Social Entrepreneurship – Driving Sustainability in Business

Course objective: 

This course introduces the concept of social entrepreneurship over three different blocks. The first part is dedicated to the definition, history, context and the successes and blockers of social entrepreneurship, including some real-world examples. In the second part the participants will learn to transform a social business idea into a concrete social business plan. The last block of the course is dedicated to the power of storytelling, where participants learn how to pitch their business ideas convincingly.

Key topics:

• Definitions of “social entrepreneurship” and the difference with “entrepreneurship”
• Get inspired by concrete examples of successful social ventures
• Formulate a social business plan using the business canvas methodology
• Learning to think and act like a social entrepreneur 
• The art and power of storytelling in an entrepreneurial context

Duration: 13/11–14/11/2025

Teaching format: Classroom

Examination: A written assignment will be distributed during the course, and due x weeks after the course completion (28/11/2025)

ECTS points: 1

Course fee: CHF 570

Lecturers:

• Christoph Inauen, Choba Choba
• Dr. Fritz Brugger, NADEL (coordination)

For more information please visit nadel.ethz.ch

Registration starts 2nd of June 2025.

Photo credit: Yagazie Emezi/Getty Images/Images of Empowerment