I think the big challenge of social capital is measurement. How do we measure value? How do we measure good? and how can we apply the same rigorous metrics that entrepreneurs must meet to a process in which financial return is no longer the single driver?

These are important questions we must answer (I believe) before investors–even socially conscious ones–will feel confident that the money they invest is meeting their core values while ALSO being leveraged by sustainable and effective business processes.

As a side note, as an attorney who specializes in intellectual property, it always amazes me how few social ventures manage themselves as a start-up would in the legal realm. While I realize securing patents seems antithetical to the notion of community, leveraging these same tools of business for social good would be yet another example of a community that is growing up and creating recurring and sustainable value and not just a bunch of do-gooders for a cause.