A
FINAL PROJECT REPORT ON "RISE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN
PUNJAB"
SUBMITTED TO:
PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION (BBA) BY HARSHDIP KAUR
UNIVERSITY ROLL NO. 21045260
Batch: 2021-24
GURU NANAK KHALSA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN, GUJARKHAN CAMPUS,
MODEL TOWN
LUDHIANA-141002
AFFILIATED TO PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
If words are considered as symbol of token and appreciation then let words play
their heralding role of expressing my sincerest gratitude and thanks.
Foremost of all I express my sincere gratitude to ALMIGHTY for bestowing upon
me favours and keeping me in high spirit.
I am highly thankful to Mrs Maneeta Kahlon (Principal of GNKCW) for complete
support. I wish to express my deep gratitude to Mrs Jaspreet Kaur (Lecturer of
GNKCW) for acting as a guide and providing me with continuous support and
guidance. This report could not have been completed without the input and the
words of advice from her for which I shall always remain grateful to her.
I am highly thankful to all the people directly related and students for being
cooperative, without whose help this project would not have proven meaningful.
HARSHDIP KAUR
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project entitled "Rise of Social Entrepreneurship in
PUNJAB” submitted by Harshdip Kaur (BBA-III, ROLL NO. 21045260) to Panjab
University, Chandigarh in partial of Business Administration, has been approved
after an oral examination, in collaboration with external examination.
Mrs Jaspreet Kaur
(Project Advisor)
(External Examiner)
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the subject of entrepreneurship, owing
primarily to the findings and realizations of economic analysts around the world that small
businesses contribute significantly to the greater economic development and vitality of any
society or country. Furthermore, many people choose entrepreneurial careers and paths because
they believe they will reap greater commercial and psychological benefits than the conventional
repetitive huge business methods. Social entrepreneurship is progressively becoming an
essential, relevant, and critical component in the global discussion about volunteerism and civic
commitment.
Social entrepreneurship is strikingly apart from the present different types of entrepreneurship
routes due to its value proposition and the very fact that it gives the money making a heart and a
noble social cause. The dominant factor for the rise of social entrepreneurship is the societal
pressure that is forcing humans to do something for the society and its present day affairs at large
but at the same time having a monetary gain factor to it that can make them survive in this world
as well. In today’s times when environmental problems are one of the major global concerns
hovering over the earth, environmental entrepreneurship can be seen as a subcategory of
sustainable entrepreneurship which in turn is a subcategory of social entrepreneurship.
The role of the business community in fulfilling the technical and non-technical requirements of
the society has been challenged for a long time. Conventional business models are all directed
towards the maximization of revenue and economic profits, which in turn steer the firm to
emphasize on improving self-proficiency to be more resourceful in fitting the market’s demands.
Nevertheless, the market capacity and resources are limited and the competition is ever
increasing! This pushes enterprises to focus on recognizing profits and notwithstanding the long
term development that it owes to society.
With increase in social problems, new challenges have risen for commercial firms which follow
traditional business practices. There has been an increase in the number of companies that have
started to think about corporate social responsibility (CSR). On the other hand, organizations that
particularly target to soothe these social pressures have increased progressively as well.
Nonetheless, these two practices above have their restrictions due to the crucial emphasis on
either profit maximization or social value only. Now the main question which drills down is to
accomplish the social mission and gather financial sustainability simultaneously which has
stirred researchers and entrepreneurs to explore further in this field. In the times of this
increasingly prevailing chaos, social entrepreneurship comes to the rescue. Though there are
many examples of successful social entrepreneurship ventures and industries in the recent years,
this notion is still a new one. In times when many countries are specifically facing the dilemma
cited above and are searching for ways to cope up with the burdens from both economy and
society, it is meaningful to examine why this kind of business venture is budding and spreading
globally and how its theory and procedure could be defined and explained.
Understanding Social Entrepreneurship
Social Entrepreneurship represents a fusion of entrepreneurial principles with a steadfast
commitment to fostering positive societal change. Unlike conventional entrepreneurship solely
driven by profit motives, social entrepreneurs operate with a dual bottom line - seeking both
financial returns and meaningful impact on communities and the environment. At its essence,
Social Entrepreneurship embodies innovative approaches, sustainable business models, and a
deep-seated empathy for addressing systemic social and environmental issues.
The Need for Social Entrepreneurship Today
In the contemporary era marked by unprecedented global challenges, the imperative for Social
Entrepreneurship has never been more profound. With escalating income inequality,
environmental degradation, and social injustices, traditional approaches to economic
development and philanthropy have proven inadequate in addressing the root causes of these
complex issues. Social Entrepreneurship offers a compelling alternative, harnessing the power of
entrepreneurship to drive sustainable solutions that prioritize social welfare alongside economic
prosperity. By leveraging market mechanisms and innovative strategies, social entrepreneurs
play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between profit-driven endeavors and inclusive
development.
Entrepreneurial Demographics of Punjab, India
Nestled in the fertile plains of northern India, Punjab boasts a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem
shaped by its agrarian heritage, industrial prowess, and enterprising spirit. Historically
recognized as the 'Granary of India' due to its agricultural productivity, Punjab has evolved into a
dynamic hub of economic activity, encompassing diverse sectors such as agriculture,
manufacturing, and services. The entrepreneurial zeal permeates through the fabric of Punjab's
society, with a multitude of small-scale enterprises and family-owned businesses contributing
significantly to the region's economic prosperity.
Moreover, Punjab's entrepreneurial landscape is witnessing a notable paradigm shift with the
emergence of Social Entrepreneurship. Driven by a burgeoning awareness of social and
environmental issues coupled with a desire for impactful change, a new wave of social
entrepreneurs is spearheading innovative ventures aimed at addressing local challenges. These
ventures not only create economic opportunities but also catalyze social cohesion and sustainable
development in Punjab.
Fig. 1 Major Entrepreneurial Areas of Punjab State
Factors Responsible for the Sudden Growth of Social Entrepreneurship in Punjab
Several factors have contributed to the rapid proliferation of Social Entrepreneurship in Punjab,
India. Firstly, the increasing recognition of social and environmental issues within the local
community has spurred a heightened sense of civic responsibility among aspiring entrepreneurs.
Additionally, advancements in technology and communication have facilitated greater
connectivity and collaboration, enabling social entrepreneurs to leverage digital platforms for
amplifying their impact and reaching a wider audience.
Furthermore, supportive government policies and initiatives aimed at promoting
entrepreneurship and innovation have provided a conducive ecosystem for the growth of social
enterprises in Punjab. Initiatives such as funding schemes, incubation centers, and regulatory
reforms have incentivized aspiring social entrepreneurs and provided them with the necessary
resources and support to translate their ideas into impactful ventures.
Moreover, the cultural ethos of Punjab, characterized by a spirit of philanthropy and community
welfare, has provided fertile ground for the growth of Social Entrepreneurship. Drawing
inspiration from traditional values of seva (selfless service) and sarbat da bhala (welfare of all),
social entrepreneurs in Punjab are driven by a deep-rooted commitment to making a positive
difference in society.
REVIEW OF
LITERATURE
Doherty et al., (2014) realized that going with the then current trends, it was noticeable that the
boundaries between non-profit achievements and profit making goals were getting diminished
and more fluid. This aspect was thoroughly explored by them. They used exhaustive searching to
select research literature to capture diversity in SE and presented an analysis of methodologies.
This analysis helped them to structure the centrality of the concept of hybridity to SE
management processes. Their research highlighted several concerns regarding the enactment of
SE management processes.
Bala et al., (2013) drills into the dynamic nature of social entrepreneurship and argues upon the
two overlying and possibly conflicting notions. Firstly, social outcomes and impacts are of the
utmost importance, i.e., consequences of the social activity should be taken into consideration
and secondly, the focus should be on generating returns and profits and to create a market value
along with the social outcomes. They successfully proposed the Hybrid Middle Ground System
Fig. 2 The Hybrid Middle Ground System Model
which encompasses the business and commercial techniques along with not-for-profit managerial
approaches and business and social goals.
