blog posts
Difference Makers
Meet: Youthworx
Youthworx joined the Two Feet program as a well-established business with almost a decade behind them. Despite already having many successes, the enterprise was ready to re-jig it’s business model to ensure long-term sustainability. Manager Jon Staley says, “It is very tough and at times lonely building an enterprise from scratch and sometimes you need to stand back and re-connect with the bigger picture of why you are doing it and also find new tools to move forward.” "TDi is great at fostering collaborations and connecting individuals and organisations that can benefit ... READ MORE
A Two Feet Retrospective: Nora’s Plantation Foods
In the lead up to Two Feet 2017, we want to look back on some of the incredible work our alumni are doing. This week, we look to Nora’s Plantation Foods, an enterprise that runs out of both Samoa and Brisbane. Nora’s produce true Samoan food goods including Cocoa Nibs and Cocoa Cubes, with all the ingredients coming straight from the fruits of the rich Pacific soil. We spoke to Nora’s Plantation Foods Executive Director, and Two Feet 2016 participant Lisa about what she gained from the Two Feet program. Hi Lisa! So, ... READ MORE
A Two Feet Retrospective: BE Enterprise
In the lead up to Two Feet 2017, we want to look back on some of the incredible work our alumni are doing. This week, we look to BE Enterprise, a Logan QLD based enterprise working with Logan Women to promote health and wellbeing in business. Through its yoga and meditation for staff, counselling for individuals and professional development services for the organisation, the enterprise is revolutionising the way we look at workplace health and wellbeing. We spoke to BE Enterprise leader, and Two Feet 2016 participant Stacey Ross about her business and how TDi ... READ MORE
Meet: Refugee Talent
Last year I wrote about why booking too far in advance can be dangerous for your business, and this concept of margin so eloquently captures what I had recognized had been my problem: I was so booked up with clients that I wasn’t leaving any margin for error, growth, planning, or reflection. READ MORE
Dragons’ Den: A Recap
Well, TDi’s biggest event of the year has come and gone in the blink of a dragon’s eyelid. Dragons’ Den was a fantastic success, and we were thrilled to have so many people turn out to support our graduating Two Feet enterprises!\r\n\r\nIf you couldn’t make it to Dragons’ Den, never fear, here are the highlights of the afternoon.\r\n\r\nThe Sydney enterprise began only one year ago as an idea; they are now a fully fledged social enterprise and were pitching to our three Dragons for capital to expand their business. Refugee Talent focus on connecting refugees with employers, hoping to ... READ MORE
Meet: Anna Robertson from YEVU Clothing
Two Feet graduate YEVU Clothing have just released their latest collection, produced entirely in Ghana; the prints will blow your mind! The social enterprise focuses on economically empowering disadvantaged small businesses and people in Ghana by creating full time, reliable jobs and sustainable income. This is directly helping to address urban poverty in Accra, Ghana’s capital. YEVU place a high emphasis on professional development, focusing on capacity building with their teams in both the technical and creative processes that are behind their line. We love what they do. We spoke to ... READ MORE
Meet: Coconut Cluster
We are excited to announce that our first enterprise in the Pacific has taken on investment. Coconut Cluster, based in Samoa, produce high quality virgin organic coconut oil and export it internationally and locally. Coconut oil traditionally has been used for cooking, but now is increasing in popularity as a beauty product in Western markets. TDi worked with Coconut Cluster to help them become investment ready, and ready to present to the Genesis Impact Fund, with whom they have taken on investment. Let’s take a step back. Since July 2015, TDi has been working with DFAT to explore ... READ MORE
Meet: Social Cycles
Social Cycles are a tour de force. Aside from organising exhilarating and life changing adventures for their customers, Social Cycles also give back to every community where they leave a footprint (or a bicycle trail). Social Cycles guide cycling tours through Cambodia, Vietnam and Iran, alongside day tours around Melbourne. With a strong focus on doing good, every tour visits a number of NGOs en route that Social Cycles backs. Wherever possible, Social Cycles support social enterprises and small businesses such as local restaurants and guesthouses to ensure that their tourist bucks ... READ MORE
Digital Storytellers
This case study is from 2014. We’re catching up with Ethical Property Australia to see what they’re up to in 2017. Watch this space. Digital Storytellers’ mission is to enable powerful storytelling for impact. They believe in the tremendous opportunity that social technology has made available and feel that now more than ever is the time people can use powerful stories to make a real difference in the lives of others, the wellbeing of our planet, and future generations. With expertise in filmmaking, video production, design, web technologies, ... READ MORE
STREAT
This case study is from 2014. We're catching up with Ethical Property Australia to see what they're up to in 2017. Watch this space. STREAT is a social enterprise that provides homeless youth with the life-skills, work experience and training to start a career in hospitality. After a long gestation, STREAT’s founders, Bec Scott and Kate Barrelle, kick-started the organisation in 2010 with two small food carts in Federation Square and a class of nine trainees. STREAT now supports six Melbourne based businesses – including cafes, catering and coffee roasting businesses – which provide ... READ MORE
Ethical Property Australia
This case study is from 2014. We're catching up with Ethical Property Australia to see what they're up to in 2017. Watch this space. Ethical Property Australia provides property solutions to socially or environmentally driven organisations. Based on a model that’s been operating successfully in Europe for 15 years, Ethical Property brings together ethically minded investors who want the security of a property backed investment but are also after a blended value return – one that delivers both a financial and a social or environmental return on their investment. Ethical Property then ... READ MORE