Purpose This study aims to statistically validate the social entrepreneur profile instrument, designed to assess key competencies in aspiring social entrepreneurs. The primary goal is to confirm its validity and reliability for use in educational contexts focused on social entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative approach was applied, drawing on data from 424 participants across four Latin American countries. The validation process included analysis of standardized factor loadings, internal consistency through Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability and discriminant validity using the average variance extracted (AVE). Findings The findings confirm a solid structure with strong reliability across all dimensions (a = 0.79) and satisfactory discriminant validity. The instrument captures competencies such as self-control, leadership, social awareness and value, social innovation and financial sustainability. These results support its relevance and applicability in educational programs aiming to develop social entrepreneurial skills. Research limitations/implications While the sample included participants from diverse backgrounds, generalizability may be limited because of representativeness issues. A few items presented with lower factor loadings, indicating potential areas for refinement. Further research should explore validation in other cultural and educational settings and incorporate longitudinal designs to monitor competency growth over time. Practical implications Having a validated tool allows universities and training institutions to more effectively assess students’ entrepreneurial development. This, in turn, can inform the design of more targeted educational programs that foster the skills essential for driving social innovation. Originality/value The social entrepreneur profile provides a comprehensive and multidimensional means to evaluate entrepreneurial competencies. Its implementation in higher education offers a practical way to measure the outcomes of training initiatives and to support the formation of future leaders committed to social transformation.

Purpose As social incubators attract increasing attention, there is a growing need to understand what makes some stand out more than others. This study aims to examine how distinct combinations of internal characteristics shape their reputational standing. Design/methodology/approach Case data from 18 globally recognized social incubators were analyzed using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Organizational attributes were initially gathered from Crunchbase and then verified through online searches, including incubator websites, media coverage and public reports. Findings The analysis identifies three distinct configurational pathways to high reputation: specialized programmatic focus combining scale with intensive delivery and low external visibility; mission-oriented community engagement emphasizing program quality and social focus without traditional status signals; and comprehensive multi-channel positioning that integrates all reputation dimensions. Research limitations/implications This study is based on a small sample of social incubators drawn from a single global reputation ranking and relies on publicly observable data. Future research should examine longitudinal dynamics, include underrepresented geographic regions and incorporate internal stakeholder perspectives. Practical implications The findings offer exploratory insights for incubator leaders and ecosystem partners. Rather than pursuing a uniform model, incubators may build reputation through distinct strategies aligned with their mission, resources and stakeholder expectations, though validation through future research is necessary. Social implications Understanding how social incubators build reputation may help strengthen their credibility, attract resources and amplify their overall social impact. Originality/value This study extends reputation literature to hybrid entrepreneurial support organizations and advances understanding of how legitimacy develops within social entrepreneurship ecosystems. It contributes a novel configurational approach to modeling reputation.

Purpose Outcome-based contracts (OBCs) are gaining attention as an innovative approach potentially able to foster social innovation. By linking payments to specific social outcomes, OBCs create a dynamic and adaptive collaboration between stakeholders, aligning their efforts toward designing innovative services and achieving shared goals. However, the literature highlights that OBCs’ potential to foster social innovation is contested. This paper aims to examine the key barriers and enabling factors that shape the ability of OBCs to drive social innovation. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a case study research using qualitative methods, including 15 semistructured interviews with key stakeholders involved in NetImpact, an ongoing and early OBC pilot project in Italy, along with weekly meetings. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings This research suggests that cultural mindsets, institutional barriers, cross-sector frictions, performance measurement focused on procedural compliance and poor coordination between actors hinder the capacity of OBCs to support social innovation. OBCs risk being absorbed into existing procedural routines and relationships, limiting their ability to stimulate new social innovation practices or reconfigure institutional roles. Practical implications The authors suggest that policymakers and practitioners could focus not just on adopting OBCs but on concrete support: building technical and managerial capacities in public administrations, promoting shared learning platforms and strengthening inclusive governance that balances power among public, private and third sector actors. Originality/value This study argues that the true potential of OBCs to foster social innovation requires not only contractual reforms and cultural change but also capacity building and new forms of governance that prioritize ethics, learning, inclusion and long-term social value creation.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the social impact of the social cooperative enterprise (SCE) “Modousa” in a marginal agricultural area of Lesvos Island, Greece. Focusing on post-productive agriculture and collaborative rural development, the study investigates how Modousa leverages local resources – particularly olive oil – to strengthen local capital, foster community-led sustainable development and address structural challenges. By analyzing Modousa as a model of social entrepreneurship, this paper aims to highlight its potential to empower rural communities, promote niche markets and contribute to broader discussions on sustainable rural development and social innovation. Design/methodology/approach The study uses participatory observation and secondary data analysis, complemented by unstructured interviews with Modousa’s founding members and local civil society representatives. The researcher participated as an observer in Modousa’s activities, balancing insider access with ethical considerations. Events were observed in physical and digital spaces to document local perceptions and practices. Data were analyzed thematically to explore how Modousa functions as a social solidarity economy (SSE) initiative in Lesvos, based on principles of collective ownership, democratic management and community benefit, following relevant European and Greek SSE frameworks. Findings The findings show that Modousa strengthens local capital by mobilizing natural, cultural, social and economic resources, fostering community-led development in a marginalized rural area. Its model of collective ownership and democratic governance helps mitigate structural challenges and global market pressures. Modousa promotes olive oil as a socio-cultural product, enhancing local identity, creating niche markets and building solidarity networks. The enterprise demonstrates how social entrepreneurship can drive sustainable development by leveraging territorial assets and engaging local actors. Overall, Modousa’s approach contributes to rural revitalization, encouraging a transformative culture of collaboration and resilience in peripheral agricultural regions. Originality/value This study offers original insights into how SCEs like Modousa can function as agents of rural transformation in marginalized agricultural regions. By combining participatory observation with in-depth interviews, it examines the interplay between social entrepreneurship, local capital mobilization and community-led development. The research highlights the innovative use of olive oil as both an economic product and a cultural asset, contributing to place identity and local resilience. The findings provide a practical framework for policymakers, practitioners and scholars interested in applying similar SSE models to promote sustainable development in other rural contexts.