Wolfgang (2012) tried to establish that this force can be exerted with various means like rules,
norms, sanctions and accreditation mechanisms. The amount to which a particular area of nonprofit activity is effected by social enterprise and the outcomes can be studied with the help of
structuration of organisational fields. Structuration is the process by which areas of a social
activity are ordered. At much higher levels, this accounts to increasing organisational interaction
and incorporation thereby developing a consensus although no methodical research has been
taken place by the approaches specified. One more theme that went unaddressed was to what
degree non-profits rely extensively on earned income and are successful in their ventures. We
also need to identify that earned income can govern non-profits. Conceptual challenges root out
from the fact that best practices are not customary and the theory of change is not aligned.
Further, operational challenges consist of situations where values cannot always be measured and
quality measurement is not sound. Structural challenges comprise of the issue that important
diversity exists within each non-profit field. Lastly, practical challenges involve the fact that the
requirements are not clear and precise, the priorities are not sorted and are inconsistent and that
interaction is restricted. There exists a wave of tension between the non-profit vision and the
market phenomenon. Mission drift is a situation where activities to meet financial goals start to
dominate or change social decrees. To identify this drift, the management need to look closely at
changes in the day to day activities.
Cai and Sun (2012) gave 4 prepositions that were complementing the research that they had
carried out. These prepositions which are namely, prior knowledge, previous experience, social
networks and entrepreneur alertness of social entrepreneurs in totality have constructive and
encouraging effects on opportunity recognition in the field of social entrepreneurship. Nonprofits that also earn income and profit are not a new occurrence.
Jeremy et al., (2009) stated that as a budding research stream, social entrepreneurship suffers
from issues that are common to early strategic management and entrepreneurship research such
as the lack of construct legitimacy and undefined theoretical content. The research on social
entrepreneurship is shifting from having a primary focus on public policy concerns to go on to be
a more central topic in the business literature. There is considerable variance in the measurement
of social entrepreneurship having measurements range from qualitative assessments such as the
nature of innovation, the fit of opportunity with the community’s objectives, and the
implementation strategies to the more easily quantifiable targets like the total contribution and
the size of donation. The research in non-profit organizations has traditionally been concerned
with reducing social ills, providing social goods that the marketplace will not adequately supply,
and supplementing government activities through the actions of private citizens. When
entrepreneurship and public/non-profit research collaborate, they form social entrepreneurship by
including activities that contribute to new social value creation to meet unfulfilled social needs
and/or create social values. It also creates an innovative process in which opportunities are
exploited through bringing together a unique package of resources in the context of a non-profit
or public sector organization.
Jahanna and Ignasi (2006) aimed to explore the fundamentals of social entrepreneurship in order
to guide future research. The basic idea was that if social entrepreneurship was to become a
structured field of research, work must be done to simplify and describe crucial notions and
paradigms regarding the same. For this, we look on to hands-on examples of social
entrepreneurship to categorize and elaborate the necessary modules. Social entrepreneurship can
be seen as a procedure of generating worth by integrating resources in novel ways. These
resource arrangements are proposed principally to discover and exploit opportunities to produce
social value by motivating social change or meeting social needs. Social entrepreneurship can be
regarded as a process involving the contribution of services and products but can also denote the
creation of new organizations. Social entrepreneurs are categorized by their very distinct
behaviours of special management skills, a desire to comprehend their vision, and a durable
ethical fibre. Not considering the definition of profit versus not-for-profit, the key variance
between entrepreneurship in the business sector and social entrepreneurship can be seen in the
comparative significance given to social wealth creation versus economic wealth creation. While
in business entrepreneurship, social wealth creation is considered a consequence of the economic
value created, in social entrepreneurship the key motivation is on social value creation. This
however, does not imply that social entrepreneurial activities should not clasp an earned income
strategy. The knowledge on social entrepreneurship can only be boosted by the use of a diversity
of theoretical lenses and a permutation of different research methods. Evaluating social
performance and influence is one of the utmost challenge for experts and researchers in the
domain of social entrepreneurship. The actual trick may not be the measurement per se, but
rather how the actions may be used to compute the performance and impact of social
entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship can suit on manifold forms depending on socioeconomic and cultural circumstances. Saying it in a different manner, the authors pointed to the
significance of the concept of embeddedness to the study of social entrepreneurship.
Ana and Murdith (2006) proposed that social entrepreneurship is implemented with suitable
flexibility where in some person or a group of people intent at creating social value either
exclusively or at least in some prominent way and envision a capacity to recognize and take
advantage of opportunities to create that particular value. They talked about how they employ
innovation, extending from complete invention to adopt originality of others, in producing and/or
dispensing social value and are also prepared to handle any type of risks that have occurred or
can occur. They are unusually resourceful in being relatively undeterred by scarce assets in
pursuing their social ventures. They also helped to define the range of social entrepreneurship
Granovetter (1985) concluded that economic activities take place within a social context and
consequently a firm’s economic activities are affected by the cultural context in which it is
rooted. Social entrepreneurship can be mapped to business entrepreneurship in one way, of
which opportunity identification is one of the major components of the description. For the
record, recognizing opportunities too is the starting point of social entrepreneurship but the
current researches are typically fixated on social entrepreneurs but not on the process of social
entrepreneurship. As a result, very little research identified the need of opportunity recognition
and the factors influencing it. Entrepreneurial alertness makes it possible to make full use of
information when gained so that we can identify opportunities that were not found by others. An
individual’s distinguishing prior knowledge which forms a knowledge corridor is a substantial
aspect for opportunity recognition because this knowledge of entrepreneurs coming from their
work experiences and backgrounds, affects their comprehensive ability, judging skills, analytical
and logical ability, application ability and so on and so forth. Researchers generally stick with the
opinion that entrepreneurs could obtain information that was significant to opportunities with the
help of their social networks, thus refining the success rate of opportunity recognition. When
entrepreneurial behaviour is entrenched in social networks, the connection between these social
networks and entrepreneurs and the association between resources and opportunities could
encourage or restrict entrepreneurial behaviour.
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
With the aim of defining and determining Social Entrepreneurship and its prevailing existence in
the ecosystem of Punjab, various research methodologies have been put to use.
Secondary Data
This research has taken references and data of various official reports published by the
Government of Punjab State, Government of India and Independent Authors. The resources
referred have been attached in the Bibliography section of this research project.
Primary Data
Furthermore, the research has also used primary data for analysis. For this, a
questionnaire/survey was devised using Google Forms and was then circulated amongst citizens
of varied backgrounds. The analysis of the data collected has been done in the Data Analysis and
Interpretation Section of this research project.
During the entire process of collecting and interpreting the Primary and Secondary Data of this
research project, many difficulties were faced which may have acted as limitations to complete
efficiency of the project. These have been discussed in the Limitations Section of the research
project.
Research Objectives
The following are the research objectives of the research project that the researcher seeked to
gain knowledge of:
➢ Defining Social Entrepreneurship
➢ Examining Awareness of Social Entrepreneurship amongst general citizens
➢ Assessing role of Educational Institutions of Punjab in promoting awareness and skills
related to Social Entrepreneurship
➢ Identifying Aids provided by Government of Punjab and other Institutions in promoting
Social Entrepreneurship
➢ Studying Successful Cases
➢ Identifying Challenges faced by Socialpreneurs.
DATA ANALYSIS
AND
INTERPRETATION
Punjab’s Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: The THEN vs NOW Report
Time is a very joyfully confusing component of our lives. While one is always motivated to look
upon to, think about and direct things towards forward; the future, we are also advised to know
and embrace and keep in the back of our mind our pasts. This helps us track the velocity of our
progresses while also ensuring that we in no way are getting back to square one.
Keeping the same lessons in mind, what is to follow now is the analysis of Punjab’s movement
towards Social Entrepreneurship. This will be done by comparing performance reports of the
years 2019 and 2022.
Before we move forward, below is a glimpse of Agendas listed in the Industrial and Business
Development Policy of Punjab 2017.
