From Idea to Impact: Building London’s First Sign Language-Led Social Enterprise Café (Founder Spotlight)

​Hear from social entrepreneur Hakan Elbir, founder of Dialogue Café — London’s first British Sign Language–led café. Discover the real journey of turning a purpose-driven idea into a live social enterprise through resilience, inclusion and community.

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​Join social entrepreneur and experience designer Hakan Elbir for an honest insight into building a real social enterprise in London.

​Hakan is the founder of Dialogue Café, London’s first British Sign Language–led café based at the University of East London’s Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability. His work focuses on creating inclusive, purpose-driven businesses that combine social impact with long-term sustainability.

​In this session, Hakan will share the realities of turning an idea into a live venture — from early uncertainty and learning through mistakes, to building a community-led enterprise that creates Deaf employment opportunities and meaningful student engagement.

​Drawing on his background in immersive experiences and social innovation, Hakan will explore how empathy can be transformed into practical action and measurable change. Students will gain insight into purpose-led entrepreneurship, experience design, resilience, and what it really takes to build something that matters in the real world.

​This is also an opportunity to learn how Dialogue Café operates as a live learning environment and how students can engage with social enterprise, community projects, and inclusive business models.