"Social Entrepreneurship Herald"

Social Entrepreneurship Herald

August 2025 Newsletter

Health is Wealth: Social Innovations in Healthcare. 

Dear Social Entrepreneurship Enthusiasts,

welcome to the August 2025 edition of The Social Entrepreneurship Herald! This month’s theme, Health is Wealth: Social Innovations in Healthcare,  spotlights the inspiring efforts of changemakers who are redefining what it means to care. Around the world, social ventures are stepping up to bridge long-standing gaps in access, affordability, and quality of healthcare proving that innovative solutions can come from the most unexpected corners.

In our feature article, “How Social Ventures Are Bridging Gaps in Global Healthcare,” we explore stories of impact, resilience, and creative problem-solving that are reshaping the health landscape and bringing dignity and care to underserved communities. 

How Social Ventures Are Bridging Gaps in Global Healthcare🌍❤️🏥

The Health Divide.

Healthcare is a fundamental human right. Yet for billions of people around the world, access to quality medical care remains out of reach. From rural villages in Sub-Saharan Africa to overcrowded slums in Southeast Asia and underfunded inner-city hospitals in North America, healthcare inequalities manifest in numerous ways, a lack of infrastructure, unaffordable medicines, understaffed clinics, inadequate sanitation, and systemic neglect.

Governments, international agencies, and philanthropies have made strides in addressing these challenges. Social ventures, innovative, mission-driven enterprises, are incrisingly stepping into the fray, blending entrepreneurial strategy with humanitarian purpose to fill the gaps left by traditional systems.

Defining the Role of Social Ventures in Healthcare.

Social ventures are businesses or organizations that aim to solve social or environmental problems while maintaining financial sustainability. Unlike traditional charities, they don’t rely solely on donations, and unlike corporations, they prioritize impact over profits.

In the healthcare sector, social ventures tackle issues such as:

• Medical access in remote or underserved areas.

• Affordability of drugs and diagnostics.

• Maternal and child health.

• Mental health services.

• Health education and behaviour change.

• Health data and infrastructure systems.

These ventures don’t seek to replace public healthcare systems. Instead, they act as agile, often tech-savvy collaborators bridging last-mile delivery gaps, designing new financing models, and introducing grassroots innovations.

Why Traditional Healthcare Systems Fall Short.

Despite well-intentioned policies and massive international aid, global healthcare is still plagued by systemic shortfalls:

1. Infrastructure Inequality.

In low-income regions, healthcare facilities are often scarce, dilapidated, or nonexistent. Patients must travel long distances for basic care, and emergency services are practically unavailable.

2. Shortage of Healthcare Professionals.

According to the WHO, there's a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Brain drain, where skilled professionals leave for higher wages abroad, worsens the issue.

3. Affordability.

Out-of-pocket expenses push nearly 100 million people into extreme poverty every year. Medicines, tests, and treatments are often priced out of reach.

4. Supply Chain Inefficiencies.

Essential drugs and equipment often fail to reach remote clinics due to bureaucratic delays, corruption, or logistical challenges.

5. Lack of Data.

In many regions, health systems operate without reliable data, leading to poor planning, resource misallocation, and an inability to track progress or outbreaks.

How Social Ventures Are Making a Difference.

1. Last-Mile Healthcare Delivery.

Social ventures are pioneering solutions to reach the "last mile" populations in geographically isolated or marginalized communities.

Case Study: Living Goods (Uganda, Kenya).

Living Goods empowers local women to become digitally enabled community health workers (CHWs). These agents are equipped with smartphones and diagnostic tools to provide door-to-door healthcare services, from treating childhood illnesses to selling essential health products.

Impact:

• 27% reduction in child mortality in areas served.

• Over 10,000 CHWs reaching 9 million people.

Living Goods' model combines tech, micro-entrepreneurship, and health education to bring care directly to doorsteps.

2. Affordable Diagnostics and Devices.

Diagnostics are the backbone of healthcare but many tests are expensive, require labs, or are simply unavailable in rural settings. Social ventures are creating affordable, portable, and scalable alternatives.

Case Study: Biosense (India)
Biosense Technologies designs low-cost diagnostic devices for chronic diseases such as anemia, diabetes, and kidney failure. Their TouchHb device, for example, performs non-invasive anemia testing using a smartphone-sized machine.

Impact:

• Tests costing as little as $0.25.

• Used in over 10 Indian states.

• Significant improvements in anemia detection in maternal health programs.