• Focus on startup and entrepreneurship
o To facilitate 1000 start-ups in 5 years
o To set up 10 incubation centers/ accelerators in the State particularly focusing on Digital
manufacturing, Lifesciences (Biotechnology), Agro & Food Processing and Information
Technology
o To build strong linkages with all the major institutions
o To facilitate 50 Entrepreneurship Development Centers in the colleges
• To improve the ease of doing business in the State
o To be in top 5 States in the Country in ease of doing business in 3 years and top position
in 5 years
o To strengthen Invest Punjab initiative by setting up of Business First portal for a single
unified interface to the Industry and Businesses for all regulatory and fiscal services
throughout their lifecycle
• The State would support cluster specific bottom up approach to build and strengthen Startup
and Entrepreneurship ecosystem in the State. The State would follow an entrepreneur centric
approach fostering connections and learning. The State will facilitate networking between
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship support organizations by bringing entrepreneurs together in
an environment that catalyzes learning. The State would set up a dedicated organization for
spearheading its strategy and action plan for promotion of Startup and Entrepreneurship
• The State has a large number of reputed national level research and academic institutions
particularly around the State capital such as Indian School of Business (ISB), Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Indian
Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and National Agri-biotech Institute apart
from various State Universities for Technical Education and Higher Education and other
institutions of excellence.
• University & College Incubators: The State will promote setting up of Incubation Centers in
Universities and other Academic Institutions. These incubation centers play an important role in
promoting entrepreneurial culture in students. It inculcates the concept of entrepreneurship in the
mind of students in place of finding the jobs after completing their study. Besides the principles
and practices of good business ownership which incubator programs provide, the student
business owners also enjoy a creative, innovative, and engaging environment. The State will also
put in the efforts to build strong academia industry linkages and networking through these
incubation centers. The incubation facilities could also be made available to non-residents or
non-students to bring greater benefits and learnings for all stakeholders. The students will be
provided information and support regarding available State & Central schemes, incentives, and
grants.
• IKG PTU to set up Fund for Startup: In order to help youth of the State and develop them
into entrepreneurs, IKG Punjab Technical University in partnership with State Government will
set up Startup Fund of Rs. 100 crores, which will be used for promoting incubation centers,
seed money for Startups, scale up funding and other support to the Startup units. 25% funds will
be dedicated to promoting Startups by SC and Women entrepreneurs.
• Incubation Centers by other Government Organizations: There are a number of Incubation
Centers set up by various Central and State Government organizations such as Biotech Incubator,
STPI Incubation Centre. These incubation centers need to be promoted effectively and necessary
linkages with the State Government programs and industry shall be provided.
• Private Incubators and Accelerators: The State would also encourage private sector lead
Incubation Centers and Accelerators and provide them necessary support. The State would frame
a scheme to provide various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to promote development of
Incubation Centers in private sector.
• Setting up of sector specific incubators: In order to provide impetus to entrepreneurship in
the focus sectors for development, the State would encourage setting up of sector specific
incubators such as Digital manufacturing, Lifesciences & Biotechnology, Agro & Food
Processing, and Information Technology. These incubators will be set up in and around the
existing and envisaged industry clusters in the State.
• Creation of common infrastructure and co-working spaces: The State would facilitate
creation of adequate support infrastructure for boosting innovation ecosystem. Such
infrastructure would be created across different sectors in all districts in Punjab and would
comprise of components such as: (i) Ready-to-use office spaces (ii). R&D and testing labs
(iii). Software and hardware solutions (iv). Services such as legal, accounting, HR, IPR, etc.
(v). Facilities such as internet connectivity, electricity, water, security, etc.
• Special Focus on Women Entrepreneurship
o Women entrepreneurs constitute a small percentage of overall entrepreneurs. Women
entrepreneurs need to be encouraged for significant social and economic development
and inclusive growth. The State would identify specific challenges women entrepreneurs
face in formal and informal sectors of economy including rural and urban areas and
create facilitative environment for women entrepreneurs to contribute to economic
development.
o The State would encourage women entrepreneurs, create awareness among women
entrepreneurs on various State & Centrally sponsored schemes. The State would also
handhold women who have business ideas and are interested to start their business
ventures. The State will provide specific schemes to promote Women entrepreneurship.
• Special Focus on SC Entrepreneurship
o For growth and prosperity to be truly inclusive, all sections of the society need to partake
in this prosperity. Besides wage employment and education, the marginalized sections of
the society also need to envision, create and scale-up ventures to be a major participant in
this growth story. There is a need to substantially increase SC entrepreneurs and number
of SC owned enterprises to enable the socio-economic empowerment of the SC
communities.
o The state would encourage SC entrepreneurs, create awareness among SC entrepreneurs
on various State & Centrally sponsored schemes and provide handholding support to
them. The state will dovetail Standup India program with State specific schemes to
promote entrepreneurship amongst SC youth.
Fig. 3 Snippets from the Punjab Start Up Policy
Findings
With the Industrial and Business Development Policy of Punjab 2017 and its revision with the
formation of Aam Aadmi Party Government in Punjab, an attempt was made to study the
progress directed towards Entrepreneurship. The parameters assessed included:
A. Performance level of Punjab State in development of Entrepreneurship Initiatives
B. Incubators and Institutions
C. Identification of Social Enterprises over the years
D. Questionnaire Analysis
A. Performance level of Punjab State in development of Entrepreneurship
Initiatives
Fig. 4 Summary of Performance in the Year 2019
Note: The above image depicts the performance of Punjab State with respect to other states of
the country in the form of Percentiles in the Year 2019. The outer ring is the 100% of the Best
State Performer while the widened line depicts Punjab States performance in comparison to the
Best State.The above report is the performance of the Punjab State Government for the year
2019. Next what is going to follow is the report of Year 2022 which was officially published on
24th Feb 2024.
64%
36%
Fig. 5 Summarized view of Performance in 2022
Above is the summarized performance of Punjab in the Year 2022. It is to be noted that the
figures mentioned above are in Percentile form i.e it compares the performance of the state with
the best performing states. For Example, in the Funding Support category of assessment, Punjab
stood at 85%ile. This means that there were only 15% more states who were better at providing
fund support when compared to Punjab.
Furthermore, the journey of Punjab’s incredible growth journey in their unwavering commitment
towards growth of Entrepreneurship has been discussed in the following section.
Every state on the basis of the score of their performance assessment is ranked into different
categories namely, Beginners, Emerging Startup Ecosystems, Aspiring Leaders, Leaders, Top
Performers and Best Performers.
Following is the graph of all states as their performance was evaluated since the beginning of
StartUp India initiatives at State Level. It is to be noted that prior to the launch announcement of
Startup India only states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan and Karnataka were having
dedicated entrepreneurship promoting policies of their own. It was only after the launch of
Startup India Initiative in January 2016, that other states too showed compliances. Punjab joined
the Startup India Initiative in November 2017 while introducing Startup Punjab and many other
initiatives along the same lines.
Table 1 Startup India Initiative Joining
S.No Name of State
Joined
S.No.
Name of State
Joined
1.
West Bengal
Jan 2016
14.
Sikkim
Sept 2017
2.
Teleangana
April 2016
15.
Haryana
Sept 2017
3.
Gujarat
June 2016
16.
Goa
Sept 2017
4.
Uttar Pradesh
July 2016
17.
Punjab
Nov 2017
5.
Odisha
August 2016
18.
Assam
Dec 2017
6.
Bihar
Sept 2016
19.
Maharashtra
Feb 2018
7.
Chhatisgarh
Sept 2016
20.
Jammu & Kashmir
Sept 2018
8.
Jharkhand
Sept 2016
21.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Dec 2018
9.
Madhya Pradesh
Oct 2016
22.
Tamil Nadu
Jan 2019
10.
Himachal Pradesh
Nov 2016
23.
Nagaland
June 2019
11.
Manipur
Nov 2016
24.
Meghalaya
June 2019
12.
Mizoram
Jan 2017
25.
Tripura
Oct 2019
13.
Uttrakhand
June 2017
26.
Puducherry
Dec 2019
27.
Arunachal Pradesh
July 2020
Fig. 6 States and Union Territories Performance in Pearior
Before we move on, here’s the breakdown of how each state is categorized in different categories
on the basis of their performance. Each state’s score is calculated by the SRF (State Ranking
Framework) unit of the Startup India by taking into consideration the 7 aspects/pillars of
consideration. The SRF too, follows both quantitative and qualitative methods in order to
determine the scores of the states for the mentioned aspects. These aspects may change year on
year on basis of priorities of the nation. For Example, the aspect of Sustainable Future as a pillar
of assessment was only introduced in the Year 2021.
