I’m at Malaysia at GK3, the 3rd Global Knowledge Conference, in a session where young “social entrepreneurs” are pitching their ideas to a panel of experts in finance and investing. The products and services aren’t necessarily about media, but they all are using information technology as an integral part of what they do.
Social entrepreneurship is essentially the idea of applying the techniques and skills of traditional entrepreneurship to create sustainable enterprises aimed at social causes. It’s about innovation, moving quickly and taking risks — but with aims other than personal gain.
Many, perhaps most, of the new media and journalism projects that will fill the gaps left by disintegrating traditional media in coming years will need this kind of thinking. The people doing them will be thinking more about filling a local need than making a buck.
But even a not-for-profit enterprise needs a businss model. Unless people are planning for sustainability, they are guaranteeing that their projects will hit a wall. Changing the world is a long-range process, not something for the short term.
on Dec 12th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Hi Dan, it is great to know that social entrepreneurs have a platform to pitch their ideas to investors today in Malaysia.
Last week, this subject was covered in Hong Kong at CVCF. http://breakpointhr.blogspot.com/2007/12/social-responsibility-and-hrm.html
on Dec 15th, 2007 at 1:04 am
re:” It’s about innovation, moving quickly and taking risks — but with aims other than personal gain.
Many, perhaps most, of the new media and journalism projects that will fill the gaps left by disintegrating traditional media in coming years will need this kind of thinking. The people doing them will be thinking more about filling a local need than making a buck.
But even a not-for-profit enterprise needs a business model. Unless people are planning for sustainability, they are guaranteeing that their projects will hit a wall. Changing the world is a long-range process, not something for the short term.”
Dan,
I’m wondering if you think non-profit models will be more competitive than equivalent for-profit ones? This would, of course, make them more sustainable. (What you are saying seems to be at leat compatible with this if not implying it.)
Delia