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Problem: According to a study by the Indian Journal of Medical Research, 350 million Indians don’t get enough iodine. Iodine, most often associated with salt intake and also found in seafood, is a vital nutrient; without it, people suffer from goiter, hyperthyroidism, stunted growth, or intellectual disabilities—all preventable diseases. Specifically in women, a lack of iodine can cause breast cancer, pregnancy complications, and hypothyroidism, which can cause impaired ovulation.  But iodine isn’t easy for some Indian populations to get. Remote mountainous regions often have iodine-poor soil and seafood consumption is looked down upon in many communities. This combination of factors means that rural women, in particular, are at risk of suffering from iodine deficiency. Solution: Bindis are small dot stickers worn between a woman’s eyebrows to signify beauty and marriage. The practice began in the third and fourth centuries to represent the third eye. Today, the bindi is commonly adorned among all women, not just those who are married.   In 2015, Grey Advertising teamed up with Talwar, a prominent bindi distributor, and Neelvasant, an Indian-based NGO doing extensive work in rural areas of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. Grey worked with Talwar to infuse 150-200 micrograms of iodine in its bindi’s adhesive. Throughout the day, a woman wearing the iodine bindi absorbs, on average, 12% of their daily iodine requirement, a marked improvement from before if worn for five to eight hours a day. Through the NGO, 30 bindis a month are distributed to women in need for free.  Impact To Date: The iodine bindi helps over 100,000 tribal women in North-West Maharashtra battling iodine deficiency.  Why is this Innovative?  The Life Saving Dot uses the same technology and design as nicotine patches; its production costs are minimal, and the price is affordable at just two rupees per pack. (The rural Maharashtrian women Grey for Good worked with earned an average of 20-30 rupees daily.)  And what’s even better is that wearing the iodine-infused bindi requires no behavioral change. Supplements in the form of pills were available, but women weren’t getting or taking them. A side benefit is that many women report fewer headaches due to the increased amount of iodine in their system.  What needs to improve?    The biggest problem is that bindis are not worn by men or people from outside the Hindu religion.

The Problem PichaEats Solves Malaysia currently has 200,000 refugees and asylum-seekers as of May 2025. Many refugees are struggling to feed their families without access to formal employment or education. PichaEats is one of several enterprises trying to give jobs to some of the refugees.  Syrian women and children arriving in Malaysia The PichaEats Solution Founded in 2016, PichaEats is a Malaysian social enterprise offering authentic dishes prepared by refugee families, specializing in delicacies from their homelands. These dishes include Iraqi falafel, Palestinian hummus, Afghan dumplings, and Syrian sweets. PichaEats empowers refugee families to become skilled home chefs, able to earn their livelihood. They train them and help them find work, helping the refugees get back to their lives with dignity and support their families.  You can support PichaEats by ordering meal boxes in advance, or you can have them cater your event. They have catered for corporate events, weddings, and other special occasions. Its frozen food offerings, ding! by PichaEats, offer convenient heatable pre-packed meals made with fresh ingredients.  Why is it Innovative? Lim and her two cofounders hatched the idea for PichaEats as university students six years ago, while working as volunteers teaching refugee children. Determined to help keep them in school, they approached one of the refugee mothers, a Burmese woman whose son was named Picha, and suggested selling home-cooked meals to their university friends. Naeem sells food to PichaEats, a Malaysian social enterprise, for about 2,000 ringgit ($480) a month while she waits to be resettled after fleeing to Malaysia with her family of four from Syria six years ago. Soon, it will deliver Naeem’s food to diners across Kuala Lumpur.  PichaEats Co-Founders Now an award-winning, accredited social enterprise, PichaEats trains and employs chefs from Pakistan, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan and offers a variety of home-cooked cuisine. The company has a profit margin of roughly 12%, though there are months when they barely break even, says Lee. “The balance between profit and charity is always very tough,” says Lim, who is PichaEats’ CEO. What is the Impact? Since its founding in 2016, PichaEats’ three founders, Lee Swee Lin, Lim Yuet Kim, and Sook Shian “Suzanne” Ling, have served 130,000 meals prepared by 100 individuals from 20 refugee families, generating 3.5 million ringgit in sales.  Moving forward, PichaEats said it was committed to educating people about Malaysia's refugee situation and the social enterprise's main drive. "At the end of the day, it is PichaEats' vision to see a world whereby everybody has rights to have hope and opportunities by enabling new beginnings for communities seeking refuge, cultivating empathy, and inspiring change through food for everyday people. Believing in equal rights for everyone, PichaEats is also committed to educating more people about the refugee situation in Malaysia and why we do what we do," the Company says. Menu prepared by PichaEats chef What Needs to Improve? To achieve scale and serve more refugees, PichaEats operations need to be strengthened, while the training programs should expand. Shared kitchen hubs would be a good investment in which refugee families can cook in bulk while maintaining food-safety standards and quality control, making production more efficient and helping to drive down costs. PichaEats could also develop a structured training program in food safety, business management, and standardized cooking techniques. This would allow more refugees to enter the network and provide high-quality meals regularly. Experienced chefs could take on mentorship roles, helping new participants learn and succeed. PichaEats should continue to diversify its operations from event catering into growing its frozen-meal brand, offering meal subscriptions for individuals and companies. This would mean partnering with grocery stores, hotels, and corporate cafeterias for recurring orders that increase visibility. Finally, scaling can be further supported by technology. Development of a system to digitalize order tracking, chef earnings, and customer feedback would not only smoothen operations but also make things more transparent. At the same time, PichaEats can continue sharing its impact stories and educating the public about Malaysia's refugee situation. Sources: https://asiafoodjournal.com/sodexo-and-pichaeats-promote-meaningful-cultural-exchange-through-cooking/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamelaambler/2019/12/08/recipe-for-resilience-pichaeats-aims-to-keep-refugee-children-in-school-through-food/ https://says.com/my/lifestyle/ways-to-support-refugees-in-malaysia https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/08/pichaeats-affirms-commitment-to-supporting-refugees-in-malaysia-despite-500-pax-fake-food-order-setback/138724 https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/diversity/female-led-social-enterprises-in-malaysia-that-empower-refugees

