Accelerate the youth revolution. For good.
RIVET is a social purpose (NGO) brand that is leveraging the collective consumer power of Gen Z to create the world’s first micro-funding platform focused exclusively on young social innovators. Partnering with major brands (eg: Crocs, Beats, Adidas, Riot Games), we plan to generate half a billion dollars over the next decade to provide small, start-up grants to a million young changemakers (under 30) from every corner of the globe and scale the most promising ideas. All powered by young people’s daily purchases.
After nine successful brand pilots, 1,100+ micro-investments in youth-led social innovations, and 250 conversations with brands, influencers, and agencies facilitated by our board of marketing experts (Nike, Apple, Adidas, Netflix, Google, Meta) we are seeking partners for our next stage of growth.
We are looking for strategic philanthropic partners interested in impact, employee engagement, and positioning themselves as leaders in financial inclusion; firms looking to apply their talents and resources in the impact space and brandish their ESG and impact credentials with key audiences; and Investment professionals hungry to apply their superpowers to support young, emerging social entrepreneurs.
If this resonates, we want to hear from you.
Hi. Meet RIVet. We’d love to meet you.
HOW RIVET WORKs
RIVET is a new social enterprise bringing together brands, influencers, and NGOs to fund and amplify youth-led social change.
With decades of experience elevating young changemakers, RIVET’s founders have seen firsthand that young people don’t lack talent or imagination; they lack access to resources.
In response, we are creating the world’s first microfinance platform focused on young social innovators, funded by youth themselves. This engine will transform young people’s everyday purchases into philanthropic power for their generation’s ideas to change the world.
Created by, for, and with young people, RIVET represents the largest investment in youth-led social change. Ever.
[Check out our 80-sec manifesto video]
About rivet.
Chief Marketing & Growth Officer
Early Team at (RED)
Thorn Marketing Head
Chief Impact Officer
Founder, Entr@crash
BBC Top 100 Women
Co-Founder Peace First
Ashoka, Echoing Green, Aspen Fellow
Co-Founder/Board Chair
Founder, Conspiracy of Love
Author, Good is the New Cool
Director of Donor Engagement
Action for Children,
Plan International
Our advisorY COUNcil
Meta
Erika wykes-sneyd�Adidas, Uber
PlayStation
eos, L Brands
Stephanie Davis�LVMH, Estée Lauder
The INKEY List
Apple, Paypal, �Enphase
MARC PATRICk�Nike, Amazon
Beyond Meat
SHANNON SINUNU�Apple
Isis ARIAS�Riot Games,
Netflix
SUZANNe Klahr�BUILD
ANDRE PINARD�adidas
RIVET’s thought partners come from the world’s leading innovators; below is a sample of the brands & NGOs that we have consulted on RIVET’s design.
Leading CMOs have joined forces to bring RIVET to life.
challenge
Young social innovators lack access to startup capital
But over 85% of youth live in “capital deserts” where they have little access to the social or financial capital critical to launch new ideas.
In fact, last year only 0.002% of the $560B donated went to early-stage, youth-led social innovations.
Research shows that youth have been at the forefront of social innovation over the past 120 years.
How can we finance youth-led social change at scale?
opportunity
gen z controls $3 trillion in spending power. And they are very different consumers.
62% want brands to have social change initiatives they can join.
84% of teens screen products based on social impact.
61% pay more for sustainably produced products.
young consumers want to shop their values and brands are hungry for new approaches.
Tackling food delivery waste by switching single-use plastic containers with reusable packaging
Developing & scaling cost- effective, youth-driven mental health interventions in Kenya and beyond
The power of the RIVET concept is that we solve existing problems for our partners and no one needs to change their behavior.
Brands spend $650B each year marketing to youth. RIVET provides an authentic and accessible avenue for them to reach this coveted audience. From streaming to CPG to gaming to activewear, the possibilities for partnership are endless.
Young consumers purchase the products they love with a transparent percentage of their purchase funding youth-led initiatives.
Our global network of NGO partners distribute funds through existing relationships with young people.
As a charity, RIVET’s business model is transparent, simple and sustainable: RIVET keeps 10% of consumer-driven revenue to cover our costs, 10% supports our NGO partners’ data and project management costs. This means 80% goes into the hands of young social entrepreneurs.
Our competitive advantage
RIVET’s core product is a data platform that tracks funds coming in and going out, as well as the impact of every project. Consumers know exactly where their investment is going, brands have powerful stories to amplify, and RIVET is understanding the insights and passion of millions of youth.
The RIVET
Social innovator Accelerator
We all want to change the world. how often do we get the CHANCE?
The unique problems facing the world today aren't a secret: from the impacts of climate change to global poverty to the youth mental health crisis, most people feel compelled to do something, but struggle on how to begin.
In the midst of great success and privilege, many of us are searching for ways to contribute that are meaningful and impactful. We are hungry to give back, to pass on our wisdom and experiences, and to open doors for others. But how to engage in ways that aren’t just short-term or transactional, but authentic, reciprocal, and truly transformative? And how to fit this into busy lives and competing priorities?
Introducing RIVET’s Social Innovator Accelerator program. Your first step toward accelerating the youth revolution.
Where
You Fit in
OUR CASE
Challenge: Team members want meaningful community engagement opportunities but struggle to make the time. This means firms can feel caught between “one-day park clean-ups” that are fun but not truly impactful or deeper mentoring programs that no one signs up for.
Solution: RIVET’s Social Innovator Accelerator provides a series of high-impact, one-hour mentoring sessions with young entrepreneurs who have been vetted and prepped. These fun, engaging sessions allow cross-functional teams to connect with 5-10 powerful young leaders over the course of 12 months; providing critical advice to accelerate the development of their ventures. Designed and facilitated by RIVET, you’ll get structured engagement, inspiring impact stories, and an opportunity for your employees to meaningfully use their skills to strengthen ventures that change the world.