The scores obtained for each state separately are then used to calculate the percentile of the state
in comparison to other states. This leads to final categorization. Below are the corresponding
percentiles required to obtain a specific category.
Below are the details of Fig.7 thus breaking down the list of state’s performances in the Years
2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. Performances of Year 2020 were not published due to the advent of
Covid-19 wherein most of the economic activities of the nation were shut down.
Fig. 8 Breakdown of various titleholders from Year 2018-2021.
Below is the performance of Punjab State in the Year 2022. The image is a map of India showinh
the position or rank of various states and union territories in promoting entrepreneurship in the
nation. Positions can be interpreted by matching the colour with proposed position.
Fig. 9 Snapshot of performance by various states.
Fig. 10 Newspaper publication of recognition of Punjab as Top Performer as declared by SRF
B. Incubators and Institutions
The state of Punjab has 21 potential institutional incubators in the Year 2022 as compared to
8 active potential institutional incubators in the Year 2019.
Year
2019
Fig.11 Major Educational Institutions as Incubators in the Year 2019
S.No. Snap
1.
Table 2 Potential Incubators of Year 2022
Name of Incubator
Technology Business Incubator
Foundation
Thrust Areas: Manufacturing, IoMT and
Healthcare Technologies, IoT, AI, ML,
Defence & Security.
Location
IIT Ropar
2.
Agri-Food Bioprocessing Incubator, DBT
NABI-CIAB Campus
Mohali
Thrust Areas: agriculture, food, nutrition
and bioprocessing
3.
i-RISE TBI IISER
Total Startups: 30
Events Organized: e TREX Startup
Conclave, Ideaphied, Tech Startup
Connect and Grow Workshop under SHE
initiative
Mohali
4.
Punjab Agri Business Incubator, Punjab
Agricultural University
Thrust Areas: Functional Health &
Convenient Food, Food Processing, Waste
to Wealth, Farm Mechanization, Bee
Keeping/Honey Processing, Mushroom
Cultivation, Agri Clinic Services, Organic
Farming & Inputs, Precision Agriculture,
Floriculture and Landscaping and Agri
Supply Chain.
21 Uddam Aid and 33 Udaan Aid
Ludhiana
5.
Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI)
Mohali
Thrust Areas: Food, Water, Agriculture,
Environment and Health
6.
Incubation Centre IKGPTU
Aims to nurture Student Startups
Kapurthala
7.
NITJ Technology Business Incubator
Thrust Areas: Energy and Environment
Total Incubations: 25
18 Physical Incubates & 7 Virtual
Incubates.
Jalandhar
8.
Golden Jubilee Centre for
Amritsar
Entrepreneurship and Innovation (GJCEI),
Guru Nanak Dev University
Facilities: . Around 120 all-inone
computers, servers, printers, workstations,
photocopier machines, high speed internet
facilities and IPR (Intellectual property
Rights) Cell
9.
10.
Atal Community Innovation Centre
(ACIC) RISE Association, Chandigarh
Engineering College (CEC), Chandigarh
Group of Colleges, Landran
Mohali
Total Incubations: 40
Facilities: Co-working space, computer
facilities and advanced labs in Drone
Technology, Cyber Security and 3D
printing with support like Knowledge
Sessions, Access to Advanced Labs &
Prototyping Facilities, Industry & Investor
Connect, IPR (Patent filing), Legal
Support, Technical Support (Idea to POC),
Mobile Application Development & Raw
Material Support.
Innovation Studio, Department of
Phagwara
Entrepreneurship, Lovely professional
University
Total Incubations: 185+
Recognitions: STEM Award in NASA
Human Exploration Rover Challenge in
the USA(2019), 1st Prize in Smart India
Hackathon in the year 2019 & 2021 and
Digantara Research and Technologies of
LPU students is recognized among the top
10 space ventures in World and
participated in pitching sessions in
Washington, USA.
11.
Science and Technology Entrepreneurship
Park (STEP), Thapar Institute of
Engineering & Technology
Total Incubations: 70
Patiala
12.
Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation
(CIIF), Chitkara University
Total Incubations: 170+
Facilities: Industry desired mentoring,
space, flexible leases, shared use of
common office equipment, direct business
assistance and guidance, networking to
capital, connecting to industry for
business pilots / growth of start-ups and
other technical resources
AIC ISB Association
AIC ISB assist ventures to establish
strong Operations, HR, Finance, Audit
and Compliance systems that will make
the start-up growth-ready.
Total Incubations: 100
Rajpura
CTU Business Foundation Technology
Business Incubator (CTUBF-TBI), CT
University
Provides support and resources to earlystage start-ups.
Ludhiana
13.
14.
Mohali
15.
Baba Farid School of Entrepreneurship
(BFSoE)
Achievements: In 2023, two startups of
BFSoE showcased their products at G20
Summit held at Amritsar and one startup
got recommended for grant-in-aid under
SHE Initiative.
16.
Technology Business Incubator @ Desh
Bhagat University
Thrust Areas: IT & IT Enabled Services,
Healthcare, Agriculture, Manufacturing,
Clean Energy & E-Commerce,
Hospitality, Pharmaceutical, BioMedical,
Life Sciences & Fin-Tech.
17.
PCTE Incubator
Ludhiana
PCTE Incubator provides Office Space at
subsidized rates, Personal Computer,
Internet Connection, Telephone
Connection, Office furniture,
Accommodation subject to availability,
Conference room with projection
equipment and Branding to startups. In
addition Advice and Expertise in
Marketing, Finance, Regulations,
Intellectual property, initial funds/Pre seed
& Seed money, network and linkages.
Science & Technology Entrepreneurs'
Ludhiana
Park, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering
College
130+ Successful Entrepreneurs
Incubated 26 Physical Startups and 6
Virtual Startups
19.
20.
Starthub Nation
The office setup includes meeting and
conference rooms, gaming area, pantry
area and parking. The office is 24/7 and
365 open and is being securely and
safeguarding monitored by cameras and
guards.
Bhatinda
Mohali
21.
Startup Accelerator Chamber of
Commerce (SACC)
Total Incubations: 150+
SACC provide free incubation,
mentorship, handholding to
underprivileged student founders, support
for funding, marketing and technical
compliance assistance.
C. Identification Of Social Entreprises
Prior to 2022 very few social enterprises have existed that were incubated in Punjab and are
actually based on Social Entrepreneurship. Discussion of those enterprises in brief has been
done below.
In the Year 2019, out of 23 startups incubated in Punjab, 10 were based on the idea of Social
Entrepreneurship. These were:
Fig. 12 Prominent Social Entrepreneurship Startups of Punjab prior to 2022
Mohali
For the Year 2022, a total of 45+ Social Entrepreneurship Startups were identified. Below are
their names with description.
S.no.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Social Entrepreneurship Startups incubated/aided in the Year 2022
Startup Name with Description
Grainpad Pvt. Ltd.
First Invention of GRAINPAD is an Artificial Intelligence named ZINI that can run a
thorough patient interview, evaluate symptoms and guide patients according to their
inputs and symptoms. lt can be used to get preliminary health care advice. lt can also
be used to assess the risk of COVID 19 infection in an individual and guide them on
what to do next.
M/s Track The Trash LLP
The Trash LLP is a smart waste monitoring and management system which will allow
the waste managing organizations to have a clear view of the current waste stats in a
particular area. Using the Track the Trash App, they can also monitor employee
activity and efficiency, thus making the system all the more robust.
M/s Medyhealth Technology Pvt Ltd
Zorgers bring home world-class medical assistance & provide stress-free home health
care for patients, dependent elders and new mothers. They currently operate from 03
cities of Northern India and through a network of 3100+ healthcare professionals.
Jiyyo Innovations Private Limited
Startup is Opening JiyyoMitra e-clinics in rural areas with local work force and
connects them to qualified doctors.
