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  • October 2018 (Revised January 2019)
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Social Finance, Inc.

By: Shawn Cole and Fanele Mashwama
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:18
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Abstract

This case begins in February 2019 as Tracy Palandjian, co-founder and CEO of Social Finance Inc., prepares for a board meeting that will determine the future strategy of the social enterprise. Social Finance is a non-profit in the impact investment space founded in 2011 to “mobilize capital to drive social progress.” The case provides details of the early years of Social Finance’s work in the United States which primarily focussed on social impact bonds (SIBs)—contingent payment contracts between governments, socially oriented service providers and private investors. The case discusses the work Social Finance conducted to pass landmark “pay-for-success” legislation in 2018. In 2019 one key strategic question emerges: Should Social Finance double-down on growing their core business and developing pay-for-success financial products or should they dedicate more resources to innovation and field building?

Keywords

Impact Investment; Social Enterprise; Growth and Development Strategy; Decision Choices and Conditions

Citation

Cole, Shawn, and Fanele Mashwama. "Social Finance, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 219-044, October 2018. (Revised January 2019.)
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About The Author

Shawn A. Cole

Finance
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Related Work

    • October 2018 (Revised January 2019)
    • Faculty Research

    Social Finance, Inc.

    By: Shawn Cole and Fanele Mashwama
    • October 2019
    • Faculty Research

    Tracy Palandjian, Social Finance

    By: Shawn A. Cole and Fanele Mashwama
Related Work
  • Social Finance, Inc. By: Shawn Cole and Fanele Mashwama
  • Tracy Palandjian, Social Finance By: Shawn A. Cole and Fanele Mashwama
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