What were the challenges in starting and maintaining the HUB?
JV: Our biggest challenge has been to adapt the European model of the HUB to Latin America. It was a difficult job to get people to recognize the value of working in a shared space, as our culture does not see much value in networking efforts. We have tried to address this challenge by giving importance to personalized and customized advice and monitoring, accompanied by members of our community and its links with other members.
PH: Our first challenge as a HUB was to prove that the concept of a social enterprise is worth prototyping. Against most recommendations, we opened a simple limited company with a social purpose. Soon, we realized we have made the right choice, being able to access a variety of [financing] such as angel investments, loans and recently even equity to expand our business model.
Excerpted from a great article in Beyond Profit where Pablo Handl, Co-Founder of the HUB São Paulo (Brazil), and Julieta Villacaña, Coordinator at the HUB Oaxaca (Mexico), share their experiences and views on the social enterprise landscape and its future in both countries.
