Every April 16, World Entrepreneurship Day is celebrated. A date that encourages the emergence and development of more startups in the world. And it is encouraging to know that, within the ecosystem of startups that have been coming about in recent years, there are also interesting digital social enterprises.
But what are these ventures all about? First of all, they are focused on addressing pressing social or environmental issues, concentrating on digital matters. For example, some startups focus on developing innovative technologies for health, offering accessible, quality solutions to underserved communities. Others are dedicated to the educational field, using digital tools to improve access to education and reduce the learning gap.
Moreover, many of these initiatives incorporate sustainable practices into their business model. From the use of recycled materials in the manufacture of products to the implementation of reforestation programs for each purchase made, these startups seek to minimize their environmental impact and contribute to the conservation of the planet.
Would you like to meet them? Here, we mention some of them!
FairBnB.coop: Community-Driven Responsible Tourism
FairBnB.coop stands out as a digital social enterprise with a clear vision: transforming the short-term vacation rental industry into a positive force for local communities. Unlike conventional platforms, FairBnB.coop operates under a crowd-owned model, where hosts, guests, local business owners and neighbors are the true owners and responsible for running them.
What really sets FairBnB.coop apart is its commitment to social sustainability. 50% of the platform’s fees are channeled towards local projects chosen by the community that address the specific needs of each area visited. These projects range from food cooperatives to green spaces and educational programs. Thus, every time a traveler chooses FairBnB.coop, they are directly contributing to the development and well-being of local communities.
Too good to go
Too Good to Go is an innovative company that has become a global leader in the fight against food waste. Founded in 2015, its mission is to inspire and empower people to come together in reducing food waste. With a digital platform, they connect their 85 million registered users with more than 150,000 active partners in 17 countries in Europe and North America, thus becoming the leading platform in the connection between users and partner stores to rescue unsold food.
Its operation is simple but impacting: through its mobile application, users can buy surplus food from associated stores and restaurants at reduced prices. Thus, this food, which might otherwise have been wasted at the end of the day, has been saved thanks to the Too Good to Go initiative.
Ecosia
Ecosia is a search engine that has gained recognition for its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action. What sets Ecosia apart is its unique approach to planting trees using the advertising revenue generated by online searches. This business model directly contributes to climate change mitigation and the restoration of the environment.
The way Ecosia works is simple: users do searches on its platform and a portion of the revenue generated by the ads that appear alongside search results goes to tree-planting projects around the world. Since its founding, Ecosia has planted more than 150 million trees in various regions, which has had a significant impact on restoring degraded landscapes, protecting biodiversity, and neutralizing carbon emissions.
In addition to its tree-planting initiatives, Ecosia also stands out by its transparency and commitment to renewable energy. They use solar panels to generate more energy than they consume, thus contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint associated with internet use.
These are three interesting examples of digital social entrepreneurship aimed at generating income and impacting the world in a positive way. Let us celebrate and continue to propose initiatives like these, in commemoration of World Entrepreneurship Day.
