Entrepreneurship for a better world: unpacking the social impact of entrepreneurial activities

The primary goal of this study is to conduct a comprehensive economic evaluation of the prospects for monitoring television news and the blogosphere as entrepreneurial activities in Ukraine. Additionally, the study aims to assess the quality of media content and its social impact, focusing on the evolving role of television news and the blogosphere in influencing public opinion and consumer behavior. To achieve this, the study utilizes a combination of analytical methods, including comparative analysis, formalization, and synthesis, along with the development of a monitoring matrix to evaluate the content quality of both media channels. The results of the study indicate that both television news and the blogosphere have evolved beyond their traditional roles as sources of information and entertainment. These platforms now serve as powerful tools for marketing and social influence, with the blogosphere playing an increasingly significant role in consumer engagement and political discourse. The study also highlights the growing demand for monitoring services within this sphere, with implications for businesses and government agencies alike. In conclusion, the authors identify that monitoring television news and the blogosphere not only provides valuable insights into the social and economic impact of these media but also presents a promising avenue for entrepreneurial activity. The findings suggest that the development of a systematic monitoring algorithm could enhance the quality of information and improve user engagement across both platforms.

This study aims to explore the sustainable development awareness, priority, and commitment of adults engaged in early and established entrepreneurial activity. The study is based on the GEM dataset collected during 2023 through an adult population survey on a representative sample in Croatia. The results of the study indicate that the role of social and environmental commitments varies across different motivational orientations of entrepreneurially active adults. It confirms the evolution of motivational orientations and sustainability commitment along the different stages of entrepreneurial activity. Among established businesses whose motivation is either to make a difference in the word or to build great wealth there are more of those who always consider social implications while regarding steps toward the minimisation of environmental impact or the maximisation of social impact there are no differences. Also, more established businesses have taken actions towards SDGs. When we compare factors that influence the motivation to make a difference in the word, in early-stage businesses, important factors are the easiness and proactivity to start a business, the importance of high level of status of entrepreneurs and the steps to maximise the social impact of the business while in established businesses considering social implications and awareness of SDGs are the most important factors. This study contributes to a better understanding of the differences between new or established entrepreneurial activity and their commitment to sustainability which may be essential to the more successful promotion, adoption, or consolidation of sustainable entrepreneurship.

Goal: This study introduces an algorithm to sort alumni-founded companies from the public Brazilian Internal Revenue Service (IRS) database. Design/Methodology/Approach: Departing from IRS data and student data from the university, sequential filters are applied to arrive at a final list of alumni-founded companies. Results: The main result of this study is the establishment of the algorithm itself, which emerged after cycles of iterations of analysis and rewriting. To test its reliability, a sample of 1625 alumni was used. The algorithm successfully identified 140 founders of 159 AFC. Founders were heterogeneously distributed throughout the decades analyzed. Companies belonged to different industry sectors and were classified according to their technological intensity, with predominance of middle-low and low intensity. Research limitations/implications: Although the BR-AFC algorithm is applicable to any Brazilian institution, generalization to other countries depends on access to country-specific databases containing data about companies and its partners. Additionally, the final result depends on the reliability of input data and of user decisions about the rigor of its premises. Practical implications: The BR-AFC algorithm can improve measurements of the socioeconomic impact of educational institutions. It points to the formation of entrepreneurs and, as a consequence, institutions can evaluate courses and educational programs and improve curricula. Policymakers and sponsoring institutions can measure return over investment, outcomes of policies to encourage entrepreneurship and rank universities according to novel criteria. Originality/Value: The main contribution to the literature is exploring novel approaches to measuring university-industry relationship. More specifically, it proposes an algorithm to identify the alumni-founded companies of a given university from large country-based databases.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the intricate relationship between digitalization, entrepreneurship and financial/digital literacy in the Nordic countries from 2010 to 2022. By integrating both demand (social impact) and supply (business response) perspectives, the research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how digital transformation influences entrepreneurial activities. It addresses gaps in the existing literature, particularly the need for long-term analysis and the exploration of entrepreneurial actions within specific systemic contexts. Design/methodology/approach Several indicators were used to measure digitalization, entrepreneurship and financial/digital literacy from secondary sources. The methodology employed in this study involved the estimation of dynamic linear models to investigate the evolving relationship between digitalization and entrepreneurial activity. First, a bias-corrected test for the Granger noncausality test was used. After this preliminary analysis, the estimation autoregressive model with bias correction and time effects was applied, followed by an alternative model entitled the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL), selecting the pooled mean group and dynamic fixed effect estimators. Findings Key findings highlight the pivotal role of digitalization drivers such as e-commerce, CRM integration and investments in R&D in shaping innovative business models. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the entrepreneurial potential unleashed by widespread Internet adoption, particularly among diverse countries. The results also reveal the significance of R&D in periods of disruption and the intertwined relationship between digital and financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Notably, the study underscores the importance of a holistic understanding as e-commerce and e-banking intertwine to enhance financial and digital literacy. Practical implications Practical implications suggest policymakers support entrepreneurs through training programs, while businesses are encouraged to adapt strategies and prioritize innovation in digital environments. The study advocates for a strategic and long-term perspective to address the implications of digitalization on entrepreneurship, highlighting the critical role of research and development in fostering innovation during disruptive phases. Originality/value The novel contribution of this research lies in its thorough examination of the intricate relationship between digitalization, entrepreneurship and financial/digital literacy, particularly within the Nordic countries. By bridging gaps in existing literature and focusing on entrepreneurial behaviours within specific systemic contexts, the study offers valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics at play.

