Introduction to Social

Entrepreneurship

Designed by : Ahmed Fouad

 History of Civil Society
1945 Relief and Rehabilitation

1960 Service Provision (Subsidized)

1980 Community Comprehensive Development

1990 Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA)

2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

2005 Corporate Social Responsibility programs

2010 Social Entrepreneurship

 A World of
Social Entrepreneurship
• Over the past two decades, the citizen sector has discovered what the
business sector learned long ago: There is nothing as powerful as a new
idea in the hands of a first-class entrepreneur.
• Social entrepreneurs drive social innovation and transformation in various
fields including education, health, environment and enterprise
development.
• They pursue poverty alleviation goals with entrepreneurial zeal, business
methods and the courage to innovate and overcome traditional practices.
• A social entrepreneur, similar to a business entrepreneur, builds strong and
sustainable organizations, which are either set up as not-for-profits or
companies.
 What is Social Entrepreneurship ?
• Applying practical, innovative and sustainable approaches to benefit
society in general, with an emphasis on those who are marginalized and
poor.

• A term that captures a unique approach to economic and social

problems, an approach that cuts across sectors and disciplines
grounded in certain values and processes that are common to each
social entrepreneur, independent of whether his/ her area of focus
has been education or whether the organizations they set up are
non-profit or for-profit entities.

• It is this approach that sets the social entrepreneur apart from the rest of
the crowd of well-meaning people and organizations who dedicate their
lives to social improvement.
 Change Agents
Social entrepreneurs play the role of change agents in the social
sector by:
1. Adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value)
2. Recognizing and pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission.

3. Engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning

Acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand.

4. Exhibiting commitment and accountability to the beneficiaries served and

for the outcomes created.
SE ……In numbers
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Ch. 1: The Foundations of
Entrepreneurship 1-8
What is Intraepreneurship ?
 Who is an Entrepreneur?
A social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem
and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a
venture to make social change (a social venture).

Where as a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in

profit and return.
 What is a Social Enterprise?
• Social enterprises are social mission driven organizations which apply
market-based strategies to achieve a social purpose.
• The movement includes both non-profits that use business models to
pursue their mission and for-profits whose primary purposes are social.

• Their aim is to accomplish targets that are social and/or environmental as

well as financial: is often referred to as the triple bottom line.
• Many commercial businesses would consider themselves to have social
objectives, but social enterprises are distinctive because their social or
environmental purpose remains central to their operation.
• CSR Vs SEs
 Types of Social Enterprises ?
• Leveraged non-profit ventures
• Hybrid non-profit ventures
• Social business ventures
 Leveraged non-profit ventures
• The entrepreneur sets up a non-profit organization to drive the adoption
of an innovation that addresses a market or government failure.

• In doing so, the entrepreneur engages a cross section of society, including

private and public organizations, to drive forward the innovation through a
multiplier effect.

• Leveraged non-profit ventures continuously depend on outside

philanthropic funding, but their longer term sustainability is often under
question given that the partners might change / lose interest / be unable
to keeping funding the venture.

Fundraising Oriented
 Hybrid non-profit ventures
• The entrepreneur sets up a non-profit organization but the model includes
some degree of cost-recovery through the sale of goods and services to a
cross section of institutions, public and private, as well as to target
population groups.

• To be able to sustain the transformation activities in full and address the

needs of clients, who are often poor or marginalized from society, the
entrepreneur must mobilize other sources of funding from the public
and/or philanthropic sectors. Such funds can be in the form of grants or
loans.
Quality oriented
 Social business ventures
• The entrepreneur sets up a for-profit entity or business to provide a social
or ecological product or service.

• While profits are ideally generated, the main aim is not to maximize
financial returns for shareholders but to grow the social venture and
reach more people in need.

• Wealth accumulation is not a priority and profits are reinvested in the

enterprise to fund expansion. The entrepreneur of a social business
venture seeks investors who are interested in combining financial and
social returns on their investments.

Marketing Oriented
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Compare and Know where are you standing ?
Social Capital Markets
 Institutions in Social Capital Markets

• Value banks have the same role as commercial banks in traditional

capital markets. They take deposits from savers and give loans to
individuals and companies. Since Value Banks focus on the social sector,
they have a better understanding of the business models and the specific
needs and requirements of social enterprises. In addition, the savers
sometimes accept a lower interest rate, which can be passed on to the
social enterprise.

