Ranking: 39

Industry: Investment Advising

Mission: A venture capital firm that provides equity and debt financing to established and emerging companies located in communities underserved by conventional sources of capital. They invest in small businesses and help grow local economies. Have fostered over 780 companies across a diverse array of industry sectors, including manufacturing, technology and business services.

What 3 words best describe your company culture?

Collaborative, Entrepreneurial, Accountable

What quote best exemplifies your company?

“Through strategic investments in small businesses located in underserved communities — and by financing affordable housing in those same neighborhoods, along with access to renewable energy — our focus is on strengthening communities, equalizing opportunities for household financial security, and growing local economies.”

How is your product or service having a positive social and/or environmental impact?

Advantage Capital creates a platform for economic security in low-income communities across the county. We do so, in part, by investing in the growth of companies that can create and retain good-quality jobs. Through our investments and non-financial support and guidance, the companies in which we invest have largely expanded and prospered, supporting more than 60,000 jobs in low-income communities across the country. We also finance affordable housing in these same communities, creating even more positive and lasting change in neighborhoods, and for families and seniors. To further strengthen communities and equalize access to capital and growth, we finance renewable energy projects, for the benefit of planet, people and economic growth.

What is your company’s vision for the future?

We fundamentally believe that capital can change lives. We have infused investment capital into 244 highly distressed census tracts across the country. We see continued focus on strengthening communities, by staying true to our investment philosophy of delivering much-needed capital to small businesses that can create and preserve good jobs in some of the nation’s hardest-hit communities. We envision serving nearly 500 communities, more than doubling our footprint in historically distressed neighborhoods, erasing blight and chipping away at the factors which have led to their decline, neighbor by neighbor, family by family, block by block.

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Ranking: 78

Industry: Forestry

Mission: An online platform allowing companies and consumers worldwide to plant trees remotely and follow their growth online. They finance agroforestry projects for sustainable ecosystems and aid local farmers, bringing environmental, social, and financial benefits to their communities. Supporting over 83,000 farmers by planting over 1.4 million trees across 4 continents.

What 3 words best describe your company culture?

Sustainability, Engagement, Transparency

What quote best exemplifies your company?

“Treedom aims to make the world a greener & better place for everyone. Treedom is the only site that allows people and companies to plant trees and see their impact online, supporting local farmers around the world. Every single tree is planted, photographed, geolocated and is visible online, to show your commitment to everyone in a transparent way.”

How is your product or service having a positive social and/or environmental impact?

IMPACT BUSINESS MODEL: With Treedom users finance farmers who want to plant trees, supporting their work in the early years, when trees are not yet productive. Treedom provides farmers with know-how and technical support for planting and managing trees. Trees are photographed, geolocated, and monitored by Treedom over time.

BENEFITS: Treedom directly finances small agroforestry projects throughout the territory. The philosophy is to realize sustainable ecosystems and allow thousands of farmers to support the initial costs of planting new trees, ensuring food autonomy and income opportunities over time.

Environmental benefits:

• CO2 absorption worldwide
• Protection of biodiversity
• Contrast soil erosion and desertification
• Reforestation

The realization of small agroforestry systems allows making precise choices concerning the specific characteristics and needs of each project area. The tree species planted are native or respect the biodiversity of the different territories. The agroforestry practice also integrates the planting of trees in an agricultural system, favouring the virtuous interaction between the different species and sustainable use of resources and land. Finally, all trees absorb CO2 in the course of their growth, naturally generating a benefit for the entire planet.

Social and economic benefits:

• Direct financing of local farmers
• Choice of which trees to plant made with the farmers
• Costs covered up to tree’s productive phase
• Training and income opportunities

Treedom finances projects in rural communities in the south of the world and also carries out projects with a strong social value in Italy. The first step is the training and financing of the communities involved in the projects, obtaining extraordinary results in terms of their own empowerment. The trees and their fruits belong to the farmers, allowing them to diversify and supplement their income and in some cases, to launch micro-entrepreneurship initiatives. Financing the planting of new trees with Treedom serves to support the trees’ care in the first years of their life when they are not yet productive in terms of fruit.

What is your company’s vision for the future?

In our vision, everyone is able to make the world a greener & better place.

Treedom aims to create a resilient environment promoting sustainable development that connects north-south in a mutual benefit relation, introducing innovations in the charity sector as transparency, engagement, versatility.

Treedom’s mission is to allow anyone to contribute to the wellbeing of the planet in a simple and fun way while they browse online. With a simple gesture, a click, help rural communities and especially farmers in disadvantaged areas, to receive startup fundings to implement agroforestry activities instead of monoculture or harming cultivation technique.

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Ranking: 86

Industry: Architecture

Mission: An architecture firm that integrates the practices of architecture, planning + strategy, engineering, project services, and security risk management to develop innovative, creative, and collaborative solutions to complex problems.They seek to transform the lives of people and organizations by creating stunningly beautiful, highly functional, and safer spaces, and have completed projects across 20 states.

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Ranking: 82

Industry: Renewable Energy

Mission: A solar developer and leading community solar service provider breaking down barriers to solar benefits and revolutionizing energy. Their community solar subscriptions make it possible for homeowners, renters, small business owners, and municipalities to be part of the energy revolution. Have built more than 135 MW of solar projects to date. 

