Socially-Oriented Ventures and Traditional Entrepreneurship Education Models: A Case Review

As an academic area of study, entrepreneurship has become institutionalized and now includes students from a diverse range of disciplinary fields (M. M. Mars, 2006, 2007). Consequently, students' range of entrepreneurial interests has also become more diverse in scope and nature. Specifically, more students studying entrepreneurship are expressing interest in socially-oriented ventures, which challenge the established instructional methods and strategies that faculty have used in teaching entrepreneurship courses. The present article outlines such challenges that a professor faces in teaching a venture finance course that includes entrepreneurship students pursuing a socially-oriented venture as part of a year-long experiential project. The authors also provide 2 complementary cases to more adequately frame recommendations for practice.