RT @schwabfound "There is No Better Timeto Focus on Social Entrepreneurship than Now" by A.Noble http://wef.ch/43k2 #socent #wef  ^gp

August 11, 2011 10:10 am via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@davos

World Economic Forum

Months of social unrest in Tunis, Cairo, and other parts of the Arab world, and recently in Tel Aviv and London, seem to emphasize the necessity of social enterprise, according to this writer on Forum Blog. As the worldwide economy struggles - and fails - to recover from the 2008 financial crisis, cash-strapped governments cannot fulfill their fiscal responsibilities, the writer argues, and social enterprise can fill this gap by distributing social impact along with economic rewards.

Interview: the Future of Social Entrepreneurship in India http://bit.ly/omL1e4 #socent

August 11, 2011 11:30 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@PDTglobal

Peace Dividend Trust

This interview with the founder of India’s National Social Entrepreneurship Forum illustrates how leaders are making the burgeoning movement there even stronger. NSEF is trying to foster the growth of the social enterprise community by providing workshops and fellowships to young Indian entrepreneurs and students.

Resource of the day! Social Economy Stories: practitioners’ perspectives on what the Social Economy means http://ow.ly/60Vys #socent

August 11, 2011 1:37 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@setoolbelt

seToolbelt

A few years ago, Enterprising Nonprofits and the Canadian CED Network put out this small collection of stories by practitioners in the social economy. It’s a great resource that could be used in college courses, entrepreneurship workshops, or on your own when you need inspiration to get that enterprise off the ground.

RT @plipska: Must for anyone into #socent: New resource platform for #GenY #socent #Beta v2 Fri Sign up for invite! http://t.co/F1DzCeh...

August 11, 2011 1:16 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@The_SoJo

SoJo

The SoJo is a brand-new peer support network for social entrepreneurs. It’s launching today and you can sign up on their site to receive an invite to join. To learn more about it, check out their blog.

Incredible #socent resource from @AshokaU w/ info on academic programs, #fellowships, case studies & conferences! http://ht.ly/5VFHW

August 4, 2011 11:55 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@echoinggreen

Echoing Green

Ashoka U, in collaboration with Debbie Brock, recently put out the fifth edition of a fantastic resource for teaching social entrepreneurship at the college level. The book is available for preview and purchase on their website.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg.

RT @j_ling: Interesting article via @gigaom on startup culture: BYC vs. Silicon Valley http://ow.ly/5VjaL #venturecapital #socent

August 4, 2011 3:15 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@kylewestaway

Kyle Westaway

Can New York City rival Silicon Valley, as Mayor Bloomberg would like it to do with his proposed science and engineering university? Probably not, according to some online debates. Critics say that entrepreneurship can’t be taught, and furthermore, that Silicon Vally is really where startup culture is most at home - though startups can take advantage of the financial and cultural resources NYC has to offer.

Treehugger: Community-Owned Wind Farms Cure NIMBYism http://bit.ly/qsfERt #SocEnt

August 1, 2011 11:37 am via twitterfeedReplyRetweetFavorite

@Social_Innovate

SocialEntrepreneur

If you’ve ever dreamed of starting a wind farm, this blog post on Treehugger explains how creating a sense of community ownership is an important factor in getting the project off the ground.

@cherylheller's A Few Things Every #Entrepreneur Should Know About Communication is an eye-opener http://cot.ag/rusLqk #socent #socbiz

August 3, 2011 9:51 am via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@NextBillion

NextBillion

Communication is key; this may seem obvious. But there are nuances to effective communication that every social entrepreneur needs to know. This blog post on NextBillion provides fascinating insight into successful communication tactics.

Resource of the day- So important for start-up social enterprises! : Elevator Pitch Tutorial http://ow.ly/5VoNd #socent

August 4, 2011 2:32 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@setoolbelt

seToolbelt

Every startup founder needs one: a 90-second elevator pitch. It’s the key to getting supporters on board. Here’s a brief (though perhaps not exactly concise) guide to developing and refining yours.

