What Is a Social Enterprise?
According to Investopedia, a social enterprise or social business is defined as a business with specific social objectives that serve its primary purpose. Social enterprises seek to maximize profits while maximizing benefits to society and the environment, and the profits are principally used to fund social programs.
So the social enterprises businesses primary purpose is to have a positive social, cultural, or environmental impact using business strategies to solve social problems and create value for the community.
1. Jacqueline van den Ende // Co-founder of Carbon Equity
About Carbon Equity: We know which tech, tools and ideas are needed to beat climate change — from electrified industry and carbon capture technology to smart farming and planet-proof food. But most of these innovations lack the resources to reach the masses. That’s where we come in. Carbon Equity enables investors to build the world’s most impactful companies by bundling capital into first-class climate funds.
2. Dan Miller // Founder of Steward
About Steward: Our mission is to promote environmental and economic stewardship through regenerative agriculture. We do this by providing flexible loans to human-scale farms, ranches, fisheries, and food producers looking to propel their operations forward.
But we don’t do it alone—Steward gives qualified lenders the opportunity to purchase loan participations, advancing our mission by helping to fund the growth of regenerative agriculture in their community or across the country.
3. Natsai Musarurwa // Founder of Rated 18 Shoes
About Rated 18 shoes: END CHILD MARRIAGE 100% of profits got to efforts to end child marriage. 1 pair can pay for 1 term of school fees for a girl at risk of being a child bride. EMPOWER WOMEN:
We exclusively hire women who survived child marriage to make our handcrafted shoes. SUSTAINABILITY: Using a zero-emissions process, our shoes are made with upcycled tire soles, hand-printed cotton fabric and sustainable leather locally sourced in Zimbabwe.
4. Hardika Shah // Founder of Kinara Capital
Kinara Capital Mission: Kinara Capital transforms lives, livelihoods and local economies by providing fast and flexible loans without collateral to small business entrepreneurs in India. Our Vision
Kinara Capital envisions a financially inclusive world where every entrepreneur has equal access to capital.
5. Catherine Griffin // Founder of ImpactableX
About ImpactableX: ImpactableX launched in 2020 after 6 years of rigorous testing and development by an award-winning accelerator led by ex-VCs. Intensive work with founders made us realize how difficult it was for them to bring clarity to their impact story, similar to the way they do for their financials. So we came up with a solution, and the results were amazing. Our founders won pitch competitions. They closed rounds with the most sophisticated VCs around the world. Even investors reached out to us saying: "We want to see these analytics from every company that pitches us”.
6. Kosima Kovar CEO & Co-founder Ada
About Ada: Ada combines female empowerment with lifelong learning. It leverages the microlearning approach to give women the tools they need to elevate and highlight their skillsets. Offering an app, Ada provides continuing education through bite-sized and easily consumable 2-minute videos.
7. Wilhelm Myrer CEO & Founder Empower eco
About Empower Eco: empower generates value out of plastic waste - enabling collectors, recyclers, brands and consumers to make a real impact on the environment.
8. Helder Goncalves CPO Open Bionics
About Open Bionics: Open Bionics develops medical devices that enhance the human body. Our first product is the Hero Arm for people living with a below-elbow limb difference. The Hero Arm is now available through clinics in the UK, USA, and Europe. If you’re a below-elbow congenital or acquired amputee, register now and we’ll reach out to you with information about your nearest clinic, funding options, and device suitability. Your bionic journey begins here.
9. Emma Kay Founder of WalkSafe
About Walksafe: WalkSafe was founded in 2020 with a concept to give users as much information about their surroundings as possible. Now, with our growing team and advisors, our products, offering and mission have developed and we work with one goal in mind:
To make the world a safer place.
10. Suzanne Siemens & Madeleine Shaw founder Aisle
About Aisle: Established in 1993, Aisle was one of the very first companies in the world to bring modern reusable period products to the masses. Nearly 3 decades later, our washable pads and period underwear are better than ever.
With social enterprise, you can do more than just make money — you can also create a lasting impact - so, start your own social enterprise and become the leader of your own cause!
Make a difference in people’s lives while achieving your business goals.
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