Participants need to be able to commit two days a week for six months. In exchange, they'll get a personal coach, expert support and access to potential investors. These could come from a variety of groups, Hannant says: public agencies, the traditional philanthropic sector and private investors.
"As long as I get my money back and a reasonable return, maybe what the bank would give me, why wouldn't I want to enable social change as well?"
Social enterprises are emerging as an international trend. The UK has around 68,000 of them, says Fulbright scholar MJ Kaplan, who in 2013 published a report on the state of New Zealand's social enterprise sector. In Australia, the government has allocated AUD$20m in seed funding, matched by private investment, to support the country's own 20,000-odd ventures.
Interest in New Zealand is starting to grow. A strong cluster of companies has emerged in Wellington around the Enspiral Network, including collaborative decision-making software company Loomio, which this year raised $125,000 in a successful crowd-funding campaign.
In February, the government announced $1.27m to fund the sector via the Akina Foundation, until last Tuesday known as the Hikurangi Foundation.
The foundation started life in 2008 with $1.5m from the Todd and Tindall Foundations to fund climate change action. The re-brand, Hannant says, reflects an evolution to focus on social as well as environmental projects - and a clear emphasis on social enterprise models.
Staff from new backer Contact Energy will be involved in the regional workshops and, alongside Akina's other partners, will mentor participants.
"We're not wedded to a particular type of innovation involving energy or the home," Contact Energy corporate communications manager Shaun Jones said. "It's more about the size of the impact and addressing issues important for Kiwis."
As well as Launchpad, the foundation offers workshops, advisory services and an incubator to give projects ongoing support. At the moment, the incubator backs 14 social enterprises including Bikes in Schools, Conscious Consumers, several community wind energy ventures, Christchurch-based recycled furniture project Rekindle and Auckland's Skypath.
While the fresh government support is positive, it falls short of the full set of recommendations in Kaplan's 2013 report. Her recommendations included a $5-10 million seed fund and further work to promote social enterprise in universities and as an option for young people around the country.
"It's not a case of what's missing. It's really that not much has been built," Hannant says. "If you look at more mature markets, you might have a range of intermediaries - support agencies like ourselves, and they become specialised as markets mature. You may have organisations particularly focused on youth or tertiary education or a regional focus..."
This process is starting with the establishment of Lifehack HQ to develop solutions to youth mental health problems in New Zealand. The Inspiring Stories Trust is also planning a second installment of its own youth-focused summer accelerator in Auckland and Wellington.
Kaplan, currently visiting New Zealand from the US, agrees there has been good progress in the eight months since her last visit. "Canterbury Community Trust just funded six social enterprises - a major first," she says.
Hannant says Akina's next steps include expanding its incubator and looking at other financial mechanisms to grow the sector.
For more about the Akina Foundation's Launchpad, go to contactlaunchpad.org.nz. Applications open on Monday 26 May and close on Sunday 29 June.