Why: LPs, employees and portfolio companies are increasingly looking for firms who not only deliver great returns but also contribute to society. Partnering with RIVET sends a clear message that you are a different kind of company. With RIVET you can move beyond sponsoring galas and one-off volunteer days and become a strategic philanthropic partner aimed at Gen Z.
RIVET provides a CSR & Employee Engagement Platform through which the entire firm can engage, providing a single message of impact and leveraging what you already do so well (make good companies even better), with serious bragging rights. RIVET can be your impact unicorn.
Social innovator accelerator
COMMITMENT
1. Financial Support
Invest in young social innovators
Your financial support provides trust-based, unrestricted funds which fuel our efforts to support youth-led change and innovation around the world.
3. Connections
Leverage your network to create new opportunities.
Use your expertise and connections to open doors for young changemakers. Your strategic connections can help bridge the trust and access gaps that young innovators in capital deserts face.
2. mentoring
Mentor young changemakers
You have the opportunity to give transformational guidance and feedback to young leaders, to elevate their talent and accelerate ventures for lasting social impact.
Social innovator accelerator
Benefits
1. Meaningful employee engagement
Use your team’s superpowers for good
Your team will have the chance to mentor RIVET youth innovators, offering valuable feedback and helping them overcome challenges. These small group mentoring sessions provide hands-on, quarterly opportunities for dozens of employees to directly shape the future of youth-led social innovation.
2. Stories of impact
Share powerful content about your firm’s impact
You will receive impact testimonials, stories of the youth innovators, and annual updates to highlight in corporate communications for both internal and external audiences. Real stories; real impact.
3. Exclusive insights
Access data and engage in annual learning events
Gain access to project impact data, youth trends, and updates from RIVET. Additionally, attend events (virtual or in-person) to connect with other leaders, share insights, and celebrate the progress of the youth innovators.
Social innovator accelerator engagement activities
PITCH PRACTICES: Feedback and Advice
Activity: Participate in virtual Pitch Practices, where you and your colleagues from across the firm can advise 5-10 social entrepreneurs on how to strengthen their ideas, improve their communication, and develop their presenting skills.
Pitch Practices happen in small groups (of around 8 team members), with each entrepreneur at the beginning and the end of their accelerator experience. Because they happen on Zoom, team members can join from wherever they are.
Purpose: Support youth innovators by providing valuable feedback on how they can enhance their pitch.
Outcome: Youth get timely advice across a mentoring journey and team members get inspired.
BRAIN TRUSTS: Mentoring and Guidance
Activity: Participate in virtual Brain Trusts, where you and your colleagues work in small teams (of around 6 team members) to mentor and provide strategic guidance to young social entrepreneurs on a challenge they are facing. Each entrepreneur receives two Brain Trusts over the course of the year, making progress in between to resolve the challenges they are facing.
Purpose: Support youth innovators by helping them navigate challenges, to enhance and help future-proof their ventures.
Outcome: Directly influence the development of youth-led innovations and build lasting connections with young changemakers across their mentoring journey.
Exclusive Celebrating, Learning and Networking
We begin and end with a chance for the entire firm to learn about and celebrate the progress of the young innovators! Additionally, team members can attend events focused on learning and networking with industry-wide firms and leaders, meeting other supporters from different firms and sharing ideas and experiences.
Meet some of our youth innovators!
Jessica singh
Developed GynoEase, a redesigned speculum made from soft, medical-grade silicone to ease pain, reduce fear, and help make women more comfortable during exams. She took part in a Brain Trust to seek guidance on getting her team on the same page and said, “I truly appreciated the space to share GynoEase and gain insights. I walked away with feedback I’m excited to incorporate.”
Mark memga
Created Smoothie Arena, an initiative that rescues surplus fruit that would otherwise go to waste. His venture transforms the fruit, including pulp, into healthy, affordable smoothies and juices, or animal feed. He took part in a Pitch Practice and said, “It was truly a valuable experience for me. Learning from each of you was inspiring.”
Paul dominion ladi
Founded LADX, a bold venture reimagining the future of affordable cross-border trade in Africa. She took part in a Brain Trust to seek guidance on fundraising readiness and her growth strategy and said, “I walked away with some of the most stimulating suggestions, sharp insights, and thoughtful feedback I have received in a long time.”
Hakim Kakooza
Created MariTest, to reimagine healthcare access in Africa through system-centric biotech innovation. He took part in a Pitch Practice and said,“It was such a valuable experience hearing insights from people across different industries, and having that fresh perspective on MariTest really highlighted areas where I can polish my storytelling and pitching style.”
Is being PART OF THE SOCIAL INNOVATOR ACCELERATOR right for you?
Our Three Guiding Principles
No Egos. We are fostering an intentional community of thoughtful and caring leaders who understand that our shared work is about making a meaningful impact.
No Busywork. We will only ask for what is essential to RIVET’s success and the projects we support.
No Guilt. You decide how to engage. We will ask for your help when needed, and you are free to say yes or no based on your capacity and interest.
Gut Check
Collaborative spirit. We are curating a diverse, dynamic, and thoughtful community. Are you excited to collaborate across generations and geographies?
Transparency. We believe in radical transparency, sharing both the challenges and the triumphs. Are you comfortable navigating the ups and downs together?
Builder mindset. We are a start-up, meaning we are building this experience together. If you’re looking for something polished or pre-set, this might not be the right fit. Are you eager to design, dream, and build RIVET?
Thank you
For helping us �accelerate the youth revolution.
Eric Dawson
CEO & Founder
eric.dawson@rivet.org
Kelsi Kriitmaa
Corporate Partnerships
kelsi.kriitmaa@rivet.org