Social Entrepreneurship: A Path to Social Change

Social entrepreneurship is a business model whose primary goal is not economic profit but rather creating social impact. The first step in social entrepreneurship is to identify a social or environmental problem and then seek to solve it through social innovation.

But what exactly is social innovation?
It is a creative solution to address social issues more effectively than existing alternatives. Social innovation can manifest in new ideas, services, or products designed to transform realities. An example of social innovation is time banks, a service exchange system where time is the currency. It’s a return to community values: a neighbor can walk your pet, and in return, you can help them by giving English lessons [discover some initiatives here].

Ashoka and Social Entrepreneurship

Ashoka is a global organization and network dedicated to social entrepreneurship. It identifies and supports individuals with innovative ideas to transform society. It operates through its Fellows, individuals who lead projects addressing the root causes of social issues. Ashoka provides them with financial support, visibility, and networks to scale their ideas.

Recently, Ashoka launched the AI FOR BETTER project, an initiative that aims to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence in social entrepreneurship. Its main objectives are:

• Strengthening social impact through the application of artificial intelligence in social projects.
• Encouraging public debate on the ethical use of AI for the benefit of society.
• Developing regulatory frameworks to ensure the responsible implementation of this technology.

We invite you to visit their website and discover what’s happening in the social economy sector.