Purpose This study aims to examine the potential of tourism social enterprises to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the 2030 deadline approaches. While the public sector plays a central role, private actors such as social enterprises can reconcile economic, social and environmental imbalances. By focusing on Fiji, a small island state heavily reliant on tourism, this research highlights the extent to which tourism social enterprises contribute to sustainable development and identifies how their activities align with the global agenda. This study further considers policy implications for enhancing their enabling environment. Design/methodology/approach This research adopts a qualitative case study approach, using tourism social enterprises in Fiji as the unit of analysis. Data were collected through interviews, document analysis and stakeholder engagement to examine how these enterprises generate impacts aligned with the SDGs. The analysis mapped enterprise activities against the 17 SDGs, identifying areas of contribution and potential gaps. This approach enabled an in-depth understanding of the role of small to medium-sized tourism social enterprises in advancing sustainable development in small island economies. Findings This study demonstrates that tourism social enterprises in Fiji actively contribute to 14 of the 17 SDGs, with particularly strong links to goals related to poverty reduction, gender equality, responsible consumption and climate action. These enterprises combine business models with social and environmental missions, amplifying their developmental impact beyond economic outcomes. The findings also highlight systemic challenges, including limited resources, institutional support gaps and policy fragmentation, which constrain their contributions. Policy interventions and capacity-building initiatives are recommended to strengthen the role of social enterprises in advancing the SDGs. Originality/value This research provides novel insights into the intersection between tourism social enterprises and the SDGs, an underexplored area in both tourism and sustainability scholarship. By situating the analysis in Fiji, this study adds value to understanding sustainable development in small island developing states, where tourism is a primary economic driver. The findings offer practical implications for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of creating enabling conditions that foster the growth and impact of social enterprises. This study thus advances both theoretical and applied discussions on sustainable tourism and social entrepreneurship.

Purpose This case study aims to trace a transdisciplinary development process in the context of social welfare that – taking a novel approach – addresses the issue where client’s rights and obligations to participate in the planning of personal and economic assistance come up against communication barriers. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis of conversation observations, documents and interviews with social workers and social assistance beneficiaries from four services allowed to identify potential development topics. Visual materials on 10 jointly selected topics were then developed in an iterative and co-creative process drawing on the expertise, experience and ideas of social service managers, social workers, clients of social services, a national umbrella organisation and – on the research side – social work and visual communication design. Findings From an innovation-specific perspective, the case study allows for discussion of topics such as development alongside day-to-day business, gatekeeping of professionals or the challenges of service user participation. Furthermore, the case analysis highlights key aspects relating to contextual conditions and the promotion of social innovation therein. Originality/value The present case study allows conclusions to be drawn about the challenges facing transdisciplinary innovation in a public, administratively structured and highly regulated area of human services and how these can be addressed. In addition to the potential for disruptions within the process, it is clear that creative endeavours can flourish through adequate funding, knowledge-based collaboration, planning that is closely aligned with the realities of the field, flexibility and a collective openness to learning.

