Cleargov Selected for Social Innovation Forum’s 2016 Social Business Accelerator

Six entrepreneurs focused on profit and purpose to receive mentoring and support for growth

BOSTON, MA – ClearGov Inc. has been selected for the Social Innovation Forum’s 2016 Social Business Accelerator, a 12-week program designed to give social purpose businesses access to knowledge, connections, and growth capital that generates both social and financial returns.

The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) selected the six finalists from a pool of over 50 applicants through an intense and highly competitive screening process. Starting January 19, these “Impact Entrepreneurs” will participate in workshops, guest speaker sessions, and one-on-one advising with mentors from the business and startup communities. The program will culminate with pitches to potential investors at SIF’s 4^th annual Impact Investing Showcase on Thursday, April 7, 2016.

“We are delighted to welcome ClearGov to our newest cohort of social impact businesses,” said SIF Executive Director Susan Musinsky. “These entrepreneurs have exciting business models that marry profitability with social good. We are excited to begin working with them to accelerate their growth.”

SIF launched its Social Business Accelerator four years ago in response to a growing interest in impact investing among both investors and philanthropists. To date, 18 businesses have gone through the accelerator and 50% have since received funding.

The Social Innovation Forum’s 2016 Impact Entrepreneur cohort includes the following social impact startups:

• ClearGov empowers citizens with easy to understand government financial data to help drive positive change and collaboration with government.
• EnergySage offers an online platform that enables consumers to compare solar quotes from pre-screened solar installers.
• KinderLab Robotics provides educational toys and products to schools and families that expose young children to technology and STEM concepts in a uniquely age-appropriate way.
• PlenOptika has created the “QuickSee,” a low-cost handheld device that provides eyeglass prescriptions at the push of a button.
• PSM Clean Energy’s online platform enables individuals to make direct impact investments in local solar projects developed and managed by PSM’s team of solar experts.
• WiCare has created the “Wound Pump,” a simplified and low-cost medical device that uses negative pressure therapy to treat open wounds.

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The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) provides a unique combination of capacity building and network building to create positive social change in greater Boston. We actively connect supporters (funders, investors, and volunteers) and practitioners (nonprofit and social business leaders) to build productive relationships focused on growing social impact. Founded in 2003 as a program of Root Cause, SIF incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization in 2015. For more information, visit www.socialinnovationforum.org. 

About ClearGov

ClearGov transforms city and town financial statements into easy-to-understand infographics to help citizens better understand how their tax dollars are being put to use.  Local governments leverage ClearGov to more clearly communicate their financial performance in an effort to build citizen trust and participation through transparency.   ClearGov also provides valuable municipal benchmarking intelligence to help government leaders make more informed and data-driven policy and budgetary decisions.