MicroVenturing (MV) is social innovation co-created by Community Enterprise Solutions (our sister organization) and the social entrepreneurship leadership team at the University of Notre Dame. We define a microventure as a small, uncommon enterprise in an unproven environment led by an entrepreneurial individual or organization that produces sustainable and growing economic welfare. The mission of MV is to provide enterprise-responsive catalyzing support for unfinished or “broken” microventures and multiplying support for successful microventures/ventures in order to create additional microventures either upstream, downstream or both.
Recent participant contributions:
Surveyed over 20 small Nicaraguan businesses to understand needs, identify opportunities for improvement and growth and analyze potential solutions.
Created accounting tools to evaluate MicroVentures and project and track growth.
Created tools to implement the MicroVenture social innovations including application form, feasibility study, letters of acceptance, and accounting controls.
Designed a business plan to launch a MicroVenture selling improved "rocket" cookstoves in the Dominican Republic.
Created a process for support, analysis and evaluation of MicroVentures in Ecuador.
Created a business plan to evaluate the feasibility of bringing in additional revenue by adding a cafe to an existing weaving cooperative.
Experimented with opportunities to "pay forward" MicroVenturing investment allowing partners to repay SEC's time and financial contributions through social impact in their communities.
Catalyzed a local honey producers market presence by designing and investing in key publicity.
Strengthened brand recognition for a small cafe by supporting investments in custom packaging
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