In our social entrepreneurship series, The World at Work, Mashable interviews the faces behind the startups and projects that are working to make a global impact.
By harnessing the power of the web and digital technology, these companies have built a way for companies to commit to charity, made electric cars affordable and offered a new way for people to rally around political issues. While the companies are diverse, they are all on a mission to change our lives for the better and improve society.
Here's a roundup of featured projects from the last week, including exclusive video interviews with the founders of these innovative startups. To read more and watch the videos, click through to the full story, and follow the series to learn about more breakthrough companies.
1. Sparked
Big Idea: Sparked is an online-only volunteer hub for people to donate their talents to non-profits, as well as an engagement tool for businesses to engage and incentivize employees to contribute to volunteer causes.
Why It's Working: Users can donate expertise and skills instead of money, and make time commitments according to availability and interest level.
2. Holstee
Big Idea: Holstee is an ecommerce marketplace for sustainable products that are "designed with a conscience."
Why It's Working: Holstee is driven by its social values and not a race for profits. Yet, the revenue still pours in as consumers become emotionally attached to its vision and mission. The company gives back by investing in entrepreneurship abroad through microfinancing, helping others to scale their businesses.
Read the full story and see the video here.
3. Coda
Big Idea: Coda is offering potential owners (in California only, for now) the opportunity to design and reserve their own electric vehicle for only $99.
Why It's Working: Focused on reducing vehicle emissions while also providing a wallet-friendly and eco-friendly option for consumers, Coda aims to make a major splash in the consumer electric vehicle industry — and the automotive industry at large.
4. Bamboo Bike Studio
Big Idea: Bamboo Bike Studio holds bike-building workshops where students can craft their own bamboo bicycle — a sustainable form of transportation made in a sustainable way.
Why It's Working: Bamboo Bike Studio uses the money from stateside workshops to fund a bike factory in Africa, where bamboo can be harnessed into reliable, sustainable transport for very little money.
5. Ruck.us
Big Idea: Through Ruck.us, users are matched with politically active people that share their "political DNA," then form groups around issues they're passionate about and take action.
Why It's Working: Many Americans no longer define themselves as strictly Republican or Democrat — Ruck.us gives those independents an outlet for political expression outside the binary, two-party system.
What do you think of the efforts of these startups and foundations? Let us know in the comments below.
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