Social Enterprise

100x Impact Accelerator is a venture accelerator that backs impact ventures capable of improving hundreds of millions of lives through systemic change. They provide catalytic capital, world-class expertise, and access to a community of mentors, advisors, and funders, all focused on deep systems-change support. Their ventures deliver impact across education, climate, healthcare, and other global challenges. 100x Impact operates with the mission to scale social innovations that can achieve systemic change, recognizing that while the world has many social innovations, very few scale effectively. They are powered by LSE (London School of Economics) and leverage evidence-based research, expert guidance, and global convening reach. Their approach combines funding with LSE's academic rigor and venture insights shared across the ecosystem to drive impact at scale. The organization has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem by backing 35 ventures that have collectively impacted 144 million lives across 45 countries. They have demonstrated their effectiveness by helping ventures secure substantially more capital after completing their program, with participants raising 15 times more funding. Their focus on creating 'impact unicorns' and sharing proven insights globally positions them as a catalyst for scaling impactful solutions worldwide.

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

The Barr Foundation is a Boston-based philanthropic organization focused on advancing climate solutions, arts and creativity, and educational opportunity. Founded by Amos Hostetter Jr. and Barbara Hostetter, the foundation supports nonprofits and initiatives that drive systemic change and strengthen communities, particularly in the Boston region. Through long-term partnerships and flexible funding, Barr Foundation backs organizations working on climate resilience, clean energy transition, public education, and cultural vibrancy. Its approach emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and scaling solutions that can deliver lasting impact.

Better Society Capital is the UK’s leading social impact investor, focused on growing the flow of capital into solutions that address social challenges and inequalities. Established in 2012, the organization acts as a market builder, connecting investors, government, and social enterprises to scale impact investing across the UK. Rather than only deploying capital, Better Society Capital plays a catalytic role in developing the broader ecosystem, helping expand the UK impact investment market to over £11 billion while committing more than £1 billion directly into funds and enterprises.

Blue Haven Initiative is an innovative family office that operates as a multi-asset-class impact investor, managing a diversified portfolio spanning public equities, fixed-income holdings, private equity, and direct investments. They are dedicated to putting wealth to work for competitive market returns while generating positive social and environmental change across various sectors. As one of the first family offices created with impact investing as its primary mission and focus, Blue Haven seeks both market rates of financial return and maximum social and environmental impact. They take a total portfolio approach to managing investments, applying rigorous portfolio-management principles while leveraging their flexibility and multigenerational time horizon to deploy diverse forms of capital including traditional investments, grants, and catalytic investments. Blue Haven has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem, being recognized as the Impact Asset Owner of the Year in 2018 by the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment. They believe that solving the world's biggest social and environmental issues requires creative long-term investors who prioritize partnership, patience, and continuous learning, positioning themselves as leaders in demonstrating how family offices can drive systemic change.

Echoing Green is a leading incubator for social impact startups that discovers emerging social entrepreneurs and invests deeply in the growth of their ideas and leadership. They work at the intersection of social justice and social innovation, connecting their expertise and global networks to emerging leaders creating long-lasting social change. Their mission centers on supporting bold ideas and extraordinary leaders through an intensive 18-month fellowship program that provides seed funding and leadership development. They have designed a world-class global search process that elevates better indicators of potential beyond just business plans, prioritizing diversity of experience and perspective while offering a learning experience for all applicants. For over 35 years, Echoing Green has been on the front lines of solving the world's biggest problems by building a broad, dynamic ecosystem to support transformational leaders. Their impact in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem is significant, having supported notable success stories like Teach For America's Wendy Kopp and Last Mile Health's Raj Panjabi, demonstrating their ability to identify and nurture ideas that become international game-changers.

era92 Fund is a Uganda-based impact investment and microfinance platform focused on expanding economic opportunity across Africa. The organization provides capital and financial services to startups, SMEs, and micro-entrepreneurs building businesses that improve livelihoods and strengthen local economies. Operating through two core divisions, era92 Finance and era92 Ventures, the fund combines inclusive lending with patient impact capital to support entrepreneurs solving critical social and economic challenges. Its mission centers on reversing poverty and creating long-term prosperity through financial inclusion and social enterprise development.

