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67 Rural Social Biz Innovations

From Comprehensive Vision Care Access to Smallholder Partners

— May 16, 2013 — Social Good
Rural social biz innovations are highlighted her in an effort to draw attention to business models and social and environmental oriented enterprises that are working in and around rural areas around the world. What is more, because of the broad category of "rural," many of these example span sectors. For instance, there's REwiRE, a social venture that started in Indonesia but wants to expand to other countries around the world. It focuses on renewable energy financing.

From comprehensive vision care access to smallholder business partners and LED lamps that replace kerosone, this list of rural social biz innovations range from hardcore development schemes to products in Western countries advertising themselves through rural handicrafts i.e. human life.
4.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
67
Heirloom Sri Lankan Rice
Heirloom Sri Lankan Rice
Rural Returns Creates Market Solutions to Poverty
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66
Conscious Food Collaborations
Conscious Food Collaborations
Watami and the Yunus Centre Sign MOU to Create a Social Business
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65
Community Enterprise Investors
Community Enterprise Investors
Adventure Capital Fund Aims to Improve U.K. Neighborhoods
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64
Tourist-Attracting Sustainable Infrastructure
Tourist-Attracting Sustainable Infrastructure
Corn Cow Inc. Improves New York's Rural Subsistence
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63
Remote Agriculture Broadcasts
Remote Agriculture Broadcasts
The Smallholders Farmers Rural Radio Supports Communities in Nigeria
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62
Aqua-Sharing Initiatives
Aqua-Sharing Initiatives
Group EOZ Creates UVtap to Filter Drinking Water in Rural Areas
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61
Benevolent Beauty Supplies
Benevolent Beauty Supplies
Marula Oil by the Leakey Collection Benefits Rural Women in East Africa
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60
Greener Charcoal
Greener Charcoal
Bamboo Lota is a Sustainable Company Fighting Deforestation in Malawi
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59
Regional Non-Profit Entities
Regional Non-Profit Entities
TRADE is the Trust for Rural African Development and Enterprise
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58
Renewable Energy Financing
Renewable Energy Financing
REwiRE is a Model Venture Starting Its Work in Indonesia
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57
Rural Distribution Networks
Rural Distribution Networks
Drishtee is an Indian Social Enterprise Improving Access
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56
Women-Empowering Fair Trade Boutiques
Women-Empowering Fair Trade Boutiques
Global Girlfriend Supports Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide
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55
Dairy Farming e-Businesses
Dairy Farming e-Businesses
Akashganga Creates Technologies for Cooperatives in India
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54
Digital Rural Medicine
Digital Rural Medicine
mDiagnostica Leverages Mobile Tech for More Efficient Healthcare
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53
Altruistic Organic Fertilizer Technology
Altruistic Organic Fertilizer Technology
Byoearth is a Social Venture Preserving the Planet
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52
Sustainable Forestry Companies
Sustainable Forestry Companies
Planting Empowerment Works with Rural Communities in Panama
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51
Comprehensive Vision Care Access
Comprehensive Vision Care Access
Aravind Eye Hospital Combats Needless Blindness in Rural India
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50
Social Business Supporters
Social Business Supporters
Ankur Capital Helps Impact-Driven Businesses in India Succeed
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49
Majority World Cold Storage
Majority World Cold Storage
Promethean Power Systems is a Social Business Providing Refrigeration
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48
Bolivian Co-Op Clothing
Bolivian Co-Op Clothing
Artesania Sorata Creates Artisan Goods and Employs Women
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47
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
Lumana Credit is Microlending to Rural Africans from Seattle
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46
Community Solar Bonds
Community Solar Bonds
SolarShare Co-op Offers Impact Investors Triple Bottom Line Benefits
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45
Reflective Slap Bands
Reflective Slap Bands
Vedante is a B Corporation Reducing Nighttime Visibility Accidents
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44
Rechargeable Solar Lights
Rechargeable Solar Lights
One Million Lights Wants to Replace Dangerous Kerosene Lamps
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43
Ethical Pillow Dresses
Ethical Pillow Dresses
Scarlet Threads Sells Vibrant Fashion to Create Employment in Rural China
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42
BoP Energy Solutions
BoP Energy Solutions
ONergy Works in Rural India Toward Sustainability and Equity
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41
Maternal Health Marketplaces
Maternal Health Marketplaces
Maternova is a Socially Driven For-Profit Making Products Available
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40
Ethical Sanitary Napkins
Ethical Sanitary Napkins
Azadi Aims to Create and Distribute Biodegradable Pads to Women in India
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39
Social Innovation Philanthropies
Social Innovation Philanthropies
New Profit Inc. Supports Entrepreneurs for Large-Scale Change
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38
Empowering Accessory Lines
Empowering Accessory Lines
Rural Revolution Provides Women with Flexible Employment Opportunities
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37
