FAQ
The MySBM initiative…
What is MySBM?
MySBM is a pedagogical tool that is designed specifically for social innovators. The app helps to better formulate a business strategy as well as a business model. See Our Mission and How does it work? to learn more.
What does MySBM mean?
MySBM is short for My Social Business Model:
“My” as the objective is to help you realize your project, in all its specificity.
“Social Business” as social innovation is more and more becoming recognized as a viable alternative to traditional entrepreneurship with financially sustainable social organizations becoming increasingly prominent.
“Business Model” in reference to a tool that is largely used by entrepreneurs around the world following the growth of the Business Model Generation framework
Who is behind MySBM?
The platform Imagination for People is developing this tool as a way to further its mission of helping social innovators around the world.
What is the business model of MySBM?
MySBM is a free web application designed to help people. We offer training workshops and consulting services for certain organizations – public and private – and wish to lead participatory workshops to co-construct ‘Social Business Models’, even within an intrapraneurial framework (social entrepreneurship within existing companies to help make them better).
The development of MySBM…
Who is MySBM for?
The tool has been developed specially for social innovators. These innovators can be social entrepreneurs, social intrapreneurs in public or private organizations, engaged citizens, students, or future generations of creative people who wish to ‘prototype’ their social innovation ideas.
What was the inspiration for MySBM?
MySBM was inspired by the best strategic tools designed for traditional businesses (notably Business Model Generation) as well as the more than 2000 social projects that are present on the Imagination for People platform. It also benefits from the knowledge and experience of the Imagination for People team, who have been observing and learning about social innovation for many years.
How is MySBM different from other business model tools?
Three key elements differentiate MySBM from other business model tools:
- MySBM is special designed for social innovators. All the components were conceived and developed around the key dimensions of social innovation, including the notion of stakeholders, donation and volunteering, hybrid business models etc.
- The emphasis is placed on a pedagogical approach. MySBM doesn’t just contain a list of concepts: all the questions are accompanied by definitions, examples and help boxes. An interactive glossary is integrated in the blog of MySBM and will be gradually enriched by the community.
- MySBM will have a collaborative catalogue of business model segments that are applicable to many different social projects on interactive post-its in order to foster shared learning.
Why does MySBM go further than other business models?
Despite its name and the reference to “Business Model” MySBM is not a tool for defining ‘business models’. It is a tool to identify the complete strategy of a social project: what is the social challenge, what is the vision of the project, who are the partners (if any), what are going to be the key issues for the project, how will the project be marketed, will the project have access to the community, if and how intellectual property will be shared, etc.
This is why MySBM can be used for a variety of different projects including projects that don’t have a self-sustaining financial plan – projects that are based on public donations for example..
Why should I use a universal business model template when my project is unique?
Because all entrepreneurial endeavours, whether social or for-profit, must answer a series of fundamental questions. These questions are independent of discipline, geography or cultural differences.
Because a visual canvas is a common vocabulary it allows different communities to understand and react to your project.
Because a common vocabulary is equally necessary to convince potential partners or financers of your project of its value, these actors will be receptive to the structured business model that you will have made using the framework of MySBM.
How is MySBM specific to social entrepreneurs?
MySBM was designed from the outset to be a teaching tool for writing a Social Business model. Each question was designed with the needs of a social initiative in mind: societal vision (and not purely monetary), awareness of the interests of all stakeholders, creating shared value (not only for shareholders), economic contribution (not just compensation), multiple impacts (beyond a purely financial impact) etc.
Are there people behind MySBM to help me fill in the canvas?
We see MySBM as a portal to different services. MySBM can be shared with your community. The economic models can be can be enriched by contributions by other social entrepreneurs from around the world. MySBM will be integrated with the Imagination for People platform in order to better allow you to express your operational needs and other developments will come with time!
On using MySBM…
Is it free?
MySBM is free and always will be for social innovators. We wish to reach the largest number of social innovators possible to help them realize their social projects.
Is it available on mobile or my tablet?
Currently MySBM is only available on the web and hasn’t been formatted for mobile use. We wish to create the best possible web product before developing the app for other platforms.
Will it be available in other languages than French?
Yes! MySBM is currently available in English and French. Other languages will be coming soon as well 
It’s your turn now, get in the MySBM adventure!