At Utrecht University, the Data School embarked on a journey to investigate AI and data practices up close, from within the organizations that implement them. This empirical work thrives on a process involving entrepreneurial activities – practices of collaborative and co-created research enabling researchers to deeply immerse themselves in the societal sectors under investigation. Occupying this privileged position, they do not only gather insights: they can also intervene and immediately apply their findings. This chapter presents how entrepreneurial activities are used for collecting evidence, creating learning opportunities, and possibilities for intervention and social impact. Referring to examples of entrepreneurial research at the Data School, the chapter discusses challenges and opportunities of this approach, and presents practices for mitigating risks.

The study analyses the participation of Chilean university academics in Third Mission (TM) activities. It focuses on their perceptions of the significance of these efforts for institutional development, their professional careers, and their social impact. The analysis of data from the Academic Profession in the Knowledge Society (APIKS) survey reveals that the faculty is predominantly involved in social, cultural, and educational activities. This reflects a tradition of social and cultural engagement in Chilean and Latin American universities. However, there is less involvement in industrial and entrepreneurial activities, such as patents, licensing, and business creation. Academics acknowledge the significance of TM activities in their teaching and research, which may suggest the integration of TM with the core functions of the university. Additionally, potential areas for future research are proposed, such as incorporating TM activities in performance evaluations and investigating obstacles to collaboration with industry.

This paper designs a social entrepreneurship roadmap based on organizational factors, individual factors, and social factors to strengthen the development of women entre-preneurs in the community of Cunduacán, Tabasco. The research adopts a cross-sec-tional quantitative approach with a descriptive focus; the population of interest is a group of 50 women with entrepreneurial activity in the municipality. The design of a social entrepreneurship model will lead those applying it to develop commercial ac-tivities that initially do not have a direct social impact, but will allow them to generate economic benefits; immediately afterwards, they can transfer part or all of the resourc-es obtained to an activity that has a social impact. Therefore, inclusion mechanisms must be developed in ways that involve participation by the public and private sec-tors, vulnerable communities, universities, and non-profit organizations, in order to strengthen social entrepreneurship and thus provide well-being.

Over the past decade, student entrepreneurship in India has emerged as a significant trend, fueled by increasing access to digital resources, educational initiatives, and societal encouragement. This study investigates the trends, motivations, challenges, and support systems related to student entrepreneurship, using primary data collected from 53 respondents across various age groups and educational backgrounds. The survey explores awareness of entrepreneurship, participation in entrepreneurial activities, types of ventures initiated, motivations, perceived barriers, and institutional support. The analysis, based on descriptive statistics, reveals that passion, financial independence, and social impact are the key motivators for students, while lack of mentorship, funding, and time are the most significant challenges. Findings suggest that digital platforms, school/college programs, and family influence play crucial roles in shaping entrepreneurial aspirations. The study underscores the growing interest in student-led ventures and highlights the need for structured support systems to foster sustainable entrepreneurial growth among youth in India.

The article introduces a theoretical concept of cultural entrepreneurship as an issue combining cultural value, economic benefit with the social impact. The aim of the paper is to determine the properties of cultural entrepreneurship in Ukraine regarding the criteria conceptualized by cultural theorists following the paper of Paul DiMaggio. The article traces the challenges that socioeconomic and cultural sphere with the emergence of cultural entrepreneurship, the sociocultural challenges it meets based on the evidences of the institutionalization of so-called high culture in Boston in the middle of the 19th century and cultural entrepreneurship in Kyiv in the late 19th – 20th centuries. In particular, entrepreneurial activity and the development of book publishing and distribution in 1890-ies reinforce the theoretical assumption that Ukrainian culture and society were/are favorable to entrepreneurship and promoted contrary to the imperial oppression, persecution and repression. Focusing on the cultural entrepreneur the paper highlights the necessity to widen the object-focused research by the process-context method. Researcher’s papers on unique issue are important as a historical source, but the cultural process and social context may contribute to the complexity of theoretical and practical studies. While theoreticized criteria of cultural entrepreneur undergo the process of empirical testing and the methodology is yet to be settled, the societal impact of cultural initiatives meeting the theoretical criteria could boost social and economic development.

