Dr Raja Singaram

Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship

J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway

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Raja Singaram studies the decisions made by social ventures and their founder-CEOs. The focus of the social ventures cuts across multiple SDGs. In his upcoming research projects, Raja will focus on the mental health and well-being of founders and the role of technology in both commercial and social entrepreneurship contexts. He has taught social entrepreneurship at undergraduate and doctoral levels. Raja has worked with practicing social entrepreneurs and incubators in India and the Netherlands.

Raja's work contributes to these SDGs

SDG 1,3,5,8

Key Targets 3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health, 3.7 - Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education3.7

SDG 3

Teaching

Entrepreneurship and Decision-making

In the past, Raja has taught courses on various aspects of social entrepreneurship (business models, early-stage challenges etc.), engaged with social entrepreneurs and their ventures and led doctoral seminars on research in the social entrepreneurship context.

At University of Galway, Raja's teaching efforts will be focused on International Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Leadership, and Founder Selling. To his class discussions, he brings attention the topics of sustainability, health and well-being, co-founder relationship dynamics.

Focusing on Targets: 3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health, 3.7 - Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education

Engagement

Catalyst2030 is a non-profit organization that aims to help various stakeholders attain UNSDGs by the year 2030. Raja curates the medium page for this non-profit which is focused on illustrating the systems thinking and change realized by social ventures.

Direct impact SDG Targets

8.1 - Sustainable economic growth

Indirect

1.1 - Eradicate extreme poverty

3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health

3.7 - Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education

4.7 - Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

5.6 - Universal access to reproductive health and rights

5.B - Promote empowerment of women through technology

7.A - Promote access to research, technology and investments in clean energy

8.3 - Promote policies to support job creation and growing enterprises

9.1 - Develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures

9.3 - Increase access to financial services and markets

17.6 - Knowledge sharing and cooperation for access to science, technology and innovation

17.7 - Promote sustainable technologies to developing countries

SDG wheel

Research

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Photo by Daniel Zbroja on Unsplash

Photo by Daniel Zbroja on Unsplash

Featured Publications

References

SDGs

Singaram, R., Radu-Lefebvre, M., & Gartner, W. B. (2023). Gordian knot uncut: Understanding the problem of founder exit in social ventures. Journal of Business Venturing Insights19, e00379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2023.e00379

8.1, 8.3; 9.3

Singaram, R., Kraaijenbrink, J., & Gartner, W.B. (2024) 'No Simple Way to Say Goodbye! Untangling the Heterogeneity of Social Venture Founder Exit Intention'. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 48 (2):613-644

8.1, 8.3; 9.3, 9.5

Singaram, R., Kwasi Nuer, A. & Gartner, W. (2024). Exit Options in Social Entrepreneurship. In B. Boots, L. Perry & B. Williams (Ed.), De Gruyter Handbook of Social Entrepreneurship (pp. 137-152). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110795479-007

8.3; 9.3

Singaram, R. & Nabiyeva, A. (2024). 11 No Silver Bullet: Examining the Mutual Contribution of Social Entrepreneurship and Systems Thinking in Addressing Grand Challenges. In B. Boots, L. Perry & B. Williams (Ed.), De Gruyter Handbook of Social Entrepreneurship (pp. 275-298). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110795479-013

8.3

Kaffka, G.A., Singaram, R., Kraaijenbrink, J., & Groen, A.J. (2021) 'Yes and. . ., but wait. . ., heck no!: A socially situated cognitive approach towards understanding how startup entrepreneurs process critical feedback'. Journal Of Small Business Management,

8.1, 8.3, 9.3, 9.5

Kaffka, G.A., Singaram, R., Kraaijenbrink, J. (2020). New venture creation and the development of entrepreneurial cognition: A longitudinal analysis of startup diaries. 80th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management 2020: Understanding the Inclusive Organization, AoM 2020,

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