This course introduces social entrepreneurship as a foundation for start-ups seeking social and environmental impact. The class is taught from a practitioner’s point of view designed to be both collaborative and interactive. Students will be placed in teams to engage in the development of a social value enterprise by first identifying a current social issue and then proposing a targeted solution.

We begin with concept design, explore ideas and market opportunities. We follow with feasibility assessment and concept validation. Teams will create a business model with its mission to successfully drive societal change for the benefit of its stakeholders.  The course concludes with an investor pitch deck presentation necessary for seed funding (pre-launch).

Industry Professional Bio: Larry Spera

Lawrence Spera is the managing partner of Road Angel Capital, LLC, adiverse investment company that specializes in real estate related activities as well as seed funding and early-stage financing to companies that focus on community impact through social innovation. Currently, he mentors and advises early-stage start-ups through the Keller Center’s eLab Accelerator program at Princeton University and social impact start-ups at North Carolina State University’s Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship program.