M/s Aamztofaamz Technosolutions Pvt Ltd
Aamztofaamz Technosolution Pvt Ltd. represents a shake hand between Ex
Servicemen and farmers. To address the problem of Farmer Distress, they at
Arms2Farms, TM, shall attempt to bring manufacturing processes closer to the farmer,
through innovative intervention of Ex Servicemen (ESM) in Processing and Logistics.
M/s Edu Zore LLP
Eduzore LLP is an edu-tech company Who tends to create Digital Tuition centers for
the students studying in schools and colleges. This platform helps student to study
after their respective school timings even at homes
Cloud Scale Innovation Pvt Ltd
Cloud Scale Innovation is a women-led start-up working towards innovation. It was
founded on 6th Nov 2020 with idea of "Transforming Cloud & Data Center
Management and profitability with ® Integrated Data-Insights". Cloud Scale Inc is a
Start Up registered with both Startup Punjab and Startup India.
M/s BSI Green Re Volte Services LLP
The startup is working on charging and refurbishment of batteries which is a green
project with no polluting discharge and emissions.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Shizen Technologies
Shizen is on a mission to decarbonize the global economy to restore a healthy carbon
cycle, necessary to mitigate risks and disasters from climate change, ultimately
enabling a rich and healthy biodiversity, harmony between natural and urban
ecosystems, and good quality of human life for everyone, everywhere.
M/s Disruption Technologies Pvt Ltd
Real time child tracking software for school software and attendance management
through facial recognition has huge scope of solving problems and scale up to national
and international level through android based tracking and attendance management.
M/s Witty Browns Ventures LLP
The idea is to promote student skills online by giving them access to marketplace
where they can showcase their work related to their talents and skills. Startup will also
be provided with mentors if they opt in to develop their skills further
M/s Focal Skill Development Pvt Ltd
Focal Skill Development Pvt. Ltd has been constituted with the objective of
introducing professional and systematic approach of skill development in the Skill
Development Sector using an innovative and collaborative approach. Their endeavor
is to reach out to the youth in rural and semi urban areas and empower them with
livelihood opportunities using skill development
Endoenergy Systems Private Limited
Wearable assistive exoskeletons to help persons Brief Solution / Product move around
for normal living tasks such as sitto-stand, stair climbing, stable standing, walking and
general moving around. The main market is consumer products for elderly persons
starting to have difficulty in mobility due to ageing so they can live in their own home
with good quality of life for as long as possible.
Waypals Systems Private Limited
Waypals is most Comprehensive "Connected Mobility SAAS Platform", specializes in
the field of Connected Insurance. Waypals provides a platform, which connects
Insurer with people and their risks. It provides a direct and constant channel of
communication between the insurer and insured
Agpharm Bioinnovations LLP
AGPHARM BIOINNOVATIONS LLP's VOLAFRESHTM is a novel bio based shelf
life enhancer, which creates a pronounced antimicrobial action that minimizes
spoilage or decay & enhances the shelf life of the farm produce by 7-21 days w/o cold
storage thus reducing PHL & GHG
Rimone Ingenious Pvt Ltd
RIMONE is a technical solution for charging batteries of electrically powered
vehicles. It deploys the principle of opportunity charging, the most cost and energyefficient methods of keeping hybrid and electrically powered vehicles optimally
operable
Pherious Inventions Pvt Ltd
, Startup is working deeply on the norms of industry 4.0 with a mission to develop an
advance version of smart city called smart city 2.0, working on conversion and
transformation of clean and green energy using waste energy resources that can power
a city 24*7*365 at very cheap cost without disturbing our eco-system.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Green Innovatech Solutions Pvt Ltd
Startup is working on idea of Solar Plastic Pyrolysis system (SPPP) to maximize the
efficiency of the pyrolysis reactor as well as conservation of the environment and
production of energy as a byproduct apart from producing Paraffin as waste product
with high calorific value while simultaneously reducing the burden of polluting
landfills, freeing up the landmass and SAVING ENVIRONMENT. It is a system
where in the various types of waste Plastic, which is nonBiodegradable or slow
degradable
Simbaquartz Private Limited
Startup is on the mission to emerge as a leading fullservice agency, helping MSME
and MNCs alike towards digital transformation via integrated IT solutions for their
operations management and sales automation and the vision is “Changing Lives” by
giving high quality training and generating employment in the rural parts of Punjab.
Gloalgeus Innovation Pvt Ltd
Startup is a biotechnology research and development company working in healthcare
sector. It have products like algae based air purifier, algae based respirator and some
other products as well. The mission is to make patentable products providing solution
to the common being.
Cerebralx
Startup, Cerebralx is a neurobionics company working in the field of Assistive
Technologies. Xone is a brain reading wearable that enables people with various
neurological disorders to manipulate devices and computers, smart phones which can
help in improving the quality of life and their ability to function in the world.
Neslak Biosciences Private Limited
NesLak Biosciences is a biotechnology start-up company involved in improving
access to mothers' milk for the babies. Startup is providing first-in-the country service
of freeze drying the mother's milk as per mother's individual need and convenience.
This unique service allows the mother to ensure that her baby has access to her
mothers-own-milk (MoM) at all times, irrespective of the mother's physical presence.
Pure Happiness Foods Private Limited
Startup manufacture(s) Millet (Ragi and Jowar), Quinoa based snacks and wholegrain
breakfast cereals through extrusion technology. This would change the eating habits of
people and in turn open tremendous opportunities for large scale employment and
income enhancement for our farmers.
Enivox Solar Power
The startup is working on to facilitate quick decomposition in biogas plant thus
reducing cycle time and enhancing production and to make renewal energy.
M/s Mapic Foods Private Limited
Startup has developed a product which is made from black wheat, sorghum, barley,
oats, atta, desi ghee & amp; jaggery that provides iron & fiber. More over the products
are rich with goodness of super foods such as chia seeds & flax seeds which is rich in
fiber and omega3
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
Countryside Express Courier and Cargo LLP
Startup connects Rural India with the Ecommerce world with the help of its last mile
delivery network and assisted commerce platform operated by Village level Micro
Entrepreneurs.
Empyrean Global
Startup is working on leftover of paddy straw into manure. Compressed bio gas and
ethanol is extracted from paddy straw and Lignin is left which is then converted into
manure. Half harvested straw, fully harvested straw and wood husk can be converted
into bio bitumen through pyrolysis and is added to bitumen for paving. Crumb rubber
and plastic waste is successfully used in road paving.
Herbovive Private Limited
The startup aims to provide an alternative OTC solution for the management of varied
medical issues employing herbal remedies. The goal is to provide pure natural quality
herbal remedies free from harmful chemicals and preservatives at affordable prices.
Evapo Tech Private Limited
Startup manufactures pollution control devices with the use of the internet of things
(IoT) & artificial intelligence (AI)-based models and environment monitoring devices
which further helps industry in improving the production safety by preventing and
reducing the chemical waste.
Hnaya Educational Services Pvt Ltd
Startup is working to create a learning community of social interaction among
students, colleges & corporate for their education & business needs. There is lack of
comprehensive platform where students, colleges & corporate can interact & solve
their education, talent & Business related needs.
Blueway Nutrients Private Limited
Startup, Blueway Nutrients Private Limited is from Agri, Food Processing and
Beverages sector. Company is providing fortified rice, which is made after grinding
the rice with modern machines, externally mixing the essential elements i.e., iron,
folic acid and vitamin B12 required for the human body & again given the form of
rice just similar to the rice produced by the farmer. Customer gets required nutrients,
and the risk of many serious diseases is reduced to a great extent. Women get special
benefits by consuming this rice and the risk of anemia is almost eliminated.
Jaggercane Superfoods Private Limited
. According to WHO in India, more than 50% of women and children have iron
deficiency, and on the other hand they are the largest consumer of refined sugar, which
contains zero nutrients. India, needs some affordable and nutritious sweetener options.
