Social Enterprises Archives

Failing to Win: Lessons from an entrepreneur who went ‘all in’

After backpacking across Africa in search of changemakers building scalable, high-impact businesses, Canadian entrepreneur Mike Quinn convinced his retired parents to mortgage their house and lend him $100,000 to co-found Zoona, one of the continent’s earliest fintechs. That risk paid off big time, as Zoona went on to process $2.5 billion of transactions and generate $26 million in income for thousands of micro-entrepreneurs across Zambia and Malawi.

Finance and Investment, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises, Technology

October 13, 2021

Growing Haiti’s food systems with determination and partners

Greater food sovereignty in Haiti would support local farmers and reduce the risk of hunger crises in the future. A growing network of organizations is pushing Haiti in that direction, allowing more Haitian farmers to support their own families while getting food to those most in need. Acceso Haiti is part of that expanding ecosystem.

Agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises

April 21, 2021

How Can Businesses Support Economic Inclusion for People in Extreme Poverty?

Before COVID-19, over 700 million people worldwide were living in extreme poverty. The pandemic could push an additional 150 million people into extreme poverty by the end of 2021. People experiencing extreme poverty already have limited access to health care, food, clean water, and public services. They face obstacles in accessing markets, employment opportunities, and financial services, and this inequality has only increased due to pandemic lockdowns.

Innovative Business Models, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises

March 23, 2021

Women entrepreneurs make changing norms the new norm

Female social entrepreneurs are more likely to change social and cultural norms through their work than their male counterparts, according to Ashoka’s 2018 Global Impact Study. Yet the mainstream idea of what makes a social initiative “successful” excludes the model used by many female entrepreneurs.

Gender, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises

March 23, 2021

Five Questions on Partnership with the Pollinate Group

SDG 17 calls for a revitalisation of global partnerships. In India and Nepal, a social enterprise, Pollinate Group, is working in partnership to empower women to distribute solar energy products in informal settlements. Pollinate Group is partnering with Greenlight Planet and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Business Partnerships Platform.

Energy, Gender, Partnerships, Social Enterprises

November 4, 2019

From Suicidal Depression to Social Entrepreneur: Creating a New $bn Industry for Rural Africa

15 years ago I was working in the London advertising industry, promoting products I didn’t believe in for clients who didn’t appreciate it. I ended up asking myself ‘What am I doing with my life?’

Agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises

August 27, 2019

New Fund to Address Social Isolation Through Technology Closing Soon

Social isolation can affect people at any stage of their life and technology has a unique power to prevent this, bringing people together and redefining connection. Nesta Challenges’ Tech to Connect challenge seeks to offer civil society organisations support in helping to build more connected communities and reduce social isolation.

Health, Social Enterprises, Technology

July 31, 2019

The Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards 2019: Open for Applications Until 30 June

The Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards, delivered by Unilever and the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, support and celebrate inspirational young people from all over the world who have initiatives, products or services tackling some of the planet’s biggest sustainability challenges.

Global Goals, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises, Youth

June 3, 2019

Building Scalable and Self-Sustaining Safe Water Enterprises

Jon Shepard shares why he see grounds for optimism in reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goal of equitable access to safe, affordable drinking water for all by 2030. In particular the growing number of impact entrepreneurs who are innovating new models for the scalable and sustainable provision of safe water in underserved communities.

Climate & Environment, Climate Justice, Global Goals, Social Enterprises, Water and Sanitation

September 5, 2018

8 SSIR Articles on Businesses Pursuing a Social Mission

Stanford Social Innovation Review curate eight articles from their archives- specifically for Business Fights Poverty—that offer insight into how companies can successfully orient themselves around purpose, both internally and externally, to reap its many rewards.

Global Goals, Intrapreneurship, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises, Technology

August 21, 2018

Entrepreneurs Are Changing The World

The CEMEX-Tec Award, in alliance with other organisations, annually recognises entrepreneurs and students who develop high-impact initiatives to foster sustainable development, innovation and entrepreneurship. This year its global call will receive projects until May 31st 2018.

Global Goals, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises

May 15, 2018

Meet the Longlist: Unilever Global Development Award, Supported by Business Fights Poverty

Business in the Community announce the longlist of companies selected for the The Unilever Global Development Award, supported by Business Fights Poverty. The award recognises businesses that demonstrate positive impact against one or more of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Agriculture, Energy, Global Goals, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Enterprises, Technology, Water and Sanitation

May 7, 2018

Helping Refugees Move From Crisis To Resilience and Self-Reliance

Introducing our new Challenge on Business and Refugees with support from Pearson and in partnership with UNHCR, Mercy Corps, Business Call to Action, Innovest Advisory and Thomson Reuters Foundation. The Challenge aims to strengthen the foundation for effective partnerships to improve refugees’ wellbeing and educational and livelihood opportunities so refugees can thrive, not just survive.

Climate & Environment, Conflict and Peace, Education, Finance and Investment, Food and Nutrition, Gender, Health, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Partnerships, Refugees and Migration, Social Enterprises

April 20, 2018

Virtual Exchange: Students Collaborate to Tackle Social Enterprise Challenges in the Middle East

The M²GATE Virtual exchange program pairs students from Michigan & the Middle East to take on social enterprise challenges. Together they collaborate to identify a social problem in the region and come up with an entrepreneurial solution.

Education, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Refugees and Migration, Social Enterprises, Water and Sanitation

April 3, 2018

Social Enterprises

Social Enterprises Leading the Fight Against Global Poverty