Social Incubators Overview
About Social Incubators
A social incubator is an organization or program designed to support the development and
growth of social enterprises or socially-driven ventures.
These incubators provide resources such as mentorship, networking, training, workspace,
and sometimes financial support to help early-stage social enterprises succeed.
Unlike traditional business incubators, social incubators focus on ventures that aim to
address social, environmental, or community issues while still maintaining a viable business
model.
Key Features of Social Incubators:
1. Mission-Driven Support: Social incubators prioritize projects with a strong social impact,
such as addressing poverty, improving education, healthcare access, environmental
sustainability, or other societal challenges.
2. Mentorship and Training: They offer guidance from experienced mentors and industry
experts to help social entrepreneurs refine their business models, understand social impact
measurement, and scale their solutions.
3. Networking Opportunities: Social incubators often provide access to a broad network of
stakeholders, including investors, partners, and other entrepreneurs, which can open doors
for collaborations and funding.
4. Financial Resources: While some social incubators might provide seed funding or connect
startups to impact investors, others may focus more on preparing ventures to attract
external investment or grants.
5. Tailored Programs: Many social incubators offer structured programs that include
workshops, bootcamps, and ongoing support over a fixed period to help startups grow
strategically.
6. Community and Collaboration: Social entrepreneurs often work in a collaborative
environment with other like-minded individuals, fostering innovation and the sharing of
ideas.
Social incubators play a critical role in helping social enterprises navigate the challenges of
balancing social impact with financial sustainability.
List of Social Incubators
Here is a list of notable social incubators along with their web links:
1. UnLtd India
- Focus: Early-stage social entrepreneurs in India.
- Website: https://unltdindia.org/
2. Impact Hub
- Focus: Global network supporting social enterprises through co-working spaces and
incubation programs.
- Website: https://impacthub.net/
3. Echoing Green
- Focus: Fellowship and seed-stage funding for social entrepreneurs worldwide.
- Website: https://echoinggreen.org/
4. Acumen
- Focus: Social impact businesses with financial and mentorship support, with a focus on
poverty alleviation.
- Website: https://acumen.org/
5. Ashoka
- Focus: Supporting social entrepreneurs globally, known for its network of changemakers.
- Website: https://www.ashoka.org/
6. SEED
- Focus: Promoting eco-inclusive enterprises in developing countries.
- Website: https://seed.uno/
7. The Social Impact Lab
- Focus: Empowering social entrepreneurs in Europe and beyond through incubation and
acceleration programs.
- Website: https://socialimpact.eu/
8. The DO School
- Focus: Social impact innovation programs for entrepreneurs, organizations, and cities.
- Website: https://thedoschool.com/
9. Villgro
- Focus: Supporting social startups in the sectors of healthcare, education, and agriculture
in India.
- Website: https://villgro.org/
10. GSEN (Global Social Entrepreneurship Network)
- Focus: Provides support to social entrepreneurs worldwide by building a network of
social incubators.
- Website: http://gsen.global/
