Can Social Entrepreneurship Work in the Rust Belt?
Discover the challenges of social entrepreneurship success from a female founder and young mom in a declining downtown in the US rust belt
What lessons can be learned about social entrepreneurship success from a coffee shop founder in a declining downtown in the US rust belt?
Launching her coffee shop in a declining downtown in the US rust belt in 2003, entrepreneur and young mom Jennifer Brogee thought that a well written business plan and a social mission was the path to success. After being denied funding, she soon realized the many challenges she would face as a young woman and mother in business. Social Entrepreneurship in the Rust Belt documents Jennifer’s 20-year business evolution from startup to exploring new paths beyond the coffee shop. A business model with tight margins and high overheads, Jennifer details how she navigated the Great Recession, COVID and how she juggled multiple careers.
A story of independence and interdependence, this book is ideal reading for students of Business and Entrepreneurship, Gender Studies, and Cultural Studies as well as entrepreneurs and small business managers.
What lessons can be learned about social entrepreneurship success from a coffee shop founder in a declining downtown in the US rust belt?
Launching her coffee shop in a declining downtown in the US rust belt in 2003, entrepreneur and young mom Jennifer Brogee thought that a well written business plan and a social mission was the path to success. After being denied funding, she soon realized the many challenges she would face as a young woman and mother in business. Social Entrepreneurship in the Rust Belt documents Jennifer’s 20-year business evolution from startup to exploring new paths beyond the coffee shop. A business model with tight margins and high overheads, Jennifer details how she navigated the Great Recession, COVID and how she juggled multiple careers.
A story of independence and interdependence, this book is ideal reading for students of Business and Entrepreneurship, Gender Studies, and Cultural Studies as well as entrepreneurs and small business managers.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Learning objectives
Chapter 1 Entrepreneurship roots
Chapter 2 Business as mission
Chapter 3 Mom entrepreneur
Chapter 4 Finding funding
Chapter 5 Growth
Chapter 6 The Great Recession
Chapter 7 Re-invention
Chapter 8 Slowdown
Chapter 9 Macroenvironment
Chapter 10 Twentieth anniversary
Chapter 11 Social mission
Epilogue: Mistakes made, lessons learned
Recommended activities and discussion questions
Afterword
Appendix: Excerpts from original business plan and year one financials
References
Recommended further reading
Index
Jennifer Brogee MBA is an Assistant Professor of Business at University of Northwestern Ohio and Founder and CEO at The Meeting Place on Market.
