Ryerson DMZ Startup SoJo Launches a Public Website but their Work has Just Begun

By Andrea Wahbe on Jul 5, 2012 / Categories: CDMN News, Featured

Working out of CDMN node Ryerson’s Digital Media Zone (DMZ) in Toronto, Kanika Gupta, the founder and Chief Catalyst of SoJo, a developer of tools and resources for social innovators and social change, has seen first-hand how having access to cutting-edge technologies and innovations can help advance her organisation. Just read her post on the Canada 3.0 blog to understand why she believes companies need to get on board with new IT innovations sooner, rather than later. At CDMN’s Canada 3.0 2012, she spoke  about the Consumerization of IT from her perspective as a millennial and contributed to ideas for the conference’s Productivity-focused breakout sessions by participating as a member of the advisory team.

But Gupta’s contributions to Canada 3.0 2012 are just activities that she does in her spare time. In the past two months, she and her team at SoJo have been laser-focused on refining their product to launch out of beta. “We have worked hard at increasing the accessibility of valuable information, knowledge and lessons learned for individuals wishing bring an idea for social change into action,” says Gupta.

Last week, SoJo officially announced a public launch of its comprehensive resources website http://theSoJo.net. The launch is the next step for SoJo to becoming a top online resource for social innovators to turn ideas for social change into action. “Many people think that once a company launches out of beta that they’re done. But we’re just getting started,” says Gupta. “We’re now focused on enhancing our technology and taking the platform even further.”

Since November 2011, SoJo has reached over 15,000 social innovators and has already impacted the vision and collaboration of individuals and organisations focused on social change all over the world. “At SoJo, we remove the complications that occur when trying to find fragmented and complex information to ensure that the individual can focus, incubate and execute on their ideas for social change,” says Gupta.

While launching a new public website is a great accomplishment for the startup, SoJo’s announcement last week of its endorsement by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is certainly a cherry on top. The endorsement represents a validation of the work that SoJo has been doing in bridging the gap between those looking for help with their ideas and the necessary educational tools and direction that SoJo provides.

“The Canadian Commission for UNESCO is proud to support SoJo and believes that it is an innovative initiative that will have a multiplier effect by providing a platform to bring together social innovators who can collectively work toward finding solutions to global challenges”, said David A. Walden, Secretary-General of Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

SoJo is a comprehensive source for all the information needed to guide and support the individual in their journey of creating social change. SoJo effectively aggregates, filters, republishes and organizes relevant content all in one place. The content is well-researched, diverse, and well organized- thus making it easier for SoJo users to focus their talents and energies on building ideas, developing their skills and ultimately bringing their ideas to action.

Congratulations Kanika and the SoJo team on the public launch and endorsement from UNESCO! We look forward to sharing more updates about your organisation as it grows and thrives.