Open Sourcing Social Solutions (Building Communities of Change)

Since its founding in 1981, Ashoka has elected nearly 2,000 Fellows working in over 70 countries. These Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs who have pioneered innovative solutions to societal challenges. As agents of change, these individuals have been as inspiring as they have been effective. However, as Ashoka has grown, it has faced a new challenge: to leverage the collective knowledge of Ashoka Fellows and galvanize members of the broader community in order to identify, envision, and realize the many untapped possibilities to effect positive social change through social entrepreneurship. Innovators often struggle to communicate their mission and describe their successes to potential investors who, in turn, struggle to assess the prospects of nascent ventures. Bridging this gap between innovation and investment is a crucial step in this leveraging and galvanizing process.