We are pleased to share that the PhD defence of Karthik Rapaka, a member of our Full-time PhD Programme, will be taking place soon. Join us to celebrate this important milestone.
- PhD student
- Promotor
- Promotor
- Date
- Friday 5 Jun 2026, 13:00 - 14:30
- Type
- PhD defence
- Location
Senate Hall (Senaatszaal), Erasmus Building
Abstract
In his doctoral studies, Karthik Rapaka has conducted extensive ethnographic research on early-stage social enterprises embedded in remote rural areas and urban slums of India. His three-paper dissertation investigates the dark sides of resource-exchanges between social entrepreneurs and intermediaries
(such as incubators and accelerators). Using longitudinal evidence, he illustrates three impact derailment pathways for social enterprises (paper 1) and develops a theory of intermediation as a cumulative consequence of ideological (mis)alignments (paper 2). Finally, he develops a model illustrating how
scaling of social enterprises creates unintended consequence of mock democracy in bureaucratic contexts (paper 3). Cumulatively, this dissertation argues that intermediation towards social impact is like “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” inducing hope and growth but not without risks and dangers that dilute
the purpose of social missions.
- More information
The PhD defence will start at exactly 13:00. The doors will then be closed. Latecomers may access the hall via the fourth floor.
The livestream link will be shared a few days before the defence.
