Impact cannot happen in isolation.
It requires collective action.

Entrepreneurial networks as drivers for positive change

Collaboration is proving to be crucial in solving the biggest challenges of our time. As many entrepreneurs, governments and larger organizations galvanize under the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), networks of entrepreneurial communities are becoming key to identifying and developing innovative solutions to meet these goals, offering many compelling benefits to change-makers that support them to increase their impact.

Every year, the Impact Hub network surveys a number of our 16,500 change-makers in 100+ locations across 55+ countries. We want to find out how being part of our network has helped them achieve their goals. The results of this research have been independently analyzed and compiled by the Social Entrepreneurship Center / Vienna University of Economics and Business. The latest data from survey participants shows that a sense of community, collaboration, access to better infrastructure and improved motivation are the main benefits for entrepreneurs wanting to make a difference.

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Support Needs of Social Entrepreneurs

The support needs of social entrepreneurs can be very diverse. Developing skills and new ideas, strengthening motivation, accessing better working infrastructure, gaining visibility and credibility all rank high among social and environmental ventures. However, the need to 'feel part of a larger community and network' stands out as the most important. Ultimately, it is the collaboration with peers, mentors, and advisors that helps entrepreneurs navigate and address their needs.

Impact Hub asked their members to rank the relevance of certain needs to their work. The top three are:

Feeling part of a larger community and network

%

Strengthening personal motivation

%

Accessing better working infrastructure

%

The Power of Intentional Communities

To achieve impact at scale, it is necessary to inspire, connect, and engage a critical mass of people by providing them with valuable knowledge, resources, and access to an engaged and like-minded community. This not only increases entrepreneurs’ social capital but also helps them to learn new skills, gain visibility, diversify investment sources, accelerate growth, boost impact and, in some cases, increase revenue growth.

Entrepreneurs' thoughts on Networks of Communities

Gaining visibility and credibility

Developing new ideas

Collaborating with other members

Creating something amazing together

Connecting to advisors and experts

Learning new skills and capabilities

Feeling part of a larger community

Entrepreneurs who are part of the Impact Hub network feel supported in:

Inspire

Developing new ideas

%

Learning about new trends

%

Strengthening their motivation

%

Connect

Feeling part of a larger community

%

Collaborating with other members

%

Connecting to advisors and experts

%

Enable

Increasing their visibility and credibility

%

Learning new skills and capabilities

%

Gaining access to a better infrastructure

%

It's all about collaboration in the Impact Hub network

1,500 projects were started by two or more members. 2 out of 10 members worked together.

435,000 hours of peer support were provided by members.

The research found that positive effects of collaboration on organizational performance are particularly noticeable over time.

Compared to members who collaborated less, members who made many connections ended up with a total of 17,300 USD more investment by the end of the following year.

Community

Collaboration

Entrepreneurial Support

Tailored Programs

Impact

SDGs

Tailored Support Programs

Understanding the different needs of social entrepreneurs throughout the various stages of their entrepreneurial journey and connecting them to a broad network of talent, tools, partners and infrastructure, ensures that tailored support can be offered.

The Impact Hub network ran over + entrepreneurial support programs and + collaborative innovation programs focused on SDGs and ecosystem development.

Programs participants attribute 40% of their success to the network and feel supported by us in:

75%

Developing new skills and capabilities

81%

Strengthening personal motivation

75%

Gaining visibility and credibility for their venture

82%

Connecting with experts and advisors that support their growth

83%

Partnering and collaborating with peers

88%