gBETA Social Impact is a free, seven-week accelerator program that works specifically with startups and emerging nonprofits committed to making positive community and global impact. The program focuses on supporting companies building products or services that address equity in education and criminal justice reform. gBETA Social Impact operates as a comprehensive accelerator offering mentorship, office hours, sponsor connections, and learning opportunities culminating in a pitch night. As a free program, it removes financial barriers for social impact entrepreneurs and provides structured support through a seven-week intensive format that includes access to mentors, educational sessions, and networking opportunities. The program serves as an important gateway for social impact startups in underserved sectors like education equity and criminal justice reform. By offering free access to accelerator resources typically available only to traditional startups, gBETA Social Impact fills a critical gap in the ecosystem for mission-driven entrepreneurs. The program is sponsored by multiple organizations and operates as part of the gener8tor network, providing credibility and resources to emerging social ventures.

The Global Good Fund is a nonprofit social enterprise that identifies high-potential social impact leaders and accelerates their success through executive mentorship, professional leadership coaching, and capital. They focus on entrepreneurs tackling five key social issues: economic mobility, education, environment, financial inclusion, and health. Built by social entrepreneurs for social entrepreneurs, the organization operates through multiple channels including nonprofit programs, consulting services, and an impact fund, with proceeds from their consultancy and fund donated back to support more programs. Their proprietary development methods are designed to grow leaders who can achieve greater social impact. The Global Good Fund serves as a social impact accelerator that believes growing leaders is the most effective strategy for solving complex social problems and achieving global good. Their impact ecosystem creates a sustainable model where successful entrepreneurs can pay it forward, creating a ripple effect of sustainable community impact across their global network of change-makers.

GreenLight Fund is a national nonprofit network that matches local communities' unmet needs with evidence-based social innovations. They actively engage with local communities to identify gaps not being addressed and invite best-in-class nonprofits uniquely suited to tackle these challenges. Their mission centers on investing in community-driven change by partnering with local communities to tackle barriers that prevent individuals and families from achieving inclusive prosperity. They operate through a network of sites across multiple cities, working directly with communities to understand their specific needs before bringing in proven solutions. As a national network spanning over a decade of operations, GreenLight Fund has established itself as a significant player in the social innovation ecosystem. Their approach of centering racial equity and focusing on inclusive prosperity positions them as an important bridge between evidence-based interventions and community-identified needs, helping to scale effective solutions across diverse urban markets.

GSG Impact is a global network organization that connects leaders, investors, governments, regulators, and social innovators to improve their impact on society and the environment. They focus on building impact economies, mobilizing private capital for public good, and promoting impact transparency and integrity across different sectors and geographies. Their mission centers on creating an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic system where impact becomes a core factor in every investment, business, and government spending decision. GSG operates through a network of national partners, taskforces, strategic partners and affiliations to drive collective action and advance impact investing globally. GSG Impact plays a crucial convening role in the impact ecosystem, bringing together diverse stakeholders to accelerate the transition toward impact-driven decision making. They matter because they serve as a catalyst for systemic change, working to ensure that all investment, business, consumption and government decisions consider their broader social and environmental implications.

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship focuses on supporting social entrepreneurs and enterprises that create positive impact for vulnerable and marginalized communities. They operate through multiple approaches including developing products in partnership with social enterprises, accelerating impact through partnerships with organizations like Ashoka, Acumen, NESsT, and WWF, and providing local services support. Their mission centers on creating a better everyday life for as many people as possible, with particular emphasis on empowering vulnerable and marginalized people and social entrepreneurs. They lead by example through their actions and share learnings to find solutions that support social entrepreneurial activities, aiming to contribute to significant and lasting change in communities worldwide. IKEA Social Entrepreneurship has become a significant player in the social enterprise ecosystem, supporting 120 social enterprises across 21 countries and contributing to the creation of over 20,000 jobs and incomes. Their model demonstrates how corporate partnerships can scale social impact, starting from initial collaborations that created over 100 jobs in 2012 and growing into a comprehensive platform that accelerates the broader social entrepreneurship movement.