What is the Problem? Smallholder farmers make up 80% of the world’s poorest people. They struggle with money issues because they earn most at harvest time, but have no cash for the planting season. Only 20% of women in West Africa have bank accounts, and just 6% get loans. Cash kept at home risks theft or spending on non-business-related things. Women farmers also lack access to good seeds, fertilizers, and training since subsidies often go to men or big farms. Only 3% of women get farming training. Cultural norms make it harder for women, who inherit less land and have family responsibilities, limiting their time and resources. These issues lead to low harvests, hunger, and perpetual poverty. Smallholder Farmers Harvesting What is the myAgro Solution? myAgro helps farmers save small amounts for seeds, fertilizers, and training using mobile phones. Farmers buy scratch cards, like phone airtime cards, and text codes to save money in their myAgro account. Since over 50% of farmers have phones, they can check balances anytime, and myAgro delivers supplies when they save enough. The organization provides quality seeds and fertilizers suited to local land, plus training on efficient farming. The program fits women’s needs, matching their small, irregular incomes from markets. This savings model helps farmers invest without loans or handouts. What is its Impact to Date? myAgro team with clients myAgro has transformed lives. In 2023, it helped 200,000 farmers in Mali and Senegal, with 60% being women, impacting over 1 million people. By 2024, it reached over 270,000 farmers, with 65% women, exceeding its 175,000 goal and expanding to Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Farmers grow 50-100% more food, earning $150–$300 extra yearly. For example, Awa Samake in Mali grew 15 peanut bags from a quarter hectare, up from 10 bags, and bought livestock. Women like Daba Ndiaye in Senegal built their own homes. Entrepreneurs earn commissions to support their families’ education and food needs. myAgro boosts harvests, income, and community strength. Why is it Innovative? myAgro’s approach is unique. It uses a familiar phone card system, making saving easy and trustworthy. Farmers use their own money, not loans, reducing stress and costs. The program meets women’s needs with flexible savings and options. Its simple model works anywhere with mobile phones, making it scalable.  myAgro team with client What Needs to be Improved? Reaching 1 million farmers by 2026 requires more funding and partnerships, especially in Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. Hiring women is hard due to cultural biases, so better recruitment strategies are needed. More programs can help women and address climate challenges. Tracking long-term effects, like nutrition or education, can improve programs. Adding climate-smart farming practices can protect against droughts. Sources https://www.ted.com/talks/anushka_ratnayake_a_transparent_easy_way_for_smallholder_farmers_to_save https://www.africanews.com/2018/11/20/mali-myagro-s-mobile-payment-platform-to-go-fully-digital-sci-tech/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeseq/2022/09/29/a-day-in-the-life-of-rural-farmers-in-southern-senegal/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeseq/2022/08/23/how-one-organization-designs-for-women-from-the-c-suite-to-the-peanut-fields-of-west-africa/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeseq/2022/06/28/a-transparent-easy-way-for-smallholder-farmers-to-save/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeseq/2022/06/15/the-ripple-effects-of-increasing-the-income-of-african-women/ https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/11/5-ways-social-entrepreneurs-are-transforming-food-systems/ https://www.gatesnotes.com/mobile-phones-bigger-harvests

The Problem   Millions of children worldwide, especially refugees, face barriers to learning how to read. For Syrian refugee children in Jordan, challenges such as large class sizes, under-resourced schools, and the trauma of displacement stop the development of strong reading skills. Many lack access to books or opportunities to enjoy reading, which can limit cognitive and emotional growth. Additionally, refugee women often face social and economic marginalization, with few chances to engage meaningfully in their communities. The Solution: We Love Reading   We Love Reading (WLR), founded by Rana Dajani in 2006, is a community-led program that promotes reading for pleasure among children. Volunteers, primarily women, are trained as "ambassadors" to read aloud to small groups of 6–10 children on a weekly basis in safe spaces, such as homes or community centers. The program uses culturally relevant paper books, avoiding digital devices to focus on the tangible aspects of reading. WLR operates in 65 countries, with 4,000 volunteers in Jordan alone, reaching about 500,000 children, including many Syrian refugees. WLR Volunteer Reading to Refugee Children The Impact   WLR has made a significant impact. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 322 Syrian refugee mother–child dyads (a dyad is a 2-person unit) in Jordan showed that mothers reported improved child attitudes toward reading after participating in WLR. However, the children’s self-reported attitudes and literacy skills did not show significant improvement.  The program also increased life satisfaction among female volunteers, providing them with a sense of purpose and agency. For example, volunteers described feeling a sense of “proof of existence” through this type of community involvement. WLR’s global reach and recognition, including the 2017 UNESCO International Literacy Prize, highlight its success in promoting reading and social entrepreneurship. Why It’s Innovative   WLR stands out for its community-driven approach. Unlike top-down programs, it empowers local volunteers, primarily women, to lead reading sessions on their own terms, fostering ownership and flexibility. The relaxed reading style of the volunteers respects local preferences by avoiding discussions that might feel like a traditional testing environment. By utilizing culturally relevant books and focusing on physical books, WLR creates accessible and relatable experiences for children. Its scalability—active in 65 countries with 8,000 volunteers worldwide—demonstrates its adaptability to diverse environments. WLR Volunteer Reading Story to Child What Needs to Improve   Despite its strengths, WLR has room for growth. Research studies have found no significant impact on children’s literacy or self-reported attitudes toward reading, suggesting that the program’s light-touch approach may not be sufficient to boost literacy skills.  