The concepts of social enterprise and social entrepreneurship are newer to Southeast Asia and China than to other parts of the world. If someone was asked to name the most successful social enterprises globally, it is unlikely that an individual or organization from Southeast Asia or China would be the first to come to mind.

But a closer look at the region reveals many entrepreneurial individuals and teams creating impact in innovative ways and striving to develop business models that will financially sustain and grow their organizations. Across Southeast Asia and China, impact focused enterprises are sprouting, growing and building solutions to social, economic, and environmental problems through different business models.

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With the ClimateSpark Launch Gala taking place this week, and the announcement of the Toronto Community Foundation Green Innovation Award, it's only natural that this week's Video is the one played at the glittering event on Wednesday night.

Missed the overview post a few days ago? Don't worry. Jason Wagar of Toronto Community Foundation, Eli Malinsky of the Centre for Social Innovation, and Julia Langer of the Toronto Atmospheric Fund are the best people to explain what the ClimateSpark Social Venture Challenge was and what happened over the last several months.

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This series of blogs talks about social purchase as a way to bolster demand for the goods and services produced by social enterprises. The Caledon Institute recommended this approach to the City of Hamilton as one option in pursuing its goal of social inclusion. The City was interested in this objective in respect of its role as co-host of the PanAm Games in 2015. For background, please read the previous post: Enough Talk. Where's the Action?

Turns out Vancouver helped blaze the trail*. The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee actively employed a Community Benefits Agreements approach described in blog #2 in this series. The benefits of a contract must go to more than just the successful bidders. Vancouver’s experience in developing Community Benefits Agreements grew from its commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability.

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The lure of technology lies in its dynamism. The development of sleeker hardware and faster software lingers just around the corner, fueling the competitive desire to get to it first. Within the organizations birthed by this drive, the lights are dim, the drive is high, and snacks abound to keep you energized.

It’s this type of drive, curiosity and competition that brings some technology entrepreneurs, as investors, to the world of social enterprise.

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This series of blogs talks about social purchase as a way to bolster demand for the goods and services produced by social enterprises. The first two posts have described the concept and suggested two ways of encouraging its adoption, especially in the public sector.

The Caledon Institute recommended this approach to the City of Hamilton as one option in pursuing its goal of social inclusion, in respect of its role as co-host of the PanAm Games in 2015. Here are the recommendations on social purchase that we made to the City. They pertain to the Games specifically but clearly have broader application.

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