Change with Business

Social entrepreneurship, as an inclusive business model is considered an effective tool to address social problems, as it employs a business approach to solve the most important social issues. The role of social entrepreneurs as “Changemakers” in their communities expands, by providing services and products that improve the quality of life of many disadvantaged groups. Despite an increasing number of social enterprises and their growing impact, the new sector lacs a supporting ecosystem.

In May 2016, Koç University Social Impact Forum with partnership of UniCredit Foundation and Vehbi Koç Foundation launched the “Change With Business” Social Entrepreneurship Development Program in Turkey, aiming to increase the social impact of social entrepreneurs by helping them to achieve sustainability. The two year program will address obstacles to the development of the social entrepreneurship sector and its embedding in the Turkish social and economic system.

The activities will focus on three main areas:

Developing the knowledge and skills of social entrepreneurs
Supporting the development of financing mechanisms and engaging the financial sector
Supporting the development of a supportive ecosystem for social entrepreneurs

As there is a strong need to encourage the financial sector in Turkey to develop strategies that answer the needs of social enterprises and to comply with the background of the Turkish financial market, the project is being implemented in cooperation with Yapı ve Kredi Bankası A.Ş.