Alterna

Alterna is a pioneer in the area of "cultivation," a term we use in two distinct contexts. The first is our approach to working with social entrepreneurs. Just like the best farmers become experts in the characteristics of the soil, climate, and potential threats before planting a crop, we pride ourselves on first establishing a deep understanding... of the environment in which our entrepreneurs operate. Only with that knowledge are we able to allocate the appropriate resources to each social enterprise to ensure that it grows and thrives. The second meaning of cultivation refers to Alterna's efforts to foster a culture of social entrepreneurship in the communities in which we operate. In addition to the positive social impact that a single social enterprise can have, the ability to inspire others is a powerful way to catalyze impact in a community and beyond. WHAT IS A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR? For us, a social entrepreneur is an individual or group of individuals that: 1. Pinpoints a pressing social or environmental problem; 2. Identifies or creates a means of addressing the social or environmental problem, thereby creating the opportunity for positive social or environmental impact; 3. Develops (or intends to develop) a business model to implement the solution to the social or environmental problem with the goal of attaining both self-sustainability and/or profitability; and 4. Has the passion and drive required to overcome the inevitable obstacles that will emerge along the way.Read More