Impact we created in 2024
When the world has looked dark, the inspiring work of our entrepreneurs has brought light and progress this year. As Martin Luther King said, “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
Empowering youth in Finland and Latvia through social entrepreneurship
The project was implemented through different stages of Bootcamp training and a Leadership camp, as well as an Innovation Lab for those who wanted to continue with their individual business ideas after the basic training. Now, more than 60 young people in Finland and Latvia have received training both in-person and online.
Catalyzing green entrepreneurship in Ethiopia
A total of 37 Minimum Viable Products were developed and the Green Innovation Lab ensured that more than 20 entrepreneurs are investment ready, eligible for the Green Business Incubator.
Incubator for inclusion in Sweden
In 2024, we supported 9 social entrepreneurs who, in their turn, were able to reach over 13 000 children, youth and other vulnerable groups during the year through a range of different solutions.
Next in Mind scaling readiness program
20 entrepreneurs addressing mental health in the Nordics were selected across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland to participate in the program, where they are provided with capacity development support, network and funding.
Scaling socially innovative futures for youth in Central and Eastern Europe
Future Forward program provided capacity building and scaling support to 9 social entrepreneurs across the region. They, in turn, reached almost 10 000 children, youth and other vulnerable groups in 2024.
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
This 3-year catalytic acceleration program aims to support inclusive EdTech solutions in Ethiopia. The results in 2024 showed that 94 571 users were engaged with EdTech solutions and 274 educators received training on integrating technology into their teaching methodologies.
Fostering cross-border collaboration to tackle the most pressing challenges in the Blatics
Baltic Sea Impact Network created vibrant spaces for social entrepreneurs to collaborate and grow. Through monthly online sessions, members engaged in Expert Sessions and Peer Learning, and the Mobility Program offered financial support to travel and engage with each other in person.
Partnering for Change event in Stockholm
In 2024 we focused on “Innovation for a more inclusive Sweden”. More than 90 people attended, representing youth, social entrepreneurs, and the public, private and non-profit sectors. The event evaluation showed that 70% learned something new about social entrepreneurship and 69% met someone new that they would like to stay in contact with.
In 2024 we reached
570
Change Leaders and those aspiring to drive change
440 000+
children, youth and other vulnerable groups
750
stakeholders creating a supportive ecosystem for social entrepreneurs
Alumni stories - next steps on the journey
Järvaskolan in Sweden – “where dreams become reality”
Amir Sajadi participated in Reach for Change’s incubator from 2016-2019, learning methods on how to measure impact, create a pathway of change for his solution, and build partnerships. During this time he founded Järvaskolan, with the belief that by providing high-quality education, this in turn inspires big dreams and motivates students, leading more youth to pursue a higher education.
OmniCoders – ensuring digital skills for the 21st century in Ethiopia
To address the lack of women in STEM, Masresha Beniam started OmniCoders, an Ethiopian organization that provides girls with interactive and practical training in programming and coding. This after-school program aims to empower high school students, especially girls, with the digital skills that are required for the 21st century and increase their awareness of technology.
Perbi Cubs – improving literacy outcomes in Ghana
In 2022, Naa Anyele Perbi, founder of Perbi Cubs, joined Reach for Change’s program with a bold vision – to build a transformational learning community that improves literacy outcomes for children in Ghana. Her idea was to combine in-school reading programs with a digital platform offering thousands of books, targeting children aged 7 to 12.
Learnings and reflections
#1
Tailored support is essential for scaling
When it comes to scaling, matching the support to the entrepreneurs’ unique goals becomes essential. Scaling looks different for everyone. What is needed to catalyze the development of a certain solution depends on the unique combination of sector, impact model, business model, and scaling strategy. While peer to peer support is important and highly valued, one must make sure to invest in one to one support and very tailored consultancy for best results.
#2
Thematic cohorts can spark collective impact and systems change
In 2024, we brought together entrepreneurs working on similar challenges across three big projects: Future Forward, Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, and Next in Mind. What we saw confirmed something we have long suspected: when change leaders connect over a shared mission, opportunities for partnerships and common action are quickly discovered. Creating these opportunities around a certain societal challenge increases the speed with which innovations can become mainstream.
#3
Invest in figuring out the recipe for adoption of innovations into existing systems
Many of the entrepreneurs we support have solutions that could help thousands – sometimes millions – of people. But doing that alone is hard. One of the fastest and most effective ways to bridge the gap between the societal need and the potential solutions is for entrepreneurs to work with the existing social systems. Integrating social innovations into public systems can rapidly increase the pace with which social innovations reach those who need them most.
In 2024 we created impact with the support of
