Social Entrepreneurship: Changing The Face Of Urban India

Entrepreneurship has come to the forefront with India churning out unicorns one after the other with no signs of slowing down. Social entrepreneurship is gaining traction even more, with the youth wanting to leave a mark on the society, which goes beying profit.

Defining the very concept of social entrepreneurship, Sahni noted, “It is a very diversely defined concept. What is common however is the goal, which is not profit, but social work. This can be done in for profit and non profit organisations alike.” 

Talking about the growing importance of social entrepreneurship now, Beergi said, “People are taking purpose driven work as a priority over a job that just pays bills. People are more aware about the emerging opportunities. You can become a changemaker now at all levels.”

There are a spectrum of enterprises that come up. Sometimes they are for profit and sometimes not for profit. “It is however important to define social enterprises given that they require a specific kind of capital, and patience and their goal. There is still a greyness on how we would define impact.” Said Misra. 

Recognising this, BW Businessworld held a panel discussion on the topic ‘Social Entrepreneurs- Changing the Face Of Urban India'. The panel was moderated by Urvi Shrivastav, Editorial, BW Businessworld, and saw the participation of Dr Urvashi Sahni, Founder and CEO, Study Hall Education Foundation, Mansi Joshi, Director, City Operations, Delhi, Teach for India, Rachita Misra, Associate Director, Knowledge and Advocacy, Selco Foundation, and Aashish Beergi, Founder and CEO, MASH Project Foundation.

The idea of what defines a business isbalso changing with social entrepreneurship gaining forefront. Talking about the same, Joshi said, “Ten years ago we could not think that reading poetry could be a business. Now that we are seeing examples of such businesses, people are encouraged to take their passion and turn it into enterprises.”

Social entrepreneurship is here to stay, with many youngsters looking to be changemakers in the society.