Engaging symbiotic ecosystems to build community centred business models for the BoP: Evidence from small social enterprises in East Africa

Abstract

This article examines how small social enterprises (SSEs) in East Africa build business models for base of the pyramid (BoP) markets, through engaging symbiotic ecosystems. Through in-depth qualitative research, a three-stage process is identified. First, SSEs learn and become sensitised to the manifold challenges of building business models for BoP markets. Second, SSEs identify and connect with key BoP actors, weaving them together to create a symbiotic ecosystem and to overcome the aforementioned challenges. Third, SSEs harness this symbiotic ecosystem to deliver community-centred business models for the BoP. This research contributes to social entrepreneurship, small business, and BoP literatures, by shedding light on the challenges faced by SSEs working in the BoP, and through novel elaboration of how SSEs develop and interact with symbiotic ecosystems to surmount these challenges. It also provides important practical insights, for social entrepreneurs and social enterprise managers in Africa and elsewhere.

Enabling bricolage in resource-constrained contexts: the role of sense of community and passion in African social entrepreneurs

“…Heeding the previous insights, this study offers implications for the wider ecosystem actors, such as intermediaries, business accelerators, incubators, universities, impact investors and innovation hubs (Busch and Barkema, 2021; Sottini et al. , 2022).…”

“…Our results first suggest the need for such actors to better identify passionate entrepreneurs as key enablers in their networks; secondly, such ecosystem actors should re-direct their efforts in supporting business models designed to incorporate relationships with local communities (Ciambotti et al. , 2020; Sottini et al. , 2022).…”

“…According to this, SSEs seek to adopt market-based approach (some form of commercial activity to generate revenues), while pursuing social and environmental goals (Doherty et al, 2014). However, SSEs typically operate in resource-constrained environments, such as developing economies (Bacq et al, 2016;Shepherd et al, 2021;Sottini et al, 2022). Such contexts strongly affect the entrepreneurial ventures of SSEs, who often engage with EB to operate in such resource-constrained environments (Di Domenico et al, 2010;Busch and Barkema, 2021).…”

“…, 2019), and usually operate in contexts characterised by resource constraints (Shepherd et al. , 2020; Sottini et al. , 2022).…”

“…Small social entrepreneurs (SSEs) are involved in the innovative use and combination of resources to pursue opportunities to create social and environmental value through profitmaking activities (Mair and Marti, 2006;Murphy and Coombes, 2009;Saebi et al, 2019), and usually operate in contexts characterised by resource constraints (Shepherd et al, 2020;Sottini et al, 2022). To overcome such limitations, SSEs often engage in so-called entrepreneurial bricolage (EB) (Di Domenico et al, 2010;Busch and Barkema, 2021), that is, an approach of "making do by applying combinations of the resources at hand to new problems and opportunities", using creativity and improvisation and refusing to be constrained (Baker and Nelson, 2005).…”