Abstract This paper takes eight representative social enterprises as research samples to conduct an exploratory multiple case study on the process of social entrepreneurship in China with grounded theory approach. Research results summarize key elements of social entrepreneurship process: Firstly, social sense of mission and empathy are important drivers of social entrepreneurship, and they need prior experience and social support to really conduct entrepreneurship activity; Secondly, opportunity recognition is the key action for social entrepreneurship, but the further deepen of these actions require action strategies which double logic, resource bricolage and social network; Lastly, social entrepreneurship is a powerful way to promote social transformation and bring benefits for the general public.
