Kawaa

Kawaa operates as a social enterprise focused on building community hubs to combat social isolation. Founded in 2014 by Kévin André and later joined by co-director Alexis Motte, the company establishes and manages hybrid venues that combine the functions of a café, restaurant, event space, and shared offices. These physical locations, currently in Paris and with plans for Lille, are designed to foster intergenerational and inclusive connections among local residents.

The company's mission is rooted in addressing the decline of local social spaces, noting that the number of cafés in France has drastically fallen over the past 50 years while millions of people report feeling lonely. Kawaa’s approach uses digital tools as a means to facilitate real-world meetings. The founders bring relevant expertise to this mission; Kévin André has a background in social innovation and a thesis on the ethics of care, while Alexis Motte co-founded Mobilitis, a company specializing in transforming work environments.

Kawaa's business model is multifaceted, generating revenue from its café and restaurant operations, event hosting, and the leasing of shared office space to other social and solidarity economy (SSE) enterprises. The company operates under a social utility framework, having been accredited as an "Entreprise Solidaire d'Utilité Sociale" (ESUS) since 2014. This designation commits Kawaa to limited profitability and a participatory governance model, ensuring its primary social objectives guide its commercial activities. The firm actively collaborates with local authorities, social economy actors, and property owners to develop new locations, offering a model where they can acquire property, lease, or operate on behalf of third parties.

Keywords: social enterprise, community hub, third place, co-working, social inclusion, urban regeneration, social and solidarity economy, ESUS, intergenerational activities, local services, community cafe, participatory governance, social impact, hybrid venues, shared spaces, Alexis Motte, Kévin André, Bleu Blanc Zèbre, anti-loneliness, neighborhood life