CSUF Social Entrepreneurship Course – Full Playlist Description - CSUF Social Entrepreneurship Course: Module 2 – Identifying a Social Problem

Conrey Center Social Entrepreneurship Playlist (seven modules): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIRXQq2vU8W36zOdzczacZTU8EmJmnbUz&si=JCCNAv9GnA-tVKFR Worksheets for This Course: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fZmuuv4fQI5sbBEJI_Ld2So5sA4y16tv?usp=sharing Module 2 Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jLYnlf_-zns8rHEpze__hpVH20WeRBmahSoYR4B5qhg/edit?usp=sharing If you would like to connect with the Conrey Center for Entrepreneurship to learn about programs, events, or how to become part of our startup community, contact us at: [email protected] Welcome to Module 2 of the CSUF Social Entrepreneurship Course, offered free of charge by the Conrey Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fullerton. This module focuses on one of the most crucial steps in building any social venture: identifying and understanding a real social problem before building a solution. Module 2 explores how social problems originate, how to select an issue that aligns with your mission and values, and how to research and define the problem clearly before moving into solution development. You will learn how to ground your venture in meaningful, evidence-based understanding of the communities you want to serve. What You’ll Learn in Module 2 This module introduces the fundamentals of social problem identification, including: • What defines a social problem and how systemic issues create widespread impact • Why entrepreneurs must start with the problem, not the solution • How to choose a social issue that aligns with your mission, passions, and strengths • The role of customer development and why at least two months of interviews are essential • How to conduct effective primary and secondary research • Research tools such as Statista, World Bank, UN Data, Pew Research, and more • How to conduct interviews, ask the right questions, and gather qualitative insights • How to evaluate existing solutions and identify opportunities for innovation • How to craft a clear and compelling problem statement • How to assess problem-solution alignment based on skills, resources, feasibility, and impact • How Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can guide social problem selection • What makes a problem urgent, important, and worth solving through entrepreneurship This module also includes exercises such as social problem brainstorming, market research planning, defining your problem statement, and assessing the fit between the problem and your proposed solution. About This Course This course was previously hosted on a different platform, which the Center no longer supports. Because of that, the full course is now available for free on YouTube. You may hear references in the videos to earning a certificate of completion. Certificates are no longer issued, as the Center does not have a way to verify course completion.