Social enterprises are new hybrid business models that combine the sustainable features of for-profit businesses with the philanthropic missions of non-profits. These enterprises, such as Benefit Corporations and L3Cs, are examples of what Bill Clinton and Bill Gates hail as exciting solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social problems.

Impact investing can be described as the emerging trend of investing not only based on traditional financial factors, but also on social, environmental, and community impact – “the triple bottom line.” Supporting social enterprises with scalable solutions and suitable capital, impact investing has quickly become the future for bringing market attention to neglected populations.
Increasingly, the larger and more mainstream players in the business world are recognizing the powerful and lasting impact of social enterprises and social-financial innovation. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have started their own Urban Investment and Social Finance Group respectively.

Lectures will only comprise of 30% of the class. This course is designed to encourage learning through engaging, experiencing and interacting. IISE Students will engage in a semester-long impact investing simulation game within groups with fellow students. Guest speakers will come to class to share their firsthand experiences as leaders in the social enterprise and impact investing space. Finally, students will participate in discussion, analyzing case studies, and develop their own business model/investment firm.

At the conclusion of the course, students will have both developed an in-depth understanding of the industry and the breadth of the many spheres within social enterprise that have become common within the our world.