Adding interactive elements, such as discussing book content or new vocabulary, can enhance outcomes while maintaining cultural sensitivity. The program’s short duration (12–15 weeks) may also limit its effects, as longer interventions might yield stronger results. WLR is a program that brings happiness to refugee children and purpose to women through community reading. It helps mothers see their kids' reading habits more positively and increases volunteers' life satisfaction. To boost literacy, the program could use more interactive activities and longer sessions. With improvements, WLR can better empower displaced communities and foster a lasting love for reading. Sources: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68903-9#Sec1 https://news.yale.edu/2024/04/05/volunteering-enhances-life-satisfaction-among-syrian-refugee-women https://almashareq.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_am/features/2023/05/01/feature-04 https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/books/2023/04/24/the-jordanian-reading-initiative-shaping-young-minds-around-the-world/

Michelle Haigh Osorio Vice President, NY Green Bank Yana: What was your inspiration for working in social impact investing? Michelle: I always believed and observed that success requires many forms of support, creating a deep interdependency between people and subverting the purely merit-based narrative at the center of American culture. It is not possible to achieve success alone and always requires many contributing factors. As a result, I viewed poverty as a shared challenge and felt compelled to take action. After college, I volunteered in Honduras in a region facing extreme poverty. While I worked on health and education solutions, we sent people home to hunger and deprivation. It seemed clear that these problems would continue to recur without economic development and access to opportunity. When I returned home to the US, I found a job with a very early impact investing firm focused on environmental sustainability and job creation in underserved regions, and it set me on my career path.    Yana: How do you measure & balance financial returns with the social impact in your investment decisions? Michelle: Every impact investing fund or product must define its financial and impact goals and operate accordingly.  There is no single answer or approach to this issue, and I have worked on a spectrum of financial solutions that address different impact gaps.  For example: KawiSafi Ventures KawiSafi Ventures invests in distributed energy in East Africa to expand access to clean energy, with a focus on improving the lives of people living in poverty. Its portfolio companies are typically late venture to early growth stage, having proven a viable market and seeking to scale up.  The fund is committed to achieving positive financial returns but has some flexibility in its target returns to allow for reaching low-income populations.  Its path to scale relies on proving that the portfolio can reach profitability and achieve positive returns for investors, while continuing to build and support the financial innovation ecosystem in the region.  New York Green Bank NY Green Bank is a state-sponsored specialized fund that invests in New York State’s clean energy markets, including projects supporting building decarbonization, clean transportation, energy storage, solar, and other sustainable infrastructure. NY Green Bank’s role is to set a precedent for debt financing projects with certain risk elements that the broader lending market is not yet comfortable with. As a result, it sets terms at commercial rates to help activate the private market.  An exception is its Community Decarbonization Fund, which offers concessional financing to mission-driven investors to finance greenhouse gas-reducing projects that benefit historically disadvantaged communities (DACs).   Yana: How do you stay resilient in the face of slow progress in your social impact goals? Michelle: Doing hard things requires a strong perspective and support. For me, the impact of my work is vitally important, and that is what energizes and motivates me. The opportunity to visit a customer or end-user benefiting from our investment and seeing the impact in action – whether that’s a bio-digester improving operations, health, and environmental outcomes on a farm in East Africa, or community solar extending clean energy benefits to more areas in NYS.   I also treasure and benefit from the professional community of investors, founders, and other supporters who bring their talent and passion to this work in the face of great challenges.  It is an inspiring group of people who pick each other up after setbacks, push each other forward toward the next milestone, and keep a focus on driving excellence and impact. About Michelle Michelle Haigh Osorio is an impact investor with a track record of delivering strong financial performance alongside business-aligned social and environmental outcomes for organizations, including KawiSafi Ventures, Conduit Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs & Co., and SJF Ventures. She drives value across fund leadership roles, fostering a collaborative team culture while enhancing organizational effectiveness in dynamic, multicultural environments. Michelle is currently on the investments team at New York Green Bank, a state-sponsored specialized fund that invests in New York State’s clean energy markets, including projects supporting building decarbonization, clean transportation, energy storage, solar, and other sustainable infrastructure.  Previously, Michelle invested in emerging markets private equity for over 15 years, including backing high-impact climate ventures in East Africa while at KawiSafi Ventures, as well as renewable power projects in Latin America while at Conduit Capital Partners and the Carlyle Group. She previously worked in the Public Sector & Infrastructure Banking group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and started her career at SJF Ventures, a leading impact VC fund.  Michelle holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh. She lives in New York City and is a mom of two fantastic children.

