24 Micro Social Entrepreneurship Ideas

From Volunteering Platforms to Pay-as-You-Go Energy

— February 25, 2013 — Social Good
The most talked about (or most known) of these micro social entrepreneurship ideas is undoubtedly microfinance, which is now strongly associated with Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank and Danone innovations. But looking at problems from the micro rather than the macro extends itself beyond finance and loans.

A good example is Raise 5, which is a micro-volunteering platform and social business. It's a marketplace that allows for small-scale volunteer efforts such as copy editing or a logo design (well, that could be a very large-scale project depending on who you ask). From micro-volunteering platforms to "pay as you go" energy, these micro social entrepreneurship ideas start small and then grow from there. Business kits, entrepreneurship kits and DIY battery manufacturing kits are a big focus here when it comes to using materials toward some larger anti-poverty goal.
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Creative Credit Programs
Creative Credit Programs
The Microfinance for Artists Research Project Focuses on Socio-Economics
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Creative Power Forums
Creative Power Forums
The Social Business Conference 2012 Featured Muhammad Yunus
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22
Charitable Dining Recommendations
Charitable Dining Recommendations
Tasting Table Provides Funding To Help Budding Entrepreneurs
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21
Micro-Entrepreneurial Kits
Micro-Entrepreneurial Kits
Living Goods Provides Affordable Necessities in Uganda
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Low-Income Microfinance Associations
Low-Income Microfinance Associations
RADIM Works in Buenos Aires to Support Economic Development
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Supply Chain Integrating Loans
Supply Chain Integrating Loans
Kinara Capital is a Social Enterprise Supporting Startups in India
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Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Ahkun Takes a Different Approach with Local Artisans
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17
Gender-Based Violence Support
Gender-Based Violence Support
SHE WILL is a Project of the Acclaimed Global Enrichment Foundation
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Green Power Microlending
Green Power Microlending
Energy in Common's Person-to-Person Loans Fight Climate Change
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15
Global Charity Microfinancers
Global Charity Microfinancers
WildHearts Provides Microloans to Help People Work out of Poverty
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Poverty-Fighting Soap
Poverty-Fighting Soap
'Eve Echo' Sells Hygiene Products That Offer Loans to Female Entrepreneurs
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Social Entrepreneurship Filmmakers
Social Entrepreneurship Filmmakers
Actuality Media Create Philanthropic Videos About Changemakers
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Alternative Micro-Investment Platforms
Alternative Micro-Investment Platforms
InVenture Helps Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries
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Micro-Volunteering Platforms
Micro-Volunteering Platforms
Raise5 Enables the Charitable Giving of Your Time and Talents
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Microloans for Homelessness?
Microloans for Homelessness?
Beyond the Cardboard Shares Stories, Interviews and Resources
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Ceramic Water Filters
Ceramic Water Filters
Pure Home Water Creates Low-Tech Solution to Water Sanitation
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Inclusive Economic Development
Inclusive Economic Development
Aavishkaar Invests in Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurs
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Philanthropic Online Platforms
Philanthropic Online Platforms
UNITE is Working to Enable Impactful Connections Throughout Africa
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Ecotourism Development Cooperatives
Ecotourism Development Cooperatives
Travel for Change Melds Community-Based Initiatives and Tours
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5
Empowered Hand-Crafted Accessories
Empowered Hand-Crafted Accessories
BADALA Gives Single East African Mothers a Working Income
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4
$20-Per-Month Homes
$20-Per-Month Homes
Each WorldHaus is Built in 10 Days and is Designed for the World's Rural Poor
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3
Micro Loan Bikinis
Micro Loan Bikinis
RubyMoon Swimwear Donates its Profits to Female Entrepreneurs
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Microloan-Giving Tees
Microloan-Giving Tees
The Naked Hippie Invests in Small-Scale Entrepreneurs in the Majority World
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DIY Battery Manufacturing Kits
DIY Battery Manufacturing Kits
The Solar Pocket Factory is Tiny Idea That Shines Bright
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