Ernst Bloch was a 20th century German philosopher whose magnum opus is a three-volumed ode to hope. While the worlds of start-ups and philosophical endeavor can seem to sit at odds with one another, a closer look at Blochian thinking shows what we stand to learn from bridging the two. What we do and how we do it should be infused with a particular kind of hope.

The Luxury industry is a highly influential sector owing to its immense cultural capital, global customer awareness and high visibility. Against a backdrop of rising socio-economic, gender and racial inequalities, however, luxury brand exclusivity may risk alienating large segments of society, thus creating social tensions which puts the industry under mounting pressure to become more inclusive. By working together, and with fashion social enterprises, strategies can be explored to reconcile luxury and inequality within a framework and set of partnerships that contributes to a fairer, more sustainable world.

Delve into the remarkable journey of Sir Gregory Winter, where revolutionary science and entrepreneurial tenacity collide, promising an inspiring tale that has led to a paradigm shift in the pharmaceutical landscape.

Remarkably, only 1 in 10 people know that dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK and we are only beginning to comprehend the complex causes of this silent global trend. In fact, such is the magnitude of recent scientific discoveries in dementia that researchers, doctors, and public health bodies alike are struggling to agree on what dementia even means and how we should diagnose it. Our choice of a definition for dementia can have a potentially devastating impact on how we live with it. A radical rethink on traditional approaches is required.

On 7th March, the E-Lab hosted Tim Yip in the Provost’s Drawing room. Yip, a filmmaker, artist, photographer, museum exhibition designer and much more, spoke, alongside his life-size doll Lili, with Alan Macfarlane, historian and Life Fellow of King’s, and Monique Boddington about the role of imagination and spirit in bridging different worlds (both in art and in reality). We can learn many things from Yip’s worlds of wonder and enchantment including how creativity, discovery and the art of communication are central for bringing people together across difference.

On 6th March 2024, the King’s E-Lab welcomed Cambridge Alumna and Nobel Prize Winner Greg Winter. Greg is an accomplished molecular biologist with an esteemed research career and an outstanding record of establishing successful spin-outs, including Cambridge Antibody Technology (acquired by AstraZeneca), Domantis (acquired by GlaxoSmithKline) and Bicycle Therapeutics. In conversation with Henrietta Mbeah-Bankas, Head of Portfolio at NHS England and an Executive MBA Student at Cambridge Judge Business School, Winter shared insights on his illustrious career and relayed important lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. His reflections prompt the question: is it time to rethink the entrepreneurship ecosystem in academia?

On 6th January 2024, the E-Lab hosted Dalia Grybauskaite, the former President of Lithuania, in a fireside chat to share her perspective on the evolving geopolitical landscape and the West's response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Moderator of the evening, Linas Kojala reflects on how Grybauskaite’s insights provide invaluable guidance and inspiration for decision-makers across various fields, underscoring the lasting impact of seasoned leaders on current and future generations.

In the past, aesthetics has featured primarily in philosophical study but, understanding the influence of aesthetics can be a powerful tool for entrepreneurs. As the business world becomes increasingly homogenised, it is imperative for a business to ‘differentiate’ itself. Creating a brand, however, is about more than just putting together different visual elements. We need to look closely at the meaning denoted by these elements and how this generates ‘coherence’. Why? Because when something is coherent, it becomes convincing.

Knowing when and how to pivot is a critical decision for any entrepreneur. Research has shown that ventures that don’t adapt their business model, as they develop, die. Pivoting is essential for entrepreneurs to navigate uncertainty and ensure success. The process sounds straightforward: you have an idea, you go out and try it, and if you succeed, you keep going; if you fail, you pivot. In practice, things are far murkier – when should you pivot? When have you failed “enough”?

On the face of it, poetry and entrepreneurship make for odd bedfellows, but traditional perceptions were challenged by the presentation on ‘Xu Zhimo - poetic innovator’ at the King’s E-Lab on 22 February, when the award-winning translator and King’s alumnus Stuart Lyons gave a slide presentation and poetry reading to an audience of 150 at the college’s Keynes Lecture Theatre. The message, underlined by the Provost Dr Gillian Tett OBE in her introduction, was that entrepreneurial thinking is not just the preserve of the hard disciplines of maths, science, economics and engineering.

On the 15th of February 2023, Malcolm McKenzie gave an address at a special Evensong, sung by the King’s Voices and hosted by the Dean of King's College, Cambridge. The address, ‘Religion and Enterprise’, explores what the Entrepreneur can learn from Religion and what the Religious can learn from Enterprise. Touching on these valuable lessons, it reflects on ethical issues for entrepreneurs.

Social entrepreneurship is more than a career choice; it's a commitment to using business as a force for good. The journey is complex, demanding, but ultimately rewarding, offering the chance to leave a lasting impact on the world. Every one of us has the potential to make a difference. It's about taking that first step, fuelled by passion and armed with the right tools and knowledge yet ready to adapt and learn from failures to create a lasting change.

The Social Venture Residential was all about using business smarts to solve real-world problems. It opened my eyes to the potential to create a sustainable cycle of empowerment and health, all through a simple, yet innovative business model and it allowed me to develop my idea for tackling period poverty. For me, it’s more than just a business idea now; it's a mission.

On 25th January 2024, the E-Lab welcomed Adam Swerksy of Social Finance to a fireside chat at King’s College to discuss how to Design, Fund and Scale Better Solutions to Challenging Social Problems. In conversation with Mansa Shroff, Adam addressed some of the key challenges that those interested in impact investing must consider and talked through how some of his experiences brought him to where he is today.