Today's #jobs: Human-Centered Design Fellowship with @iDEorg and Entrepreneurial Engineer with re:char http://cot.ag/isqz0X #socent #bopbiz

August 4, 2011 2:33 pm via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@NextBillion

NextBillion

NextBillion’s job board is an excellent resource for changemaking career opportunities. At the moment there is an interesting opportunity to do human-centered social design for poverty alleviation in Cambodia.

woah > RT @acumenfund: The impact investing market is predicted to grow from $50B to $500B by 2014 http://t.co/8eNaY8k #socent #impinv

August 4, 2011 3:33 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@rubinatweets

Rubina Design

In light of the upcoming annual SOCAP conference in early September, in which hundreds of global innovators will gather in San Francisco to share ideas about furthering the field of social entrepreneurship, this article highlights the potential future growth of the impact investment sector. According to the Global Impact Investing Network, impact investment is expected to increase by $500 billion by 2014.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg.

Good news > Expanding Microsoft software donations to more nonprofits - http://bit.ly/nBE078 via @msftcitizenship #csr #socent #ngo

July 27, 2011 10:38 am via VisibliReplyRetweetFavorite

@davidcoethica

David Connor

Organizations often rely on software to improve their productivity levels, but software can be very expensive. Microsoft recently announced that it is scaling-up efforts to provide free-of-charge software to nonprofits. Microsoft provides support to nonprofits through various software services aside from simply donating the software. Nonprofits can check on the Microsoft site to see if they are eligible for these programs.

Better #climate predictions in #Africa: http://ow.ly/5OthG. How can #socent develop solutions to environmental challenges?

July 27, 2011 11:45 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@acumenfund

Acumen Fund

Much of Africa’s agricultural crisis, as exhibited by the current famine in Somalia, is related to climate change, which in this case has led to severe drought. Poor ground data on rainfall makes climate prediction a difficult task. Now a team of researchers is working on creating an open-access resource of rainfall data taken over the past thirty years in Africa and Europe, to better assist hunger prevention tactics through increased knowledge of climate variability.

RT @thinkimpact: South Africa Scholar Eric Duffy explains his prototype #socent http://t.co/Po0mQen

July 27, 2011 10:58 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@IonPoverty

Jonathan C. Lewis

Social entrepreneurs interested in international development work will enjoy reading the blog of ThinkImpact, a company that provides students with the opportunity to learn social entrepreneurship in Africa. This one focuses on the experience of a group in South Africa that is trying to prototype a water retention cistern.

How to give back without getting up: http://bit.ly/n6BelK #nonprofit #socent

July 27, 2011 2:34 pm via VisibliReplyRetweetFavorite

@davidcoethica

David Connor

You don’t have to move from your desk to contribute to efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition. This roundup is a good resource for websites that allow you to donate a meal or money with no more than a click of your mouse.

More #socent news from India http://tinyurl.com/3b33l2q "In a social enterprise, you solve an old problem in a new way and make it saleable"

July 27, 2011 2:55 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@Teach2Serve

Teach2Serve

Social enterprise “solves an old problem in a new way and makes it saleable,” says an entrepreneur in India who is profiled in this article. Her and others’ stories here provide concrete examples, based in India where the social entrepreneurship movement has really taken off, of what inspires people to become leaders for social change, and how they manage to bring their ideas to life.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg.

Must read! RT @CynthiaHellen: The world of social entrepreneurship is, in many ways, in its own Middle Ages. http://ow.ly/5CpFA #socent

July 12, 2011 7:27 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@stacymccoy

Stacy McCoy

Where did social entrepreneurship come from - and how do we know it’s actually going somewhere? These important questions merit thoughtful, critically-minded answers. This article on Inc.com’s technology page does an excellent job of working through the question of social entrepreneurship’s evolution, including success stories, potential, and limitations.

RT @HubBayArea: You are an entrepreneur with a new idea? Here are some ways to creatively fund a new venture! http://j.mp/pi4G7U #SocEnt

July 12, 2011 9:15 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@SOCAPmarkets

SOCAP Markets

This is a brief, helpful article on Forbes.com’s blog about financing a new venture. It’s meant to encourage female would-be entrepreneurs to jump into a project, but the advice is relevant for everyone.

