Local Networks, National Impact: Building Social Enterprise Ecosystems Across India
Channel: Sankalp Forum
Date: 2014-06-05

Launching a social enterprise can be challenging. Starting a business, refining an innovation, learning by trial and error, all the while balancing the everyday firefighting of working to develop new markets with a larger social vision and mission is no walk in the park. And it's easier when you don't have to do it alone, when there is an ecosystem that includes access to finance from those who support the social vision along with the business bottom line, employees who have technical skills as well as the heart to pitch in, and social networks to find mentors, peers, and experiences to learn from. These support systems are increasingly available in an around India's major metros, but still nascent in the smaller cities and towns. How can we change this? How can we strengthen the environment for social enterprise across India?

This session will provide insights from research and experience on local social enterprise systems in India. It will preview findings from a an ongoing project undertaken by the Villgro Innovations Foundation and Okapi Research to map social enterprise ecosystems across nine Indian regions, and invite perspectives from some of the leading social enterprise ecosystem supporters as well as individuals who are active in building some of the newer social enterprise communities.

Moderator: Abigail Sarmac, Program Officer, The Lemelson Foundation
Speakers:
Lina Sonne, Associate, Okapi Research
Mukesh Sharma, Chief Investment Officer, Villgro Innovations Foundation 
Rajiv Kumar Singh, District Project Manager, BRLPS (JEEVIKA)