Social value co-creation and scalability: evidence from social businesses in Brazil, Finland and Portugal

Purpose This study aims to examine how entrepreneurial capabilities for social value co-creation (SVCC) influence the scalability of social businesses, addressing a critical gap in understanding performance drivers in inclusive business models. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method approach was adopted. First, an exploratory qualitative study of social businesses in Brazil, Finland and Portugal combined in-depth interviews with secondary data. Second, a survey of 234 Brazilian social businesses tested the impact of SVCC capabilities on scalability. Findings The results highlight the symbolic and emotional dimensions of SVCC, driven by empathy toward beneficiaries. Empathetic dialogue and social bricolage emerge as significant predictors of scalability, while social commitment plays a more nuanced, context-dependent role. These findings reveal the synergistic effect of relational, normative and resource-oriented capabilities on performance. Practical implications The study provides actionable guidance for social entrepreneurs and policymakers, emphasizing the need to engage stakeholders and ecosystems to institutionalize values, foster trust and mobilize resources under constraints. Originality/value This research introduces a novel framework linking social entrepreneurship and value co-creation through three capabilities – empathetic dialogue, social commitment and social bricolage – and demonstrates their combined impact on scalability, offering fresh theoretical and practical insights for inclusive social impact.