Social Startup: The USP na Escolinha program as a case of entrepreneurship and social impact

Startups emerge in diverse contexts, including uncertain scenarios, and are targeted by entrepreneurs due to their malleable nature. Prospecting consolidated business models is positive and fundamental for identifying elements and structures that enable the consolidation of startup identities and the progression of their business models. The USP na Escolinha program, created in 2013, is an extension project of the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA), which focuses on early childhood education to introduce concepts and spark interest and curiosity in the courses offered by the Pirassununga Campus of the University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga/SP. This study aimed to analyze the USP na Escolinha program as a social startup. To this end, a qualitative investigation was adopted to analyze the registration documents relating to the period from 2013 to 2022, concerning the development of the program. The documents analyzed were multiple-choice questionnaires and personal testimonies produced during the program's execution period, which sought to record the participants' perceptions. The results presented identified elements that classify social initiatives as startups and support the creation of repeatable pattern models. It is concluded that the USP na Escolinha program possesses sufficient characteristics to be identified as a social startup, with a model that can be adapted and generates positive impacts on the community.