TWISE: This Week In Social Entrepreneurship: Events, Opportunities, News, Insights & More
Welcome to TWISE (This Week In Social Entrepreneurship), your trusted source for the latest news and insights from the global social enterprise community. đâ¨
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We bring you a curated selection of the most exciting happenings in the world of social entrepreneurship, from inspiring events and learning opportunities to thought-provoking news and insights. Whether youâre a seasoned social entrepreneur, an aspiring changemaker, or simply interested in the intersection of business and social impact, TWISE has something for you.
In our Events section, youâll find a diverse range of gatherings, from local meet-ups and networking events to online workshops and masterclasses. These events are designed to inspire, educate, and connect individuals and organizations committed to creating positive social and environmental impact.
Our Opportunities section highlights funding and support opportunities for social enterprises, while our News section keeps you updated on the latest developments in the social enterprise sector across the globe.
Finally, our Insights section offers thought-provoking articles and resources to deepen your understanding of social entrepreneurship and inspire you in your own journey.
Donât forget to subscribe to TWISE to stay updated on the latest in social entrepreneurship. If you have an event, opportunity, or insight youâd like us to feature, weâd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at hello@startsomegood.com.
Events
Africa
âPurpose-Livedâ panel conversation
The âPurpose-Livedâ panel conversation is an event hosted by TSIBA Social Enterprise, a not-for-profit business school. The event is designed to reflect on South Africaâs progress nearly 30 years into its democracy, with a particular focus on staying true to Nelson Mandelaâs legacy or reinventing ourselves to realize it across different generations since 1994. The panel, hosted by radio personality Kieno Kammies, will include a group of South Africans who will explore the theme of rebuilding Mandelaâs South Africa. The conversation will also touch on TSIBAâs mission to change the future of young people through its Global Sustainability Goals, which include no poverty, quality education, decent work, and economic growth for generations ahead.
Date and Time: Wednesday, 26 July, 6 PM SAST
Location: 51 Old Mill Road, Ndabeni, Cape Town
Cost: Free
Oceania
Social Procurement Practitioner Masterclass
The Social Procurement Practitioner Masterclass is designed for those practising social procurement within their organisations. The course aims to transition aspiring social procurement practitioners into business for good champions. Participants will deepen their social procurement knowledge and learn why social procurement is fundamental to sustainable business growth. The masterclass addresses the toughest challenges in social procurement, improving strategy, culture, and influencing others. It is delivered by Social Traders procurement practitionersâ Monique Ward & Rebecca Green, with guest appearances from industry procurement professionals.
Date and Time: Thu 20th Jul 2023, 9:00 am â 5:00 pm AEST
Location: 150 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Cost: AU$1,650
Social Impact Business Meet-Up 2023
The Social Impact Business Meet-Up 2023 is a gathering of mindful entrepreneurs at Into Coffee, a zero-waste coffee shop in Collingwood. The event is designed for both current and aspiring B Corps and socially-minded businesses for âbusiness networking with heartâ and discussions on social impact, ESG, and purpose-driven business. The meetings, held on the first Tuesday of each month, invite all attendees to share a short explanation of what they do and their âaskâ (so that others in the room might be able to help them and their business). The guest speaker for this month is Kirrily Graham, a Social Change Maker from Dovetail Social Enterprises, who is on a mission to transform the way that the charity sector works for small grass-root charities.
Date and Time: Tue 1st Aug 2023, 7:30 am â 8:30 am AEST
Location: Into Coffee, 2A Robert St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
StartSomeGood FIRESIDE CHAT: Ronni Kahn AO, CEO and Founder of OzHarvest
StartSomeGood Fireside Chats share the inspiring and insightful stories of social entrepreneurs who have paved their paths and hustled for good. The upcoming chat features Ronni Kahn AO, CEO and Founder of OzHarvest. Ronni is a social entrepreneur and founder of Australiaâs leading food rescue charity, OzHarvest. She is a passionate advocate and activist renowned for disrupting the food waste landscape in Australia. She appears regularly in national media, serves in an advisory capacity to the government and is a sought-after keynote speaker. Some of the worldâs finest chefs support her mission to fight food waste and feed hungry people. Ronni is also an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and was named Australian Local Hero of the Year. Her journey is the subject of the feature film, Food Fighter, directed by Dan Goldberg. In 2020, she co-authored her biography: A Repurposed Life, which was nominated for an ABIA award for Biography Book of the Year.