The article is devoted to the study of the role and importance of rural (green) tourism in the territorial development of Ukraine. It is stated that the strategic development of a country is directly dependent on the development of its individual territories, industries and economic sectors that are being developed there. One of the promising areas of sustainable development of territories is rural (green) tourism, which can be considered an alternative direction of socio-economic development of the territories of a country with an agricultural specialization, such as Ukraine. Therefore, the issue of territorial development of Ukraine based on the use of such economic activity as rural (green) tourism is extremely relevant and requires detailed study. During the study, it has been established that rural (green) tourism is a specialized type of economic, social and cultural activity, which includes elements of organized and unorganized recreation for the purpose of familiarizing people with the area, its features, nature, culture, lifestyle, population's values, etc. The development of rural (green) tourism in Ukraine has been analyzed. The main areas of activity in rural (green) tourism are delineated. The prerequisites for the development of rural (green) tourism in Ukraine are determined. The article identifies obstacles that impede the development of rural (green) tourism in Ukraine. In the conclusion, proposals for the further development of rural (green) tourism in Ukraine have been presented. It is summarized that the diversity of the natural and agricultural potential of the regions, the presence of cultural and historical landmarks of world significance and a diversified business environment contribute to the development of rural (green) tourism in Ukraine. In its turn, the development of rural (green) tourism and entrepreneurial activity in this area has a positive impact on the socio-economic development of rural areas. Nevertheless, it is currently necessary to implement a systematic approach to the development of rural (green) tourism based on cluster and network regulatory mechanisms, transparency of the conditions for obtaining financial and investment support from the state and support for business initiatives that have a commercial or social impact.

This paper represents the development of ideas on social entrepreneurship, which is defined as a legally enforceable activity on production of goods and (or) services aimed at the solution or mitigation of social problems through sustainable and financially successful organizational innovation, providing the further spread of the experience of social impact. The characteristics on the foreign experience of this phenomenon are given. Points of social entrepreneurship impact in the Russian society are defined. It is suggested to consider entrepreneurial activity in the sphere of physical culture and sports as a form of social entrepreneurship. It is proved that the characteristics of entrepreneurship in the sphere of physical culture and sport are appropriate to be provided in the context of general issues and trends in the development of this sector in a particular region. On the example of Sverdlovsk region as a region with good sporting tradition, common trends and factors of development of entrepreneurship in the sphere of physical culture and sports of the Russian regions are identified. Ways of solving existing problems are proposed.

This research departs from the rising phenomenon of philanthropic activities that have social-based humanitarian objectives based on fundraising and the presence of sociopreneurship namely entrepreneurial activities that emphasize social impact as a solution for philanthropic organizations to maintain the sustainability of fundraising. Berdaya Charity Store is unique because of its emphasis on Triple Bottom Line, i.e. financial, social, and environmental. This paper aims to explore the Triple Bottom Line at Berdaya Charity Store, so that we can formulate useful suggestions for the store in particular, also to other sociopreneurship who have aspirations to become professional philanthropists with social impact objectives. This research was conducted with a qualitative approach, the method used was participatory observation, interviews, documentation and library research. Throughout the researcher's observations, efforts to achieve the lines have been carried out well. The store invites people to donate used goods to be sold in stores, and most of the funds are used for social activities in the form of visits to orphanages and training in hard and soft skills. But we also observed that although the social mission was integrated with the revenue model, the overall and diversity of income from the store was still low, i.e. donations and sales. Therefore it becomes natural when most of the funds are used for social activities.

This paper contributes to the recent stream of econometric entrepreneurship research by introducing the environmental orientation of new ventures as a key factor for sustainable development. It empirically assesses whether relationships exist between national shares of green entrepreneurial activity (GEA) and economic, social, and environmental development. Theory and first empirical evidence suggest that – compared to conventional new ventures – new green ventures have a more positive economic and social impact and are less harmful or even beneficial to environmental quality. OLS regressions were estimated to empirically test the impact of GEA rates (share of total entrepreneurial activity) on GDP, the modified HDI, and CO2 emissions. For this purpose, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data for 11,909 early-stage entrepreneurs was aggregated to the macro-level of 53 countries and merged with further international datasets. The results confirmed that higher shares of GEA are positively related to economic and social development but not to environmental development. Additional tests proved the robustness of the results for different economic development levels, time-lag variations, and different measurements of dependent and independent variables. The identified economic and social importance of GEA warrants intensified policy efforts to support the discovery, creation, and exploitation of green business opportunities. Potential explanations for the counterintuitive non-significant environmental impact are discussed, leading to new research avenues.

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2015 to 2016: Special Topic Report on Social Entrepreneurship

This symposium highlights the opportunities resulting from the desire to resolve social challenges, and the role that entrepreneurs and business enterprises can play in generating ethical and susta...