M Social Catering: Challenges of Scaling a Social Enterprise

On a balmy summer afternoon of 2016, somewhere in Beirut, three friends sat sipping coffee and eating pastries baked by people whose lives they helped change. Samer Sfeir, Elie Matta, and Chantale Saadeh were the cofounders of this thriving social enterprise. Four years into the creation of their venture, they were reflecting on what they’d accomplished up to that point and were setting down strategies for future growth. Their enterprise had taken off with a bang, winning several prizes at both national and international competitions, and racking up acclaim. At that point in their career, they had identified several opportunities and strategies to scale. Taking into account the internal and external challenges they needed to tackle, they were trying to figure out the best scaling strategy that would increase their financial sustainability and enhance their social impact without jeopardizing their social mission.