Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship: Eligibility & Criteria

The HBS Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship program is designed to support HBS graduates who are launching social enterprises: nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid organizations with a central focus on the creation of social value.

Alumni may enter the Alumni New Venture Contest or apply for the Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship, but not both. For questions on which to pursue, contact the Alumni New Venture Contest or the Social Enterprise Initiative.

Fellowship applicant must submit a complete program application along with a business plan for the proposed venture that demonstrates a central focus on the creation of social value.

Plans will be judged based upon their potential to become the basis of a viable new venture. The evaluation will focus on the idea, its potential for social value creation, and the likelihood of achieving that success based upon the following criteria:

• Idea/Concept: The concept reflects an innovative approach. The business plan demonstrates a clear understanding of the issue the organization seeks to address, the economic and social drivers of the model, and the feasibility of the concept.
• Social Value Creation: The business model is likely to make a substantial contribution toward the solution of the issue it seeks to address and can be sustained for a period of time consistent with achieving the desired social impact.
• People: The team has relevant skills, contacts, and experience.
• Context: The rules of the game (i.e., regulatory, tax, political) are favorable. Market needs, size of opportunity, competitive landscape, and potential risks are identified and manageable.
• Resources: The financing plan is sensible in terms of the capital required to launch and operate. Funding sources are identified and a plan for securing start-up investment is articulated.
• Performance Measurement: The plan takes a practicable approach to measuring organizational outcomes and provides a clear plan to deliver high performance.
• Applicant: Applicants must be HBS alumni. The applicant must be a founder and play a central role within the organization (i.e., CEO, COO).

Obligations of Fellows

Commit to spending the majority of individual time to the launch of the social enterprise during the Fellowship period.

Submit an interim report by the mid-term renewal deadline and a final report within one month of the end of the Fellowship period covering progress of plan to date, individual contribution, key learnings, and how the Fellowship supported your individual career goals.