The Problem Zipline Is Tackling Millions of people, especially in rural areas, can’t get basic medical supplies like vaccines or blood transfusions because the roads are poor, or there aren’t any roads.  In places like Rwanda or Ghana, getting to a hospital can take hours or even days. Kids die because clinics run out of vaccines. The World Health Organization says about 5.5 million kids die every year because they can’t get basic medical products.  On top of that, even in cities, delivery trucks are slow, expensive, and bad for the planet, burning fuel, clogging roads, and pumping out emissions. Whether it’s getting medicine to a clinic or groceries to your door, the way we move stuff around is inefficient. It’s either too slow, too costly, or can’t reach everyone on time. Zipline’s Solution Zipline, based in San Francisco, has built a fleet of electric-powered drones that deliver stuff fast, cheaply, and without harming the environment.  Here’s how it works: their drones can carry up to 8 pounds of goods, anything from blood, vaccines, or even groceries.  They fly autonomously (meaning no one’s steering them with a joystick) and can travel up to 150 miles.  In places like Rwanda, Zipline’s drones drop medical supplies to hospitals and clinics in remote areas. But Zipline’s not stopping here. They’re also planning to make deliveries for places like Walmart and Panera, starting in Texas in 2026. Same drones, same tech, just dropping off your groceries or lunch instead of life-saving medicine. Watch: How Zipline Works (Video) Why Is Zipline’s Approach Innovative? Zipline’s drones fly themselves—no human joystick action needed. They’ve built the whole system from scratch: the 60-pound drones with 8-foot wingspans, the software, the flight controls, even the apps for ordering. They carry 8-pound payloads up to 150 miles, making deliveries super fast and reliable, even in harsh weather. Zipline started in Rwanda in 2016, delivering blood and medical supplies to remote hospitals that were hard to reach by road. This wasn’t just a cool tech demo—it was about saving lives in places where kids were dying because clinics didn’t have vaccines or blood. Now they’re scaling that to deliver everything from vaccines to Walmart groceries. Their electric drones cut emissions by up to 97% compared to trucks or cars. That’s a big deal when you think about how much pollution traditional delivery creates. Zipline’s basically saying, “Why burn fuel when we can fly green?” Everyone thought drone delivery was a pipe dream, but Zipline has flown over 100 million autonomous miles. That’s like driving every road in the U.S. 24 times or circling the Earth 4,000 times! They got regulators on board by showing how their tech saves lives, starting with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health. Zipline Drone What Impact Has Zipline Had So Far? Zipline has delivered over 15 million vaccine doses to nearly 5,000 healthcare facilities, reaching 49 million people across Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire. In Ghana, vaccine stock-outs were reduced by 60% and missed vaccinations by 42%, according to a 2023 study by IDinsight. During COVID, they delivered 2.8 million vaccine doses in Ghana alone. In Nigeria, they hit 1.5 million vaccine doses for kids in 2023 and are targeting 70,000 more kids with no prior access. In Rwanda, they handle 75% of the country’s blood supply outside the capital. That’s huge for moms with postpartum hemorrhage or anyone needing urgent transfusions.  In Kenya, their Kisumu hub serves over 1,000 health facilities, reducing the number of cases where patients are turned away for conditions such as malaria or snakebites by 37% and 56%, respectively. By swapping trucks for drones, Zipline cut emissions big time. Their 1.6 million deliveries worldwide have been way cleaner than traditional transport, helping fight climate change while getting stuff where it needs to go. They’re now working with big names like Walmart, Chipotle, and Panera in the United States (U.S.) with home deliveries starting in Texas in 2026. This shows their tech isn’t just for emergencies—it’s ready to change how we all get stuff. By delivering to rural areas, Zipline is helping people start businesses and access products they couldn’t before. It’s leveling the playing field, giving everyone a shot at the same opportunities city folks have. What Does Zipline Need to Improve? Zipline is currently operating in Africa and the U.S., with plans for expansion into Asia and Europe, but growth is challenging. Different countries have different rules for drones, and getting approvals can be a nightmare. They need to figure out how to navigate these regulations more efficiently to reach a broader audience. While their drones are cheaper than traditional delivery methods, setting up drone distribution centers isn’t cheap. They need to find ways to lower costs so more countries, especially poorer ones, can afford their services. Some people still believe that drone delivery is a sci-fi concept or unsafe. Zipline’s done over 1.6 million deliveries with no major issues, but they need to keep building trust, especially in urban areas where drones buzzing around might freak people out. They’re moving into retail, but their system could do more, such as disaster relief or delivering supplies to schools. They should explore new ways to use their tech to maximize social impact. Their drones are tough, but extreme weather can still mess things up. Improving their tech to handle crazy storms or high winds would make them even more reliable. Sources:   https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00093996.html https://primeprogressng.com/spotlight/african-drone-pioneer-zipline-is-now-delivering-burritos-in-the-us/ https://www.fastcompany.com/91328059/how-ziplines-keller-cliffton-built-the-worlds-largest-drone-delivery-network

