From Acumen Academy, the world’s school for social change
The following courses are especially relevant and serve as an excellent foundation.
- Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
- Social Impact Analysis
- Lean Startup Principles Social Sector
Toolbox
Toolbox
RESOURCES FOR APPLICANTS
Courses, videos, and articles to build a better application
Social impact-driven entrepreneurship
From Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women
This 10-course collection, developed in partnership with Goldman Sachs and the University of Leeds, builds on the face-to-face business education program that has enabled over 10,000 women to experience immediate and sustained business growth.
VALUE PROPOSITION & SOCIAL IMPACT
Value Proposition
To refine your value proposition, try to leverage the Value Proposition Canvas developed by Dr. Alexander Osterwalder. The Value Proposition Canvas is a tool, which can help ensure that a product or service is positioned around what the customer values and needs. This framework helps evaluate product-market fit.
If you are unfamiliar with the framework, try out the following resources:
- The following 3 mins video gives you a quick rundown: Introduction to Value Proposition Canvas
- The following instructional guide provides step by step details: The Value Proposition Canvas Instruction Manual
UN SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. The 17 Goals are all interconnected, and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve them all by 2030.
IRIS+ Impact Themes & Metrics
IRIS+ is the generally accepted impact accounting system that leading impact investors use to measure, manage, and optimize their impact. Proper use of the IRIS+ system ensures a minimum level of consistency in a users’ impact claims and performance, which makes it easier for investors to analyze and extract useful information for decision making. Use of IRIS+ also facilitates the comparison of impact information.
To learn more about IRIS + Impact Themes & Metrics, please visit the IRIS+ site.
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS & FINANCIAL MODEL
To review your business model, we suggest using the framework developed by Dr. Alexander Osterwalder, the Business Model Canvas. It is a tool that can help you map out the different components of your business systematically and understand the interactions between them.
If you are unfamiliar with the framework, try out the following resources:
- The following 3 mins video gives you a quick overview: Business Model Canvas Explained.
- The following instructional guide provides step-by-step details: The Business Model Canvas Instruction Manual.
STRATEGY & EXECUTION
To evaluate your scaling strategy critically, we suggest you leverage the PATRI framework, developed by Ashoka Globalizer Team, authored by Rizwan Tayabali.1 The PATRI framework is a step-by-step guide for social entrepreneurs on the journey to scale.
If you are unfamiliar with the framework, try out the following resources:
- The following 20 mins video gives you an overview by Rizwan: Scaling Impact.
- This is the full paper detailing the framework: PATRI A Framework for Scaling Impact.
LEADERSHIP & TEAM
Building a Board
Take a look at “Don’t give away your board seat,” for a great briefing on board of directors versus advisors, and how to leverage both effectively.
For more details around how to build an effective board, check out the Primer for Building an Effective Board by the Kauffman Foundation.
Building the founding team is critical, as your business will need different skill sets for success. The following post discusses the key to building great founding teams. At the early stage of your business, it is also important to realize you will need team members that are beyond the traditional job title. This article on hiring discusses some of the most salient points in why recruiting and managing teams can be one of the biggest challenges at the early stages of a startup - specifically when you are still validating business models and pivoting products.
Cap Table
One of the most critical cap table issue to keep in mind as a female founder is the Gap Table. The Gap Table refers to the fact that women are significantly underrepresented in equity ownership. The following article #TheGapTable gives you an overview by #Angels (a group of ex-Twitter women executives, who banded together to encourage greater diversity with their investments)
As suggested by #Angels, “You control your cap table, who gets shares, and how many. The people you bring in early on, both investors and team members, will be among the largest shareholders in the company. Prioritize diversity from day one. Ask your investors for introductions to women and underrepresented minority co-investors and early hires.”
Vision
A Vision Statement is the north star of an organization. It defines why your organization exists and its purpose. It explains the state of the world or community as a result of your company achieving its mission. A great framework for thinking about the “why” is the Golden Circle by Simon Sineck. If you are unfamiliar with the framework, the following 5 mins video gives you an overview by Simon: The Golden Circle.
USEFUL NETWORKS
Networks for women impact entrepreneurs around the world
Global
Impact Hub is the world's largest network focused on building entrepreneurial communities for impact at scale.
The Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship seeks to accelerate entrepreneurial solutions to the world’s most pressing problems by uniting social entrepreneurs with essential partners.
Ashoka builds and cultivates a community of change leaders who see that the world now requires everyone to be a changemaker.
SOCAP convenes impact investors, social entrepreneurs, and organisations dedicated to catalysing world change through market-based solutions.
makesense inspires and empowers citizens, entrepreneurs, and organisations to build an inclusive and sustainable society together.
Zebras Unite is a founder-created and founder-led movement calling for a more ethical and inclusive movement to counter existing startup and venture capital culture.
Unreasonable Group backs entrepreneurs positioned to bend history in the right direction.
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is a community of the world's leading social innovators transforming society for the better for all.
SheEO is a global community of radically generous women supporting women-led ventures working on the World’s To Do List.
AFRICA
Moroccan women entrepreneurs association (AFEM) is an independent association created in 2000 that aims to promote enterprise development and to offer women business owners the opportunity to network, to level their competences and to contribute to the development of Morocco's national economy.
Gone Rural is one of Swaziland's top producers of handmade products, committed to supporting rural women. The benefit of this andcraft business indirectly reaches approximately 6,300 rural Swazi people.
E+L Foundation is a Kenyan private trust whose aim is to create a differentiated breed of entrepreneurs across Africa who will transform economies long term by building enduring global enterprises. We use short, medium and long term entrepreneurship mentorship programs for impact by leveraging the power of the “Paying It Forward” concept.
