In Rina’s post, she discusses about celebrity social entrepreneurship. For celebrities it is easier to start businesses and enterprises due to their “celebrity status” and recognition. And in the real world, this is often seen as personalities like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton profit off their infamous status. However, there are other instances where this profit is maximized for the benefit of others; social enterprises. One of the prime examples as discussed in Rina’s blog post would be Jessica Alba.

As a celebrity with a broad fan base, Jessica Alba already has brand recognition not only nationally but in the international community as well. This article in particular intrigued me as I have two younger cousins and having babysat them I know the importance of having non-toxic products around them.

Not only is her initiative for the company, The Honest Company, genuine but it also has a core value which is the foremost important aspect of social entrepreneurship. In a fast developing, industrialized world, it is easy to forget how dangerous the little things can be; such as diapers and baby goods. Social entrepreneurs like Jessica Alba are generating profit but also establishing a message.

I agree with Aimie’s post on the new start-up company Coin. Although it is a very intriguing ad lucrative idea, there is much insecurity to the concept. The idea of having all your cards and credit cards in one single card makes it convenient for any businessman out there. However, for any businessman, I presume, security comes first over convenience. Now, only 26 days away from its launch of pre-orders, it is crucial that the company resolves its key issues.

In order for Coin to be a successful product it must be able to work offline and online. For example, as of now, it has been introduced that the coin card is connected via Bluetooth to a smartphone device. However, this is assuming that this smartphone is running. For security reasons, the coin card will lock up once it is disconnected from the phone for more than 10 minutes.

Moreover, there are no guarantees that credit card companies will agree to this idea of “all inclusive card”. There are liability and fraud issues that undermine the whole concept of Coin. Furthermore, currently, American Express cards are denied by merchants, so how will customers know that Coin cards won’t be denied?

Social enterprises are organizations that apply business skills for core values rather than for profit. In Thailand, social enterprises are supported by the government, allowing the nation to have a sophisticated structure for social enterprise. In 2009, the Thai government formed the National Social Enterprise Committee to raise awareness and gain more finance. The following year, the Thai Social Enterprise Office (TSEO) was formed and $3.2m worth of funding has since been provided.

Other than the Thai government, the King is also a huge contributor of social enterprise in Thailand. Social enterprises such as Change Fusion allow the youth in Thailand to lead the social enterprise movement through social media. Moreover, in preparation for tsunamis in Thailand, social enterprises and various government agencies have gathered to anticipate such natural disasters. However, it is evident that government support is crucial for social enterprises to thrive, as the current government has failed to do so.

The prime minister, elected last June, spent less time for social enterprises than the past, demonstrating less political support for social enterprises. However, the TSEO is hallway through its five-year plan and is in a plethora of investors, leading a bright future for social enterprises in Thailand.
Link to article:

http://www.theguardian.com/social-enterprise-network/2012/sep/07/social-enterprise-thailand-strong-government