Social entrepreneurship, social networks and social value creation: a quantitative analysis among social entrepreneurs

Social enterprises primarily strive to create social rather than financial value. However, depending on the social enterprises’ underlying business model, financial value may be a secondary goal to help achieving the social mission. Qualitative research suggests that a social entrepreneurs’ social network is vital to fulfil both missions, yet the literature at this inter-face is scarce and demands more quantitative research. Using an international dataset of 390 social enterprises, our study addresses this demand by empirically investigating the impact the different structural dimensions of the social entrepreneurs’ social network have on the social as well as financial value creation. The main findings indicate that social networks mobilised through network quantity, network widespread and network diversity contribute to the social enterprises’ social and financial success. In addition, our study shows that the underlying business models of social entrepreneurs also determine the achievement of social and financial success.