Social entrepreneurship is a relatively new object of research and, despite the growing interest it generates in the literature, there is a diversity of definitions and approaches. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the motivation of social entrepreneurs by applying the push and pull approach. We study the entrepreneurial motivation of 8 social entrepreneurs. Findings suggest that social entrepreneurs are motivated by a combination of both push and pull factors and drivers of motivation are not only at an individual level (personal needs) but also at a social level through the recognition of social needs.

Social entrepreneurship is a relatively new object of research and, despite the growing interest it generates in the literature, there is a diversity of definitions and approaches. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the motivation of social entrepreneurs by applying the push and pull approach. We study the entrepreneurial motivation of 8 social entrepreneurs. Findings suggest that social entrepreneurs are motivated by a combination of both push and pull factors and drivers of motivation are not only at an individual level (personal needs) but also at a social level through the recognition of social needs.