These innovations democratize diagnostics, allowing frontline workers to make informed decisions in the field.

3. Digital Health and Telemedicine.

Telehealth platforms are revolutionizing access to medical advice, especially where doctors are scarce.

Case Study: mPharma (Ghana/Nigeria).
mPharma connects African patients with doctors via telemedicine, while also managing inventory and reducing drug prices through a network of partner pharmacies.

Impact:

• Reduced cost of chronic disease medications by 30-50%.

• Serves over 2 million patients annually.

• Expanded to nine African countries.

By bundling supply chain management with digital care delivery, mPharma is building an integrated health ecosystem for Africa.

4. Financing and Insurance Innovations.

Affordability remains one of the biggest hurdles. Social ventures are testing microinsurance, subscription models, and outcome-based payment systems.

Case Study: MicroEnsure (Multiple countries).
MicroEnsure partners with mobile network operators to offer micro-health insurance bundled with phone services. For a nominal monthly fee, users get access to hospital coverage and emergency benefits.

Impact:

• 65 million customers in 20+ countries.

• High enrollment among previously uninsured populations.

These models reduce financial risk for patients and promote preventive care.

5. Mental Health and Stigma Reduction.

Mental health is often overlooked in global health priorities. Social ventures are tackling the taboo and providing culturally relevant care.

Case Study: Friendship Bench (Zimbabwe).
The Friendship Bench trains grandmothers to provide cognitive behavioral therapy on park benches. Their “problem-solving therapy” model is simple, stigma-free, and deeply rooted in community trust.

Impact:

• Over 70,000 sessions delivered.

• Proven reduction in depression and anxiety.

• Model replicated in Malawi, New York City, and Jordan.

It’s a powerful reminder that innovation isn't always digital. Sometimes it’s human connection that heals.

6. Health Education and Behaviour Change.

Social ventures are using storytelling, gamification, and mobile tools to promote healthy behaviours.

Case Study: Noora Health (India, Bangladesh).
Noora Health trains family caregivers in post-surgery and maternal care through mobile videos and in-hospital training sessions.

Impact:

• 71% reduction in post-discharge complications.

• Reached over 3 million patients and families.

• Scalable across diverse regions and hospital systems.

Empowering caregivers is a cost-effective strategy to improve outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions.

7. Strengthening Health Supply Chains.

In many countries, expired drugs and stockouts are common. Social ventures are digitizing and streamlining supply chains.

Case Study: Zipline (Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria).
Zipline uses autonomous drones to deliver blood, vaccines, and medications to remote areas within 30 minutes.

Impact:

• Over 1 million deliveries completed.

• 75% reduction in medical stockouts in some regions.

• Response times reduced from hours to minutes.

By solving logistical nightmares, Zipline turns infrastructure weakness into opportunity.

Technology as an Enabler, Not a Solution.

While digital tools, AI, and logistics tech have expanded possibilities, social ventures understand that technology alone isn’t enough. The most successful models blend innovation with deep community engagement, cultural sensitivity, and public-sector collaboration.

Many ventures use a human-centered design approach developing solutions with, not just for, the communities they serve. Others adopt public-private partnerships, scaling faster with government endorsement and NGO support.

Challenges Facing Social Ventures in Healthcare.

1. Scaling Without Compromising Impact.

Many pilot programs succeed in controlled environments but falter at scale. Local adaptation, consistent funding, and quality assurance become harder to manage.

2. Regulatory and Policy Barriers.

Medical innovation is highly regulated for good reason but for startups, navigating complex healthcare laws can be slow, costly, and uncertain.

3. Data Privacy and Ethics.

Handling sensitive health data requires robust safeguards, especially in regions with weak digital laws or where patients may not fully understand data implications.

4. Sustainable Funding.

Unlike tech unicorns, social ventures often operate on thin margins. Balancing mission with financial health remains a core tension.

5. Measuring Impact.

Attribution is difficult in healthcare. Did a reduction in child mortality come from a new health worker program, or improved sanitation? Proving impact requires rigorous evaluation and long-term studies.

What’s Driving the Momentum?

1. Millennial and Gen Z Leadership.

Younger generations are more socially conscious and entrepreneurial. They’re founding ventures with health missions, from menstrual hygiene in India to mental health apps in Kenya.

2. Venture Philanthropy and Impact Investing.

Investors are increasingly backing social enterprises with both capital and mentorship. Funds like Acumen, Omidyar Network, and Global Innovation Fund have enabled dozens of health ventures to grow.

