This article was commissioned by the Red Bull Amaphiko programme in 2015. It highlights the considerable need for social entrepreneurs in South Africa. It discusses the various challenge and opportunities facing these social entrepreneurs. It also quotes some well-known leaders in the sector such as Pat Pillay from LifeCo UnLtd and Francois Bonnici from the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Social entrepreneurship in South Africa
How a business can become a social enterprise
This article was published in the June 2015 edition of the Small Business Connect newspaper. It is part 11 in a series of 11 articles that unpacks the mind-set of a social enterprise and discusses the principles from Think like a Social Enterprise.
This particular article discusses eight tactics that businesses can use to introduce social enterprise thinking into their business model. It also sheds light on how businesses can start the journey to become social enterprises.
Interview about social enterprises on #Hashtag Radio
Warren Lodge interviewed me on #Hashtag Radio about the growth of social enterprises in South Africa. We discuss social enterprises and their recent popularity. We also discuss what non-profit organizations and businesses can do to start their journey to social enterprise.
Listen to the interview from June 2015.
Video of my talk at UCT Upstarts on social enterprises
UCT Upstarts is a campaign to get students to start projects to have a social impact. I was invited to present a “101 course” on social enterprises in May 2015. This presentation introduces the concept of a social enterprise and highlights the three main challenges they are experiencing: access to markets; access to business support; and access to finance.
Watch a YouTube video of some highlights from my talk.
Develop a brand so it engages your community
This article was published in the May 2015 edition of the Small Business Connect newspaper. It is part 10 in a series of 11 articles that unpacks the mind-set of a social enterprise and discusses the principles from Think like a Social Enterprise.
This particular article discusses the value of building a strong “social brand” around which you engage all your stakeholders.
GreenPop, a leading social enterprise that runs campaigns to “green” communities and promote environmental awareness is profiled in this edition.
Collaborate with businesses and give them real value
This article was published in the April 2015 edition of the Small Business Connect newspaper. It is part 9 in a series of 11 articles that unpacks the mind-set of a social enterprise and discusses the principles from Think like a Social Enterprise.
This particular article discusses the importance of seeing businesses as potential partners, rather than just a source of funding.
CapaCiti from the Cape Town IT Initiative is profiled in this edition, and its experience collaborating with IT companies to place train and place interns is discussed.
Sell benefits to customers
This article was published in the March 2015 edition of the Small Business Connect newspaper. It is part 8 in a series of 11 articles that unpacks the mind-set of a social enterprise and discusses the principles from Think like a Social Enterprise.
This particular article discusses how successful social enterprises ensure that their customers get real value for the goods and services they purchase. This requires investing lots of time and effort in trying to understand their customers’ needs and designing products that genuinely benefit them.
The Clothing Bank is profiled in this edition. This social enterprise is helping hundreds of women to setup small retail businesses. It also helps large retailors to put their excess stock to good use.
Market your successes more than the social problem you’re fighting
This article was published in the February 2015 edition of the Small Business Connect newspaper. It is part 7 in a series of 11 articles that unpacks the mind-set of a social enterprise and discusses the principles from Think like a Social Enterprise.
This particular article suggests that organizations should market their successes more than the social or environmental problems they are trying to solve. Donors, impact investors and other partners are attracted to success and want to be part of it. We have all had enough hearing about how bad the world is.
This edition profiles Pat Pillay from LifeCo UnLtd. It discusses how both Pat and his organization has worked hard to build a positive brand in national media.
Don’t just rely on grant funding for your survival
This article was published in the January 2015 edition of the Small Business Connect newspaper. It is part 6 in a series of 11 articles that unpacks the mind-set of a social enterprise and discusses the principles from Think like a Social Enterprise.
This article discusses the problem of relying on donations or grant funding for one’s survival. It argues that this short-sighted approach increases risk and limits social impact.
Greater Capital is profiled in this edition. This social enterprise earns 100% of its income from its research and consulting services.
Refine your business model and show value for money
This article was published in the December 2014 edition of the Small Business Connect newspaper. It is part 5 in a series of 11 articles that unpacks the mind-set of a social enterprise and discusses the principles from Think like a Social Enterprise.
This article discusses how organizations must be able to demonstrate value for money. In other words, donors, investors and beneficiaries must feel that they are getting a good deal given the price versus the quality social outcomes that are being achieved.
This edition profiles Malcolm Boyd from Our Governance – a social enterprise that has developed an online training programme to improve the governance of non-profit organizations.