by working through the challenges, the company grew and so did their desire to give back. They launched several programs and had a tiered sponsorship model where large nonprofits got a subsidized rate and the profits were used to support smaller nonprofits.

Disrupting Philanthropy

While their social impact arm was growing within Build A Sign, they also launched Philanthropitch and co-founded Startup Games. In 2015, Notley was launched to help entrepreneurs who have a social mission.

Dan and Lisa believe that philanthropy is not about donations, but also building a profitable business that can scale and succeed. Some of Notley’s companies include DivInc and Women@Austin, which was founded by Jan Ryan. Notley also recently began the Notley Fellowship, designed for young professionals and leaders in the social sector.  StudentINC aims to foster youth entrepreneurship in Austin. The programs are housed in the Center for Social Innovation,a 15-building campus they have built in East Austin to create a community of innovative non-profits.

The ultimate dream is to take what started here and to spread and serve the world.

Watch the entire conversation on YouTube here:

 

 

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