Social entrepreneurship and innovation has moved from the margins to the mainstream

Integrating proven social innovations into larger socioeconomic systems can enable us to meet common goals through collective action Image: Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC)
Hilde Schwab
Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, World Economic Forum GenevaFrancois Bonnici
Director, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship; Head of Foundations, World Economic Forum- Social entrepreneurship has transitioned from a niche concept to a mainstream movement, driven by urgent global challenges such as climate change, inequality and systemic distrust.
- Social innovators are developing transformative, financially viable models that address pressing challenges in marginalized communities while advancing climate action and economic inclusion.
- This article was first published in Caixin Global; read it here.
At the turn of the millennium, social entrepreneurship was largely a fringe concern. The idea that business could be just as much about overcoming environmental and social challenges as creating profits was not part of mainstream discourse.
Early social entrepreneurs in this area were often ignored, while the corporate world and media lauded the entrepreneurs of the dot-com boom.
A quarter of a century later, the situation looks very different. Social entrepreneurship and innovation are rapidly moving from the margins to the mainstream. At least in part, this is due to the challenges and opportunities of the age in which we now live.
The escalating climate and nature crises, in tandem with rising social inequality and a growing distrust of democracy, have led to a widespread questioning of the socioeconomic systems on which we’ve founded our civilization. The quest for better alternatives is on.
Part of the power of social entrepreneurship lies in its versatility. Indeed, it takes many forms across different organizations and sectors. It includes entrepreneurial individuals exploring innovative approaches to public social innovators – in government or international organizations – creating public good.
Social entrepreneurs include leaders in multinational or regional companies who drive the development of new products, services, initiatives or business models that address societal and environmental challenges. They also include collective social innovators who bring together multiple stakeholder groups to solve complex problems.
Social entrepreneurship and innovation from the frontline
Viewing companies as dependent on their social and environmental ecosystems has become a self-evident truth. Most contemporary business leaders understand that their organizations can only be successful if their workforces, local communities and landscapes are thriving too.
However, some of the most inspiring innovations have come from those living on the frontlines of current global challenges.
Social entrepreneurs and innovators have created bold, financially viable business models to address urgent challenges in areas impacted by deprivation, severe weather, droughts, wildfires, floods and a lack of climate-resilient infrastructure.
These social innovators are upgrading healthcare, education, agriculture and landscape management by creating livelihoods for those excluded from markets and economies while demonstrating climate action in partnership with local communities.
This powerful transformation is evidenced by the work of the 18 Schwab Foundation awardees, recognized at a ceremony at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos.
They include Cecilia Corral and Vineet Singal, co-founders of CareMessage, a US-based non-profit focused on improving health equity through its patient engagement tech platform.
Trinh Thi Huong, deputy director of the Agency for Enterprise Development at the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam, who is creating an enabling policy environment for micro, small and medium enterprises in the country, is also an awardee.
Another is Madeleine Ballard, CEO of the Community Health Impact Coalition, a collective of community health workers and organizations from 60 countries striving to formalize the role of community health workers.

Shared value
Research developed by the Schwab Foundation and a coalition of partners estimates the size and scope of social enterprises worldwide. The data also underscores the economic and impact potential of the sector with increasing support from policymakers and businesses.
Many companies are already partnering with social entrepreneurs and innovators. They increasingly recognize their critical role in addressing urgent business issues while offering pathways to meet sustainability and environmental goals.
For example, Google – through Open Health Stack in collaboration with the World Health Organization – offers a suite of open-source components that enable developers to build AI-powered, data-driven digital health solutions that help address inequities in health access worldwide.
In this spirit, more than two dozen companies have already signed the Rise Ahead Pledge and committed to increasing their investments in social innovation.
Social enterprises serve as leading examples of new approaches to the complex issues of our time – such as advancing climate adaptation, social and economic equity, and the positive use of AI.
Demonstrating what greater cooperation and inclusivity look like in practice, they showcase much-needed ways forward. Their innovative models demonstrate that economic value creation can coexist with significant social and environmental progress.
Unlocking the full power of social entrepreneurship and innovation
These social entrepreneurs and innovators fill gaps in markets and the public sector e.g. healthcare provision.
By addressing systemic challenges and fostering sustainable and inclusive economic opportunities, social innovation directly contributes to one of the priorities of the 2025 Annual Meeting, “Reimagining Growth,” under the broader theme of “Collaboration in the Intelligent Age.”
The road to a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable world involves social entrepreneurs and innovators deepening their partnerships and collaborations with all sectors, benefitting from diversified investment and receiving political recognition of their potential.
Together, we can meet common goals through collective action and create a better path forward.
Don't miss any update on this topic
Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.
License and Republishing
World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.
Stay up to date:
Social Innovation
Related topics:
Forum Stories newsletter
Bringing you weekly curated insights and analysis on the global issues that matter.
More on Social InnovationSee all
Odin Mühlenbein and Daniela Matielo
February 6, 2025