Organization · Other

Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)

The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is a research and development organization based in Cyprus, focused on promoting social innovation and digital transformation to address societal challenges. It operates as a community hub, incubator, and accelerator for social ventures.

OtherFunderCommunityEvent hostPublisher

Overview

What Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) does

What Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is

The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is a research and development organization based in Cyprus, focused on promoting social innovation and digital transformation to address societal challenges. It operates as a community hub, incubator, and accelerator for social ventures.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports funder and community and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.

Operational profile

Organization status and context

Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.

Operational status
Active
Organization type
Other
Founded
Founded in 2004
Approximate age
About 22 years
Structured capabilities
Funder · Community · Event host · Publisher
Last reviewed
March 19, 2026

Official channels

Find Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) elsewhere

Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.

Capability profile

Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) as a funder

Investment thesis

CSI focuses on social innovation that prioritizes people and the planet, supporting solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Focus narrative

CSI invests in initiatives that tackle systemic societal issues, focusing on areas such as climate change, community health, and economic equity. The organization primarily collaborates with early-stage social enterprises and marginalized communities, leveraging entrepreneurship and collaboration to drive meaningful systemic change.

Value beyond capital

CSI provides value to its portfolio companies through mentorship, funding opportunities, and access to a supportive community focused on social innovation. Their programs are designed to empower entrepreneurs and community leaders to develop sustainable solutions.

Focus and fit

Stages
Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A · Series B · Growth Equity

Availability

Currently deploying
Not published

Portfolio and track record

Portfolio context

CSI's portfolio includes diverse initiatives such as the Agents of Change: Community Health program, which supports health innovators; the CleanTech Fellowship, an incubator for cleantech entrepreneurs; the WOSEN program for women-led social enterprises; and a project examining the financialization of housing in Canada.

Capability profile

Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) as a community

Community overview

The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is an organization that focuses on social innovation, defined as the creation and integration of new concepts and practices that prioritize people and the planet. Founded in Toronto, Canada, CSI aims to catalyze and support individuals and organizations in developing solutions to social and environmental challenges. The organization operates as a community hub, incubator, and accelerator for social ventures.

Community focus

CSI invests in social innovation initiatives that address systemic issues in society. Their focus areas include climate change, community health, and economic equity. They work primarily with early-stage social enterprises and marginalized communities, leveraging collaboration and entrepreneurship to drive systemic change.

Member value

Members benefit from access to a diverse portfolio of initiatives and programs, including grants, mentorship, training, and investment readiness supports. CSI fosters collaboration among social entrepreneurs and provides resources to develop impactful solutions.

Membership

Pricing models
free

Format and cadence

Modality
in-person
Schedule
rolling-admissions
Commitment
light

Availability

Membership state
Accepting
Next recorded event
October 9, 2024

Audience and fit

Audience
Founders · Students · Corporate Innovators
Benefits
mentorship, grant-funding, and network-access
Program types
community, bootcamp, fellowship, and incubator
Selection criteria
open
Stages
Pre-seed · Seed

Community activity

Events and activity

CSI hosts numerous events, including The Evergreen Conference, an annual gathering focused on public spaces and sustainability, scheduled for October 9-10, 2024. They also organize Supper Clubs celebrating diverse food traditions and workshops covering topics like fundraising essentials and addressing bias.

Capability profile

Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) as an event host

Event focus

The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) invests in social innovation initiatives that address systemic issues in society. Their focus areas include climate change, community health, and economic equity. They work primarily with early-stage social enterprises and marginalized communities, leveraging collaboration and entrepreneurship to drive systemic change.

Format narrative

CSI hosts a variety of events including conferences, workshops, and culinary gatherings that engage the community in discussions around social innovation and sustainability.

Participant value

CSI provides a community hub, incubator, and accelerator for social ventures, supporting individuals and organizations in developing solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Format and cadence

Event types
conference, workshop, and dinner-series
Recurrence
annual
Modality
in-person
Startups can present
No

Availability

Registration state
Not currently accepting
Next recorded event
October 9, 2024
Next event location
Toronto, Canada

Audience and fit

Stages
Pre-seed · Seed
Audience
Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators

Capability profile

Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) as a publisher

Editorial focus

The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) focuses on social innovation, which involves creating and integrating new concepts and practices that prioritize people and the planet. Based in Toronto, Canada, CSI supports individuals and organizations in developing solutions to social and environmental challenges, operating as a community hub, incubator, and accelerator for social ventures.

Audience value

CSI provides resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities to early-stage social enterprises and marginalized communities, fostering collaboration and entrepreneurship to drive systemic change.

Format and cadence

Content formats
newsletter, podcast, and webinar-series
Primary platform
socialinnovation.org
Cadence
weekly

Availability

Guest pitch state
Not currently accepting

Audience and focus

Audience
Founders · Corporate Innovators

Flagship work and coverage

Flagship properties

CSI publishes the 'CSI Network News', a weekly newsletter featuring impact stories, job postings, and events. They also produce podcasts and webinars that cover topics relevant to social purpose organizations.

Common questions

What to know about Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)

Upseed classifies Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) under the Other organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, community, event host, and publisher capabilities.

Next step

Keep comparing startup organizations

Return to the organization index or continue through a verified sector, place, peer, or program connected to this profile.

Source and update disclosure

Know what this page is based on

Source basis

Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.

Last reviewed

March 19, 2026

Known limits

Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.

Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.