Startup has come up with a solution in form of jaggery & wants to make it a daily
dietary habit, by introducing new age varieties of jaggery that can be consumed by all
age groups. Jaggercane aims to nudge people towards jaggery, a healthier affordable
sweetener that can cater to more than 30% of a person's daily iron intake
Invitante Solutions Private Limited
Gofresh vending machine provides instantly made fresh healthy, hygienic fruit juice &
salad with no human intervention. Startup has fabricated this machine in house with
100% food grade material to enhance the efficiency of this machine. USP of the
startup is Contact less operation, No human intervention, Full customization,
Biodegradable disposals, Affordable prices& 24/7 availability.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
HanuAI Private Limited
AI based solution by Startup helps in identifying the road anomalies (potholes, cracks
and patches) in an automated, transparent way and accurately pin point the location of
the anomaly through GPS mapping of the road. AI based solution can help in video
based detection and classification of road anomalies by passing the road survey videos
through the trained model having the ability to exactly pinpoint the location of the
anomaly through the solution and it is totally transparent in terms of date & time
stamp mapping.
Add Veda Lifecare Pvt Ltd
Add Veda operates with the objective of providing natural, chemical-free, healthy
solutions for the mind, body and soul. Startup offers a wide range of Ayurvedic 40
plus proprietary medicines, classical formulations, supplements and cosmetic
products.
Sova Skills Education Private Limited
An EdTech Startup, that works with a prime focus on building cognitive skills in
students. SOVA SKILLS is an online school that deliver the 21st century skills to
students. Startup offers AI integrated software to analyze the students and then work
on their cognitive skills
Besure Buddy
Startup has worked on establishing a Mobile app based healthcare and assisted
mobility solution for empowering the vulnerable section of society to lead a fulfilling
life by providing them with independence through mobility that is safe and reliable.
To create a green ecosystem for mobility with an end to end mobility system available
on a call or press of a button for the ones in need with a focus on Cabs with porter
/caretaker service for armed forces, senior citizen, differently abled, Children with
special needs and general public (for hospitals).
Gokboru Tech Pvt. Ltd.
Startup provides affordable and accessible online education to students in India by
offering live online classes for students of grades 9 onwards through college at a cost
of Rs. 17 per day only. Additionally, the company offers a science program for
students in grades 11 and 12, which is significantly cheaper than other programs
available in the market, making it accessible to a wider audience. Its novelty i.e.
combination of low pricing and flexible payment options, makes it possible for
students to pay as little as Rs. 300 per month
Edshire Global Skills
Startup is a dynamic soft skill development company offering live and pre-recorded
courses, counselling, and AR/VR integration. Our live courses provide interactive
learning, and feedback, and cover a wide range of soft skills. The courses cover a wide
range of soft skills, including communication, leadership, problem-solving, teamwork
and emotional intelligence.
Terafac Technologies Private Limited
Startup introduced TFT Ed-Rigs, an Industrial Miniature kit to address the problem of
skill gap. The kit allows students to mimic core automation processes of various
industries and get the hands on experience of latest technologies. The novelty of this
product lies in its structural design, modularity, and interactive training interface. The
modularity allows students to mimic multiple processes by plugging various modules
that comes with the rig. We make tech students Industry ready
41.
42.
43.
42.
43.
44.
45.
Huskage Innovations Private Limited
Startup has embarked upon the journey based upon the unique idea to produce value
from waste by converting farm residue especially rice straw into Green hydrogen, the
fuel of the future. Startup aims to produce Green Hydrogen, Carbon Neutral fuels and
other byproducts derived from cured Biomass by refining and developing indigenous
technology sourced from topmost Research Institution of India.
M.F. Agrotech
Startup is working on water and sewerage/waste water treatment plants. Startup
provide & execute technology-based solutions for the waste water treatment. They
provide reuse and recycling solutions for proper treatment and disposal of waste water
with specific processes.
Premia Chemicals Private Limited
The Start Up has developed a chemical product which among other things, aims to
reduce the water consumption by 20-25 percent. The start-up aims to revolutionize the
traditional dyeing process. It has developed a chemical product which will reduce the
water consumption involved in traditional dyeing process, reduce the effluent
treatment plant charges involved subsequently and reducing the total dyeing process
time.
LWP Biocoal LLP
Field firing of post harvest non fodder residues is local air and global environmental
problem. This waste has very good heat value but needs to be processed to make it
useful as coal replacement in boilers/kilns. Further, India is coal importing country
thus there is urgent need of commercially and environmentally sustainable solution.
Startup has developed low cost biomass torrefaction technology which is versatile and
can convert any type of local biomass into coal like fuel and can create lakhs of local
employment and will save millions of tons of CO2 emissions.
Padhakku Peek A Book Pvt Ltd
Padhakku is working with a vision to create a one stop solution for students pursuing
higher education and also connect with higher education students by providing them
with a sustainable solution of renting books in their initial years of college and with
placement preparation packages towards their end journey.
TRINJAN Kala Sangam LLP
TRINJAN is an extension of Kheti Virasat's Mission (KVM) for Rural Livelihood
through Traditional Skills. Kheti Virasat Mission is a registered charitable trust with
its headquarters in Jaitu, Faridkot, Punjab. The startup provides a platform to rural
artisans to reexplore their art, earn livelihood and share their wisdom. It is a platform
of collective teaching and learning with a close association of nature and culture.
Scrapbuk Services Pvt. Ltd
Scrapbuk is a technology based startup for the sale and purchase of Scrap material
with the help of mobile application. The startup promotes the benefits and impacts of
recycling on environment and also sustainability by selling ecofriendly products such
as Seed Pencil, sustainable Pens, calendar, and wood free Eco-Friendly rims. The
startup was given seed grant by Startup Punjab which helped it to increase their
product range and in turn revenue.
46.
47.
48.
M/s Roschcrete Technologies Pvt Ltd
Manufacturing of smart bricks, stones composed of waste as it will recycle plastic,
rubber, glass, construction waste on large scale and also come out with a smart
product like kerbstones for road safety, enhancing the roads and reducing accident
alongside
Holokitab Technologies
HoloKitab manufactures Augmented Reality enabled products. Interactive 3D books
using Augmented Reality. The said technology is used to make textbooks smarter and
Fun, which enhances child's cognitive ability
Black Eye Technologies Pvt Ltd
Black Eye Technologies Pvt. Ltd is working in the Agri tech domain to automate
irrigation and soil testing for farmers, which increases farmer's income, saves natural
resources by limiting its usage and increases the crop yield.
D. Questionnaire Analysis
For quantitative research methodology, a questionnaire was made keeping in mind the
various objectives of this research. This questionnaire was circulated amongst citizens of
various age groups so that an effective conclusion could be reached. In total, 50 responses
have been collected.
The questionnaire consisted of a total of 10 questions and also included credential related
information like E-mail ID, Age, Respondent Status and other such credentials.
The questionnaire/survey used as the primary method of data collection has been attached in
the Questionnaire section of the research project.
The 10 questions asked related to areas that could test the general awareness of public
towards understanding of concept of Social Entrepreneurships, awareness of initiative taken
towards development of social entrepreneurship, role of educational institutions in promotion
of social entrepreneurship and other aspects which were mentioned in the research
objectives.
Each question asked in the questionnaire has been discussed and presented in a summarized
manner with the statement of question being first, followed by a diagram representation and
an interpretation.
An additional table of illustration has been provided wherever assumed necessary.
Starting now are the discussion of questions asked in the survey.
1. Whether or not, NGOs are an example of Social Entrepreneurship
Total Respondents: 50
Definetly No
Yes
Not Sure
ANALYSIS
For the question as to whether or not NGOs can be considered as an example of social
entrepreneurship or not, 52.4% (22) respondents said Yes, 26.2% (11) respondents said that they
were not sure and 21.4% (9) respondents said NO.
An NGO RUNS ON FUNDING WHILE A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR FINANCES HIS
WORK THROUGH HIS/HER EARNINGS. THEREFORE, AN NGO CANNOT BE
CONSIDERED AN EXAMPLE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
THE ABOVE SURVEY QUESTIONS’ PURPOSE WAS TO TEST THE KNOWLEDGE UPON
THE CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE RESULT INTERPRETED
IS THAT RESPONDENTS HAVE VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE VITALS OF
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
2. Categorization of examples into Social Entrepreneurship
Example Categorization
19%
17%
A firm that sells IT solutions to
other firms nationwide at
discounted rates.
