Become an Entrepreneur for a Good Cause

This article was written by Dartmouth College Sophomore Anyoko Sewavi. Anyoko interned with the Launch gURLs Marketing and Communications team this summer and was pivotal in launching our brand!

You’ve probably encountered more social entrepreneurship than you’re aware of. Social enterprises are any company, organization, or individual that incorporates a solution to social, cultural, and environmental issues. Some very well-known examples are TOMS shoes, Adobe Systems, Malala Fund, and even Launch gURLs. These examples and the lists you find online are not exhaustive, there are many issues and just one organization is enough to solve any issue.

If you ever wondered how you could develop an idea in order to create change and social impact in your community, you are thinking about being a social entrepreneur. We put together a short guide to get you started, and if you’re looking for the right place to start, an idea is as good of a place to start as any. Think about your community. What is something you want to improve in your community? This can be anything, truly anything, that has to do with social, cultural, and environmental issues and there is no limit to how big or small you get.

Are you invested in this issue? When it comes to entrepreneurship, don’t get too focused on making a lot of money from it. If you aren’t truly passionate about the issue and a possible solution, then there is a chance you will get bored and quickly drop your idea. Don’t worry, though, you don’t have to know every answer or all the ins and outs, just make sure you are honestly invested and interested.

With that being said, don’t focus on the nitty gritty just yet. When you’re just starting off, you don’t need to know how you’re going to advertise or the colors for your project. Even established companies and social entrepreneurs continuously go through updates, so breathe and work on that when you have an established idea.

When thinking about the solution to an issue in your community, be realistic. Many social, cultural, and environmental issues don’t have simple answers and it’s easy to get carried away into finding an all-encompassing solution. You won’t solve every problem that has to do with an issue, you won’t even completely solve one problem. Your idea will most likely be another step in the right direction, and that is the best thing that can happen. Even a small impact matters! For issues in your community, think of solutions that work for your community. It doesn’t have to work for every community that has the same problem, just yours.

But Still Dream Big. We know we’re contradicting ourselves, but we mean it. Don’t box yourself into what you currently see, maybe the solution to the issue hasn’t been created yet (that’s why it’s still an issue). Allow yourself to be creative and let your ideas flow naturally.

Remember that Change Is Change No Matter How Small. Your ideas aren’t insignificant just because they’re not on the same scale as big companies and organizations. Your ideas are important and can make real and significant change. Are you interested in becoming a social entrepreneur? Apply here for the pilot program of Girl Boss today!