Ashoka's Venture Fund for Leading Social Entrepreneurs

Introduction to the
Venture Fund
What is the Venture Fund? The Venture Fund for Leading Social Entrepreneurs provides equity
for the three-year living stipends Ashoka invests in its Fellows. Along with a lifetime of professional
support, including access to a network of 2,000 of their peers, Ashoka’s financial investment is
critical to the launch and spread of Fellows’ ideas and programs. Ashoka acts on a firm belief in
the power of a new idea in the hands of a well supported social entrepreneur. By providing these
resources, the Venture Fund will enable Ashoka Fellows to better address society’s most difficult
challenges, from access to water to youth violence.
What is the need for the Venture Fund? Nearly three decades after Ashoka supported its first Fellow
in India, the number and quality of social entrepreneurs around the world is increasing rapidly. The
citizen sector is maturing, the field of social entrepreneurship has flourished, and Ashoka wants
to keep pace with this growth by bringing more social entrepreneurs into our global Fellowship.
This presents a new and exciting opportunity for Ashoka’s investor partners, as our ability to raise
adequate unrestricted funds for stipends cannot always accommodate all of the Fellows we source
who meet our criteria. The Venture Fund for Leading Social Entrepreneurs fills this urgent need for
flexible, global funding. As forward thinking investors, you understand that in today’s interconnected
world, a great idea can begin anywhere and spread everywhere — with the help of the right network.
Ashoka and its community can make that change happen for social entrepreneurs no matter where
their work begins, or what the “hot issue” or region of the moment may be.
Who does the Venture Fund support? In 2008 Ashoka will further its track record of identifying
the most promising ideas and leaders in social change with the support of the Venture Fund. In
2007 the Venture Fund supported ten diverse, promising entrepreneurs. Among them is Bolivian
Casimira Rodriguez, who after 18 years as a mistreated domestic worker is shifting societal opinion
and behavior towards this marginalized group, breaking a pattern of exploitation, trafficking, and
violence. Rodrigo Villar of Mexico is building capacity and consumer demand for sustainable, “green”
businesses, bringing his now 28 start-ups over $24M in investments. Hailing from Turkey, Thailand,
Brazil, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Bolivia and Nepal, these and eight other individuals are beginning a new
chapter in their path as changemakers because of Ashoka’s investment.
What difference does Ashoka’s venture investment make? Over 27 years Ashoka has proven
that our investment at the critical launch stage propels leading social entrepreneurs to new,
unprecedented levels of impact and achievement. 80% of Fellows report that Ashoka’s investment
made a significant or critical difference in their work. Fellows are recognized leaders in their fields,
building institutions and growing ideas that challenge the status quo and bring about important
“This would’ve just been a cool hobby if Ashoka hadn’t come along”
-Ashoka Fellow Steve Bigari (USA)