Since its founding in 2003, the Entrepreneurship & Social Business Institute (ESBI) has been a cornerstone of CSU Channel Islands' mission to engage students in learning that contributes to the greater good. As part of the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics (MVS), ESBI serves as a living example of how academic institutions can create meaningful societal impact—locally and globally. At MVS, our mission extends beyond classroom instruction. We are committed to developing socially responsible leaders who understand that business is not just a driver of economic value—but a tool for improving lives and communities. Through ESBI, this mission is made tangible.
How ESBI drives Societal Impact:
-
Praxis in Action: ESBI integrates applied learning with social innovation. Students and faculty collaborate on real-world projects that support local enterprises, nonprofits, and social entrepreneurs, bringing fresh solutions to persistent community challenges.
-
Learning & Research with Purpose: Faculty-led research at ESBI explores the intersection of entrepreneurship, ethics, and social good—producing knowledge that informs public policy and sustainable business practices. We believe that businesses have a role to play in addressing the polycrisis and grand societal challenges of the 21st century. We have an active research agenda and also offer courses on sustainable business at both graduate and undergraduate level. We are organizationally agnostic when it comes to addressing societal and environmental challenges, so we have also research and work with nonprofits organizations interested in exploring or launching social enterprises.
-
Community Engagement: ESBI actively partners with regional, national and international stakeholders, offering workshops, incubator support, and consulting services that empower underserved populations and promote inclusive economic development. As a founding member of B Academics, our students-lead B Impact teams had helped local businesses to understand and explore the B Corp certification for businesses with the highest social and environmental standards. You can learn more about B Corps in B Lab site.
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, since AY25/26 ESBI prioritizes and measures its impact through SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, ensuring our programs advance inclusive learning and support sustainable economic opportunity through entrepreneurship.
You can learn more about our initiatives and impact in the 2024 - 2025 Impact Report here (PDF, 14.6MB).
Please, reach out if you would like to get involved with ESBI.