Ashoka guides and supports leading social entrepreneurs worldwide. Their philosophy is built on the idea that everyone is a changemaker and as such they work to engage communities, build frameworks and develop patterns of innovations through programmes in over 90 countries.
Impact Hub is a global network focused on building entrepreneurial communities to scale impact. Using the SDGs as their lens to assess impact across the world, they offer a variety of services such as: Community & Workspace (access workspaces over 100 locations worldwide), Startup Support (get mentorship and venture support).
Social Value is a national network based in Liverpool (UK) working to measure, increase and maximise social value and social impact within organisations. They believe that, by addressing the way we define and account for value, we can change decision making and benefit from more equality and sustainability.
Social Enterprise UK, with over a thousand members, is one of the biggest networks of social enterprises in the UK. They work to increase the exposure and action of social enterprises, by leading research, building markets and running campaigns across sectors. Their support is articulated through three programmes: Buy Social, Social Enterprise Places and The Social Value Act. They offer good resources to help you define and start your Social Enterprise.
Social Innovation Fund aims to provide funding and support to social innovators in Ireland to help them scale their impact. Act as a catalyst to support non-profit, social enterprises and charities, they offer a wide range of funds and mentorship programmes. Programmes & Events (co-create programmes and events for bottom-up innovation).
ANDE: The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is a global network of organisations that propel entrepreneurship in emerging markets.
On Purpose (UK) helps talented professionals develop the experience, knowledge and networks they need to lead this change through a year-long associate programme.
OpenIDEO designs solutions for the world’s biggest problems – Open IDEO is a place where people design better, together for social good. OpenIDEO was developed by IDEO, a design and innovation firm – as a way to include a broader range of people in their design process and address global issues, together.
SOCAP, Social Capital Markets (US) is a network of investors, entrepreneurs, and social impact leaders who believe in an inclusive and socially responsible economy to address the world’s toughest challenges. Their annual flagship event in San Francisco is the largest conference for impact investors and social entrepreneurs.
NESsT (Europe, Latin America) develops sustainable social enterprises that solve critical social problems in emerging market economies.
The Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI) Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship supports social entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions to the problems of poverty. They support these entrepreneurs at every stage of their organisations’ lifecycle through indepth mentoring, instruction in best business practices, and connection to impact investors.
Stanford: SEED’s ambitious goal is to transform the lives of people living in poverty—on a massive scale. SEED’s approach is to leverage Stanford’s resources and culture of entrepreneurship and innovation and work with local and global thought leaders and practitioners to catalyse positive change that will reach all citizens of a given region.
UnLtd: A charity that thinks social entrepreneurs make a difference. They find, fund, and support them to bring their ideas to life and build sustainable social ventures. UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and offers the largest such network in the world. UnLtd resources hundreds of individuals each year through its core Awards programme.
Social Innovation Exchange is a global network aimed at facilitating collaboration across sectors and igniting social innovation and positive impact. Their work focuses primarily around five areas: growing the social innovation movement; increasing the impact of philanthropy; challenge and inspire universities; influence policy and empower organisations.
EU’s Social Innovation Department started from the Innovation Union initiative (2010) and of the Social Investment Package (2013). Such agreements facilitate and scale up social innovation across the European Union aiming at promoting innovation as a source of growth, spreading knowledge about social innovation and supporting entrepreneurs by mobilising investors and public organisations.
Norrsken Foundation is a non-profit impact ecosystem that connects founders with capital, knowledge, and working facilities to rapidly scale their businesses. The foundation operates three startup hubs: the Nordic hub in Stockholm (Sweden), East African hub in Kigali (Rwanda), and Europe’s largest tech and impact hub in Barcelona (Spain). The foundation is privately funded and manages a Venture Capital arm and an accelerator programme for early-stage impact startups.
MIT Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Solve uses open innovation challenges to identify tech-based entrepreneurs worldwide to address pressing social and environmental problems and supports them through MIT’s innovation ecosystem and funding. Their mission is to advance knowledge in science, technologies, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.
Third Derivative is a Colorado (US) based accelerator that selects and supports climate tech startups to achieve decarbonisation faster and at scale. Third Derivative is a collaboration between two clean energy accelerators: Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and New Energy Nexus. Offerings include an 18-month remote global accelerator programme for visionary climate startups.
Foresight Canada has a vision of Canada becoming the first G7 Net-Zero country. They support cleantech startups at various stages of their journey – kickstarting, crystallising ideas into viable products, launching, scaling, and even capacity building. Sectors covered by Foresight include agriculture, built environment, energy, water, and carbon capture.
Katapult: Katapult is an impact-focused investment firm and accelerator that supports startups working on environmental and social challenges. Besides providing financial backing, Katapult offers a rigorous programme designed to accelerate growth and maximise the positive impact of the ventures it invests in.
AVPN Asia: AVPN Asia (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network) is a platform that connects and supports social investors and philanthropists in Asia. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, AVPN facilitates the growth of social enterprises and enhances their capacity to address critical societal issues in the region.
The Yield Lab: The Yield Lab is an accelerator and venture capital firm that supports early-stage agtech startups. It plays a crucial role in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the agriculture sector, enabling startups to enhance food production, efficiency, and sustainability.
UpLink World Economic Forum: Uplink, an initiative by the World Economic Forum, is a global platform that empowers entrepreneurs and innovators to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It connects these changemakers with resources, expertise, and potential partners to amplify their impact on global challenges.
ConnectAid: ConnectAid is an organisation that leverages technology to connect donors and volunteers directly with humanitarian projects worldwide. By providing a platform for social entrepreneurs and NGOs, ConnectAid fosters entrepreneurship in the humanitarian sector and supports initiatives focused on social and environmental change.
International Solar Alliance: The International Solar Alliance is a coalition of sun-rich countries committed to promoting solar energy deployment globally. By fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and providing access to financing, it supports solar entrepreneurs in scaling their clean energy ventures and contributing to climate change mitigation.
Greentech Alliance: Greentech Alliance is an organisation that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to drive innovation in the green technology sector. It plays a vital role in promoting entrepreneurship in sustainability and advancing solutions for environmental challenges.
Move.bg: Move.bg is an initiative that aims to empower young entrepreneurs in Bulgaria by providing resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. By supporting innovative projects and startups, Move.bg fosters a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
MCJ Collective: Unleashing Climate Innovation: MCJ Collective focuses on catalysing climate innovation by supporting entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas. Through funding and mentorship, it empowers climate entrepreneurs to develop scalable solutions that address climate change and contribute to a sustainable future.