The Social Enterprise Blog
Is social entrepreneurship a bubble?
Yes, it is.
...but it’s up to us to keep this bubble round and healthy, or to burst it.
Planning a party? Memorable ideas your guests won't forget
When planning a party, you of course want it to be memorable. You want the right caterers, the right music, and the right ambience. Here's some great ideas for a fun party that everyone will be talking about:
7 unique coffee carts you should know about in Melbourne
Either you are looking to hold a corporate event or just after something unique to spice up your back garden BBQ, these 7 coffee carts excel at what they do and sure will satisfy your event needs.
5 team building ideas with gut-busting laughs: Inventshift to the rescue!
Team building is a proven way to effectively connect a group of workers through fun and motivational activities.
Not long left to enter the social enterprise awards!
You’ve gotta be quick - applications for the UK social enterprise awards close on midnight July 14th.
Are you being healthy as a social entrepreneur?
If you’re busy running your own social enterprise, you’ll know that managing a business isn’t always easy. Especially when you’re passionate, right?
The A-Z of social enterprise terminology
Confused about the world of social enterprise? You’re not alone. Even after you’ve read our guide, you may be still struggling to understand some of the basic phrases and terms.
6 of the most gorgeous coworking spaces in the world
If you’re a fan of remote work like we are here at Inventshift, you’ll know that finding a gorgeous coworking space is on your list of priorities...
The freedom to choose: are we happier with more buying options?
Every single day, each and every one of us will make at least one decision, regardless whether that decision is big or small.
New social enterprise uses VR for social good
‘Virtual Village’ is a virtual reality (VR) application that is using its potential for social good. A new social enterprise, they describe it as ‘donating in a fully immersive experience.’
Inventshift team expands following accelerator programme
So we have some great news from Inventshift HQ - we got accepted into an accelerator programme!
#Socent Spotlight: pebble magazine
If you're a social entrepreneur, you should definitely check out pebble magazine. It describes itself as 'about how we want to live, the world we want in the future, our dreams and desires'. We caught up with editor Georgina Wilson-Powell to find out more...
New app tracks the social impact of your spending
Here at Inventshift, we’re all about being a conscious consumer and encouraging you to #votewithyourwallet, so when we heard about the new app that tracks your social spending, we just had to find out more.
Why the 'sharing economy' may be the answer to global problems
The term ‘sharing economy’ was coined by social entrepreneur Benita Matofska, and it’s concept is both ancient yet revolutionary.
How to Start a Social Enterprise: The definitive guide to starting an impact business (2017)
Are you someone passionate about changing the status quo? Would you like to set up a business that makes money and improves the lives of others?
#Socent Spotlight: The Canvas Cafe
We caught up with the fabulous Ruth Rogers from the Canvas Cafe on Brick Lane, London.
Improving literacy in rural Bangladesh - Red International
‘The adult literacy rate is about 50% in Bangladesh. Many children do not even start school and for those that do, 50% drop out by class 5’
Helping women in Kenya survive childbirth - Friends of Burburi
“Many poor women in rural Kenya do not have access to a midwife during pregnancy and birth, consequently the maternal death rate is a shocking 510 per 100,000 births, in the UK it is 9 per 100,000 (UNICEF 2015).”
Helping children in poverty get an education - Children’s Helpers Worldwide
“Children are one of the most vulnerable groups of people in the world and there are so many who do not receive the care they need and deserve” - CH Worldwide
Talking social enterprise at Uprise Festival Amsterdam
As you may know, Inventshift is run remotely, and we love to travel the world, meeting interesting people and connecting with others to share our love of social enterprise. Last week we attended the Uprise Festival in Amsterdam.
Young social entrepreneurs in London turn to crowdfunding to support their projects
6 social enterprises run by 9 of London’s youth are beginning their individual crowdfunding campaigns after 8 weeks of training delivered to them for free by Business Launchpad and Crowdfund 360.
Join us for some ethical conversation on #ethicalhour - Monday 1st May
Over here at Inventshift, we’re huge fans of #ethicalhour - a Monday night live Twitter chat allowing everyone to share the love for this growing movement of through the power of social media.