A firm that provides E-Learning
platforms to rural areas exclusively.
28%
36%
A firm that produces thermal
electricity and plant trees by
spending 15% of its profits
None of the Above
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked to classify examples of different entrepreneurships
and business concepts into that of Social Entrepreneurship. 17% (7) respondents said that a firm
selling IT solutions at discounted rates to other firms nationwide as an example of Social
Entrepreneurship, 36%(15) respondents said that a firm that provides E-learning platforms to
rural areas exclusively should be considered an example of Social Entrepreneurship, 28%(12)
respondents said that a firm producing thermal electricity and spending 15% of its profits on
planting trees should be considered an example of social entrepreneurship and 19% (8)
respondents claim that None should be selected as examples of Social Entrepreneurship.
EXPLAINATION
PROVIDING OF PRODUCTS AT DISCOUNTED RATES IS A STRATEGIC MEASURE
OF CUSTOMER ACQUISITION HENCE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXAMPLE
OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
SPENDING OF 15% OR ANY OTHER PECENTAGE OF PROFITS ON ADDRESSING ANY
KIND OF SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL OR ECONOMIC ISSUE IS ONLY CORPORATE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR). IT IS NOT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS IT
IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROFIT THAT WE CONSIDER.
PROVIDING OF E-LEARNING PLATFORMS TO RURAL AREAS EXCLUSIVELY IS
AN EXAMPLE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS IT BELONGS TO EDUCATION
DOMAIN AND AIMS TO REMOVE DISPARITIES.
3. Performance evaluation of Government of Punjab in promoting Social
Entrepreneurship
PROMOTION EVALUATION
The Government has proactively developed schemes to promote Social Entrepreneurship
Despite the schemes introduces there is little promotion
the government of Punjab has not done anything to promote Social Entrepreneurship
24%
40%
36%
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked about their views and attitude towards the
Governments initiatives taken towards promoting Social Entrepreneurships. 40% (17)
respondents said that the Government has proactively developed schemes to promote Social
Entrepreneurship, 36%(15) respondents said that despite the schemes introduced there is little
promotion and 24%(10) respondents said that the Government has not done anything to promote
Social Entrepreneurship.
The Government of Punjab has actually taken a lot of initiatives regarding promotion of
entrepreneurship in the state. This includes Startup Punjab, Invest Punjab, Punjab Yatra and
many others.
Moreover, the initiatives that Punjab state has taken this time are different in the sense that these
have been proven to be few of the many initiatives that have actually gained success unlike
measures that were introduced many years ago. Indeed, there have been many instances in the
past wherein Government used to take initiatives for the well-being of the public but the benefits
would never reach the prospective beneficiaries. The reason behind these failures used to many
such as ineffective planning or execution, loopholes in the system, fraud or mistakes by
authorities, lack of knowledge of beneficiaries, educational constraints, corruption etc.
However, this time results have been seen due various favorable economies of scale.
4. Awareness of Social Entrepreneurship Startups
STARTUP AWARENESS
None
1
2
3
Earth5G
Sayarans
2% 2%
19%
36%
24%
17%
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked if they know about the existence of any of the given
social entrepreneurship startups: i) Agnext
ii)Zadd Automotive
iii) Tiktalkto
They were also given the option of mentioning names of other startups that they knew about if
not the given ones.
To this, 36% (15) respondents said that they knew None of the mentioned Social
Entrepreneurship Startups, 17% (7) respondents said that they knew about 1 of the given
startups, 24% (10) respondents said that they knew about 2 of the mentioned startups, 19% (8)
respondents said that they knew about the existence of all the 3 mentioned Startups.
Moreover, two respondents knew about the presence of those Social Entrepreneurship Startups
that were not precisely mentioned in the given question.
Agnext is an AI-powered instant food quality assessment solution for both physical & chemical
parameters of commodities such as grains, oilseeds, pulses, tea, coffee, milk, spices & animal
feed. Zadd-Automotive is a sustainable e-bike making firm and TikTalkTo aims to make meeting
the psychologists normal and completely prejudice-free.
5. Awareness of Governmental and Other Initiatives
INITIATIVE AWARENESS
None
1
2
3
17%
28%
17%
38%
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked if they were aware of any of the given
Governmental or Non-Governmental Initiatives that are taken to promote Social
Entrepreneurships: i)Invest Punjab
ii)STPI Incubation Centres
iii) RIAC Hoshiarpur
To this, 28% (12) respondents said that they knew about None of the given initiatives, 38% (16)
respondents said that they knew about atleast 1 initiative, 17% (7) respondents each said that
they knew about the presence of atleast 2 and 3 initiatives respectively.
The Government of Punjab has actually taken a lot of initiatives regarding promotion of
entrepreneurship in the state. This includes Startup Punjab, Invest Punjab, Punjab Yatra and
many others.
Moreover, the initiatives that Punjab state has taken this time are different in the sense that these
have been proven to be few of the many initiatives that have actually gained success unlike
measures that were introduced many years ago. Indeed, there have been many instances in the
past wherein Government used to take initiatives for the well-being of the public but the benefits
would never reach the prospective beneficiaries.
6. Degree of Agreement for Involvement of Educational Institutions for
promoting Social Entrepreneurship
EDUCATION AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Strongly Agree
Agree
5%
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5%
38%
52%
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked if according to them Educational Institutions should
be playing a role in promoting Social Entrepreneurship or not.
To this, 38% (16) of respondents Strongly Agreed that Educational Institutions should play a role
in promoting Social Entrepreneurship, 52% (22) of respondents Agreed that Educational
Institutions should play a role in promoting Social Entrepreneurship and 5% (2) respondents
each Disagreed and Strongly Disagreed respectively that Educational Institutions should play a
role in promoting Social Entrepreneurship.
The question asked is such that it is safe to say that an unanimous answer has been received that
educational institutions should definitely play a role in promoting Social Entrepreneurship.
Indeed, in the recent actions that have been taken to promote Entrepreneurship by different
entities i.e Governmental or Non-Governmental, primary importance has been given to
educational institute collaborations.
Enough stress has been given on the lines that students should become “JOB GIVERS” and
NOT “JOB SEEKERS”
7. Strength of Educational Institutions in promoting Social
Entrepreneurship
Educational Institutions Promotion Strength
Yes, it is due to our education
system that Punjab is a State of
Entrepreneurs
14%
20%
Our education system can be
considered one of the many factors
that promote Social
Entrepreneurship
23%
43%
No, our education system does not
promote any kind of
entrepreneurship
Definitely No, our education system
is the reason that students only
become job seekers and not job
givers
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked to assess the strength of educational institutions to
act as a leading factor towards promoting social entrepreneurship.
To this, 20% (9) of the respondents said that it is due to our education system that Punjab is a
State of Entrepreneurs, 43% (19) of respondents said that our education system can be
considered one of the many factors that promote Social Entrepreneurship, 23% (10) of
respondents said that our educational institutions do not promote any kind of entrepreneurship let
alone Social Entrepreneurship and 14% (6) of respondents critically said that our education
system is the reason that students only become job seekers and not job givers.
It has been seen that educational institutions have actually played a pretty role in making
successful entrepreneurs out of students in universities. Honorable mentions include LPU with
185+ incubations, Chitkara University with 170+ incubations , ISB with 100 incubations, and
NIT Jalandhar. However, it has been seen that majority colleges other than those mentioned
above or local colleges are still at critical stages as education is redundant and inefficient.
8. Awareness of MoU between Government of Punjab and Educational
Institutions
MOU SIGNING
Yes, every detail of it
Yes, I have heard of it
No, I do not know anything about it
9%
34%
57%
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents if they were aware about a signing of MoU between the
Government of Punjab and 5 educational institutions. To this, 9% (4) of respondents said that
they knew every detail to it, 57% (25) of respondents said that they have heard of it and 34%
(15) of respondents said that they didn’t know anything about it.
The Government of Punjab had signed an MoU with 5 educational Institutes of the State with IIT
Ropar being included in it.
The mentioned MoU focused on Resource Sharing and Skill Development.
