“Social Entrepreneurship: Creating Economic and Social Value Simultaneously / Dr. Melika Molk Ara”

Fara Eghtesad Bein-al-Melal | Social entrepreneurship, as an emerging branch of entrepreneurship, has garnered significant attention from researchers, policymakers, and economic activists in recent years. This form of entrepreneurship seeks to create value by combining economic and social objectives, aiming not only for financial profitability but also for the improvement of social and environmental conditions within communities. This report examines the concepts, models, and importance of social entrepreneurship while discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

▎Concept of Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship can be defined as a process in which individuals or groups utilize innovation, resources, and business strategies to address social and environmental issues. Unlike traditional entrepreneurship, which primarily focuses on profitability, social entrepreneurship emphasizes the integration of social and economic goals. In other words, social entrepreneurship strives to create positive social impacts through economic activities.

▎Models of Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship encompasses various models that can be applied depending on the type of activities and objectives in focus. Some of these models include:

۱. Hybrid Model: In this model, social entrepreneurs leverage economic resources and structures to support social objectives. For example, a non-profit organization may generate necessary financial resources for its social programs through the sale of products or services.

۲. Cooperative Model: In this model, a group of individuals collaborates to establish a business that addresses a specific social issue. Cooperatives, due to their democratic structure and focus on the common interests of members, can serve as successful examples of social entrepreneurship.

۳. Organizational Model: In this model, large organizations and companies strive to create positive social impacts through social entrepreneurial activities. These companies may allocate a portion of their profits to social projects or implement programs aimed at enhancing corporate social responsibility (CSR).

▎Importance of Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in modern societies due to its unique capabilities in fostering positive change. This form of entrepreneurship can contribute to solving social issues such as poverty, injustice, gender inequality, and climate change. Additionally, social entrepreneurship aids in improving economic conditions within communities and reducing unemployment by creating job opportunities.

▎Challenges and Opportunities in Social Entrepreneurship

While social entrepreneurship holds significant potential, it also faces numerous challenges, including:

۱. Funding Challenges: Social entrepreneurs often struggle to secure financial resources, as many investors prefer to invest in profitable projects and are less inclined to support socially oriented initiatives.

۲. Measuring Social Impact: One major challenge in social entrepreneurship is measuring the social impacts generated by these businesses. Unlike financial profitability, which can be easily quantified, assessing social impacts often requires more complex and sometimes qualitative methods.

۳. Sustainability: Another critical challenge is maintaining the sustainability of social enterprises in the long term. Many social entrepreneurs encounter difficulties in securing sustainable resources and successfully managing their businesses.

Nevertheless, social entrepreneurship presents numerous opportunities that can contribute to its success. These opportunities include increasing public awareness about the importance of social issues, government and international support for social projects, and the expansion of collaborative networks among social entrepreneurs.
▎Conclusion
Social entrepreneurship serves as an innovative solution for addressing social and economic problems, contributing to positive changes within society. By integrating economic and social objectives, this form of entrepreneurship not only leads to financial profitability but also fosters improvements in social and environmental conditions. Although social entrepreneurship faces various challenges, leveraging existing opportunities and developing appropriate models can lead to significant achievements in this field.

By: Dr. Melika Molk Ara – Author and Researcher in Social Entrepreneurship