ESEM gathers the opinions and experiences of social entrepreneurs, helping governments, funders, researchers, and business support organizations better understand the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. The data helps identify the main challenges and barriers faced by social entrepreneurs and supports the development of more enabling policies and funding instruments across Europe.

One of the most significant challenges in the field of social entrepreneurship remains the lack of high-quality data. Without sufficient information, it is difficult to design effective policies and provide targeted support to social entrepreneurs. Broader knowledge and a better understanding of the sector mean that funding, as well as European Union and national policies, can be better tailored to the needs of social entrepreneurs.

In the previous ESEM survey, more than 2,000 social entrepreneurs shared their experiences, and the information they provided is already influencing policymakers, educational institutions, and other stakeholders across Europe. However, this is only the beginning — the more social entrepreneurs participate, the stronger the sector’s voice becomes.

By sharing your experience and encouraging other social entrepreneurs to participate in the ESEM 2026 survey, you can help drive change and influence future policies, funding instruments, and support mechanisms for social entrepreneurship in Europe.

We invite social entrepreneurs to get involved and make their voices heard — take part in the European Social Enterprise Survey (ESEM) 2026 and become part of positive change.

More information about the project is available on the ESEM website.