Date and Time: Mon 7th Aug 2023, 11:00 am â 12:00 pm AEST
Location: Online
Cost: AU$10 (free for StartSomeGood Network members)
Thrivability Matters Webinar Series
The âThrivability Mattersâ webinar series is an online gathering where invited guests present science-based sustainability learnings and share their expertise and knowledge. Join this event to discuss SDGs 6, 9, 14 & 15, on clean water and sanitation, innovations in industry and infrastructure, and how life below water and on land contributes to a thriving planet for future generations. Featured speakers are Tom Dawkins (CEO StartSomeGood), Mylène Turban (Senior Consultant at Pangolin Associates Pty Ltd and Workshop Facilitator at Climate Fresk Australia), and Fabio Cortesi (Lecturer and Research Fellow at UQ Queensland Brain Institute).
Date and Time: Tuesday, 15th of August, 6 pm AEST (GMT+10)
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Opportunities
Americas
From Prohibition to Progress: Opening Doors for Social Enterprises Through Crowd Investing
The article âFrom Prohibition to Progress: Opening Doors for Social Enterprises Through Crowd Investingâ highlights the significant opportunity for social entrepreneurs in the US to raise capital through crowd investing. The author, Paul Lovejoy, discusses how historical regulations, implemented after the Great Depression, created barriers for community organizations and social enterprises seeking funding. However, recent regulatory developments, such as Regulation A+ and Regulation Crowdfunding, have opened doors for public funding, empowering social enterprises to operate, grow, and scale their impact. Regulation A+ allows social enterprises to raise up to $50 million from either accredited or non-accredited investors, while Regulation Crowdfunding enables organizations to raise smaller amounts from a larger pool of investors through online crowd-investing platforms. These regulations have democratized fundraising, allowing community organizations and social enterprises to access capital while complying with investor protection measures. The author also suggests areas for improvement, such as increasing funding caps, streamlining compliance procedures, investing in investor education, and exploring opportunities for international harmonization of regulations.
Europe
Support programme for Scotlandâs social enterprise sector
Scotlandâs social enterprise sector has received a significant boost with a ÂŁ4.75 million award from the Scottish Government. The four-year initiative, administered by consortium Just Enterprise, will provide early-stage social entrepreneurs and established enterprising charities and social enterprises with a programme of free business advice, workshops, leadership development, and one-to-one coaching. The services will focus on sustainability, equality, diversity, and inclusion, reflecting some of the key challenges facing the third sector. Just Enterprise will also promote a recently developed net-zero scorecard that organisations can use to identify areas for improvement, outline next steps, and pinpoint additional funding sources. Since its launch in 2011, Just Enterprise has supported over 11,000 individuals across 8,000 enterprises in Scotlandâs third sector, helping organisations increase turnover by an average of ÂŁ50,000 and create two new full-time jobs.
News
Americas
12Neighbours Community Launches Social Enterprise Coffee Shop
The 12Neighbours community in Fredericton, Canada, is launching its second social enterprise, Neighbourly Coffee, a pop-up cafĂŠ aimed at providing employment opportunities to vulnerable citizens. The cafĂŠ, which will be located inside Frederictonâs Picaroons, will not only offer high-quality coffee but also serve as a platform for community members to interact with individuals they may not have met otherwise. The initiative is part of 12Neighboursâ broader mission to provide opportunities for personal growth to people experiencing homelessness, which includes the construction of affordable micro homes. The cafĂŠ will be led by well-known figures in Frederictonâs coffee industry, Mallory Kelly and Morgan Hornibrook, who will train other employees. The long-term plan is to create a unique coffee roast for the cafĂŠ and build an area in the micro home community that will house the social enterprises, making employment opportunities more accessible for residents.
Asia
16-Year Old Wins Diana Award For Social Enterprise!
In a remarkable achievement, Taarush Grover, a 12th-grade student from Gurugram, Haryana, has been awarded the prestigious Diana Award for his social Tech Non-profit Organisation, Volanity. The platform automates the connection of over 160 student and university volunteers with non-government schools across India, teaching non-academic education and 21st-century skills to more than 2000 students. Taarushâs efforts have significantly increased volunteer conversion rates and have earned him partnerships with Shoolini University and grants from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His vision is to change the approach to education and instil lifelong self-learning in students. His work is a testament to the power of young social entrepreneurs in making a significant impact on their communities.
Europe
In a reflection on 20 years of impact journalism, Tim West, the founding editor of Pioneers Post, shares his experience of being one of the recipients of the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize. The award is a recognition of the platformâs dedication to covering pioneers in social innovation and the value of independent journalism. Pioneers Post is committed to sharing stories and solutions that inspire and educate, as well as challenging and scrutinising the sector. The platform has featured a range of stories, from a charity helping poor farmers in the Peruvian Amazon to the analysis of a âslave-freeâ chocolate companyâs innovative legal structure. As a social enterprise, Pioneers Post is dedicated to continuing its work in impact journalism, highlighting the importance of social innovation and the stories that drive it.
