Ben Rattray (Change.org) at Startup Grind 2014

TL;DR

Change.org is the world's largest petition platform, with 50 million users globally, and its CEO discusses the expansive definition of social entrepreneurship and the potential impact of for-profit startups on social good.

Transcript

welcome to the startup grind um well listen thank you all for grinding away with us um it's good good to see all you guys i'm uh i'm here talking to ben ben first of all let me just let you really quickly take it away for those for those unfamiliar i just wanted one want to let give you the floor to tell us a little bit about change.org and what yo... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔶 Change.org is the world's largest petition platform, with 50 million users globally, and sees a wide range of successful campaigns launched every month.
• 🌐 Social entrepreneurship should be defined expansively, as companies addressing important global problems through mission-driven approaches.
• 💱 The movement towards conscious capitalism is gaining momentum, with more companies aligning purpose and profit to create positive change.
• 💦 Silicon Valley has the opportunity to make a significant impact by focusing on meaningful work and addressing social issues in their community.
• 👶 There is a need for new asset classes and investment opportunities that support long-term, impact-driven businesses.
• 👨‍💼 There is a growing interest and willingness among younger people to work for businesses that make a social impact.
• 👨‍💼 Impact-driven businesses have the potential for significant financial returns, particularly in industries such as energy, education, and healthcare.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Change.org define social entrepreneurship?

Change.org has an expansive definition of social entrepreneurship. They believe it includes companies addressing major social problems and doing so through mission-driven approaches, whether they are non-profit or for-profit.

Q: What opportunities do for-profit startups have to encourage social entrepreneurship?

For-profit startups have the potential to make a significant social impact through their business practices and the way they treat their stakeholders. By aligning purpose and profit, these companies can create positive change.

Q: Is there a divide between non-profits and for-profit startups in terms of social entrepreneurship?

While there has traditionally been a divide between non-profits and for-profit startups in terms of social entrepreneurship, the CEO of Change.org believes that every company, regardless of its industry, should see itself as a social enterprise and have a positive impact on the lives of people around them.

Q: What can companies in Silicon Valley do to encourage social entrepreneurship and address social issues in their community?

Companies in Silicon Valley can use their unique assets to add value to their communities. For example, offering vocational training and job opportunities in the tech sector can have a significant impact on individuals' lives and help address issues such as unemployment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Change.org is a global petition platform with 50 million users and has seen success in campaigns that range from stopping asset attacks in India to changing policies around plastics in the United States.

• The CEO of Change.org believes that social entrepreneurship should be defined as companies trying to solve important global problems through mission-driven approaches, whether they are non-profit or for-profit.

• There is a growing movement towards conscious capitalism, where businesses align purpose and profit, and this mindset is becoming more prevalent among companies in various industries.