Sanja CancarLearning from Social Entrepreneurs: Intro
Or: Why We Launched This Interview Series.
Around the world, social entrepreneurs are developing innovative responses to some of today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. They operate at the intersection of purpose and practice — often with limited resources, complex local realities, and a deep commitment to creating positive impact.
At ICT4D.at, we believe that learning from these real-world experiences is essential if digital innovation is to truly contribute to equal opportunities for all. That belief is what inspired this interview series.
In collaboration with students from Salzburg College, we set out to explore social entrepreneurship across different regions and contexts by listening to those who are actively shaping change: social entrepreneurs, changemakers, and idea givers.
Why this interview series?
Social entrepreneurship is often discussed in abstract terms — as a concept, a trend, or a buzzword. But behind every initiative are people navigating uncertainty, learning through trial and error, and adapting ideas to real needs on the ground.
Through this interview series, we aim to explore questions such as:
- What motivates social entrepreneurs to start their initiatives?
- Which challenges do they face when building and scaling their projects?
- How do digital tools support their work — and where do they fall short?
- What lessons can others learn from their experiences?
By sharing these stories, we want to make social entrepreneurship more tangible and accessible — not as a polished success narrative, but as lived practice shaped by local realities, experimentation, and perseverance.
A student-driven collaboration
This interview series was developed and conducted by students from Salzburg College as part of the course “Community Engagement: Innovation & Entrepreneurship.”
Throughout the course, students explored how innovation and entrepreneurship can contribute to social impact. They identified inspiring initiatives around the world, reached out to social entrepreneurs, prepared and conducted interviews, and reflected on the role of communication, storytelling, and community engagement in driving change.
We are grateful for the students’ curiosity, commitment, and thoughtful questions — and for the openness of the social entrepreneurs who generously shared their time, insights, and experiences.
From inspiration to action
The stories in this series are not only meant to inspire — they are also an invitation.
If you find yourself thinking “I have an idea too” or “I’d like to use digital tools to address a social challenge”, we encourage you to take the next step(s).
👉 Our global idea contest “Opening Opportunities: Digital Tech for All!” is currently open.
We are looking for feasible ideas on how digital technologies can empower people and create more equal opportunities.
Sometimes, meaningful change starts with listening and learning — and then daring to try.
We hope this interview series offers you insights, motivation, and maybe even the spark for your own idea.
Idea Contest 2025