Build
Business Models for Social Enterprise
Build a business model to launch your social enterprise
Business Models for Social Enterprise
Learn How To
Map out the value that your social enterprise creates, captures and delivers
Develop a business model that drives financial sustainability and social impact
Create and test hypotheses about target market size, cost structure, revenue streams, and value chain partnerships
Uncover revenue engines to power businesses serving customers living in bottom of the pyramid markets
Course Syllabus
Learning Tools
4 reading guides highlighting case studies and examples
4 workshop guides to structure your own business model development
Instructional videos produced by Strategyzer
Section 1: Introduction to Business Models
Reading: Acumen and GSBI’s Take on Social Enterprise Models
Case Study: Aravind
Reading: What is a Social Enterprise?
Reading: What is a Business Model?
Reading: Introduction to the Business Model Canvas
Reading: 9 Building Blocks of the Business Model
Reading: Integrating Your Impact Model and Business Model
Activity: Write a Mission Statement
Reading: 4 Types of Business Models
Reading: Innovations in Social Enterprise Models
Reading: The Need for a Lean Startup Approach
Reading: Where Social Entrepreneurs Go Wrong
Reading: Social Enterprise Model Catalog
Activity: Three Business Model Canvas Sprints
Section 2: Create Value: Customers and Value Propositions
Reading: Who are my customers?
Case Study: Aravind
Activity: Identify your mission, metric and target customer
Reading: Sizing Your Market
Examples: Market Sizing
Reading: Analyzing Your Market
Reading: Segmenting Your Market
Examples: Market Segmentation
Reading: Building a Value Proposition
Reading: How Will I Reach My Customers?
Reading: Building Channels to Your Customers
Activity: Market Size Analysis
Section 3: Deliver Value: Value Chains and Partnerships
Reading: Understanding Your Value Chain
Reading: Operating in Emerging Markets
Reading: Building a Value Chain, Building Relationships
Reading: Value Chains in Service Companies
Reading: Partnering Best Practices
Case Study: Aravind
Activity: Value Chain Mapping
Section 4: Capture Value: Revenue Engines, Cost Structures, and Pricing
Reading: Building a Revenue Engine
Case Study: Aravind
Case Study: Vision Spring
Reading: How Will You Capture Value?
Reading: Types of Revenue Engines by Impact Model
Reading: Revenue Engines When Users Can Pay
Reading: Determining Affordability for the Poor
Reading: Revenue Engines When Users Can’t Pay
Reading: Risks of Cross-Subsidization
Reading: Revenue Engines when Users Need Free/Subsidized Access
Reading: Revenue Engines for Other Impact Models
Reading: Determining Cost Structure
Reading: Revenue Engines for Marketplace Models
Reading: Setting Prices
Activity: Business Model Canvas
Activity: Summary Deck
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"For anyone starting a social business; the exercises in this course are critical to assess your idea and how to build it into a successful business.”
Andrew
Course Description
In this course, you’ll explore different business models to understand what goes into designing an enterprise that prioritizes social impact while supporting financial sustainability. Using a real-life social enterprise or your own idea, you’ll build a business model to get your product or service into the hands of customers, creating both financial value and social impact.
This course draws from curriculum taught by the Miller Center’s Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI®) and Acumen’s insights from nearly 20 years of investing in social enterprises.
Supported By
The Miller Center’s Global Social Benefit Institute serves social entrepreneurs around the world who are developing innovative solutions that provide a sustainable path out of poverty. The programs use Silicon Valley principles of innovation and entrepreneurship to train and mentor entrepreneurs addressing problems of poverty.
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