What are Social Entrepreneurs? 

Social entrepreneurs are people who find new answers to the most burning social issues our society is confronted with today. They strike at the root of the problems and look for innovative solutions which are easy to apply everywhere and by everybody. Thus, different people can tackle the same problem everywhere, not just in the little village or the region where the social entrepreneur is at the time. 

Social entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs in the so-called civil sector which has virtually exploded in the past few years: In the United States this sector boasts no less than two million registered organisations, and according to a study by the John Hopkins University, it is growing more rapidly than the economy overall. A boom can also be observed in the developing countries: In 1985 Indonesia had no more than one independent environmentalist organization, meanwhile, the number has risen to 2,000. India has more than one million civil society organizations, and more than 100,000 such organizations have been registered in Eastern Europe since the Berlin Wall came down.

Just like in business, there is also a large number of inefficient organizations in the civil sector. For this reason, the epitheton "non-profit" organization has a certain negative connotation. However, due to the fast rise in the number of organizations, competitive pressure is mounting. Organizations compete for good staff, access to funds and public opinion.

Which qualities does a social entrepreneur have to have?

Social entrepreneurs are visionaries who devote their lives to a lofty idea and often seem to be obsessed with it. At the same time, they must also possess a fair share of realism, and they have to keep an eye on the practicability of their idea. The best social entrepreneurs are gifted leaders. They know how to fill others with enthusiasm about their idea, and they get many people to develop a passion for it. The people adopt the idea as their own goal, and they advocate it in their surroundings. Thus, the social entrepreneur can translate it into reality on a broad, supra-regional basis; a snowballing effect sets in.

Social entrepreneurs change society in much the same way as entrepreneurs change the world of business. They seize opportunities which others miss. They solve problems which the governments cannot get a grip on. They identify that which is not working and improve the system. 

Entrepreneurs in business can change the face of a whole business line or found an entirely new industry. In much the same way, social entrepreneurs can change the face of our society by finding new solutions and innovative approaches, and by creating the organizations that apply them on a broad basis.

What is it that entrepreneurs in business can learn from social entrepreneurs?
Successful social entrepreneurs can teach business entrepreneurs much about the power of a clearly defined vision, combined with a plan for practical implementation. They might learn how effective a fundamentally ethical attitude that is filled with life can be as a factor in motivating people. Moreover, social entrepreneurs usually work with extremely limited resources. To be successful, they have to keep asking themselves how they can solve problems in a new way at minimum cost.

At the Waldzell Meeting 2006 our "Architects of the Future" had 90 seconds to present their projects in front of all the participants. Some of them had already completed the task and came to our preparatory workshop with full-fledged presentations, others needed some honing.

Although the group was extremely diverse - the entrepreneurs came from many different civilizations, with different mother tongues and a background in a variety of fields - in terms of enthusiasm, the ability to learn, as well as the readiness to co-operate and provide mutual support, it was superior to any other group I have ever worked with in a business environment. I learned a lot.

But most of all, I am full of hope that with them, the future is in good hands.

How to sponsor the "Architects of the Future?"
Waldzell is famous for outstanding dialogs and profound conversations, but Waldzell is more: Waldzell is also active through real projects, which are created and implemented by the "Architects of the Future." These are young social entrepreneurs at the beginning of their careers who commit themselves to working on projects to realize their dreams of a better world.

The mission of this initiative is to set off change by bringing together, inspiring, and supporting the world's most exceptional emerging leaders. A strong network and support are of crucial importance to the work of great social leaders especially during the start-up phase.

Waldzell is deeply honored that Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist and The Zahir, has kindly offered his support by becoming the patron of the "Architects of the Future." If you want to join an emerging global community of engaged social investors please contact:



Email: office@waldzell.org