Intermediaries and social entrepreneurship identity: implications for business model innovation

What is it about?

We propose a theoretical basis for understanding the role of ecosystems’ intermediaries into the configuration of social entrepreneurship identities in social purpose organisations (SPOs), and their business model innovations (BMIs). Adopting a retrospective multiple case study, we offer insights into the paths/elements that determine the building of 44 social entrepreneurship identities in the context of an emerging economy (Mexico). We propose a conceptual model that highlights paradoxes related to why teams/clients’ attitudes towards the dual identity of SPO’s determine the BMI’s success/failure, and how ecosystems agents' moderate value propositions and impacts. This study enhances the discussion about determinants/consequences of social entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship innovation ecosystems, business model innovations, and social entrepreneurial identities in emerging economies. The implications and future research directions are also discussed.

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