Top 10 Social Entrepreneurs In India In 2024

People start their businesses to either pursue their passion or earn profit. In the past few years, a new type of entrepreneurship has grown. This is the social entrepreneur. They are not always profit-oriented, rather they work to improve the world. Today one can find many social entrepreneurs in India. Harish Hande and Urvashi Sahni are two famous social entrepreneurs in India.

Social entrepreneurs help draw people’s attention to important social problems. They act as a means for social change. Many social entrepreneurs also help develop the economy by increasing employment. These social drivers can also help influence government policy for the better. They promote inclusive growth. Social entrepreneurs need to thrive in countries like India. we should hence support Indian social entrepreneurs. These trailblasers are making a positive impact on society. From innovative education initiatives to transformative environmental solutions. Discover their stories to get inspired to make a difference yourself.

In this article, you can learn about some of the successful social entrepreneurs in India.

Types of Social Entrepreneurship

As per Doctor Jo Johnson, there are four common types of social entrepreneurs:

Community Social Entrepreneur

This entrepreneur works within a small geographic area. They work on a diverse range of issues. The main goal of this entrepreneur is to bring benefits to the local area. These entrepreneurs usually work on a small scale.

They work with the members of the community and local organisations. The results of this social entrepreneurship are visible almost immediately.

Non-Profit Social Entrepreneur

These entrepreneurs focus on social gain and not capital gain. They use their profits to increase their services to the people. Shaheen Mistri is one such example of a social entrepreneur. She established Teach for India. It has placed over 700 underprivileged kids in schools.

People with more knowledge of business often take this path to use their skills for good. The results of this entrepreneurship take longer to be visible. But, they have a large-scale impact.

Transformational Social Entrepreneur

Transformational social entrepreneur uses their skills and resources to address social issues. They create a positive impact on society that combine business principles with social missions and aim to create sustainable and innovative solutions to social problems.

They are not only driven by profit but by a desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Such entrepreneurs are often focused on empowering marginalised communities and promoting environmental sustainability. They work to improve education and healthcare and create economic opportunities. They are visionary leaders who inspire others to work towards a better future.

The Global Social Entrepreneur

A social entrepreneur uses business to address social and environmental issues. Today, being a global social entrepreneur has become more important than ever. The key to being a successful global social entrepreneur is to identify a social challenge that requires a solution. Then, creating a business model that can sustainably address the challenge.

This means prioritising social impact over profit. Also, working with local communities to create solutions for their needs. Networking and collaboration are crucial for global social entrepreneurs. They need to work with others who share their values and goals. Finally, a global social entrepreneur must be adaptable and resilient. They must be willing to learn from challenges and failures and always strive to improve their impact on the world.

Successful Social Entrepreneurs in India

Let us look at the list of social entrepreneurs in India, their business models and social impact:

Anshu Gupta – Founder of Goonj

Goonj is a unique social enterprise. It deals with the issue of clothing and other basic needs for people in rural India. The organisation first collects discarded clothing from urban areas. Then, sorts it, and sends it to those in need in villages. Goonj also encourages and facilitates rural development. They use education, healthcare and hygiene, and community building to bring development.

Harish Hande – Founder of SELCO India

SELCO is an energy service company. It provides sustainable and affordable energy solutions to the poor. The company has an innovative business model. It focuses on providing solar-powered lighting to low-income households. They offer energy solutions to schools, and small businesses in rural areas.

Ravi Shankar – Founder of Foundation for Excellence India Trust

FFE India Trust provides merit-based scholarships to underprivileged students across India. These help them pursue higher education. The organisation has impacted over 16,000 students from economically weaker sections. It has helped them achieve their dreams.

Shelly Batra – Founder of Operation ASHA

Operation ASHA is a non-profit organisation. It provides treatment and prevention services for tuberculosis (TB) in underprivileged communities. The organisation has developed a unique technology platform. It streamlines the treatment process and has treated over 80,000 TB patients to date.

Zubaida Bai – Founder of Ayzh

Ayzh is a social enterprise. It designs and distributes low-cost, life-saving maternal and newborn health products. By providing affordable, high-quality products to women in low-resource settings. Ayzh has made significant strides in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

Madhu Pandit Dasa – Founder of Akshaya Patra Foundation

Akshaya Patra Foundation is a non-profit organisation. It provides mid-day meals to school-going children in India. The organisation is the world’s largest NGO-run kitchen and serves over 1.8 million meals every day. They ensure children receive proper nutrition and stay in school.

