Social Entrepreneurship and Changemaking

Overview

Class Central Tips

Do you want to become an entrepreneur while contributing to a better society? This course starts with a brief overview of different types of entrepreneurs who create value for society and focuses primarily on action-based learning. But primarily you will work on your own entrepreneurial project, gaining hands-on experience in transforming an idea into a sustainable business model with measurable positive impact on society and the environment. Applying different tools, and with the continuous improvement of your entrepreneurial project, the main output of this course will be a pitch to “sell your idea” to a wider public. The ultimate objective is that after the course you will be inspired, equipped, and convinced that you can take action to tackle the world’s most pressing problems in an entrepreneurial manner.

Syllabus

Module 1: Understand the world’s challenges: Your opportunity to make a difference
-You will learn about the world’s biggest challenges as defined by the United Nations and meet inspiring people who are tackling those problems.

Module 1: Understand the world’s challenges: Your opportunity to make a difference: Lesson Choices

Module 2: Develop your sustainable business model: Your approach to “doing business while doing good”
-This module introduces traditional, and sustainable business model development in particular. Based on multiple practical examples, you will learn about the various types of sustainable business models, and their important elements.

Module 2: Develop your sustainable business model: Your approach to “doing business while doing good” : Lesson Choices

Module 3: Know your impact and measure it: Your model to make a change
-This module introduces the concept of the theory of change, which is your individual model to create social value, and subsequently measure impact. Most importantly, this module discusses different ways to use your social impact as part of your business model, i.e., to contribute to the financing of your business.

Module 3: Know your impact and measure it: Your model to make a change : Lesson Choices

Module 4: Master important aspects and sell your idea: Your changemaker pitch
-You are almost ready for your pitch. Before you prepare it, learn about important aspects: You can partner with big corporations, you can make a difference from inside your firm (intrapreneurship), or you can take investors on board. Once you know who you address with your pitch, learn about what is important to prepare it.