3. Corporate Social Innovation.

Major corporations, from Novartis to Google, are incubating or partnering with social health startups to enter emerging markets while doing good.

4. Technology Access.

The ubiquity of mobile phones, even in the poorest communities, allows health ventures to leapfrog traditional infrastructure gaps.

Case for the Future: A Hybrid Health Ecosystem.

Social ventures aren’t silver bullets but they are indispensable gears in the healthcare machine. The future of global health will be hybrid, with social ventures, public health systems, tech platforms, and communities working together.

Imagine this scenario:

• A community health worker uses a solar-powered device to screen for diabetes.

• Results are uploaded to a cloud-based EMR accessible to a remote doctor.

• A prescription is filled through a low-cost pharmacy connected to an AI-powered supply chain.

• The patient receives follow-up reminders via SMS and can access mental health support through a chatbot.

• If complications arise, emergency blood arrives by drone.

This isn’t science fiction, it’s already happening in pieces across the globe, thanks to the efforts of social ventures.

Health Equity Through Innovation.

Healthcare shouldn’t depend on your zip code, income, or the randomness of birth. Social ventures are proving that with the right mix of passion, innovation, and perseverance, it's possible to rewire health systems for equity.

They aren’t just providing services, they're creating dignity. They're restoring trust where institutions have failed. And most importantly, they’re showing that empathy, when combined with ingenuity, can save lives.

As we confront pandemics, climate-driven health crises, and aging populations, the need for resilient, inclusive healthcare systems is urgent. Social ventures are not just a response to these challenges, they are a beacon lighting the way forward.

Upcoming Events📅:    

• 7 August

      International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship  

     and Innovation (ICSEI).

      - ​​New York, USA.

      - Vancouver & Montreal, Canada.

      - Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

      - Lagos, Nigeria.

      - Marigot, Dominica.

• 14 August

International Conference on Social Enterprise (ICSE) 

       - Istanbul, Turkye

• 14 August

      International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship  

     and Innovation (ICSEI).

      - Barcelona, Spain

      - Venice, Italy

      - Istanbul, Turkey

      - Toronto, Canada

      - Hamburg, Germany

      - Warsaw, Poland 

      - Baku, Azerbaijan

• 16 August

      Social Entrepreneurship Festival 2025

      UTS Business School (Building B)

      - Ultimo NSW, Australia

• 21 August

      International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship  

     and Innovation (ICSEI).

      - London, UK

      - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

      - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

      - Budapest, Hungary

      - Bangkok, Thailand

      - Rome, Italy

      - Tokyo, Japan

      - Nicosia, Cyprus

• 27-28 August

      7th Social Entrepreneurship Summit 2025

      - Barranquilla, Colombia

         Host: Universidad del Norte

• 28 August

      International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship 

     and Innovation (ICSEI).              

      - Sydney, Australia

      - Paris, France

      - Moscow, Russia

      - Dublin, Ireland

      - Zanzibar, Tanzania

• 28 August

       International Conference on Social Economy 

       - Paris, France

• 28 August

      International Conference on Social Enterprise

      - Moscow, Russia

• 28 August 

      International Conference on Global Leadership in 

      Social Business Innovation

      - Bangkok, Thailand

• 31 August - 3 September

      Impact Minds 2025

      - Medellin, Colombia

• 31 August - 5 September

      Social Entrepreneurship Doctoral Seminar

      - IMD Lausanne, Switzerland

*OurBook Club📚:

This August, we invite you to dive into ‘’The Checklist Manifesto.’’ A groundbreaking exploration of how a deceptively simple tool has saved countless lives and transformed systems across healthcare, aviation, and business. Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon and public health thinker, reveals how checklists can drive precision, accountability, and innovation in even the most complex environments. For social entrepreneurs tackling global health challenges, this book is a masterclass in humble ingenuity. It reminds us that sometimes the most powerful solutions aren’t flashy or expensive, they’re just smart, tested, and scalable. Prepare to rethink how you build, lead, and save lives.

Thank you for being a part of the Social Entrepreneurship Research Institute community.

For those who have not yet joined us, please subscribe: 👇

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/social-entrepreneurshp-monthly-7156931971875586049/ 

Bridging health, hope, and humanity,

Dr. Agatha K. Rokicki, D.B.A., B.S.

© Social Entrepreneurship Research Institute.