Entrepreneurship, process innovation and value creation by a non-profit SME

Purpose - By using three key factors - namely, funding, stakeholders, and legitimacy - this study seeks to analyse the successful entrepreneurial experiences of a non-profit small to medium-sized enterprise: the Taiwan EBook Supply Cooperative Limited (TEBSCo). Design/methodology/approach - The paper takes the form of a case study. Findings - From a legitimacy perspective, TEBSCo is the only registered organisation facilitating e-book consortia in Taiwan. From a stakeholder perspective, TEBSCo is managed by a board of directors, who are elected from the member representatives. In addition to creating value, for its members, TEBSCo also creates value for non-members and vendors. Its major funding is from annual membership fees. TEBSCo's innovation process, as a collective entrepreneurial activity in a non-profit SME, creates intangible as well as tangible value. The successful experiences of TEBSCo can be used as examples for new entrants. Originality/value - TEBSCo is the only registered organisation facilitating e-book consortia in Taiwan. The successful experiences of TEBSCo can be used as examples for new entrants, and shows a new form of entrepreneurial activity.