The Problem Elvis & Kresse, a UK-based social enterprise, addresses the environmental problem of industrial waste, specifically retired fire hoses and leather waste that end up in landfills. This social enterprise is tackling the fashion industry's significant contribution to pollution and carbon emissions.  The Elvis & Kresse Collection The Solution Elvis & Kresse rescues these materials, along with other waste such as parachute silk and coffee bags, and transforms them into durable, high-quality fashion accessories, including handbags, belts, and notebooks, through a zero-waste design process that generates no waste and utilizes reclaimed fabric for packaging.  Why Is It Innovative? This idea is innovative, as it adopts a circular approach to fashion, reconfiguring waste and luxury by upcycling unrecyclable materials into classically designed, usable products, rather than following short-term fads or trends. The company donates half of its profits to charities, predominantly The Fire Fighters Charity, and supports initiatives like empowering women through solar engineering training. What Is The Impact? To date, Elvis & Kresse has recycled over 315 tons of waste, including 73.5 tons of fire hoses, donated over $500,000 to charity, facilitated more than 29,000 therapy sessions for firefighters, trained 35 apprentices, and urges the fashion world to utilize recycled materials. Kresse Wesling, Co-Founder of Elvis & Kresse Areas For Improvement Hand-sorting through waste limits Elvis & Kresse’s ability to scale to a broader market, and its transport and shipping emissions are an ongoing barrier to net carbon neutrality—a goal the company aims to achieve by 2030. Increasing awareness and demand for their sustainable luxury products will amplify their impact, as could exploring additional waste streams to address the UK's 100 million tons of annual landfill waste. Sources: https://www.causeartist.com/fire-hoses-sustainable-fashion-accessories/ https://www.bigissue.com/life/ethical-shopping/this-company-makes-luxury-bags-out-of-old-fire-hoses-and-parachutes/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l8wd9nwy7o https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/blog/impact-awardee-kresse-wesling

Natalie Chow, a fashion and beauty industry veteran with over 15 years of marketing experience, founded KIBO and Happy Baton to address pressing environmental challenges. Chow launched KIBO in 2019 alongside her husband, Simon Chow. KIBO, named after the Japanese word for “hope,” reflects Natalie's vision to create stylish, eco-friendly shoes that minimize waste and combat labor exploitation.  Natalie Chow, Founder of KIBO & Happy Baton Her second business, Happy Baton, which Natalie co-founded with Jade Lee, emerged from Chow’s recognition of the clutter caused by toys in Hong Kong’s compact living spaces. Launched as an online toy library, Happy Baton offers a subscription service for high-quality, educational toys. Both ventures showcase Chow’s commitment to conscious consumerism, driven by her personal experiences as a mother and desire to create a positive legacy for her children. KIBO: Environmental Waste and Unethical Practices in Fashion Fast fashion is contributing to environmental degradation through overproduction and reliance on non-sustainable materials. Additionally, labor exploitation remains rampant across global supply chains. Consumers pay high prices for branding rather than value, while the industry overlooks long-term environmental and social impacts. KIBO shoe makers KIBO attempts to solve this problem by producing sustainable footwear using upcycled materials like apple waste, leather trimmings, and recycled plastics, reducing reliance on virgin resources. Its Apple Leather collection, for instance, repurposes juicing industry waste into vegan-friendly shoes, cutting carbon emissions by 20 times compared to traditional leather. KIBO also donates a portion of its profits to Compassion First, a nonprofit fighting human trafficking, addressing ethical concerns in production. The brand emphasizes transparency, using certified materials (e.g., PETA-approved Apple Leather, GRS-certified recycled leather) and works with BSCI-accredited factories to ensure fair labor practices. Happy Baton: Toy Waste and Lack of Sustainable Play Options In Hong Kong, where compact living spaces exacerbate clutter, children’s toys contribute to waste as they are quickly outgrown or discarded. High-quality, educational toys are often expensive and hard to find, and the constant purchase of new toys adds to environmental strain and living space constraints. Happy Baton’s subscription-based toy library delivers curated, age-appropriate, and developmentally focused toys to families, reducing the need to buy new items. The service includes a pick-up option for unwanted toys, extending their lifecycle through reuse. Toys are sanitized with hospital-grade processes, ensuring hygiene while promoting sustainable consumption. This model minimizes toy clutter, reduces waste, and provides access to high-quality, educational toys that support child development. How KIBO and Happy Baton Solve Sustainability Problems By innovating with materials like Apple Leather and recycled canvas, KIBO tackles waste in the footwear industry. Its Recycled Canvas Slip-Ons, for example, use recycled cotton and rubber, reducing the water footprint by up to 98% compared to conventional cotton. The brand’s commitment to ethical production is evident in its partnerships with audited factories and its support for anti-trafficking initiatives. KIBO also educates consumers to combat greenwashing, encouraging informed purchasing decisions. The toy rental model addresses overconsumption by offering a circular economy approach. Parents receive monthly boxes tailored to their child’s needs, reducing the environmental impact of toy disposal. The pick-up service ensures toys are reused, while rigorous cleaning