100 Micro Social Innovations

From Finance to Toolkits, Small-Sized Examples of Entrepreneurship

These micro social innovations show just what can be done on a small scale. While perhaps this story begins with microfinance, a loan and credit program that is often associated with Muhammad Yunus' Grameen Bank, this SocialBusiness.org top list doesn't simply include those related to microfinance. For instance, Stockbox Neighborhood Grocery, which is based in Seattle, Washington is a "small-format" grocery store. As such, they offer produce to communities located in food deserts.

From finance to toolkits, these micro social innovations offer up small-sized examples of entrepreneurship, making us rethink "think big" while at the same time creating something larger altogether if you do think of social enterprise as movement. And with programs like the Awesome Foundation, it seems that the web is allowing smallness to come forth in mass numbers.

SCORE
4.7 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 58%
Activity 75%
Freshness 8%
Acupuncture Cooperatives
CATEGORY
Social Good
Acupuncture Cooperatives
Rule-Breaking Market Ventures
CATEGORY
Social Good
Rule-Breaking Market Ventures
Tech-Focused Continent Narratives
CATEGORY
Social Good
Tech-Focused Continent Narratives
Microcredit Sanitation Services
CATEGORY
Social Good
Microcredit Sanitation Services
Self-Reliant Immediate Investments
CATEGORY
Social Good
Self-Reliant Immediate Investments
Community-Empowering Language Lessons
CATEGORY
Social Good
Community-Empowering Language Lessons
Creative Credit Programs
CATEGORY
Social Good
Creative Credit Programs
Micro-Entrepreneurial Management
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro-Entrepreneurial Management
Creative Power Forums
CATEGORY
Social Good
Creative Power Forums
Business-Building Education Programs
CATEGORY
Social Good
Business-Building Education Programs
World Bank Books
CATEGORY
Social Good
World Bank Books
Micro-Health Insurance
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro-Health Insurance
Socially Responsible Smartphone Donations
CATEGORY
Social Good
Socially Responsible Smartphone Donations
American-Based Microlending
CATEGORY
Social Good
American-Based Microlending
Youth Innovation Mentorships
CATEGORY
Social Good
Youth Innovation Mentorships
Health Care Smart Cards
CATEGORY
Social Good
Health Care Smart Cards
Business Development-Focused Cuisine
CATEGORY
Social Good
Business Development-Focused Cuisine
Mission-Focused Mentorship
CATEGORY
Social Good
Mission-Focused Mentorship
Cloud-Based Education Toolkits
CATEGORY
Social Good
Cloud-Based Education Toolkits
Cashless Microfinance
CATEGORY
Social Good
Cashless Microfinance
Ads That Nourish Kids
CATEGORY
Social Good
Ads That Nourish Kids
Charitable Dining Recommendations
CATEGORY
Social Good
Charitable Dining Recommendations
Alternative Banking Loans
CATEGORY
Social Good
Alternative Banking Loans
Multivitamins for Purpose
CATEGORY
Social Good
Multivitamins for Purpose
Social Street Papers
CATEGORY
Social Good
Social Street Papers
Guarantor Model Capital
CATEGORY
Social Good
Guarantor Model Capital
Micro-Entrepreneurial Kits
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro-Entrepreneurial Kits
Four-in-One Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities
CATEGORY
Social Good
Four-in-One Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities
Urban Housing Banks
CATEGORY
Social Good
Urban Housing Banks
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
CATEGORY
Social Good
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
Green Coal Options
CATEGORY
Social Good
Green Coal Options
Research-Funding Web Platforms
CATEGORY
Social Good
Research-Funding Web Platforms
Micro Forestry Startups
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro Forestry Startups
POS Social Enterprises
CATEGORY
Social Good
POS Social Enterprises
Technological Literacy Programs
CATEGORY
Social Good
Technological Literacy Programs
Imaginative Care Supporters
CATEGORY
Social Good
Imaginative Care Supporters
Low-Income Microfinance Associations
CATEGORY
Social Good
Low-Income Microfinance Associations
Supply Chain Integrating Loans
CATEGORY
Social Good
Supply Chain Integrating Loans
Eco-Conscious Knitted Attire
CATEGORY
Social Good
Eco-Conscious Knitted Attire
Micro-Lending Web Platforms
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro-Lending Web Platforms
Micro-Volunteering
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro-Volunteering