Katapult is a Norwegian impact investor that accelerates and invests in technology companies solving the world's greatest challenges. They focus on highly scalable impact tech startups, with specific investment programs including Katapult Ocean for startups with positive ocean impact and Katapult Africa for climate-tech startups addressing Africa's pressing challenges. The organization operates through a comprehensive platform approach, combining investment with accelerator programs to strengthen their support for promising impact tech startups. Since 2017, they have conducted 10 flagship accelerator programs and 3 corporate accelerators, while also establishing the Katapult Foundation in 2020 to focus on building the impact community and education around impact investment. Katapult has established significant influence in the global impact investment ecosystem, having invested in 169 companies across 47 different countries. Their platform approach enables domain experts to launch lean and efficient investment vehicles, while initiatives like Katapult Future Fest, Katapult X, and the Nordic Investment Network help build the broader impact investing community and demonstrate their commitment to scaling both profit and impact.

Miller Center for Global Impact is a social entrepreneurship accelerator and capacity-building organization that supports social entrepreneurs working to address poverty and tackle pressing social problems aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They operate from Silicon Valley and run programs including an annual In-Residence cohort program that brings select social entrepreneurs to California for intensive support. Their mission centers on advancing "business for good" by supporting scalable and replicable social enterprises led by local leaders who are best positioned to provide lasting solutions to social challenges. They operate through a proven model that combines executive mentors, world-class programs, Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial expertise, and Santa Clara University's social justice heritage to build capacity for social entrepreneurs globally. Miller Center has been a leader in the global social entrepreneurship movement for over 25 years, establishing significant influence in transforming markets for good and working toward ending poverty. Their impact spans globally from Silicon Valley to regions like the Himalayas, and they form strategic partnerships with organizations like impact fund manager Investisseurs & Partenaires to strengthen entrepreneur capacity-building across African countries.

MIT Solve is an initiative of MIT that provides social impact and entrepreneurship services, connecting startups with funding and resources to address global challenges. The organization launches open calls for exceptional and diverse solutions to pressing global problems from innovators anywhere in the world, focusing on areas including climate, economic prosperity, health, learning, indigenous communities, youth innovation, and innovative financing. MIT Solve operates on the belief that building a better future requires new voices and ideas from diverse sources. They run challenges to identify groundbreaking solutions, then provide selected innovators with the backing of MIT and their community of supporters to scale their impact and drive lasting change. The organization has established itself as a platform that bridges the gap between innovative solutions and the resources needed to implement them at scale. Over its ten-year history, MIT Solve has become a significant force in the global innovation ecosystem, having run over 100 challenges and received more than 26,800 applications from 185 countries. Their community of innovators and solutions have reached over 370 million lives worldwide, demonstrating tangible impact from refugee education in Lebanon to agricultural improvements in Ethiopia. The organization has mobilized over $80 million and forged over 1,000 partnerships, establishing itself as a crucial connector between social entrepreneurs and the resources they need to create meaningful change.

NESsT is a global impact investor that focuses on social enterprises creating dignified employment opportunities for underserved communities while promoting environmental sustainability. The organization invests in high-performing enterprises that operate at the intersection of people, profit, and the planet, targeting job creation that benefits both communities and environmental resilience. Since 1997, NESsT has operated with a mission to support front-line entrepreneurs building sustainable and equitable futures in emerging markets. They work specifically in regions where traditional businesses fail to provide adequate employment, with 25% of workers living in extreme or moderate poverty and 46.8% facing low incomes and difficult working conditions. NESsT has established itself as a significant force in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, having positively impacted over 3.4 million lives across communities worldwide. Their comprehensive approach includes multiple specialized programs such as the Lirio Fund, Violet Fund, Amazonia Initiative, and Racial Equity Initiative, positioning them as a leader in creating systemic change through social enterprise investment.

