How Buying Social Is Changing The World?

How Buying Social Is Changing The World?

How Buying Social Is Changing The World – Great feature in @Forbes  by Judith Magyar.

This content is delivered to you in the framework of the SEBS2 project co-funded by the Erasmus+, as our aim is to popularize social business and social entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region.

At the Houses of Parliament in London earlier this year, SAP Executive Board member Adaire Fox-Martin (pictured above) appealed to an audience of the United Kingdom’s leading social-enterprise CEOs and corporate executives to come even closer together to find “a better way to grow.”

Together with Chair Lord Victor Adebowale and CEO Peter Holbrook, Adaire announced SAP’s partnership with Social Enterprise UK, through which the two organizations plan to further scale the burgeoning social enterprise sector.

Social enterprises are normal businesses in that they generate the majority of their income through trade – albeit with several important differentiating characteristics. First, they have a clear social or environmental mission set out in their governing documents. They reinvest the majority of their profits back into their business or mission. They are autonomous of state. And they are majority controlled in the interests of their social mission.

Read full text on Forbes website here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2019/07/25/how-buying-social-is-changing-the-world/#1bf46aaf7e76) forbes.com/sites/sap/2019… \

#BuySocial #socent

Pay as you go solar solution is expanding in Africa

This month marks nine years since Jesse Moore and Nick Hughes first sketched out a plan for M-KOPA – one of the early leaders in the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar market. Since then, M-KOPA has installed PAYG solar systems in over 750,000 African homes, and now receives over 30 million customer micropayments per year, writes Moore. He estimates that PAYG solar will soon reach over 10 million customers and surpass a billion dollars in cumulative revenue – but he cautions that the industry should gird itself for a wave of consolidation as it embarks on its second decade.

Image result for Pay-As-You-Go Solar Sector

More information: https://lnkd.in/eaGXfze

Business model of sustainable knitwear company

Business model of sustainable knitwear company

A Lithuanian team behind sustainable hand made knitwear – The Knotty Ones decided to do their socially minded business by engaging low-income women across Lithuania.

Three young women founders of The Knotty Ones are big believers in shopping less, but better. They say that their mission is to celebrate quality garments that will last you for many seasons, hence focus on creating individual quality pieces rather than collections.

They source only natural and sustainable fabrics while incorporating better practices throughout their supply chain to make beautiful knitwear at a fraction of the environmental impact of fast fashion.

The company pays fairly for the work of their craftswomen. Most of them are stay at home moms often living in small cities and villages with limited sources of income. Each garment is signed by the name of the craftswoman that produced it.

Here is a video about the Knotty Ones:

https://vimeo.com/246608650

 

 

Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis of EaSI

Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis of EaSI

This content is delivered to you in the framework of the SEBS2 project co-funded by the Erasmus+, as our aim is to popularize social business and social entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region.

Great info for small social enterprises!

The Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship (MF/SE) axis support actions in two thematic sections:

Objectives

  • Increase access to, and the availability of, microfinance for vulnerable groups who want to set up or develop their business and micro-enterprises.
  • Build up the institutional capacity of microcredit providers.
  • Support the development of social enterprises, in particular by facilitating access to finance.

Funding

EaSI Guarantee

EUR 96 million is already available for interested microcredit providers and social enterprise through the EaSI Guarantee. It shall enable microcredit providers and social enterprise investors to reach out to entrepreneurs they would not have been able to finance otherwise for risk considerations. The Commission has selected the European Investment Fund as its entrusted entity to implement the EaSI Guarantee.

To apply for the EaSI Guarantee (direct or counter-guarantee), reply to a call for expression of interest on the European Investment Fund website.

EaSI Capacity Building

EUR 16 million is available through the EaSI Capacity Building Investments Window. It aims at building up the institutional capacity of selected financial intermediaries that have not yet reached sustainability or are in need of risk capital to sustain their growth and development. It covers equity and, in exceptional cases, loans. The Commission has selected the European Investment Fund as its entrusted entity to implement the EaSI Capacity Building Investments Window.

To apply for the EaSI Capacity Building Investments Window, reply to a call for expression of interest on the European Investment Fund website.

Who can participate?

The European Commission does not directly finance entrepreneurs or social enterprises but enables selected microcredit providers and social enterprise investors in the EU to increase lending.

Organisations that can apply for funding are public and private bodies established at the national, regional or local level and providing microcredit for persons and microenterprises and/or financing for social enterprises in these countries.

SIT 2019: Europe’s 15 best social entrepreneurs selected

SIT 2019: Europe’s 15 best social entrepreneurs selected

If you can create an impact you must. Fifteen finalists have been selected for the 2019 edition of the Social Innovation Tournament, the flagship initiative of the Institute’s Social Programme recognising and supporting Europe’s best social entrepreneurs. Two out of 15 finalists are coming from the Baltic Sea region: Wholi Foods from Denmark making energy bars using insects and PositiveCV from Finland that helps find talents in children.

The 15 finalists, whose primary purpose is to generate a social, ethical or environmental impact, were selected from 168 candidates in 27 countries by EIB Group experts.