processes maintain safety and trust. This solution aligns with Hong Kong’s space constraints and promotes sustainable play for children up to age five. Why These Solutions Are Innovative KIBO’s use of apple waste for vegan leather is a pioneering step in sustainability, blending innovation with style. The Apple Leather collection, incorporating up to 15 repurposed apples per pair, is a USDA-certified biobased product that reduces reliance on animal leather and minimizes food industry waste. By combining aesthetics, comfort (e.g., orthopedic insoles), and sustainability, KIBO challenges the notion that eco-friendly products compromise quality. How Happy Baton Works The toy library model is innovative in Hong Kong’s context, where space is a critical concern. By curating educational toys and offering a rental system, Happy Baton reduces waste while addressing the financial and logistical barriers to accessing quality toys. The service’s focus on child development and hygiene (using hospital-grade disinfection) adds value, making sustainable toys accessible for busy parents. Impact of KIBO and Happy Baton Since its launch, KIBO has seen significant traction, nearly doubling sales in the financial year ending March 2023, reflecting growing demand for sustainable footwear. Its use of recycled materials has reduced environmental footprints, with the canvas slip-ons cutting water usage by 98%. Socially, KIBO’s donations to Compassion First support child survivors of sex trafficking, aligning profit with purpose. The brand’s emphasis on transparency has also inspired conscious consumerism, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, who prioritize value-led brands. The subscription has been “overwhelmingly positive,” with parents appreciating the variety and educational value of monthly boxes. Its pick-up service creates a circular economy for toys, resonating with environmentally conscious families in Hong Kong. A happy Happy Baton customer Areas for Improvement One challenge is developing end-of-life solutions for shoes, as disassembling complex components (e.g., recycled leather, rubber, and plastics) for upcycling is difficult, particularly in Hong Kong’s limited recycling infrastructure. Chow is exploring how to solve this issue. Additionally, overcoming consumer skepticism about upcycled materials remains a hurdle. For Happy Baton, expanding the range of toys or age groups (beyond five years old) could be powerful, but requires careful curation to ensure developmental relevance. Sources: https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3223400/sustainable-sneaker-start-kibo-sees-increased-appetite-hong-kong-shoes-made-apple-waste-eyes https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/kibo-vegan-sneakers/ https://www.tatlerasia.com/style/fashion/hong-kong-fashion-brands-sustainable-fashion-future-next-generation-materials https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/people/regenerator-natalie-chow/ https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3225692/sustainable-sneaker-brand-kibo-hong-kong-aims-make-eco-trainers-stylish-they-are-ethical https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/articles/creating-a-circular-economy-for-toys   https://istartup.hk/braving-the-epidemic/en/article/happy-baton.php https://www.tatlerasia.com/people/natalie-chow https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/happy-baton-6-reasons-toy-rental-subscription-hong-kong/

The Problem SOLshare is Solving Bangladesh faces frequent power outages, a strained national grid, and growing energy demands due to population growth and climate challenges. Despite having over four million solar panels serving 20 million people, 30% of solar energy is wasted due to limited storage. The country’s three million electric tuk-tuks, powered by inefficient lead-acid batteries, add to peak grid stress, worsening blackouts like the one in 2022 that left 96 million people without power. SOLshare’s Solution SOLshare, founded by Sebastian Groh, tackles these issues with two innovative systems. Its peer-to-peer solar network, launched in 2015, lets households sell excess solar energy to neighbors via 118 microgrids, reducing waste and providing affordable power. The SOLmobility program upgrades tuk-tuk batteries to smart, lithium-ion versions that use 40% less energy, charge faster, and last longer. These batteries feed 20-30% of leftover energy back to the grid, acting as a “virtual power plant” to stabilize supply. SOLshare Peer to Peer Network Why SOLshare’s Approach is Innovative SOLshare’s approach is groundbreaking because it decentralizes energy, turning homes and tuk-tuks into active grid contributors. The world’s first peer-to-peer solar network empowers communities, while smart batteries use data to optimize energy and cut emissions. Developed with local expertise, this model thrives in resource-scarce settings, unlike failed attempts in wealthier regions, and is scalable to other countries like India and Thailand. SOLshare solution The Impact of SOLshare’s Work SOLshare’s solutions provide reliable electricity to communities, reduce fossil fuel use, and lower carbon emissions. Tuk-tuk drivers earn up to 50% more, save 40% on charging, and avoid toxic battery fumes. By easing grid pressure, SOLshare prevents blackouts and supports economic growth. Awards like the Zayed Sustainability Prize and Earthshot Prize finalist status highlight its global influence. What Needs to Improve SOLshare needs more funding to scale, as Bangladesh receives far less venture capital than the Global North. Lowering the cost of lithium-ion batteries through financing or local production could help drivers. Stronger government policies and supply chain improvements would also boost expansion, ensuring more communities benefit from sustainable energy. Sources: https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/about/story/impact/solshare.html https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/10/world/solshare-energy-bangladesh-climate-hnk-spc-intl https://www.wired.com/sponsored/story/how-solshares-sebastian-groh-wants-to-create-a-wave-of-climate-startups/

