Social Venture Strategy from a Global Perspective: An Exploratory Study Assessing Ashoka Fellows

Abstract

This study is one of the first that utilizes the online profiles of the Fellows in the global social venture network, Ashoka, in order to build a database of 70 social entrepreneurs. The resource-based view serves as the theoretical base by which the preliminary results are evaluated. The findings, which indicate that social entrepreneurs demonstrate similar patterns to commercial entrepreneurs, are assessed through two different lenses of analyses - alliances and knowledge management. Statistically significant relationships were found between alliances, funding sources, innovation, and ease of replication.

Keywords: Social entrepreneurship, social venture, Ashoka

JEL Classification: O00