Building a Humane Economy. Social entrepreneurs: You in? http://t.co/H19C8Dp via @HuffingtonPost #socent via @33needs

July 12, 2011 2:00 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@WakemanAgency

WakemanAgency

In light of the Humane Society’s recent headway in forging an agreement with the egg industry on a friendlier environment for hens, Josh Tetrick blogs at Huffington Post about the “Humane Economy,” suggesting that society is becoming more empathetic.

Building on the #charterschool movement, #innovation schools are catching on: http://ht.ly/5CCMa #edreform #socent

July 12, 2011 1:44 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@theblueengine

Blue Engine

You may be familiar with the charter school model, which allows independently-run schools to receive state funds in exchange for maintaining high standards. Now, a new model called “innovation schools” is set to pilot this fall in Boston. These schools will aim to close the achievement gap between students of different backgrounds. Unfortunately it’s hard to tell from this Boston.com article exactly how they will do that, as the journalist only mentions that school programs will target the “emotional and social well-being” of students.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg.

RT @echoinggreen: .@LaraGalinsky: #socent should mirror more the diversity of communities they serve. http://ht.ly/5y4ox

July 6, 2011 4:10 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@kylewestaway

Kyle Westaway

This interview on Echoing Green, with their senior vice president, sheds light on the emergence of the social entrepreneurship field and exposes some of the successes and challenges the movement is encountering today. The interview also shows how the spread of information, combined with supportive fellowship programs like the one Echoing Green offers, have created a robust class of social entrepreneurs, who are now working hard to ensure the long-term sustainability of their work.

RT @Fireign: Firms urged to fuse corporate, social interests http://dlvr.it/ZC0FY #socent #CSR

July 6, 2011 4:00 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@Give2GetJobs

Give to Get Jobs

The corporate world is taking a cue from social enterprises and finding that a social component can make a business better. A report recently released by CECP and Accenture advises corporations on the strategic and profitable advantages involved in focusing on social problems. PhilanthropyJournal.org provides a thorough run-down of the report’s findings and recommendations.

A Quant Approach To Sustainable Investing http://t.co/wmq2pbn #esg #sri #csr #eco #sustain #invest #mba #cfo #iro #portfolio #socent

July 6, 2011 5:02 pm via Tweet ButtonReplyRetweetFavorite

@HIPinvestor

HIPinvestor

If you want to invest in a company that practices sustainability, you generally have to rely on the company’s self-made image to make that judgment. But that’s not a very scientific way to determine a company’s sustainability. CRD Analytics recognized this problem and created a system for evaluating how a company performs against environmental, social, and governance metrics, as Financial Advisor reports. For now they have only aggregated the data for a small percentage of publicly-traded companies, but they are taking a rigorous approach to measurement, which the article explains in detail.

TY for all the RTs everyone! #impactinvesting debate continues the Big Idea page. Pls let your voice b heard. http://cot.ag/rfNTKn #socent

July 6, 2011 5:07 pm via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@NextBillion

NextBillion

Things are not as simple as they seem - and impact investment, often lauded as the way forward for social entrepreneurs - is no exception. This interview on NextBillion with Ashoka’s Europe director explores the cracks in impact investment and stands as a warning to its uncritical proponents.

How have MBA programs embodied Kantian ideals? http://ow.ly/5y3vv #socent

July 6, 2011 1:11 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@SSIReview

Social Innovation

This SSIReview writer applies a philosophical approach to the advent of social entrepreneurship tracks in MBA programs across the country. His analysis suggests that we, as a society, are renegotiating some of the foundations of capitalism. No longer self-interested individuals in the vein of Adam Smith’s economics, business students are becoming Kantians, looking to their fellow citizens in a spirit of cosmopolitanism.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg

“The money that's most commercially minded is drawn to India. The charity-minded is mostly drawn to Africa http://is.gd/aSAoMg #socent

June 30, 2011 10:25 am via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@AmritPa1

Amrit Pal

Why are certain regions and countries, like India, magnets for socially-conscious investment? The analysts quoted in this beyondprofit article have some interesting ideas about why investors are overlooking Latin America, trying to make a buck in India, and philanthropically-inclined toward Africa.