Euclid launches âBuy Social Europe B2Bâ to boost social procurement in EU
In a significant move to boost social procurement within the European Union, Euclid Network has launched the Buy Social Europe initiative. This B2B platform aims to connect social enterprises with potential buyers, thereby creating a more inclusive and sustainable economy. The initiative is expected to enhance the visibility of social enterprises, facilitate their access to markets, and promote the social and environmental impact they generate. This development underscores the increasing recognition of social enterprises as key players in the European economy and their potential to drive positive change.
Oceania
Breaking the cycle of chronic clutter
Catherine Carney, a professional home organiser and declutter coach based in Kyneton, Victoria, Australia, is working to destigmatize hoarding and clutter while building a social enterprise. She and her team focus on helping neurodivergent individuals and those with physical or psychosocial disabilities declutter and systematize their homes. Carneyâs approach involves understanding the root causes of clutter and coaching clients to manage their relationship with their belongings. The service, which began 14 months ago in response to a single call for help, has grown into a company with eight staff members and hundreds of clients. Carneyâs team also connects clients with other service providers, such as psychologists and recovery coaches. The majority of clients are referred by allied health services, and Carney is now focusing on expanding her work as a social enterprise.
Jenolan Caves welcomes Hotel Etico trainees
The Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust in New South Wales, Australia, has welcomed trainees from Hotel Etico, a social enterprise that provides hospitality training and employment to people with intellectual disabilities. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote inclusivity and diversity in the hospitality industry. The trainees will gain valuable hands-on experience in various aspects of hotel operations, including food and beverage service, housekeeping, and customer service. This initiative is a significant step towards empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities and helping them secure sustainable employment in the hospitality sector.
Insights
A Mad Social Enterprise Crowdfunding Success Story â Key Learnings and Tips
Jasper Vallance, founder of Xstatic Sunsets and marketing lead at StartSomeGood, shares his journey of crowdfunding a post-Covid sober dance party. He launched Xstatic Sunsets in 2019, aiming to inspire a healthier party culture and support better mental health. However, the advent of Covid-19 brought challenges, leading Jasper to crowdfund an after-Covid party. He used StartSomeGoodâs crowdfunding platform, emphasizing the importance of a compelling video and a clear mission to engage potential donors. Despite the daunting target and the rollercoaster of emotions, Jasperâs passion and resilience, coupled with the support of the community, helped him reach his goal. His experience underscores the power of purpose, mission, and vision in crowdfunding, the importance of a compelling video, the need for realistic budgeting, the readiness to work hard, and the significance of passion and enthusiasm.
Social enterprise is becoming integral to university life
This article by Robert Phillips, a senior lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Alliance Manchester Business School, highlights the growing integration of social enterprise into university life. The piece notes a rising interest among students in starting businesses to tackle social issues, driven by exposure to global problems and the increased visibility of social enterprises. Universities are responding by offering more coherent policies and guidelines on social enterprise, with an emphasis on learning âaboutâ, âforâ, and âthroughâ entrepreneurship. The curriculum now includes opportunities to study social entrepreneurship at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a focus on real-world projects. Extracurricular activities, such as venture competitions and social hackathons, offer practical experience and potential seed funding. The author argues that universities stand to gain from supporting student social enterprise, improving student experience, showcasing the impact of staff work, and enhancing their reputation through successful alumni.
The nature of enterprising Syntropically
Christine McDougall presents a refreshing perspective on enterprise. She views enterprise as an undertaking, a readiness to embrace challenges and adventures with a spirit of daring. This concept is not limited to business but extends to families, community groups, teams, projects, nations, and even our home planet. Christine emphasizes the importance of moving beyond business-as-usual and social enterprise, towards a higher order that embraces diversity and aims for an eternally regenerative universe. This, she believes, is the essence of enterprising syntropically â a commitment to leaving everything better through our collective efforts.
Responsible AI: The New Frontier for Social Enterprises
In this article, Barry J Barresi OD PhD discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive social impact and the responsibility of social enterprises to ensure that the use of AI aligns with their core values of ethical conduct, transparency, and social accountability. He emphasizes that AI technologies should enhance social impact without causing harm or perpetuating biases. Dr Barresi explores the concept of Responsible AI, which means developing and using AI systems that are ethical, transparent, inclusive, and unbiased. He provides practical strategies for implementing Responsible AI in social enterprises, including designing ethical AI systems, validating these systems, and assembling a team committed to the principles of Responsible AI. He also discusses the role of AI in various phases of the Accelerate Impact Model, such as discovering opportunity, building enterprise, growing value, and advancing capacity. Dr Barresi concludes by highlighting the ongoing nature of implementing Responsible AI and the need for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment of AI initiatives.