Beam, a United Kingdom tech-for-good company founded in 2017 by Alex Stephany, is combating homelessness and helping refugees using its crowdfunding platform and AI-based tools. Its platform offers employment and housing opportunities to marginalized people. The Problem Beam Solves Homelessness in the UK has expanded, with London's homeless population increasing by 54% from 2013 to 2023. Its government is under pressure to build temporary housing during its national housing shortage. While social workers are under pressure too, they face critical shortages for children and family services. Bureaucratic paperwork also inhibits social workers’ ability to work face-to-face with clients, adding pressure on the social service system. Employees at Beam Beam's Solution Beam has built a crowdfunding platform that creates individual profiles for homeless people and asylum seekers, facilitating public donations to fund training, work clothes, or deposits for renting. It has supported over 3,000 people with employment and housing. Beam's Magic Notes AI platform, used by over 80 government councils, takes minutes off and summarizes meetings with social workers, drafting follow-up actions to reduce paperwork. This frees up time for face-to-face support, which might savethe UK £2 billion annually. Beam's Impact Beam has supported 6,220 people through various initiatives as of 2025. It has helped people into jobs, homes, and provided course completions, with numbers growing each year. For every £1 the government spends on Beam, £7 is returned to taxpayers, saving £35.668 million for Central Government, £47.239 million for Local Government, £12.455 million for the Ministry of Justice, and £12.636 million for the National Health Service. Why Beam's Solution is Innovative Beam's platform combines crowdfunding and AI to address structural issues. It allows firms and individuals to fund concrete needs, while Magic Notes uses generative AI to streamline social work, suggesting activities human laborers might overlook.  This two-pronged approach—combining community-driven funding with tech—makes Beam a scalable solution. Beam is currently being used by 70% of the UK government departments that are piloting its systems. Areas for Improvement Despite being successful, Beam cannot meet council contract targets, with some contracts yielding single-figure placements despite heavy investment. Conwy Council, for instance, only managed to place a single person into work, while Ashford only housed three families out of 30 referrals.  Critics say Beam is "cherry-picking" people with less complicated needs, leaving behind people who have issues like substance abuse. There are also data privacy issues since Magic Notes deals with sensitive information, making it imperative to have strong oversight. The British Association of Social Workers stresses that AI should not substitute for human judgment, citing the importance of having distinct ethical frameworks and transparency. Sources: https://www.aroundealing.com/news/prime-minister-council-ai/ https://sifted.eu/articles/uk-councils-beam-homeless-people https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/beam-me-up-stephany-companies-can-join-mission-to-help-the-homeless/ https://businesscloud.co.uk/news/beam-me-up-lottie-cto-makes-move-to-social-impact-startup/ https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/sep/28/social-workers-england-ai-system-magic-notes

The Problem: Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM The majority of young girls, especially those in underprivileged areas, are not provided with hands-on space science activities. The ongoing STEM gender disparity prevents women from participating in high-tech industries such as aerospace and robotics. Additionally, the lack of international cooperation in space learning is a barrier, as few programs across different countries are available to inspire young individuals. Students listening to ShakthiSAT's learning seminar The Solution: A Global Platform for Space Education ShakthiSAT (an initiative of Space Kidz India) empowers 12,000 girls across 108 countries with 120 hours of online satellite technology training, followed by a hands-on stage in which 108 shortlisted girls will build a lunar spacecraft in India. This 80-kilogram satellite, along with its orbiter, lander, and propulsion module, is scheduled to crash-land on the moon by September 2026 and will serve as a benchmark for India's private space economy. With ISRO, IN-SPACe, and Meridian Space Command collaborating, the mission offers hands-on and global exposure. The Impact: Inspiring a Generation The 2026 mission empowers young women by increasing their confidence and skills in STEM, creating role models who will inspire millions worldwide. It promotes global harmony through the Indian tradition of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), fostering a community of future scientists. By democratizing space education, ShakthiSAT empowers girls from humble backgrounds with skills to become professionals in STEM careers, resulting in sustainable gender equality in science. Founder Dr. Srimathy with student Why It's Innovative: Redefining Space Education ShakthiSAT stands out in scale, training thousands of girls in 108 nations, and empowering young women from diverse backgrounds. As a private Indian company leading a lunar mission, it is a first for Indian private-sector space travel. The student-operated spacecraft, integrated into ISRO's Chandrayaan-4 mission, marries education and practical use. Innovations like the Deployer SARATHI system and Meridian's orbital transfer vehicle maximize efficiency, making space accessible