How can HandUp effectively scale its social impact as a hybrid business?

Abstract

This dissertation explores the scalability of social impact in hybrid organizations by examining HandUp, a social enterprise in Massachusettsspecializing in mattress recycling and upcycling. Using the Scalability Framework by Weber et al. (2012) as the primary analytical model, the study evaluates HandUp's readiness to scale its impact while balancing operational growth and social mission. The analysis identifies strengths in HandUp's business model, leadership commitment, and operational replicability alongside critical dependencies such as legislative support and leadership succession. Through a teaching case study, this research engages students in applying theoretical frameworks to real-world challenges, fostering critical thinking about strategies to scale hybrid organizations. The findings reveal opportunities for short-term capacity building and strategic partnerships, while long-term expansion requires addressing future leadership succession and third-party dependencies. While the study highlights HandUp's strong potential for scaling, key limitations include the Scalability Framework's insufficient emphasis on government roles and hybrid strategies, as well as the teaching case's scope to fully generalize results.

Date of Award	3 Feb 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Carlos Miguel Pelicano Borges Teixeira de Azevedo (Supervisor)