COURSE INTRODUCTION

Social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy are cornerstones of innovation for positive social and environmental impact around the world. Through the application of business principles and market-based funding practices, mission-driven businesses can bring transformational social and environmental benefits.

Social entrepreneurship is catalytic by nature; requiring visionary and resourceful entrepreneurs to think out of the box and take calculated risks in creating new business practices, market norms and customer experiences. Venture philanthropy takes investment funding to a new, impact-driven level of accountability and results-orientation, with the ultimate aim of creating sustainable and scalable social businesses with confident and engaged stakeholders, who without such funding would be deprived of developmental opportunities.

This course is targeted at students who are interested in the growing social and environmental impact business opportunities in Hong Kong, the greater China region and globally.