Norrsken is a non-profit impact ecosystem that connects entrepreneurs with the capital, knowledge, and network they need to build businesses focused on solving global challenges. They operate as a foundation that believes entrepreneurship and technology can be powerful forces for positive change, supporting founders who are making "saving the world their business." Their mission centers on the belief that if impact-driven entrepreneurs succeed, everyone benefits. Norrsken operates through a comprehensive ecosystem approach, providing not just funding but also knowledge sharing and networking opportunities to help founders scale their solutions. They position themselves as enablers of entrepreneurial solutions to global problems. Norrsken has established a significant presence in the impact investing ecosystem with physical locations across multiple continents including Amsterdam, Brussels, Barcelona, Kigali, and Stockholm. Their Houses serve as hubs for impact entrepreneurs, and they're expanding with new locations planned. They matter because they're creating infrastructure and community for impact entrepreneurship, bridging the gap between good intentions and scalable business solutions.

REDF invests in businesses that reveal and reinforce the talent of people breaking through barriers to employment. They focus specifically on employment social enterprises - businesses that create jobs and opportunities for individuals who face significant challenges in accessing traditional employment pathways. The organization operates through a comprehensive approach that combines capital, capacity building, and community support to help their portfolio enterprises grow further and faster. Their mission centers on building a thriving and inclusive society where all people have the jobs and support they need to realize their full potential, guided by the vision of creating an economy that works for everyone. REDF plays a critical role in the social enterprise ecosystem by not only providing direct investment and support to employment-focused businesses, but also by evaluating what works and sharing their learnings to drive broader policy and systems change. Their multi-faceted approach spans from early-stage accelerator programs to growth-stage investments and advocacy partnerships with government entities, positioning them as both an investor and a thought leader in advancing employment opportunities for underserved populations.

Responsibly Ventures is a PreSeed VC Impact Fund focused on backing remarkable teams building startups in sustainability and social good sectors. They support founders in realizing what they call 'Venture Scale Positive Impacts' by investing in companies that create measurable environmental and social benefits alongside financial returns. Their mission centers on understanding not just what teams are building, but why they're building it and who they're building it for at a fundamental level. They operate by seeking startups with an 'impact moat' - where the company's mission-driven focus provides a unique strategic advantage in the market. The fund actively promotes all forms of positive impact as core value drivers, including diversity, inclusion, empathy, social responsibility, ethics, and actions focused on both people and planet. Responsibly Ventures has created meaningful impact in the venture ecosystem through their portfolio companies and broader community initiatives. Their partner community 'posi2ive' includes over 10,000 impact-aligned investors and founders, creating a network effect for sustainable innovation. They've demonstrated concrete results through portfolio companies like Kidsy (diverted over 1 million pounds of products from landfill) and it's electric (expanding EV charging access across 9 cities), proving that impact and venture-scale returns can coexist effectively.

SEED SPOT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that educates, accelerates, and invests in diverse entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to social problems. They focus on supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs through comprehensive programs including accelerators, mentorship, and capital access across key areas like health and wellness, environmental sustainability, equality and economic opportunity, civic engagement, and education. The organization operates with a mission to make entrepreneurship accessible to all by surrounding entrepreneurs with resources, mentors, business fundamentals, community partners, and capital sources. Their unique approach centers entrepreneurs' needs and lived experiences, with particular emphasis on serving those underserved by traditional systems and programs. They offer multiple specialized programs including Impact Accelerator, Retail Brand Accelerator, Mental & Behavioral Health Impact Accelerator, and Youth Entrepreneurship initiatives. SEED SPOT has demonstrated significant impact in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, having served over 3,000 entrepreneurs and facilitated $122 million in capital raised. Their work has created over 5,300 jobs and generated $306 million in revenue, with 76% of their supported entrepreneurs being traditionally underrepresented and 56% being women founders. The organization addresses 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, making them a crucial player in scaling social impact ventures globally.

