This article presents a model of the life cycle of social enterprises. The primary data were obtained from interviews with founders of ten social ventures of Curitiba (PR) about the life history of the organization. The qualitative analysis identified five stages of evolution (Social Action, Association, Social Visibility, Social Network and Social Representation) with, respectively, six times of crisis that determine the transition to a later stage (Social disequilibrium, Identity, Focus, Control, Accountability and Ethics). The study reinforces the differences between social entrepreneurship and the private and justifies the differential treatment between them. The model can support the decision makers on the future of the organization, as well as public and private funders, network managers, social researchers, consultants, public administrators and other stakeholders and paves the way for further studies on the subject.
social entrepreneurship; life cycle; third sector