Social entrepreneurship placed at the heart of Higher Education http://t.co/Gka6S3G via @guardian #socent #BOP

June 30, 2011 10:12 am via Tweet ButtonReplyRetweetFavorite

@thomroulet

Thomas Roulet

It seems that social entrepreneurship goes beyond curriculum when it’s introduced in a school environment. It seeps into work ethic and organizational culture. This is starting to be seen in British higher education, according to the Guardian.

+1 RT @beth_goldman Must Read! "How Do We Solve #Energy #Poverty?" http://bit.ly/ixylAn via @sciam #globaldev #socent

June 30, 2011 9:53 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@Solar_Sister

Katherine Lucey

Energy use is not distributed equally throughout the world, writes Scientific American, partly because of the surplus of household electronic devices and automobiles in the wealthier countries. As developing societies accrue wealth, their use of energy will increase. The writer calls for an examination of non-fossil fuel sources of energy as globalization continues full-force.

Overcoming Hurdles, Exposing Talent http://t.co/rKgdmAt (via @enablechange) #change #poverty #socent

June 30, 2011 10:26 am via Tweet ButtonReplyRetweetFavorite

@SocialEarth

SocialEarth

If you ever needed justification for purchasing artisan-made products, this writer on SocialEarth breaks it down for you. In the example given here, a women’s cooperative provides much more than income: it empowers artisans to take more control over their lives, helps them to make use of scarce resources like infrastructure for exporting their goods, and facilitates access to loans.

Nigerian Fellow named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business for his farm-focused radio station #socenthttp://bit.ly/kqP3dO

June 29, 2011 11:06 am via SMX:ThriveReplyRetweetFavorite

@AshokaTweets

Ashoka

Solar-powered devices enable Nigerian farmers to send story tips to a radio station that broadcasts helpful information in the country's south. One broadcaster has been named one of FastCompany’s 100 Most Creative People in Business of 2011 for his innovative use of radio to help remote farmers run their businesses.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg

"Some observers believe that the tough times may be increasing interest in social ventures." @nytimes http://t.co/7t6KNP7 #socent

June 22, 2011 4:45 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@socentlaw

socentlaw

The NYTimes has caught on to the social enterprise bug. They suggest that the recession has actually been fruitful for socially-minded startups, and provide some advice drawn from concrete examples for getting a social venture off the ground.

Roads and Rice: How Innovation and Infrastructure Can Feed the World http://dlvr.it/XPcFQ #socent: Roads and Ric... http://bit.ly/kaQAYK

June 22, 2011 4:23 pm via twitterfeedReplyRetweetFavorite

@tag_socent

tag_socent

This succinct but vivid description of a rice farming community in Vietnam, and how it was transformed by the appearance of a new rice variety alongside new roads, makes for an interesting read on NextBillion’s blog. But it fails to address practical details about the mechanisms behind international development, which have, in the forty years since the author witnessed the impact of road construction, become the subject of critique.

Matt Damon's smart development work in Africa - #socent #microfinance #water http://t.co/0G7Gs7X via @fastcompany

June 22, 2011 3:56 pm via Tweet ButtonReplyRetweetFavorite

@alexquinto

Alex Quinto

Fancy fundraising galas are “so analog,” says actor Matt Damon, explaining to FastCompany his approach to creating better water access in developing countries through his organization, Water.org. The organization’s philosophy is to take into account communities’ needs and desires, as expressed in their own words, as much as possible.

2 weeks left for early bird registration for the #ImpactInvesting USA Conference in DC! 9/20 http://t.co/xp7KuMa @G_B_Fund #socent

June 22, 2011 4:25 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@BackpackFarm

Rachel Zedeck

Two weeks remain to make the early-bird deadline, and get discount rates, for registration at the Impact Investing Summit taking place in Washington DC this September.

How three Ashoka Fellows are empowering a generation of changemaker dads #socenthttp://bit.ly/jkgWLC

June 22, 2011 10:17 am via SMX:ThriveReplyRetweetFavorite

@AshokaTweets

Ashoka

In honor of the recent Father’s Day, President Obama has created a website to highlight the importance of fathers’ role in society. Along these lines, Ashoka profiles a few fathers amongst their international Fellows who are strengthening families and helping parents do their jobs better.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg

Young entrepreneurs use personal passions to address social or environmental problems. http://ow.ly/5hxHA #socent

June 14, 2011 12:21 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@SSIReview

Social Innovation

This Stanford Social Innovation Review article profiles the rise of NextGenNow leaders (next generation leaders leading now) and shows their ascendance to be fueled by sheer entrepreneurial might. It tracks the story of one entrepreneur who followed his bliss and resisted conformity, and over time brought a few ventures to success.

