Startup initiatives in social service industries: cohousing and energy communities

Abstract

Innovative companies turn transformative ideas into products/servicies to generate a profit, while social startups aim to build a better world by providing social benefits. With a novel focus on Spain, this study examines the development of cohousing and energy communities and the barriers to their implementation. The aim is to clarify whether these communities should be governed under the same principles as social startups, with government support to encourage their growth. The data for the study were gathered from semi-structured interviews with promoters of these initiatives. The results highlight the features that they share with social startups, as well as the need for harmonised regulations to govern their implementation. The findings also underscore the importance of educating people about the need to bring about a social transformation, which will require widespread community acceptance. Decision-makers should encourage the development of social startups to ensure the transition to a sustainable economy.

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