The present study explores the reasons that motivates why individuals start social enterprises and persist to continue with the process. Our inductive study draws upon interviews of entrepreneurs and the people involved before and/or during their entrepreneurial process. Our findings show the existence of compassionate contextual and compassionate personal reasons for why some individuals indulge in social entrepreneurial activities, it also shows other factors to why they continue in the entrepreneurial process and finally suggest that passion is important when starting and continuing with social entrepreneurship. In addition, our findings provide new insights and contribute to the field of social entrepreneurship by shedding light on drivers for social entrepreneurial engagements and activities.