Need funding? Up to £10,000 available for UK social entrepreneurs
The School of Social Entrepreneurs are offering three levels of free investment to social enterprises. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, they are offering grants of up to £10k.
#SocEnt Spotlight: Project Rockit
We caught up with the fabulous Rosie Thomas, co-founder and co-ceo of Project Rockit - Australia’s youth driven movement against bullying, hate and prejudice.
Want to create positive impact? #Votewithyourwallet
More than ever before, it’s important to make a positive impact in the world. Every day, we are bombarded with images of fear and terror from the media, and it can be difficult to imagine that we can make a real change in the world.
Global experts share their social enterprise advice
Looking for advice on how to start your social enterprise? We have gathered practical advice from ten different experienced social entrepreneurs in three different cities from around the globe.
#SocEnt Spotlight: Tilt Magazine
We spoke to Jackie Colmar, the CEO and Co-Founder of Tilt Magazine from Melbourne, to find out how she is shaking up the social change.
We’re going to Uprise festival!
On April 20th, Inventshift will be attending UPRISE festival in Amsterdam. It’s the 5th Uprise event, which describes itself as a ‘people first tech festival’. With over 3,000 attendees, 8 stages, 120 exhibiting companies, and 5 ‘afterparties’ , the event promises to be a heady mix of business and pleasure (we can’t wait ;))
Social experiment - London: Can you guess what a social enterprise is?
On a windy day we took out to the streets in London to conduct a social experiment. We asked 20 people if they knew what a social enterprise is and only a few managed to guess.
The social good innovators saving the world
Inventions are a huge passion for us here at Inventshift, particularly those social inventions that make the world that little bit better.
#SocEnt Spotlight: Good Will Wine
Each month we showcase truly inspirational social entrepreneurs and social enterprises that are making a difference in the world. This month we speak to David Laity from Good Will Wine.
Fivefold increases in tax breaks for social enterprises
Investing in social enterprises may be a great move, thanks to new tax breaks which come into force in the UK in April 2017. Under the Social Investment Tax Relief scheme, a qualifying social enterprise can currently raise around £293,000.
Is it time to embrace #slowfashion and buy ethically?
One of the most disposable industries in today’s modern world is fashion. We have all heard of ‘fast fashion’, the throwaway trends that are designed to only last a few months at best; and encourage consumers to consistently purchase more clothes.
#SocEnt Spotlight: Fighting Chance
My name is Laura O’Reilly. I am the co-founder and CEO of Fighting Chance. We started fighting chance in 2011 with the mission to make impact in the disability sector.
Are there too many of us? The population debate
There is now 7.5 billion of us and the rate is 1.11% per year. This rate is decreasing, but we need to do more about it to get our population into stability.
Food for thought: socially conscious dining in London
Eating out. There’s so many cafes, bars and restaurants around these days, it’s easy to be spoilt for choice. Choosing where you eat doesn’t have to just be about the food; you can actually use your hard-earned cash to contribute to a better society.
Doing business differently: Why we set up Inventshift
Iranthi Gomes and Jarkko Oksanen are the founders of Inventshift. This is their story of how and why they created this platform.
#SocEnt Spotlight: Good Return
Each month we showcase truly inspirational social entrepreneurs and social enterprises that are making a difference in the world. This month we speak to Good Return
5 steps to choosing the right keywords for your social enterprise
When it comes to building your keyword list, the right strategy is fundamentally important. Your keywords are like the building bricks of your house.
Conscious Consuming: 5 reasons you should buy from a social enterprise
We can all appreciate the potential value of buying from a social enterprise or non-profit, but there has yet to be a real sea-change in the consumer consciously and purposefully shifting their spending.
How do I write a business plan for my social enterprise?
When setting up your social enterprise, one of the most daunting things can be writing your business plan. It needn’t be a scary task; in fact writing a business plan is simply just condensing your thoughts for your business into a clear and concise structure.
Choosing a name for your social enterprise
Choosing a name for your social enterprise is something you need to think about carefully. Once you’ve decided the name, everything will be built around it - your website, your logo, your content, maybe even your building premises.