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Ahkun Takes a Different Approach with Local Artisans
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36
BioTrade Butterfly Businesses
BioTrade Butterfly Businesses
'Alas de Colombia' Generates Income Through Sustainable Farming
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35
Smallholder Business Partners
Smallholder Business Partners
Safi Coffee Goes Beyond Fair Trade for the Good of Kenyan Farmers
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34
Illuminated Education Incentives
Illuminated Education Incentives
Selco Solar Provides Developing Countries an Opportunity
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33
Social Advisory Firms
Social Advisory Firms
Intellecap is a ‘Think and Do' Tank With Market-Based Strategies
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32
Sustaining Rural Development
Sustaining Rural Development
Barefoot College Supports Professionals in the Majority World
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31
Indian Water-Saving Technology
Indian Water-Saving Technology
GEWP Allows Farmers to Yield More Crops and Create More Jobs
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30
Community Craft Ciders
Community Craft Ciders
Brew On is a Social Enterprise Based in the United Kingdom
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29
Economically Viable Vehicles
Economically Viable Vehicles
The Project Rwanda 'Coffee-Bike' Offers Farmers Affordable Transports
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28
Youth Ecotherapy Retreats
Youth Ecotherapy Retreats
Jamie's Farm is an Agricultural Recovery Experience for At-Risk Kids
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27
Affordable Solar Light Alternatives
Affordable Solar Light Alternatives
WAKAWAKA is an Innovative Lamp for Those Without Electricity
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26
Farmer-Empowered Beekeeping
Farmer-Empowered Beekeeping
'Under The Mango Tree' Services Both Ends of the Honey Market
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25
Social Entrepreneur Associations
Social Entrepreneur Associations
‘Ashoka: Innovators for the Public' is World-Changing
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24
Food Desert Distributors
Food Desert Distributors
The Corbin Hill Road Farm Supplies Fresh Produce to Those in Need
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23
Old-World Textile Footwear
Old-World Textile Footwear
'Love is Mighty' is Fashion That Supports Rural Artisans in India
<
22
Remote Healthcare Technologies
Remote Healthcare Technologies
iKure is a Kolkata-Based Delivery Platform for India
<
21
Empowering H20 Nonprofits
Empowering H20 Nonprofits
Community Water Solutions Opens Women-Run Businesses in West Africa
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20
Inclusive Economic Development
Inclusive Economic Development
Aavishkaar Invests in Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurs
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19
Ethical Silk Scarves
Ethical Silk Scarves
‘Cambodian Threads’ Gives School Supplies to Impoverished Kids
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18
Fair Trade Shea Butter
Fair Trade Shea Butter
Delapointe's Products are Made by Women in Burkina Faso
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17
Poverty-Focused Innovation Labs
Poverty-Focused Innovation Labs
Proximity Designs is a Myanmar-Based Non-Profit Enterprise
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16
Sustainable Sanitation Systems
Sustainable Sanitation Systems
'San+Co.' is a Social Enterprise Tackling Waste and Electricity
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15
Empowering Crochet
Empowering Crochet
Fair Trade 'Pebble' Baby Line Employs Women in Bangladesh
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14
Design-Focused LED Lanterns
Design-Focused LED Lanterns
‘d.light’ Offers Affordable Solar Lamps to Rural Communities
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13
Anti-Poverty Jewelry
Anti-Poverty Jewelry
'Me to We Artisans' Empowers Women & Promotes Tribal Style
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12
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Solar Sister Targets Women to Sell Lamps and Improve Livelihoods
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11
Kerosene-Replacing Lamps
Kerosene-Replacing Lamps
Nuru Uses LED Lights to Create Jobs and Promote Safety in Rural Rwanda
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10
Artistan-Crafted Clutches
Artistan-Crafted Clutches
Ann & Arayata Creates Sustainable Income For Filipino Craftspeople
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9
$20-Per-Month Homes
$20-Per-Month Homes
Each WorldHaus is Built in 10 Days and is Designed for the World's Rural Poor
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8
Alternative Education Enterprises
Alternative Education Enterprises
KO2 is a Community Interest Company with a Love for Dirtbiking
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7
Majority World Tech Incubators
Majority World Tech Incubators
D-Rev Designs Solution-Driven Products for Low-Income Customers
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6
Hip Handwoven Attire
Hip Handwoven Attire
Bhalo Employs Rural Bangladeshi Women to Produce Fair Trade Fashion
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5
Carbon-Negative Stoves
Carbon-Negative Stoves
Inyenyeri Uses Crowdsourced Biofuel to Transform Energy Systems in Rwanda
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4
Stripped-Down SUVs
Stripped-Down SUVs
The Mobius One Vehicle Offers Economic Mobility for African Countries
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3
Abuse-Free Indian Carpets
Abuse-Free Indian Carpets
Jaipur Rugs Creates Tantalizing Products for You to Happily Walk On
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2
Peace Pillows
Peace Pillows
Oimei Co. is a Fair Trade Business Re-Investing Profits in Peacebuilding Initiatives
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1
Ancestor-Inspired Accessories
Ancestor-Inspired Accessories
Wakami Helps Disconnected Communities Find Urban Markets
<