Local networks and partnership

3. Networking as a social entrepreneur

A social entrepreneur is an entrepreneur

- who seeks to accomplish an unsolved social task (theory of change),

- who does not strive for financial profit, but for social success (social impact),

- whose values are based on democracy, human dignity and sustainability (compliance),

- who acquire the necessary human and social resources (capacity building),

- and can represent this in a business model.

Taking this definition of social entrepreneur into account, a business start-up needs a network that includes economic, social, societal, political and ecological aspects. This means a great communicative and cooperative ability to collaborate with other people and institutions.

Figure 6: Social Entrepreneurship

Source: ZiB-Draft