IF YOU love something, set it free. This should be the new philosophy of social entrepreneurs, who sometimes hoard ideas rather than releasing them to flourish.

So finds a study, In and Out of Sync, by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) and the Young Foundation, reports Third Sector (Sept 12).

Unless entrepreneurs more readily work with private or public sector bodies to bring their innovations to life, they will struggle to survive and possibly risk impeding the social aims they set out to achieve.

“If you are trying to achieve a social impact, you should let go, step back and release your idea to the winds,” says Richard Halkett, co-author of the report and executive director of Nesta’s policy and research unit. Genuine altruism stretches organisational boundaries, he adds.

But beware well-meaning public or private sector partners, cautions a spokeswoman from the Social Enterprise Coalition. Their involvement may mean that social objectives become secondary to financial concerns.

Entrepreneurs may struggle to step back, adds the study. Innovations often experience periods of underperformance and insufficient funding, making personal commitment all the more important.

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