Lakshmi Menon – Founder of Pure Living

Pure Living is an environment-friendly cleaning products company. It provides ecological products for homes and workplaces in India. The company’s mission is to create a better environment for all. They achieve this by reducing the use of harmful chemicals.

Satyen Das – Founder of Leap For Word

LeapForWord is a teaching platform that aims to bridge the literacy gap in India. The organisation trains and places volunteers in underprivileged schools and communities. They teach English to young children in remote areas. To date, the organisation has trained over 30,000 students across India.

Dhruv Lakra – Founder of Mirakle Couriers

Mirakle Couriers is a courier service that employs hearing-impaired individuals. The company provides training, employment, and financial stability to those with hearing impairments. It helps them lead a life with dignity.

Anu Sridharan – Founder of Next Drop

NextDrop is a social enterprise that provides real-time water supply information to urban areas in India. NextDrop is active in multiple cities in India and has received recognition from organisations such as Forbes and The Guardian. Sridharan’s work has been instrumental in improving access to water resources. He promotes sustainable water management practices and helps communities.

Also Read : 5 Major Differences Between Entrepreneur And Businessman

Challenges Faced by Social Entrepreneurs in India

Social entrepreneurship in India is faced with several challenges. These range from lack of funding to cultural barriers. One of the biggest challenges is the difficulty in obtaining funding. Additionally, social entrepreneurs often face cultural barriers. These make it difficult for them to gain acceptance from their communities.

Another challenge is the lack of access to resources and infrastructure. Finally, social entrepreneurs often have to deal with bureaucratic red tape and regulations. This makes it difficult to register their businesses. Access to government programs and resources is also a difficult task.

Lack of funding and financial support

Social entrepreneurship is a growing trend in India. But it still faces several challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of funding and financial support. Social entrepreneurs often struggle to find financial backers. Most investors prioritise profit over social impact. This can make it difficult to scale up operations and reach more people.

The difficulty of measuring social impact

Another challenge is the difficulty of measuring social impact. Unlike traditional businesses, social enterprises have a dual goal of making a profit and creating social change. Measuring the social impact of their work can be complex, as it involves tracking both financial and social metrics.

Access to market and resources

Access to markets and resources is another challenge. Social enterprises often work with marginalised communities, which can be difficult to reach. In addition, they may struggle to find suppliers and partners who share their values.

Limited awareness and understanding of social entrepreneurship

The limited awareness and understanding of social entrepreneurship is another barrier. Many people in India are not familiar with the concept of social entrepreneurship. They may not understand its potential for creating positive change. This makes it difficult for social entrepreneurs to gain momentum.

Female social entrepreneurs in India face several challenges while building their businesses.

• Gender inequality is one of the biggest hurdles they have to tackle.
• Women entrepreneurs often face discrimination in terms of funding and investment opportunities.
• Another challenge is the lack of support systems. Women entrepreneurs in India often find themselves isolated from a community of peers. They lack the support of mentors who can offer guidance.
• Social norms and expectations tend to place women as primary caregivers. It can make it difficult for them to devote time and energy to building their businesses.

Despite these difficulties, many inspiring women are breaking barriers. They are overcoming these challenges to build successful social ventures.

The Impact of Indian Social Entrepreneurs

Social entrepreneurs in India create a positive impact on society through their businesses. One such success story is that of Harish Hande. He co-founded SELCO India to provide solar energy solutions to rural areas. He faced challenges such as a lack of funding and infrastructure. Still, his company has impacted over 800,000 people and provided employment opportunities.

Other social entrepreneurs in India include Madhav Dhir and Rajendra Joshi. They have also made significant contributions towards healthcare and employment respectively. There are many such social entrepreneurship examples in India.

However, social entrepreneurship is still a growing sector in India. It faces challenges such as limited resources, lack of awareness and government policies.

Despite these challenges, social entrepreneurship is growing in India. It has inspired new entrepreneurs to focus on creating sustainable businesses.

Innovative, low-investment ideas for the hidden entrepreneur in you! Explore our guide on Business Ideas.

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