Social Ventures Residential 2023/24 cohort

The 2023–2024 Social Ventures Residential marked the launch of this new initiative, bringing together an inaugural cohort of 42 students from 16 Colleges and 30 subject areas, spanning disciplines from Archaeology and Geography to Chemical Engineering.

For the first time, the programme was delivered in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at the Cambridge Judge Business School. Together, we created a Residential designed to support students from all disciplines in developing sustainable and ethical projects with meaningful social and environmental impact.

Blending undergraduate and postgraduate participants, the cohort formed an ambitious, cross-disciplinary community united by a shared interest in using enterprise as a force for good. The Residential offered an inspiring introduction to the social venture sector, providing an inclusive and supportive environment in which students could test ideas, exchange perspectives and learn directly from experienced social entrepreneurs.

Whether arriving with a defined project or simply a curiosity about impact-driven innovation, participants were encouraged to think boldly, collaborate widely and take their first practical steps towards building ventures that create positive change.