Femmes Entrepreneures a pour ambition de promouvoir l'entreprenariat féminin, de faire connaitre les femmes leaders en Afrique et de bénéficier de leurs expériences et conseils.
ASIA
The Asian University for Women is a new university that will offer a world-class liberal arts education combined with professional training to a diverse group of the most talented women in South Asia. By empowering women to assume leadership positions, AUW will promote a more equitable, stable and prosperous future in South Asia.
Europe
Paris Pionnières is the first women incubator in innovative services BtoB &BtoC in France.
The National Female Entrepreneurs Agency (Die bundesweite gründerinnenagentur - bga) is the first and only country-wide information and service centre promoting female entrepreneurship in Germany.
The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE) is open to women who own or control a company whatever its size. BAWE provides excellent opportunities for social and business networking.
European Professional Women's Network (EPWN) is a vibrant growing pan-European network of more than 12 women's organisations whose objective is to provide women with the tools, networks and support they need to assume leadership.
Femmes Business Angels is a network of professional women involved as investors in start-up companies with a high potential, coaching entrepreneurs and promoting the active participation of women in the investment process and the development of new business opportunities.
Club for Women Entrepreneurs provides enhancement of entrepreneurial skills through sharing of knowledge and experience, occasions to sample expertise in fields related to corporate management and networking opportunities in view of client acquisition.
INNOVATECH, is a non-profit organization based in Hainault (Belgium) which aims at encouraging industries and in particular, small and medium size enterprises to innovate. It offers legal and technological counselling services among others.
LSA is an organization which groups various women organizations and clubs from all over Latvia. LSA has significant experience in organizing education and self-development activities for women.
JUMP is the first General Public Forum dedicated to women's professional life and to their career planning. Its ambition is to:
- To make best use of all the skills that women have to offer in the labour market.
- To help women discover their competences and to get other people to recognise them.
JUMP is the place to meet, discuss, brainstorm and participate in training sessions.
Designed for the ambitious woman who wants to progress on the career ladder, JETS Women, based in Germany, offers a unique and genuinely added value programme for achieving personal and professional goals.
Prowess is the UK association of organisations and individuals who support women to start and grow businesses. Prowess has over 250 members who support 100,000 women in business each year.
North America
American Business Women Association (ABWA)'s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition.
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO®) is the voice of America's 10.6 million women-owned businesses and since 1975 has helped women evolve their businesses by sharing resources and providing a single voice to shape economic and public policy.
Ladies Who Launch provides content and community to help women start and expand their businesses and creative ventures. Through their events, e-mail newsletter, website and in-person Incubator programs Ladies Who Launch provides a venue for motivated women to exchange products and services, ideas, and strategic relationships.
Middle East
Mompreneurs Middle East is a B2B platform in the Middle East supporting female entrepreneurs to promote and grow their business. The website provides a platform for female entrepreneurs to connect with each other, share expertise, advice, and recommendations and contacts. It is a one-stop information portal where members can access information regarding various events and exhibitions taking place in the region or find suppliers and partners in various fields.
Facts & Figures
Facts and figures on female entrepreneurship worldwide.
International
2014 Report on Women’s Entrepreneurship
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Babson College and London Business School
Download the PDF document
The GEDI Female Entrepreneurship Index
The GEDI (Global Entrepreneurship and Development Institute) measures the development of high potential female entrepreneurship worldwide.
Download the report
Overcoming the Gender Gap : Women Entrepreneurs as Economic Drivers
A study by the Erwing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Read the study
Africa
2015 Africa Gender Equality Index
It the only index that provides evidence on gender equality for 52 of Africa’s 54 countries and was designed not just to measure gender inequality, but to promote development.
Read the report
Doing Business 2015: Sub-Saharan Africa
Doing Business sheds light on how easy or difficult it is for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to medium-size business in Sub-Saharan Africa when complying with relevant regulations.
Read the report
Asia & the Pacific
Doing Business 2015: South Asia
Doing Business sheds light on how easy or difficult it is for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to medium-size business in South-Asia when complying with relevant regulations.
Read the report
Jobs, Gender and Small Enterprises in Bangladesh
International Labour Organisation (ILO), 2001
Read the report
Women entrepreneurs in India: Problems, Motivations and Success Factors
Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, University of Regina, Canada, 2001
Read the report
Europe
Statistical data on Women entrepreneurs in Europe
In 2014, the European Commission published a study on statistical data on women entrepreneurs in Europe
Read the study
Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan
The Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan is the European Commission's answer to challenges brought by the economic crisis. It is a blueprint for action to unleash Europe's entrepreneurial potential, remove existing obstacles and revolutionize the culture of entrepreneurship in the EU.
Read the report
Women’s Entrepreneuship : Closing the Gender Gap in Access to Financial and Other Services in Social Entrepreneurship
The main aims of the study include identifying differences in rates of entrepreneurial activity between men and women as well as the barriers, which might explain the differences.
Read the report
Latin America
Unlocking the Potential of Women Entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Carribean
The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze high-growth female entrepreneurs and promote their participation in the business world.
Read the report
Identifying the Obstacles to High-Impact Entrepreneurship in Latin America and the
Caribbean
This study uses the findings of the GEDI (Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index) and several case studies to a paint a picture of the current state of entrepreneurship in Latin America
Read the report
North America
The 2014 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report
This report commissioned by American Express OPEN is a investigation into the state of women-owned businesses in the United States.
Read the report
Exporting as a Means of Growth for Women-Owned Canadian SMEs
Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, University of Regina, Canada, 2004
Read the report
Middle East and North Africa
Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa (2004)
By surveying women business owners in Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates, this report identifies key characteristics and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the region as well as recommendations for solving these challenges.
Read the report