The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world's most pressing problems. They focus on supporting social entrepreneurs who offer compelling visions, creative solutions, and proven approaches to addressing global challenges. Created in 1999 by Jeff Skoll, the Foundation operates with a clear mission to build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all. Their approach centers on three core activities: investing in social entrepreneurs and innovators, connecting their community to drive transformational change, and championing those who advance bold and equitable solutions. The Skoll Foundation plays a significant role in the social innovation ecosystem by hosting the annual Skoll World Forum and maintaining a community of social entrepreneurs working on large-scale change. They have established themselves as a leading voice in supporting social enterprises that aim to achieve impact at scale, even during times of crisis and mass disruption.

SVX México is an impact investment organization that designs and implements impact investment strategies to channel financial resources systematically toward the regeneration of social, environmental, and economic capital in Mexico and Latin America. They provide three main services: education and intelligence to foster impact investment ecosystem development, strategy and consulting to design capital channeling strategies, and investment management of impact funds. Their mission is to ensure that capital serves life rather than governs it, operating under a holistic approach adopted since 2017 that integrates impact vision into investments. They work in strategic alliances with development organizations, companies, foundations, financial institutions, international cooperation agencies, and governments to build comprehensive impact investment ecosystems. Since 2014, in collaboration with SVX Canada, they have built the impact investment ecosystem in Latin America and are part of the SVX Americas network including SVX US, SVX Canada, and SVX Colombia. They have trained over 4,000 investors in impact investing in Mexico, demonstrating their significant role in developing the regional impact investment landscape and creating pathways for capital to address social and environmental challenges.

The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) is a multigenerational family foundation rooted in the Jewish tradition of social justice, working to create a more just, vibrant, sustainable, and democratic society. The foundation seeks to advance Racial, Environmental & Economic Justice (REEJ) in the U.S. and Israel-Palestine by partnering with social change organizations that have creative and catalytic solutions to climate change and inequality. NCF operates through multiple focus areas including racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, and combating antisemitism, with place-based initiatives in the U.S. South and Israel-Palestine regions.

Village Capital is an impact investment organization that unlocks social and financial capital for startups solving the world's biggest problems. They focus on three key thematic areas: Climate Innovation & Adaptation, Economic Mobility, and Equitable Access to Essential Services, supporting entrepreneurs through accelerator programs and comprehensive resources. Their mission centers on creating real impact by ensuring that startups and ecosystems grow together symbiotically. Village Capital operates by partnering with locally-led Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) to co-deliver programs, while also equipping these partners with tools, methodologies, and curriculum to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems. Village Capital matters because they reimagine the entire entrepreneurship support system and build tools that benefit the broader community. They unlock capital through various financing structures including equity, debt, and revenue-share arrangements, connecting impact-creating startups with the appropriate type of capital for their specific needs. Their approach of working with local partners and supporting featured founders like QuinTerra and Tierra de Monte demonstrates their commitment to driving measurable environmental and social impact.

Working Capital Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in technology companies focused on promoting fairness and building responsible, sustainable global supply chains. They target startups developing innovative solutions like AI-enabled transparency tools, worker-voice platforms, and financial technology that addresses urgent labor rights and ethical supply chain challenges. The fund operates with a mission to improve the lives of vulnerable workers across global supply chains and catalyze economic justice. They focus on addressing root causes of social and environmental challenges in supply chains, which annually generate $354 billion worth of goods at risk of involving forced labor and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions while relying on over 17 million people in modern slavery conditions. Working Capital Fund drives systems change by investing in technologies that can create impact at scale, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, health-tech wearables, blockchain, and fintech tools. Their portfolio companies facilitate corporate compliance, enable worker self-advocacy, support responsible sourcing, and generate proprietary datasets valuable to the responsible sourcing ecosystem, ultimately working toward more just and responsible global supply chains.