This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/2013/jul/02/social-enterprises-in-brazil
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Telling a very happy story: enterprise from Brazil's point of view | Telling a very happy story: enterprise from Brazil's point of view |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Often in developing an enterprise and in assessing opportunities, we limit ourselves to what is put in front of us – opportunities that are already within reach. One of the aims of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) is to unlock the global potential to develop and collaborate through enterprise and entrepreneurship and, in the long term, make a difference in the world. | Often in developing an enterprise and in assessing opportunities, we limit ourselves to what is put in front of us – opportunities that are already within reach. One of the aims of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) is to unlock the global potential to develop and collaborate through enterprise and entrepreneurship and, in the long term, make a difference in the world. |
| In Brazil, real changes are being made and I hope we can learn from them. | In Brazil, real changes are being made and I hope we can learn from them. |
| Jonathan Ortmans, the chair of the GEC from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation said on opening the congress: "We have a very happy story to tell. We're heralding a movement of powerful individuals from across the globe – legitimising entrepreneurship as a key driver for economies." | Jonathan Ortmans, the chair of the GEC from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation said on opening the congress: "We have a very happy story to tell. We're heralding a movement of powerful individuals from across the globe – legitimising entrepreneurship as a key driver for economies." |
| The conference had heavy involvement from Endeavor Brasil, an organisation that provides programmes, support and opportunities for business start-ups and social enterprise across Brazil. | The conference had heavy involvement from Endeavor Brasil, an organisation that provides programmes, support and opportunities for business start-ups and social enterprise across Brazil. |
| The spirit of enterprise | The spirit of enterprise |
| In my travels I met entrepreneurs who were inspired at the progress Britain is making in terms of encouraging enterprise, social enterprise and really having an impact on campaigns that are creating a social and economic change. One entrepreneur being supported at the Gávea co-working centre told me: "People here don't understand the concept of enterprise. Making money and doing your own thing doesn't seem legitimate. It's too hard to start up and to develop something which changes the community is too much trouble. But everyone wants to do it." | In my travels I met entrepreneurs who were inspired at the progress Britain is making in terms of encouraging enterprise, social enterprise and really having an impact on campaigns that are creating a social and economic change. One entrepreneur being supported at the Gávea co-working centre told me: "People here don't understand the concept of enterprise. Making money and doing your own thing doesn't seem legitimate. It's too hard to start up and to develop something which changes the community is too much trouble. But everyone wants to do it." |
| It was interesting to hear these sorts of comments coming from locals who have benefited from a reasonable education in parts of the city more or less as developed as middle-class areas of Britain (though still suffering from some developmental problems and governance issues). | It was interesting to hear these sorts of comments coming from locals who have benefited from a reasonable education in parts of the city more or less as developed as middle-class areas of Britain (though still suffering from some developmental problems and governance issues). |
| What are the barriers to making a social change in Brazil? It's a country with a huge market for social enterprise, if you define a market by the number of problems that need to be solved. | What are the barriers to making a social change in Brazil? It's a country with a huge market for social enterprise, if you define a market by the number of problems that need to be solved. |
| I visited start-up incubator Botafogo, which focuses on tech start-ups and social businesses, and found out that a lack of support and confidence is certainly one factor, but having capital and certainty of income is also important. This particular scheme links up to other initiatives and provides capital investment as a seed to stabilise a business right at the beginning; much like Wayra and Wayra-UnLtd do in the UK. These innovations are gaining much more traction – in fact, during the congress, the Brazilian government launched a brand new policy to speed up and simplify the business registration process for new and developing enterprises across the country – a change I'm sure will increase the rate and growth of enterprises. | I visited start-up incubator Botafogo, which focuses on tech start-ups and social businesses, and found out that a lack of support and confidence is certainly one factor, but having capital and certainty of income is also important. This particular scheme links up to other initiatives and provides capital investment as a seed to stabilise a business right at the beginning; much like Wayra and Wayra-UnLtd do in the UK. These innovations are gaining much more traction – in fact, during the congress, the Brazilian government launched a brand new policy to speed up and simplify the business registration process for new and developing enterprises across the country – a change I'm sure will increase the rate and growth of enterprises. |
| Names we know such as Tech4Good have a presence in Brazil and showcased themselves while I was there. In several discussions and roundtables I heard about challenges such as "mobilisation in social change" and "certifying impact" mentioned many times. Some Brazilians feel that making a difference is just a community project or an act of good will – but are being encouraged to realise, through the role modelling of successful social businesses in the country, that this can bring home revenue and have replicable impact at the same time. | Names we know such as Tech4Good have a presence in Brazil and showcased themselves while I was there. In several discussions and roundtables I heard about challenges such as "mobilisation in social change" and "certifying impact" mentioned many times. Some Brazilians feel that making a difference is just a community project or an act of good will – but are being encouraged to realise, through the role modelling of successful social businesses in the country, that this can bring home revenue and have replicable impact at the same time. |
