This case study collection brings together 23 real businesses and social enterprises from across Europe and beyond. Each example shows how organisations are using digital tools, sustainable thinking and commercially viable models to respond to real-world challenges.
The case studies cover sectors such as food, fashion, packaging, mobility, electronics, energy, circular economy and social innovation. Together, they show that responsible business is not limited to one industry or one type of entrepreneur.
START-DSP uses these examples to help learners connect ideas from the course to practical business decisions. Each case offers a real example of how organisations can create value, reduce waste, improve access, rethink ownership or design products and services with longer-term impact in mind.
Sustainable entrepreneurship can feel abstract until learners see how it works in real organisations. These case studies show how companies are responding to challenges such as food waste, textile waste, single-use packaging, electronic waste, resource use and energy efficiency.
They help learners understand that digital, sustainable and profitable thinking can work together. A business can use technology to solve a problem, reduce environmental impact and still build a strong market position.
The case studies are designed to support reflection, discussion and applied learning. They help learners explore how different organisations identify opportunities, develop business models, use digital tools and make sustainability part of everyday decision-making.
By looking at a wide range of examples, learners can see that there is no single model for sustainable entrepreneurship. Some organisations use apps or platforms, while others focus on product design, repair, reuse, leasing, circular materials or social enterprise models.
By the end of this section, learners will be able to connect course concepts with real business examples and identify how digital innovation can support sustainable outcomes.
Learners will also be able to compare different business models, recognise how organisations balance purpose with profitability, and reflect on how similar approaches could be adapted for their own ideas, projects or sectors.
