Module 10 – Policy, Advocacy, and Systems Change
IN THIS LESSON
Working with public institutions can create powerful opportunities for social entrepreneurs — but institutional partnerships often develop very differently from collaborations in the startup world.
In this Expert Reflection, Jovana Poepelt draws on her experience building a collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade. She shares practical lessons about starting with relationships rather than proposals, aligning your work with institutional priorities, navigating slower timelines, and maintaining your own momentum while a partnership develops.
She also reflects on a simple but important insight: institutions are ultimately made up of people. Finding someone inside an institution who genuinely cares about the same problem can sometimes be the most effective starting point for collaboration.
As you watch, consider:
Who inside a relevant institution might share your commitment to the problem you are addressing?
How could you demonstrate that your work supports an institution's existing priorities rather than asking it to change direction?
How could you continue building your venture while allowing an institutional partnership to develop at its own pace?