It’s never been easier to use digital technology to change the world for the better. This week Nesta released a report that uncovered more than 1,000 examples of digital social innovations across Europe, backed by a growing movement of tech and social entrepreneurs.

While these are impressive numbers, in reality it’s still really hard for entrepreneurs (focusing on social innovation or not) to get an idea off the ground. Here are some of our top tips for launching your digital social innovation idea.

1. Take on big problems that you really understand: Playlab’s founder suffered from severe panic attacks so he built a mobile game that would help people manage the effects of panic and anxiety in their lives. The founders of Andiamo are a husband and wife team whose child needed orthotics, and they realised these could be made far more accurately and faster by using 3D scanning and printing. Either solve something you know about first hand or spend lots of time understanding what your users want.
2. Don’t just put existing services online. One mistake people often make when building digital services is just putting the existing system online, where all the old problems are simply replicated. But because the web enables new ways of working and thinking these services can be completely rethought.
3. Get a technical co-founder. When we’re selecting for our accelerator we look for teams with at least one technical co-founder. This person doesn’t have to be the world’s best coder, but you’ll want someone on board that can develop the basics. Having said that, don’t panic if you don’t have a tech person yet, because…
4. … hand cranking is ok. A world-changing application isn't built in one big go. Start off doing things manually so that you get very close to each step in the process of building a service that works rather than trying to make everything automatic. Follow the Lean Startup approach, build a minimum viable product – be focused, start small and then iterate and add features or increase efficiency release by release.
5. Ask for help! A growing number of incubators and accelerators have emerged to support early stage startups - providing funding, a place to work, people to work with and, importantly, access to expert mentoring and support. There are a bunch of resources out there - Good Incubation, F6S, Startup Factories, digitalsocial.eu - to help you decide if there’s a programme that’s right for you.

[shameful plug warning] Bethnal Green Ventures was one of the first accelerators in Europe to support startups using technology to tackle social challenges. To date we’ve supported 52 startups ranging from more ethical mobile phones and 3D printed orthotics, to smart NHS booking systems and mobile games for people suffering from panic attacks.

We’ve just opened for applications for our Summer 2015 accelerator programme, which will run from July to September. We’re looking for ambitious, early-stage startups with ideas to use technology to change the world - from disrupting education to revolutionising healthcare, to coding against climate change.

If you have an idea to tackle a big challenge through technology, here’s your chance!

You can apply now – or if you want to talk to us about your idea first, drop us a line at [email protected]

Bethnal Green Ventures is supported by the Cabinet Office Social Incubator Fund, Nesta and Nominet Trust.