| Finding the funding | Finding the funding |
| Impulso Microcredito offers crowd-based funding opportunities over in Brazil and it is very interesting to note how intrigued Brazilians were to hear about how we develop enterprise and sustain our social impact here in the UK. | Impulso Microcredito offers crowd-based funding opportunities over in Brazil and it is very interesting to note how intrigued Brazilians were to hear about how we develop enterprise and sustain our social impact here in the UK. |
| Vox Capital is an impact-investment fund that takes a stake in businesses creating social change and generating a profit. This social enterprise movement is growing substantial legs in the country and might be a key to revitalising communities. Many times the phrase "conscience capital" was reiterated during my visit – making money, doing good and affecting beneficiaries. It seems social enterprise is becoming a part of the norm, a really valid option proposed for anyone wanting to start or grow a business in Brazil. | Vox Capital is an impact-investment fund that takes a stake in businesses creating social change and generating a profit. This social enterprise movement is growing substantial legs in the country and might be a key to revitalising communities. Many times the phrase "conscience capital" was reiterated during my visit – making money, doing good and affecting beneficiaries. It seems social enterprise is becoming a part of the norm, a really valid option proposed for anyone wanting to start or grow a business in Brazil. |
| Education | Education |
| Let us not underestimate the importance of educational institutions in developing this ecosystem too. On visiting one of Rio's universities I was pleasantly surprised to learn how it supports its students to develop products, use resources and office spaces, and take advice from specialised staff who are brought in for talks and mentoring, all without charge. Youth entrepreneurship in Brazil is most definitely on the map – young people's natural thinking is creative, collaborative and pretty entrepreneurial from a young age, so I learned from Brazilian teachers. | Let us not underestimate the importance of educational institutions in developing this ecosystem too. On visiting one of Rio's universities I was pleasantly surprised to learn how it supports its students to develop products, use resources and office spaces, and take advice from specialised staff who are brought in for talks and mentoring, all without charge. Youth entrepreneurship in Brazil is most definitely on the map – young people's natural thinking is creative, collaborative and pretty entrepreneurial from a young age, so I learned from Brazilian teachers. |
| I feel it's important for us all to remember that social enterprise is a model and an ecosystem that is continuously developing. Here in the UK we have a variety of social enterprises from grassroots community projects through to international enterprises which have very solid and robust structures. In Brazil this sort of change and development is brand new, in experimentation and as such requires a lot of support. We could learn a lot from supporting and influencing this development. | I feel it's important for us all to remember that social enterprise is a model and an ecosystem that is continuously developing. Here in the UK we have a variety of social enterprises from grassroots community projects through to international enterprises which have very solid and robust structures. In Brazil this sort of change and development is brand new, in experimentation and as such requires a lot of support. We could learn a lot from supporting and influencing this development. |
| From my entrepreneurial perspective watching this rise and this development just a few years after Britain kickstarted its own enterprise revolution is fascinating. Is the world about to start learning together? | From my entrepreneurial perspective watching this rise and this development just a few years after Britain kickstarted its own enterprise revolution is fascinating. Is the world about to start learning together? |
| Abilio Diniz, chair of the Grupo Pao de Acucar, one of the largest companies in Brazil, said very simply: "We need leaders – people who are admired for good things in the community." This could not be more true, in Brazil, the UK and elsewhere. Endorsement like this makes me feel like Brazil might have the attitude and the will and crucial backing to kickstart a new turn of life for its communities and the futures of its people. | Abilio Diniz, chair of the Grupo Pao de Acucar, one of the largest companies in Brazil, said very simply: "We need leaders – people who are admired for good things in the community." This could not be more true, in Brazil, the UK and elsewhere. Endorsement like this makes me feel like Brazil might have the attitude and the will and crucial backing to kickstart a new turn of life for its communities and the futures of its people. |
| I know one thing for sure – social enterprise is gaining recognition as a business modelthat makes a difference, makes money and can galvanise support in a way which community champions can take hold of and create their own careers with. Watch this space. | I know one thing for sure – social enterprise is gaining recognition as a business modelthat makes a difference, makes money and can galvanise support in a way which community champions can take hold of and create their own careers with. Watch this space. |
| Adam Bradford is a young social entrepreneur who launched a world tour campaign in 2012 to help develop global entrepreneurial ecosystems. | Adam Bradford is a young social entrepreneur who launched a world tour campaign in 2012 to help develop global entrepreneurial ecosystems. |
| This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To join the Guardian Social Enterprise Network, click here. | This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To join the Guardian Social Enterprise Network, click here. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
Previous version
1
Next version