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 Institutions in Social Capital Markets
• The traditional role of investment banks is the financial advisory of
corporate clients and the matching of supply and demand. Social
investment advisers take over the same role in the social
sector. They support the social enterprise in setting up an appropriate
financing structure and finding the right investors.
 Institutions in Social Capital Markets
A stock exchange is an efficient public platform to match supply and demand.
On stock exchanges, companies can issue shares or bonds which are then
traded continuously. Companies have access to a large capital pool and
investors can sell their shares or bonds without delay at any time. A social
stock exchange can be an attractive financing option for social
enterprises with a proven business model and significant financing needs. At
the moment, four social stock exchanges with trading activities are being
incorporated.
 Institutions in Social Capital Markets
• High-net-worth individuals and foundations have started to rethink their funding
strategies adopting venture capital techniques for their funding strategies.
• Venture
This new form of financing in the social sector is known as
Philanthropy, High Engagement Philanthropy or Social
Venture Capital.
• The term is used differently across the world, but can be defined as having the
following characteristics (John, 2006):
– High engagement
– Tailored financing
– Multi-year support
– Non-financial support
– Organizational capacity-building
– Performance measurement
• Thus, social investors concentrate their funding, and support only a limited
number of social enterprises.
• Venture Philanthropy funds also support the social enterprise on a non-financial
basis with management consulting or pro bono services.
 Institutions in Social Capital Markets
Investment funds act as intermediaries between demand and supply by
bundling funds from investors that they subsequently invest in certain asset
classes. This approach reduces the transaction costs and the risk through
diversification effects. Social investment funds apply the same principle
in the social sector. They collect funds from individuals or foundations that
they invest in a given sector such as microfinance or the solar industry.
 Institutions in Social Capital Markets
• Rating and research agencies publish ratings and research reports on
publicly listed companies to support investors in their capital allocation
decisions. In the social sector, funding consultancies play this role. They
publish research reports on different sectors and advise funders on which
organizations to support.
• Funding platforms are similar to social stock exchanges as they provide a
platform to match demand and supply, but without active trading.
 Entrepreneurship
• One characteristic of entrepreneurs stands out:

Diversity!
• Anyone – regardless of age, race, gender, color, national
origin, or any other characteristic – can become an
entrepreneur (although not everyone should).
 Benefits of Entrepreneurship
The opportunity to:
• Create your own destiny
• Make a difference
• Reach your full potential
• Achieve impressive profits
• Contribute to society and to
be recognized for your efforts
• Do what you enjoy and to have fun at it

Ch. 1: The Foundations of

Entrepreneurship
 Drawbacks of Entrepreneurship
• Uncertainty of income
• Risk of losing your entire investment
• Long hours and hard work
• Lower quality of life until the business gets established
• High levels of stress
• Complete responsibility
• Discouragement

Ch. 1: The Foundations of

Entrepreneurship 1 - 27
 The Cultural Diversity of
Entrepreneurship
(continued)

• Young entrepreneurs
• Women entrepreneurs

Ch. 1: The Foundations of

Entrepreneurship 1 - 28
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 FIGURE 1.4 Why Women Start Private Enterprises
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 2007.

Ch. 1: The Foundations of Entrepreneurship 1 - 30

 The Cultural Diversity of
Entrepreneurship
(continued)

• Minority-owned enterprises
• Immigrant entrepreneurs
• Part-time entrepreneurs
• Home-based enterprises
• Family enterprises
• Corporate castoffs
• Corporate dropouts
• Social entrepreneurs
• Retiring Baby Boomers
Ch. 1: The Foundations of
Entrepreneurship 1 - 31
Ten Deadly Mistakes of Entrepreneurship
1. Management mistakes
2. Lack of experience
3. Poor financial control
4. Weak marketing efforts
5. Failure to develop a strategic plan
6. Uncontrolled growth
7. Poor location
8. Improper inventory control
9. Incorrect pricing
10. Inability to make the “entrepreneurial transition”
 Avoiding the Pitfalls of
Small enterprise Failure

• Know your Field in depth

• Develop a solid business plan
• Manage financial resources
• Understand financial statements
• Learn to manage people effectively
• Set your enterprise apart from the competition
• Maintain a positive attitude
Video 1.1

Ch. 1: The Foundations of

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Entrepreneurship
 Conclusion
Entrepreneurs:
• Are an important part of the free enterprise
system
• Are a diverse and talented group of people
• Represent a cross-section of society as a whole
• Are able to enhance the profitability of their
businesses through acquiring additional
knowledge and experience

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