Hanna Hallin, MYC4.

We are proud to annonce that this month’s speaker is Hanna Hallin from the advisory board of MYC4.

MYC4 is a great example of social entrepreneurship. Their business idea is to connect investors with small scale businesses in Africa. Briefly explained it’s all about making it possible for an investor to give micro credits to a person or an established small business. Today, more than 10.000 people have given loans of more than €5 300 000 to 3.250 companies in Africa.  The Danish equivalent to Swedfund, IFU, recently decided to invest €1 340 000 in small businesses in Africa through MYC4.

After Hanna Hallin’s talk we look forward to the usual networking, full of ideas of how to make this world a better place to live in.

The SE-Bars are held in the restaurant and café Publik, 3rd floor at PUB department store, Hötorget, Stockholm. As usual it’s free of charge. The time to be there is Wednesday December 3, 5.30–7 pm, sharp.

Welcome!

Thanks to Restaurant Publik.

Report from “Profit for change”

Together with the Knowledge Foundation SE Forum hosted the workshop “Profit for change” on the conditions for social entrepreneurship. ”Never loose track of the social mission” advised one of the key speakers Paul O’Hara from Ashoka. The workshop gathered a number of participants from the business sector, academia, NGO:s and others to discuss how social entrepreneurs can find funds for their business ideas, new markets and the difference between social entrepreneurs and other business leaders.

Amongst the speakers were Karl Palmås, researcher at Gothenburg School of Business, and Jan Segerfeldt, Swedish Private Equity & Venture Capital Association.

Coming up soon – more reports on the engaging group discussions held during the seminar.

The discussion about the concept of Social Entrepreneurship continues. It attracts various views on what it really is. Some say “Don’t all companies fill a certain societal need?” Others say “Ok, private enterprises within the social sector?” In some cases – yes. But not always.

In my opinion what defines a social entrepreneur lies in the core of the actual purpose and intention of the business idea. A social entrepreneur has identified a need – an idea that will make the world better – and figured out an innovative way of filling that need in a business-like way. The organisational form is secondary, it may be a business or it may be as a NGO – but the concept should be financially sustainable and not (only) dependent on state funding or philanthropies.

Social entrepreneurs are probably more “political” than traditional business. They are definitely driven by a strong determination of changing the game. Social entrepreneurs are the people driven by a passion, towards higher goals. Often, they hardly knew themselves they were social entrepreneurs when starting out their business.

The best article I have come over about the concept is “The meaning of Social Entrepreneurship” by J. Gregory Dees, Professor in Public Service at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Read his article, download the pdf.

The greatest example, and most well-known is of course Muhammad Yunus and Graamen Bank. Lending money to people needing loans the most www.grameen-info.org.

Check out more examples at the section Inspiring Organisations. And if you are in Stockholm Monday 24 of November come to Summit and listen to Karl Palmås presenting his views on social entrepreneurship.

Sprong

A communications agency wanting to make more of today’s communication.
http://www.sprong.se

Wiminvest

A talent development program with aim at putting more women into leading positions in Swedish industry.
http://www.wiminvest.se

Banco fonder

A fore-runner within ethical funds.
http://www.banco.se

Blatteförmedlingen

A recruiting company that want to change the absurdities of Swedish segregation.
http://www.blatteformedlingen.se

Situation Stockholm

A voice, and work, for homeless people in Stockholm.
http://www.situationsthlm.se

Ekobanken

A bank looking at higher goals than profit.
http://www.ekobanken.se

Kaospilot

An entrepreneurial school, really changing the game.
http://www.kaospilot.dk

The Hub

The Hub is a globlal network, plattform and workspace for social innovation. They offer membership in major world cities for social innovators to work, meet, learn, connect and realise ideas.

http://www.the-hub.net 

SE Forum is built upon individuals investing their time and energy into the intriguing concept of Social Entrepreneurship. People interested in innovations and businesses for a better world.

Recently, Samira and Johan have invested a lot of that time and energy into this WordPress-based website that you are visiting. Please bookmark [www.se-forum.se] or [ www.socialentrepreneurshipforum.com ] and don’t forget to click on the RSS-symbol above to receive all new content coming up, directly to your news reader.

Thank you Samira and Johan for a great job!

The Knowledge Foundation and SE Forum invite you to a seminar, workshop and networking on the theme “Business enterprise for a better world”. Registration is still open, send an email to event [at] se-forum.se

Download the invitation to Profit for Change as a PDF

Read about the Knowledge Foundation here.

SE Forum, or AISE as it was called in 2004, was founded by Harry McNeil and Carl Jonas Michanek. This is their story:

– Me and Harry started AISE (which is now SE Forum) to learn more about the concept of Social Entrepreneurship and to be able to make a social difference in the world through the power of entrepreneurship. We felt that
a new platform for our generation was needed, because the institutional platforms all seemed too old school and bureaucratic. That was the beginning of this beautiful journey! Says Jonas Michanek.

– Today I am mostly occupied with the innovation consulting firm Idélaboratoriet that I started ten years ago, and taking care of my son, Lowe.

Harry has moved towards consulting and freelancing and is currently managing the Outreach project within SE Forum.

Social Entrepreneur Bridget Wedberg visited SE Bar at  Publik. 

Bridget held an interesting presentation about the benefits of a cooperative business form to run social business.

Coompanion that is the cooperative runned by Bridget,  has as its main focus to help creating business opportunities mainly for people who have difficulties getting in to the work force. Coompanion uses their network of professionals to connect people with interesting projects.  Coompanion has been a part of the task group defining Social Entrepreneurship for the Swedish government organisation NUTEK.