10 of the most inspiring books for the social entrepreneur
When you’re wanting to make a difference, it can be lonely and difficult on the road to your social enterprise dream. So take some time out, curl up with a cuppa and get motivated with these ten fantastic reads.
Registering your social enterprise
Believe it or not, there is no legal definition for what constitutes a social enterprise. A social enterprise is defined by its activities, not by its legal structure.
Building a social media community for your social enterprise
Social media has made every person a publisher of media content. Never before have we been so interconnected. Everything we post online is a...
The power of networking to build your social enterprise
Networking is an underutilized skill that many people overlook when working on their business or social enterprise. The power of a strong network is invaluable; it can attract business effortlessly and allow you to build great connections.
Finding an office space for your social enterprise
When you’re just starting out building your social enterprise, it’s important to keep the costs low.
How can I find a job working for a social enterprise?
Social enterprises are fast becoming the new way the world does business. Being a business that is socially and ethically responsible is appealing to a lot of people, and many people now want to develop a career with purpose, as well as profit.
Building a team of like minded people for your social enterprise
How do you go about building the right team that will ensure you achieve your vision and grow your success?
Eight steps to creating an effective content marketing strategy
When it comes to your social enterprise, the online world is one of the most important things to consider. You have thousands, if not millions of potential customers at your fingertips.
Finding funding for your social enterprise
Securing funding for your social enterprise is probably one of the most difficult challenges in starting a new business, and one that many social entrepreneurs struggle with.
Finding a mentor for your business
Do you have a strong vision for where you’d like to be, but need help in executing it?
2017: The social enterprise events you won’t want to miss
2017 promises to be another year of opportunities to meet like-minded entrepreneurs and get the latest developments in the world of social enterprise. Here are just a few of the biggest international events...
Tracking the social impact for your business
When it comes to building a social enterprise, making sure the business is working in the way it should is critical, and it’s all down to measurement.
Accelerator or incubator? Deciding which one is best for your social enterprise
Accelerators and Incubators are both pretty new terms in the world of business. Whilst they have some similarities, they are usually used for businesses at different stages of a startup to help them reach their goals and grow successfully.
Why you should turn your business social
Social enterprises and social entrepreneurship are the newest ways of doing business. Doing good for the community and growing a business? This isn’t a fad or a trend - social enterprises are definitely here to stay.
Conscious business: 10 social enterprises that are making a lasting impact
“We are living in a truly historic moment where anyone can create positive change” - Ashoka
The world as we once knew it is changing.
How can I affect the market by consuming differently?
Does it really make any difference if I eat differently, or consume differently?
In some things yes, in some things no.
Turning large enterprises into social businesses
In simple words. Governments govern the world, and businesses lobby the government. Therefore, business is incredibly powerful. Even organisations that are huge like the UN are lobbied by big business to do certain things or to look between the fingers at certain things.
Finding a not for profit that really does good
Wishing to donate money to a charity, but having your doubts about where that money goes and what is done with it?
Conference overview: Social Good Summit Australia 2016
The Social Good Summit Australia was a thought provoking event with leaders from non-profits, social enterprises and corporates coming together. I was left with an inspired feeling, but lacking a bit on clarity.
Non-profits are making a profit, and its a good thing
Just like with any business, a non-profit has products, customers, sales, costs and profit.
The donation sector around the world is growing by large numbers each year, and more and more donations are done online.
Let me entertain you with an analogy.
What is better: 5% of revenue or 100% of profits to charity?
Which is more ethical, or gives more to charity?
A business that runs with 50+ employees and great profit, and donates 5% of its revenue to charity. Or the same business that donates 100% of its profits to charity.
Social enterprise showcase: Kinfolk Cafe - Volunteer run cafe in Melbourne
Kinfolk Café is a high quality volunteer ran cafe in Melbourne CBD, just next to the southern cross station.
What is a social enterprise?
Defining a Social Enterprise is hard. Definition depends and varies on the person.
Lets start with our simple answer.
Social enterprise is a business that does good for the local, or global community.
Social enterprises in Melbourne - #Socialstories 01
Approximately two weeks ago we took it upon us to travel around the world and meet at least a minimum of five Social Enterprises in each major city around the world.