Catalytic capital: Mission-aligned financing in action
In this article, Amy Bird discusses the concept of catalytic capital, a form of impact-focused funding that provides social enterprises with the flexibility they need to grow without compromising their mission. She presents three case studies to illustrate how catalytic capital can fuel growth and impact. The first case is Kinvolved, a social enterprise that used a line of credit to drive growth and eventually get acquired by a larger company. The second case is Boldr, an ethical outsourcing company that used a line of credit to support its expansion while maintaining its commitment to sustainable growth and impact. The third case is Wildlife Corridors, an organization that used a bridge loan to protect critical wildlife migration corridors. These examples highlight how catalytic capital can provide the right kind of fuel at the right time without requiring compromises, making it an ideal funding option for social enterprises.
Three Pâs to Impact Capital Readiness
In his article, âThree Pâs to Impact Capital Readiness,â Paul Wright provides valuable insights for social entrepreneurs preparing to raise capital. He highlights three key areas of readiness: Plan, Performance, and Purpose. A well-articulated plan should demonstrate how capital will be utilized to deliver value and a return on investment to investors. Past performance, including profit generation and impact, is crucial in attracting investors. Start-ups should clearly outline their assumptions, plans, and forecasts. Lastly, a clear purpose, reflected in the mission statement and integrated into the organizationâs culture and governance, is vital. Wright emphasizes that impact investors need assurance that success will not undermine the original purpose or lead to mission-creep. This article serves as a guide for social entrepreneurs to assess their readiness to raise capital.
In this article, LilSeed highlights the Fullness Social Enterprises Society (FSES), a pioneering organization in Hong Kong that promotes social innovation and focuses on capacity building for social enterprises. FSES acts as a mediator, bridge, and match-maker between the financial/corporate sector and the social sector, recognizing the importance of collaboration between these two sectors for a sustainable and equitable future. The co-founder of FSES, Ted Kwan, emphasizes the need for a common language and mutual learning between the two sectors. FSES is also known for its citywide âEthical Consumptionâ movement and its academic study on the Social Return on Investment (SROI) for Hong Kong Social Enterprises. Recently, FSES has expanded its scope to support youthâs social innovation capacity building and has organized the âInnovator Farmâ program, which provides funding and support to social projects.
Impact through Food and Grocery Delivery
Katharine Hersh published an article by three MBA students, discussing the potential for social impact in the food and grocery delivery industry. They highlight the significant market opportunity, with approximately 38 million food-insecure people in the US. The authors identify Prepared Meals and Grocery Delivery as promising segments for growth-stage private equity investment, as these areas are less saturated and have strong growth prospects. They also underscore the potential for these segments to generate significant impact for food-insecure and low-income consumers lacking healthy and affordable food options. The authors further note that innovative business models, such as the âclick and collectâ model and the inventory-based business model, can help overcome challenges related to profitability and last-mile delivery costs. The article concludes by emphasizing the potential for companies in this industry to drive sustainable, profitable growth while making a positive impact on underserved consumers.
Banker turned Changemaker solving the wicked problem of charcoal for cooking
In the article, Ayuengineer interviews Sylvia Herzog, Director of The Charcoal Project, about the complex issue of charcoal use for cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This problem, affecting billions, has significant health, environmental, and economic implications. Herzog, a former banker, is part of a volunteer expert group addressing this issue through technology, social sciences, and empathy. She emphasizes that charcoal is an integral part of the household energy mix and is not going away soon. Therefore, sustainable solutions are needed, such as encouraging producers to adopt sustainable methods for tree harvesting, replanting, production, and distribution. Herzog also highlights the potential of alternatives like charcoal briquettes made from recycled waste streams, electric pressure cookers, and cooking baskets. The Charcoal Project works to address this issue through policy research, advocacy, and hands-on programming, with a focus on supporting women in the sector.
Social enterprises often struggle to survive due to a lack of resources and funding. Misha Ketchell describes a study conducted in South Africa, one of the regions with a growing number of social enterprises, reveals three key capabilities that can enhance their performance: strategic planning, strong networks, and a focus on their main business. Strategic planning involves defining the enterpriseâs direction and goals, while strong networks allow the enterprise to remain relevant to its stakeholders. The focus on their main business, or the social aspect mandate of value co-creation, necessitates the enterpriseâs continued involvement and relevance to the community. The study recommends that social enterprises be proactive in improving their internal processes and structures, channel resources to support strategic planning, networking capabilities and value co-creation, and establish formal networking structures to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
Do you have an exciting event or opportunity youâd like us to feature in our blog? Or, perhaps, an interesting insight or article youâd like to share with our community? Weâd love to hear from you! Send us an email at hello@startsomegood.com.
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