9. The Primary Challenges faced by Social Entrepreneurs
SOCIALPRENEUR CONSTRAINTS
Lack of Government Support
Lack of Awareness Among Community
Lack of Entrepreneur Oriented Education
All Of The Above.
All of the above and Profits and Purpose
2%
16%
45%
30%
7%
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked to identify and select the primary constraints faced
by Social Entrepreneurs. They were also given the option of mentioning Challenges other than
those given in the options.
To this, 16% (7) of the respondents selected Lack of Government Support, 30% (13) of the
respondents selected Lack of Awareness Amongst Community and 7% (3) of the respondents
selected Lack of Entrepreneur Oriented Education as the Primary constraints faced by Social
Entrepreneurs. 45% (20) of the respondents said that All of the Given Options acted as
constraints for Social Entrepreneurs. One respondent added an additional constraint faced by
Social Entrepreneurs. This was Balance Between Profits and Purpose.
According to a research paper by Hardeep Singh and Bikrampal Singh, apart from the constraints
mentioned above Social entrepreneurs also face other constraints/challenges. This includes Lack
of Communication and Leadership Skills, Stereotypes present among Consumers, Brainstorming
real revenue models from typically charity/ funding oriented ventures, etc.
The link for the above research paper has been shared in the Bibliography Section.
10. Performance in Punjab Industrial and Business Development Policy2017
Policy Performance
7%
The Govt. of Punjab has
outperformed its promises
32%
29%
The Govt. of Punjab has met its
promises
The Government of Punjab has
Underperformed its promises
32%
I have no idea of the mentioned
policy
ANALYSIS
In the questionnaire, respondents were asked if according to them the Government of Punjab has
met its promises as mentioned in the Punjab Industrial and Business Policy- 2017 or not?
To this, 7% (3) of the respondents said that the Government of Punjab has outperformed its
promises, 29% (13) of the respondents said that the Punjab Government has successfully met its
promises and 32% (14) of the respondents critically said that the Punjab Government has
underperformed its promises. Apart from this 32% (13) of the respondents also said that they had
no idea of the mentioned policy.
The inputs received for this question are mixed which indicates towards different awareness
levels amongst respondents.
50+ events were undertaken to encourage entrepreneurship amongst 6000 students approx., 75+
startups were provided with fundings, 170+ startups were focused towards sustainability,
renewable energy and climate change and 200+ Women-led startups were provided incentives.
There is not much information on SC Entrepreneurships.
CONCLUSION,
SUGGESTIONS
& LIMITATIONS
CONCLUSION
After all of the research that has been conducted it has been found with due diligence that, there
is a significant number of Social Enterprises spurring in the past few years especially since the
Government has also taken its plunge upon it. With the increasing startups that the Punjab
Ecosystem is becoming a home to, the presence of Social Entrepreneurs fails to remain
unnoticed.
Apart from the Government, there are private institutions as well that are taking enormous
amount of initiatives in order to aid and promote these entrepreneurs.
However, it has been observed that there is a substantial lack of awareness amongst general
public about the awareness of Social Entrepreneurship concepts and its presence as our
surroundings which is further a consequence of many other factors in itself. This lack of
awareness has also acted as one of the primary challenges that every Socialpreneur faces.
Although, educational institutions have proven to be excellent sources of promoting
Entrepreneurship, this opportunity of performance has only been limited to the premium and
popular institutes of the state. On the ground level, local institutes have had from very little to no
role to play in this venture. The education system and methodologies followed is still job-seeking
oriented. However, the potential of students studying in these local institutes is something that
cannot be commented upon.
SUGGESTIONS
With the ever increasing and record breaking amount of social entrepreneurship startups that the
land is witnessing, both Governmental and Non Governmental Institutions have contributed
significantly for these ventures so that it can be ensured that there is no going back. However,
with the findings and limitations perceived; the following are suggested……..
Firstly, there is a massive need for awareness about social entrepreneurship amongst general
public. It is due to lack of awareness that concepts like Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),
Social Activism and Social Service Institutions are often misunderstood to be the same as Social
Entrepreneurship.
Secondly, it should be ensured that the schemes and policies introduced by the Government
should reach the ears of its prospective beneficiaries with high effectiveness so that the hardwork
put in pays off. It has been observed that the Govt. of Punjab has actually put in a lot of efforts to
elevate itself of its malice, however, many of their schemes go unnoticed and are not taken
advantage of.
Thirdly, local educational institutions should concentrate more on making their students
responsible and rather aware citizens who are not only scholars on papers but also intellectually.
Entrepreneurship as a path to monetary freedom should not only be restricted to renowned
institutions of the state nor should be an outcome of desperate actions of unsatisfied job seekers.
LIMITATIONS
The Sample Size of this survey was limited to 50 respondents only. This may have misguided
the result of the research as these respondents represent the entire population.
Amongst the inputs given by the 50 respondents as well, it may be possible that responses are
questionable due to own biases and awareness.
The study conducted though based on the entire state of Punjab was only limited to some of its
areas like Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Phagwara.
The research project may have lacked professional approach since the researcher is only an
undergraduate student.
Although, efforts were made to have maximum level of participation of respondents in the
research, this effort remained one-sided in many cases due reasons such as no responses,
inconclusive responses, casual responses etc.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
References used as secondary data for the research paper are as follows:
Industrial_Policy_2022.pdf (pbindustries.gov.in)
Punjab_Layout.pdf (startupindia.gov.in)
Punjab_State_Report_Updated_26072020.pdf
Punjab_Layout.pdf (startupindia.gov.in)
Punjab Startups | Entrepreneurs & Startups in Punjab [Exhaustive List] (startuptalky.com)
punjabstartupecosystem 2022.pdf
Social entrepreneurship: the need, relevance, facets and constraints | Journal of Global
Entrepreneurship Research (springer.com)
THE
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Are NGOs an example of Social Entrepreneurship?
•
Yes
•
Not Sure
•
Definitely No
2. Which of the following examples according to you can be categorized into Social
Entrepreneurship?
•
A firm which sells IT solutions to other firms nationwide at discounted rates
•
A firm that provided e-learning platforms in rural areas exclusively
•
A firm that produces thermal electricity and plants trees by spending 15% of its
profits
•
None of the Above
3. How would you evaluate the performance of the Government of Punjab in
promoting Social Entrepreneurship?
•
The Government of Punjab has proactively developed schemes to promote Social
Entrepreneurship
•
Despite the schemes introduced, there is little promotion
•
The Government of Punjab has not done anything to promote Social
Entrepreneurship.
4. How many of the following Social Entrepreneurship Startups have you heard of?
a.Agnext
•
None
b. Zadd Automotive
c. TikTalkTo
•
1
•
2
•
3
•
Others (please specify)
5. How many of the following Governmental and Other Initiatives have you heard of?
a.Invest Punjab
b. STPI Incubation Centres
•
None
•
1
•
2
•
3
•
Others (please specify)
c. RIAC, Hoshiarpur
6. How likely are you to agree that our educational institutions should play a role in
promoting Social Entrepreneurship?
•
Strongly Agree
•
Agree
•
Disagree
•
Strongly Disagree
7. Do you feel that our current education system is strong enough to promote social
entrepreneurship?
•
Yes, it is due to our education system that Punjab is a state of entrepreneurs.
•
Our education system can be considered as one of the many factors that promote
social entrepreneurship.
•
No, our education system does not promote any kind of entrepreneurship
•
Definitely No, out education system is the reason that students only become job
seekers and not job givers.
8. Do you know anything about the MoU signed between the Punjab Government and
5 educational institutions in order to promote Entrepreneurship?
•
Yes, every detail of it
•
Yes, I have heard of it
•
No, I do not know anything about it.
9. What according to you are the primary challenges or constraints faced by social
entrepreneurs?
•
Lack Of Government Support
•
Lack of Awareness among Community
•
Lack of Entrepreneur Oriented Education
•
All of the Above
10. How do you think the Government of Punjab has performed according to the plans
mentioned in the Punjab Industrial And Business Development Policy – 2017?
•
The Govt. of Punjab has Outperformed its promises.
•
The Govt. of Punjab has met its promises.
•
The Govt. of Punjab has Underperformed its promises.
•
I have no idea of the mentioned policy.