Intelligent Evolution: Six new, unique ecosystems where entrepreneurs thrive #socent http://bit.ly/mSnUEm

June 14, 2011 10:04 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@changemakers

Ashoka Changemakers

Is there a method to the madness of entrepreneurship? Daniel Isenberg, blogging for the Economist, says yes: it’s a matter of the right “ecosystem” being in place for entrepreneurship to thrive. He breaks down the elements of an environment that’s conducive to innovation.

RT @new_ventures New report: opportunities in #impactinvesting are likely to grow http://bit.ly/kEuWDJ #socent

June 14, 2011 5:10 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@WeAreThink

Jonathan Coburn

According to research by J.P. Morgan, opportunities for social impact investment are likely to increase over the next ten years, as reported by the social investment site SocialFunds. The five emerging market sectors where they predict growth are: housing, rural water delivery, maternal health, primary education, and financial services. The article outlines some of the reasons these markets are appealing to investors, as well as the challenges faced by the impact investment sector, like the ability to effectively and uniformly measure social impact.

RT @schwabfound: Share this useful Social Investment guide for Social Entrepreneurs (Free download) http://wef.ch/sim #socent

June 14, 2011 1:10 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@acumenfund

Acumen Fund

If you’re looking for investors to help get your social enterprise off the ground, take a look at the free Social Investment Guide, created by a coalition of think-tanks and researchers, and released at the Social Capital Markets conference in Amsterdam a few weeks ago. The guide has tips on approaching and forming relationships with investors as well as information about relevant topics such as due diligence.

What’d we miss? Let us know in the comments or find us @dowserDOTorg

@niliach's interview w/ @AshokaTweets Drayton: Education & the Future Marketplace - why #empathy needs urgency http://cot.ag/kj2ZHT #socent

June 8, 2011 10:58 am via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@NextBillion

NextBillion

In an interview with NextBillion, founder of Ashoka Bill Drayton argues that empathy will be the key to successful and healthy economies for the next generation. Nothing short of a “paradigm shift” in our educational model is necessary if we are to raise future leaders who will innovate and give back to our communities, he explains. For more on Ashoka’s “Empathy Initiative” see their website.

Turning a Rooftop Garden into a Supermarket's Supply Chain http://t.co/dMW3Mm4 #SocEnt via @Social_Innovate & @GreenBiz

June 8, 2011 9:59 am via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@susanmcp1

Susan McPherson

It sounds too good to be true: this story highlights BrightFarms, a NYC-based startup that aims to build hydroponic greenhouse farms atop grocery stores, thereby creating a direct supply of fresh products and avoiding transport costs. The founder of BrightFarms insists that the model is scalable and profitable.

Nature or nurture? Decoding the entrepreneur --what makes them great: true for #socent too? http://bit.ly/l6JQdY via @SheryAHeinis

June 8, 2011 3:20 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@socialedge

socialedge

This article outlines ten attributes that characterize an entrepreneur - some of them may surprise you. It’s based on a report by Ernst & Young, which was done by surveying hundreds of entrepreneurs.

"Too many suits …not enough hippies." I actually think it is the other way around re: #socent. Recapping #SOCAP: http://tinyurl.com/64z4xpl

June 8, 2011 11:05 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@microfinanseer

Roxanne Alvarez

Are suited “impact investors” taking over the social enterprise sector - and does it matter? This article in The Guardian ponders the question and gives other takeaways from the first SOCAP conference held in Europe.

Social entrepreneur under the age of 35? Check out the Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship - http://tinyurl.com/5v3wofx #socent

June 7, 2011 10:46 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@newprofit

New Profit Inc.

Applications are being accepted until July 5 from entrepreneurs under 35 for the Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship. The program will provide support for five socially-conscious leaders and bring them to Chicago for a week of networking and knowledge sharing.