Disruptive Entrepreneur Incubators
CATEGORY
Social Good
Disruptive Entrepreneur Incubators
Global Microfinance Networks
CATEGORY
Social Good
Global Microfinance Networks
No-Strings-Attached Grants
CATEGORY
Social Good
No-Strings-Attached Grants
NGO-Turned-for-Profit Companies
CATEGORY
Social Good
NGO-Turned-for-Profit Companies
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
CATEGORY
Social Good
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Organic Food Fighters
CATEGORY
Social Good
Organic Food Fighters
Eco-Certified Athletic Balls
CATEGORY
Social Good
Eco-Certified Athletic Balls
One-for-One Multivitamins
CATEGORY
Social Good
One-for-One Multivitamins
Innovative Micro-Crowdfunding Sites
CATEGORY
Social Good
Innovative Micro-Crowdfunding Sites
Manifesto-Driven Fashion
CATEGORY
Social Good
Manifesto-Driven Fashion
Collateral-Free Microcredit
CATEGORY
Social Good
Collateral-Free Microcredit
Hunger-Eliminating Social Media
CATEGORY
Social Good
Hunger-Eliminating Social Media
Green Power Microlending
CATEGORY
Social Good
Green Power Microlending
Gender-Based Violence Support
CATEGORY
Social Good
Gender-Based Violence Support
Global Charity Microfinancers
CATEGORY
Social Good
Global Charity Microfinancers
Poverty-Fighting Soap
CATEGORY
Social Good
Poverty-Fighting Soap
Social Entrepreneurship Filmmakers
CATEGORY
Social Good
Social Entrepreneurship Filmmakers
Social Advisory Firms
CATEGORY
Social Good
Social Advisory Firms
Indian Water-Saving Technology
CATEGORY
Social Good
Indian Water-Saving Technology
Alternative Micro-Investment Platforms
CATEGORY
Social Good
Alternative Micro-Investment Platforms
1 for 1 Snacks
CATEGORY
Social Good
1 for 1 Snacks
Closed Loop Plant Systems
CATEGORY
Social Good
Closed Loop Plant Systems
Innovative Eye Care
CATEGORY
Social Good
Innovative Eye Care
Social Enterprise Magazines
CATEGORY
Social Good
Social Enterprise Magazines
One-for-One Prenatal Vitamins
CATEGORY
Social Good
One-for-One Prenatal Vitamins
Emissions-Free Delivery
CATEGORY
Social Good
Emissions-Free Delivery
Explosive Suit Accessories
CATEGORY
Social Good
Explosive Suit Accessories
Micro-Volunteering Platforms
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro-Volunteering Platforms
Urban Slum Sanitation
CATEGORY
Social Good
Urban Slum Sanitation
Youth-Oriented Finances
CATEGORY
Social Good
Youth-Oriented Finances
Microloans for Homelessness?
CATEGORY
Social Good
Microloans for Homelessness?
Online Marketplaces for Good
CATEGORY
Social Good
Online Marketplaces for Good
Activist Apparel + Accessories
CATEGORY
Social Good
Activist Apparel + Accessories
Ceramic Water Filters
CATEGORY
Social Good
Ceramic Water Filters
Inclusive Economic Development
CATEGORY
Social Good
Inclusive Economic Development
Philanthropic Online Platforms
CATEGORY
Social Good
Philanthropic Online Platforms
Culture-Sustaining Hammocks
CATEGORY
Social Good
Culture-Sustaining Hammocks
Ecotourism Development Cooperatives
CATEGORY
Social Good
Ecotourism Development Cooperatives
Energy-Generating Fitness Clubs
CATEGORY
Social Good
Energy-Generating Fitness Clubs
Fair Trade Cocoa
CATEGORY
World
Fair Trade Cocoa
Empowered Hand-Crafted Accessories
CATEGORY
Social Good
Empowered Hand-Crafted Accessories
Fair Trade Statement Jewelry
CATEGORY
Social Good
Fair Trade Statement Jewelry
Conscious Capitalism
CATEGORY
Social Good
Conscious Capitalism
Microlending Credit Cards
CATEGORY
Social Good
Microlending Credit Cards
Recycled Map Wallets
CATEGORY
Social Good
Recycled Map Wallets
Ebay Ventures Into Microfinance
CATEGORY
Social Good
Ebay Ventures Into Microfinance
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
CATEGORY
Social Good
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Small-Format Food Shopping
CATEGORY
Social Good
Small-Format Food Shopping
Adventures with Purpose
CATEGORY
Social Good
Adventures with Purpose
Microfinance Investing
CATEGORY
Social Good
Microfinance Investing
$20-Per-Month Homes
CATEGORY
Social Good
$20-Per-Month Homes
Micro Loan Bikinis
CATEGORY
Social Good
Micro Loan Bikinis
Social Entrepreneurs
CATEGORY
Social Good
Social Entrepreneurs
Accessible Bamboo Bicycles
CATEGORY
Social Good
Accessible Bamboo Bicycles
Microloan-Giving Tees
CATEGORY
Social Good
Microloan-Giving Tees
DIY Battery Manufacturing Kits
CATEGORY
Social Good
DIY Battery Manufacturing Kits
Pay-as-You-Go Energy
CATEGORY
Social Good
Pay-as-You-Go Energy
Explosive Ethical Jewelry
CATEGORY
Social Good
Explosive Ethical Jewelry