Media

The next generation of social entrepreneurs

Impact and meaningfulness of work has become more important for young professionals. What about this next generation of social entrepreneurs? How can they be promoted and what do they need? How do we inspire more prospective professionals for social entrepreneurship and how do we reach them? One promising option is through educational opportunities. There are already some initiatives in Switzerland and interest is growing. Nevertheless, there is still much potential for development and further opportunities to anchor SocEnt in the educational landscape.

Discussing:

• Emilie Romon Carnegie, Country Director Ashoka
• Frederike Asael, Managing Partner & Co-Founder Impact Hub Bern
• Johanna Aebi, Deputy CEO YES
• Thomas Bratschi, Head of the Center for Environmental Systems and Lecturer ZHAW

Moderation: Nicola Blum, Lecturer on Social Innovation and Circular Economy BFH Bern

Steward ownership – never heard of it? This Input Talk with Lukas Hotz of Purpose Switzerland explains the principles and potential of the still little-known ownership structure. How it can be implemented in Switzerland and how it enables a responsible way of doing business is what you will learn in this program item.

Together with Daniel Freitag and his case MONoPOLE, legal corporate structures and their significance for entrepreneurs, employees and society will be discussed.

Innosuisse is the Swiss Innovation Agency. By strengthening Swiss science- based innovation and entrepreneurship, Innosuisse contributes to the sustainable economic, social and ecological development on a national and global scale.

The Innosuisse Guide leads you in a few steps to the appropriate funding offer (www.innosuisse.guide).

one11 is a networking platform in favor of a participatory and self-determined society. They bring people of different ages together and network when it comes to affordable and attractive housing, flexible jobs and events.

Social enterprises pursue a positive social, environmental or cultural impact through their activities. This purpose is also becoming increasingly important for companies from the profit-oriented economy, and a variety of transformation processes are ongoing.

Together with our exciting guests, we want to shed light on the following questions from different perspectives:

How can impact / purpose be plausibly communicated?
Is Focus on Impact only a fair-weather programme or will it remain even if revenues decline?
Is there still a CSR department in the company?
How close is the impact focus to the core business? Where is it on the organization chart?

Discussing:

• Vanessa Rueber, Community, Marketing & Impact Manager, Patagonia
• Rico Travella, Member of the Executive Board, Alternative Bank Switzerland
• Hanna Olzon Åkerström, Founder, Co-CEO & Creative Director, Soeder AG
• Nicholas Hänny, CEO NIKIN

Moderation: Susanne Sugimoto, Editorial Director, The Philanthropist

Buy Social means: procuring goods from impact driven companies. Thus, the procurement has a positive impact. SENS organized first events where social enterprises presented themselves to corporates and published the first social enterprises business directory. The international label for verified social enterprises and a European action on the topic will give this topic an additional push.

Learn more: https://buysocial.ch/

Céline Fallet explains how Wemakeit AG was fully taken over by the community and the team as owners last year. Thus, the project financing platform is not only for the crowd, but also lives it and is today owned by 5,300 shareholders.

The shares were sold in such a way that no individual interests determine the direction of the platform. Céline tells us exactly how this was done, what the advantages and disadvantages are, and finally answers your questions about it.

Rafael Heim from SEND takes us with his input to the EU and shows which solutions for the financing of social entrepreneurs are developed in the big neighbors.

The Innovation Fund Association supports initiatives, companies and projects in the start-up or early stages. It provides equity in the form of investments or grants loans. Thus, projects, institutions and businesses with exemplary character are supported, which have little money but viable structures and a convincing concept.

Roland Baumgartner shares a concrete example of how the support / promotion of the Innovation Fund works.

The financing of social enterprises is associated with major challenges, as there are few specific financing models or funders in Switzerland. Social entrepreneurs pursue a positive social impact as the purpose of their activity and see financial profit as a means to an end. This is why they often fall through between the usually sharply separated funding pots of classic investors and foundations. In addition, social enterprises use a variety of legal forms – sometimes hybrid forms and combinations – which can make fundraising even more difficult.

One had hoped for venture capital from the financial world (venture philanthropy). But the experience has been disappointing. Why does the financial world show little willingness to take risks in the area of social enterprises? What do donors need from social entrepreneurs that they would use their capital?
How can a stronger cooperation of different actors within the financing ecosystem succeed, for example a consortium financing in which investors and non-profit foundations participate? What is needed?

Discussing:

• Christoph Inauen, Co-Founder, Choba Choba
• Justine Portenier, Managing Director, Social Fabric
• Stefan Schöbi, CEO StiftungSchweiz
• Brigitte Gisler, Member of the Executive Board, Freie Gemeinschaftsbank

Moderation: Robert Schmuki, Co-Founder Con-Sense / Lecturer Philanthropy

“Making business an important lever for social change, while respecting people and the biosphere”, this is the mission to which APRÈS has been committed for almost 20 years in Western Switzerland.

Based on this history and experience, we are working in collaboration with national actors such as SENS to develop a political advocacy based on the practices, expertise and demands of our members, and to disseminate it to politicians and economic circles at the federal level.

On the agenda: “one planet” neighbourhoods, digital commons, subscription to local goods and services, and more.

Come and discover our work, findings, and achievements of the last years!