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Product cover image for Street Business School: Social Entrepreneurship for Women Living in Poverty

Street Business School: Social Entrepreneurship for Women Living in Poverty

Rebecca Namatovu, Thilde Langevang

Product #:W34902_P
Supplier:Ivey
Discipline:Entrepreneurship, International Business
Setting:Haiti, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, 2022
Details:Case (PDF) • 13 pages • 2024-04-11

Subjects:

Social enterprisePovertySociety and business relationsSocioeconomic classBusiness managementEntrepreneurshipInternational business

Industries:

Education institutions

Geography:

Central America and CaribbeanAfricaNorth AmericaHaitiTanzaniaUgandaUnited States
Your Price:$9.71

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Street Business School (SBS) employed an innovative social-franchise model aimed at providing entrepreneurship training to one million impoverished women worldwide. Originating as BeadforLife, a non-profit organization that connected women in Uganda who produced recycled paper jewellery with international markets, SBS developed a tailored entrepreneurship program while working with small groups of bead producers. With aspirations to expand globally and impact more women, SBS adopted a social franchising model and certified other organizations to implement its valuable approach and curriculum. However, generating earned income proved challenging, and SBS relied heavily on funds raised from individuals and philanthropic organizations. In addition, the organization faced the dilemma of balancing its focus on scalability and global expansion with the depth of impact it aimed to achieve. In January 2023, the chief executive officer (CEO) wondered what she should recommend to the board as the most appropriate business model for scaling SBS’s impact.

Learning Objectives

This case can be used in different graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, women’s entrepreneurship, non-profit organizations, and development studies. This case study delves into the challenges and opportunities a social enterprise faces in achieving its goal of lifting one million women out of poverty by 2031. Upon completion of the case study and associated questions, students will be well prepared to do the following:
  • Discuss the different business models that social enterprises can adopt to create both social and economic value.
  • Analyze the challenges of developing sustainable earned income strategies when working with people living in extreme poverty.
  • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different methods for scaling social impact.
  • Critically assess the limits of alleviating poverty and empowering women through entrepreneurship training.
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Case Study: Street Business School: Social Entrepreneurship for Women Living in Poverty | Ivey Publishing