Over three days in July, they 15 high impact ventures, from 11 countries, will participate in a mentoring bootcamp in Amarante, Portugal, organised in cooperation with social incubator IRIS and IES-Social Business School.

There, experts on business and social entrepreneurship will offer practical advice to improve all aspects of each project and prepare them to pitch their venture at a Final Event in Dublin, Ireland, on 24 October.

At the Final Event, four prizes will be awarded by a jury composed of specialists from the academic and business worlds: General Category and Special Category 1st and 2nd Prizes of EUR 50 000 and EUR 20 000 respectively.

In 2019, the Special Category Prizes will go to projects focusing on sustainable consumption and sustainable production (SDG 12) including the circular economy.

Finding money to start a social enteprise

Recently we came across a handy article by Alastair Wilson from the School for Social Entrepreneurs:

A lightbulb has blinked on in your brain and inspiration has hit – you know how you’re going to right that social injustice that you see. What’s more, your solution can earn money. You’re going to launch a social enterprise.

Now, where can you find some money to get your project off the ground?

Social enterprises are generally perceived to be a good thing. Not only do they provide employment and contribute tax revenue like any other business, but they also serve a socially useful purpose. So if you’ve got a good idea, there are numerous organisations that want to support you, including Her Majesty’s Government.

But first: think. Do you need to get money from someone else for the very early stages of your social enterprise? Lots of social entrepreneurs start their project while holding down a regular job. Think about using a little of your own money and asking for volunteers or work space you could use for free.

If you’ve considered your options and definitely need an injection of money to launch, read on.

Free money!

Our Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Start Up Programme is a good place to start. Every year, we offer a free learning programme and grant funding to people with a great idea and the drive to make positive change.

UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs also offer ‘Try It’ and ‘Do It’ awards of £500 and £5,000 respectively. The first, as the name suggests, is money towards testing an idea that you might have. The second is for when you’re sure you want to go for it and start your business. Both amounts of money come with award managers who can offer advice. Given that UnLtd helped more than 500 social enterprises to start last year, they’re a solid organisation to have in your corner. If you’re reading this in Scotland, check out Firstport’s Start It and Build It awards, too.

Grants – free money that you don’t have to pay back – are available through many different charitable organisations. But very few specifically target budding social entrepreneurs. Instead, think about what your social enterprise is intended to do. Is your art initiative proving to be a springboard for people with mental health problems? Then the Henry Smith Charity might be willing to give you some money. Started a business that’s a boon to your local community? Give Power to Change a shout. We’ve listed as many organisations offering grants as we can here.

Continue to a full text here:

https://www.the-sse.org/resources/starting/finding-money-start-social-enterprise/

Support mechanisms for social entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region
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Support mechanisms for social entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region

Download here paper written by Renate Lukjanska (Rezekne Academy of Technologies), Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło (Uniwersytet Gdañski) and Julia Kuznecova (Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration) and published in International Business and Global Economy 2017, no. 36, pp. 262–274 (Biznes międzynarodowy w gospodarce globalnej 2017, nr 36, s. 262–274); Edited by the Institute of International Business, University of Gdañsk ISSN 2300-6102 e-ISSN 2353-9496

This content is delivered to you in the framework of the SEBS2 project co-funded by the Erasmus+, as our aim is to popularize social business and social entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region.

This paper presents an overview of support mechanisms for social entrepreneurship available in the seven Baltic Sea Region (BSR) countries with references to the pertinent literature. Its main aim is to evaluate the mechanisms of support provided by state and local authorities regarding their influence on the development of the social entrepreneurship sector. The research is based on a survey conducted among representatives of social enterprises from the seven BSR countries and focuses group interviews. The hypothesis assumes that there is a significant disparity in the level of support offered to social entrepreneurs in the researched countries; moreover, it is not the kind of support that is expected by entrepreneurs. The study revealed that the conventional support mechanisms include: specialised institutions founded by the government, access to direct financial aid, and infrastructure support aimed at increasing the capacity of social enterprises. The conclusion is that the existing support mechanisms require greater state and local involvement. Continued efforts are necessary to make them more accessible and better adjusted to the needs of social entrepreneurs in the researched countries.

 

Keywords: social entrepreneurship, support mechanisms, entrepreneurship, social enterprise

8 Keys To Crowdfunding Success For Social Entrepreneurs
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8 Keys To Crowdfunding Success For Social Entrepreneurs

Crowdfunding means different things to different people, but it almost always means raising money from the public. For social entrepreneurs, it is all about changing the world.

Read more about the most important features of successful soc ent crowdfunding campaigns directly on the Forbes website here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2018/04/30/8-keys-to-crowdfunding-success-for-social-entrepreneurs/#4c1c29837234

 

This content is delivered to you in the framework of the SEBS2 project co-funded by the Erasmus+, as our aim is to popularize social business and social entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region.

 

You can also check their article presenting the most popular crowdfunding websites for Social Entrepreneurs here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2012/09/10/eight-crowdfunding-sites-for-social-entrepreneurs/