Purpose Founder identity is key to understanding how social entrepreneurs navigate their ventures’ dual mission of social impact and financial viability. Despite its importance, research on founder identity has largely focused on commercial contexts, leaving its role in social entrepreneurship underexamined and conceptually fragmented. The purpose of this study is to address this gap by synthesizing existing research and developing an integrative framework that explains how founder identity is shaped and how it influences different levels of analysis throughout the entrepreneurial journey, while providing clear directions for future research. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on a systematic integrative review of 31 articles, the authors unpack founder identity into its personal, role and social dimensions. This framework then maps how these dimensions dynamically shape organizational practices and stakeholder relations across the venture lifecycle (from formation to exit). This approach provides a multilevel perspective, revealing identity’s influence from the micro-individual to the macro-institutional context. Findings This review demonstrates that distinct identity dimensions are salient across the entrepreneurial journey: personal identity provides initial motivation; role identity guides organizational action; and social identity confers external legitimacy. The authors highlight the explanatory power of multi-identity configurations and, in doing so, reveal several underexplored challenges – including moral rigidity, identity foreclosure and identity-based exclusion – that provide a clear agenda for future research. Originality/value This study integrates fragmented research into a dynamic, multilevel framework of founder identity in social ventures. It contributes by not only mapping social, role and personal identity influences but also by developing propositions to address overlooked challenges, with a more actionable and theory-driven research agenda that links individual agency, organizational dynamics and institutional change.

Purpose This study analyses existing research on how business models connect with social enterprises. Through a bibliometric analysis, it highlights critical themes and identifies gaps, focusing on how business models can help achieve both social and economic goals. Design/methodology/approach The authors analysed 363 articles from Scopus and Web of Science using bibliometric techniques. In addition, the authors conducted a qualitative literature review based on bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer to uncover relationships between terms and map out the main themes within the topic. Findings The main findings reveal a network of current topics as they appear in publications, along with issues closely related to them, namely, business, strategic management, hybrid organisations, value creation and design. The results also highlight emerging topics related to design innovation, performance, community development and economy, management and scalability, entrepreneurial competency and a sustainable circular economy. Research limitations/implications This research is limited by the use of limited data sources and the limitations of literature data collection. Future research must provide broader empirical evidence on the application of various business models by social enterprises and the extent of their impact on the sustainability of business and society. The paper discusses limitations and boundary conditions. Practical implications The business model issues found in this study can be used by social enterprises as parameters for designing appropriate business models. Social implications By encouraging the development of innovative business models, this study supports social enterprises in creating meaningful social impact by balancing financial objectives with social benefits. Originality/value This study adds to the social enterprise literature by mapping key themes and research gaps. It also offers a theoretical foundation for future research on business models in the context of social enterprises.

Purpose The current economy is witnessing a significant rise in the involvement of women in entrepreneurial activities. However, in rural areas, where traditional values often meet with innovative approaches, the entrepreneurial journey of women presents unique challenges and opportunities. This study aims to examine the impact of entrepreneurial intention, social innovation and government support on the promotion of sustainable entrepreneurship among rural women entrepreneurs and, consequently, their business performance. Design/methodology/approach Primary data was acquired for this study by the distribution of a structured questionnaire to a sample of 351 rural women entrepreneurs. This study is conducted inside the geographic territory of Bihar, India. Structural equation modelling has been used to examine the direct and mediated association between the variables. Findings The findings highlight that entrepreneurial intention, social innovation, and government support have a significant influence on sustainable entrepreneurship. In addition, sustainable entrepreneurship has a substantial impact on business performance. Furthermore, the results showed that sustainable entrepreneurship significantly and partially mediates the link between entrepreneurial intention, social innovation, government support and business performance. Practical implications Governmental bodies and policymakers must develop policies and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable and resilient business practices among female entrepreneurs in rural areas. The government should invest in education and training initiatives to teach rural women entrepreneurs about sustainable business practices and how to effectively execute them. Originality/value This study contributes to the current body of literature by highlighting the significant importance of sustainable entrepreneurship in rural contexts.

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of the regional social entrepreneurship ecosystem (RSEE) on the functioning of social enterprises (SEs) in India, with a specific focus on Kerala. By shifting the analysis focus from the national to the regional level, it addresses the limited understanding of how social entrepreneurs experience and interact with ecosystem actors. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative research methodology, drawing on in-depth interviews with 17 social entrepreneurs across the state of Kerala. Thematic data analysis was performed to identify patterns of interaction between SEs and diverse ecosystem stakeholders. Findings This study reveals that SEs are strongly supported and fostered by regionally embedded institutions, such as state and local governments, as well as by locally available actors. The findings emphasise that a strong RSEE is critical for SE growth and sustainability and that research and policy attention should shift from national to regional ecosystems. Originality/value This study contributes to the SE scholarship by focusing on the RSEE and examining how social entrepreneurs experience and engage with ecosystem actors at the local/regional level.