for educational missions. What Must Be Improved: Mission Strengthening Dependence on corporate contributions restricts the budget, but incorporating global grants or collaborations with companies such as SpaceX might stabilize the training budget for 12,000 girls. The mission to land on the moon requires well-defined scientific objectives, such as gathering lunar soil samples or coordinating with Chandrayaan-4, to enhance the program's credibility. Finally, monitoring long-term accomplishment of students, like STEM career advancement, through university collaborations would demonstrate the program's impact. Sources: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/space-kidz-india-launches-global-satellite-mission-shakthisat-to-empower-12000-girls-in-108-nations/articleshow/114145083.cms?from=mdr https://www.aninews.in/news/business/space-kidz-india-announces-groundbreaking-mission-shakthisat-an-all-girls-spacecraft-to-lunar-orbit20250224155209/ https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/chennai-to-the-moon-108-girl-students-set-their-sights-on-lunar-surface-124121300946_1.html

In Egypt, where nearly 70 percent of adults work in informal, cash-only jobs, access to financing for essential services such as healthcare, education, or car repairs is a persistent challenge. For many low-income and unbanked workers, particularly women, the lack of formal credit options forces them to rely on predatory informal lenders who charge exorbitant interest rates and offer little flexibility.  ADVA, an Egyptian fintech startup founded in 2020, is tackling this issue head-on, providing a lifeline to the unbanked through innovative financial solutions. Recently acquired by Abu Dhabi-based Maseera, ADVA is poised to expand its impact across the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region, redefining financial inclusion for underserved populations. What is the Problem That ADVA is Solving? In Egypt’s informal economy, millions of self-employed and unbanked workers struggle to secure loans due to their lack of formal credit history. Traditional banks often overlook these individuals, leaving them vulnerable to informal lenders who impose interest rates as high as 30 percent, rigid repayment terms, and severe consequences for default, including harassment and imprisonment. “A lot of people have gone to jail as a result of decades of this informal lending to the poor,” says Rania Gaafar, ADVA’s Founder and CEO. This predatory system not only traps borrowers in cycles of debt but also prevents them from building creditworthiness for future financial opportunities, perpetuating economic exclusion. Rania Gaafar, ADVA’s Founder and CEO What is ADVA’s Solution? ADVA’s digital platform connects unbanked and self-employed individuals—many of whom are women—to formal financing institutions that offer low-interest loans for essential services, such as medical care, education, and car repairs. Unlike traditional lending, ADVA’s model focuses on affordability and accessibility, providing flexible installment plans tailored to borrowers’ needs. By partnering with a network of over 2,800 service providers, ADVA ensures that loans are used directly for services, rather than in cash, thereby reducing the risk of misuse. This approach makes critical services accessible, helping borrowers establish a credit history and paving the way for long-term financial inclusion. Why is it Innovative? ADVA’s solution stands out for its targeted approach to financial inclusion. By leveraging a digital platform, it bypasses the barriers of traditional banking, such as the need for formal documentation or credit scores, which exclude many informal workers. The focus on service-based loans, where funds are disbursed directly to providers for specific needs, reduces default rates and ensures responsible borrowing. Additionally, ADVA’s emphasis on educating users about financial management fosters sustainable economic habits. This combination of technology, partnerships, and borrower empowerment sets ADVA apart in Egypt’s fintech landscape, addressing a critical market gap. Adva Mobile App What Has Been Its Impact? Since its launch in 2020, ADVA has facilitated 18,000 transactions, with an average loan amount of $1,100. Notably, 13,000 loans have benefited first-time borrowers, the majority of whom are women. “Seventy percent of the loans we’ve provided have been to people who haven’t borrowed from a formal sector before,” Gaafar notes, highlighting the platform’s role in financial inclusion. The low default rate, attributed to the purpose-driven nature of the loans, highlights the borrowers' responsibility when financing essential needs. Stories of customers getting life-changing surgeries or keeping their children in school illustrate ADVA’s transformative impact on individual lives and communities. What Needs to Improve? While ADVA has made significant strides, challenges remain. Scaling the platform to reach more people across Egypt and other African countries, such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, requires substantial investment in technology and partnerships. Enhancing the platform’s user interface and expanding its merchant network could improve accessibility and service diversity.  Financial Literacy on ADVA Additionally, increasing financial literacy programs would further empower borrowers to manage their finances effectively. As ADVA integrates with Maseera, ensuring alignment with regional market needs while maintaining its mission of inclusion will be critical to sustaining its impact. Sources: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/fellow/rania-gaafar https://cioafrica.co/maseera-acquires-egyptian-fintech-startup-adva/ https://archives.fwdstart.me/p/maseera-acquires-egypt-s-adva-to-power-north-africa-fintech-expansion https://disruptafrica.com/2022/06/16/egyptian-fintech-startup-adva-raises-6-figure-seed-round/