What quote best exemplifies your company?

“We’re by no means perfect, but we try very hard to honor our values and to make a meaningful impact in the climate change battle and the fight for environmental and social justice.” — BlueWave Co-founder & Chairman

How is your product or service having a positive social and/or environmental impact?

It’s no secret that greenhouse gases, particularly the production of carbon from burning fossil fuels, is largely to blame for climate change. But we believe the installation of clean, renewable energy, can make a significant impact by curbing greenhouse gas production and improving the health of our planet. Through our work as a solar project developer and community solar provider, BlueWave is not only actively adding more solar to the global energy mix, but we’re making it possible for all residents, businesses, and communities to support solar. That means less reliance on other, dirtier power sources and a healthier environment for generations to come.

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Ranking: 75

Industry: E-Commerce Fulfillment

Mission: A fulfillment business focusing on internet retailers who chose to outsource their shipping. They offer dedicated client support and innovative solutions with carbon neutral shipping for dry goods and frozen and refrigerated foods. Operating from four 100% carbon neutral facilities across the U.S. and helping to make e-commerce sustainable.

What 3 words best describe your company culture?

Solve, Improve, Grow

What quote best exemplifies your company?

“Crystal Creek specializes in frozen fulfillment, logistics, and shipping services for e-commerce companies. We offer dedicated client support, sustainable operations, and innovative solutions. As a certified B-Corp, we are committed to socially responsible business practices.”

How is your product or service having a positive social and/or environmental impact?

All product leaves our facility as individual packages and are delivered to the home of the customer in full trucks making the best use of ground transportation possible, we deliver frozen foods to your doorstep via ground transportation in eco-friendly packaging designed to have the least impact on our planet. We operate in a BeSmart environment and are a certified B Corp with a 92 point ranking.

What is your company’s vision for the future?

We focus on lifting others up, instead of just doing the job, we try to do it in such a way that we build a stronger community and make an example for others to follow. Because we are pioneers in our space, we know that the way we do our work will set precedent and we take this responsibility seriously.

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Ranking: 102

Industry: Food & Beverage

Mission: A loose-leaf tea producer making tea accessible in the form of flavorful, functional, high quality, affordable blends. They place value on employee culture and give back to communities on a local, national, and international level. Sourcing ingredients from 30 countries and distributed in 8,000 stores throughout the U.S.

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Ranking: 9

Industry: Cleaning Products

Mission: An eco-friendly cleaning supplies seller that helps protect human health and the environment. They use renewable plant-based ingredients in their products and post-consumer recycled plastic in their packaging. On a mission to transform the world into a healthy, sustainable and equitable place for the next seven generations.

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Ranking: 34

Industry: Emergency Medical Services

Mission: A professional ambulance and medical emergency service provider in India, addressing the country’s healthcare gap. They care for all, regardless of their income bracket, and aim to create a leading network of fully equipped ambulances across the developing world. Have grown into a fleet of 3,022 ambulances with 10,000 employees across 18 states in the country.

What 3 words best describe your company culture?

Ethical, Transparent, Socially Responsible

What quote best exemplifies your company?

“Saving a life is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can undergo in his/her lifetime.” — Mahatma Gandhi

How is your product or service having a positive social and/or environmental impact?

In 2005, Ziqitza Health Care Limited (Ziqitza Health Care) was founded by Shaffi Mather, Manish Sacheti, Ravi Krishna, Naresh Jain, Sweta Mangal — a group of young professionals — as a result of two contrasting personal experiences.

Late one fateful night in India, Shaffi Mather’s mother choked in her sleep and had breathing problems. Faced with the uncertainty of what to do, which number to call, and whom to rely on for assistance, the family felt helpless and chose to drive her to the hospital themselves. Just a few days later, Ravi Krishna’s mother collapsed in Manhattan, New York, USA, and within minutes, 911 arrived, provided medical aid and his mother survived.

The founders realized that the difference in both scenarios was the availability and accessibility of standardised emergency medical services provided. Every life matters and every second counts in saving a life. We believe that countless lives can be saved and numerous casualties minimised, with adequate and quick transportation facilities.

ZHL recognized the need of organized and professional ambulance providers in the country, and thus began the journey to create the best emergency response service in India that would be on par with 911 in the U.S. and 999 in the U.K. They realized the urgency of an organized and networked ambulance service required for saving those lives that would have been otherwise lost, for want of timely medical attention.

While EMS services are extremely well developed in countries like United States, they were severely lacking in India till early 2000. Despite other developments in the healthcare sector, India had yet to establish a single, comprehensive EMS system that could be accessed by all. The existing system was fragmented and did not meet the acute demand. The main providers of ambulance services were private ambulance owners, hospitals, NGOs, and government agencies. Some services were free, while others were not.

There was no service that covered the entire city, and most ambulances had little or no medical equipment—they were largely stripped down delivery vans. Victims often arrived at the hospital in the back of an auto rickshaw, in a family member’s car, or even in the bed of a delivery truck. There was no ambulance service that covered the entire city, much less one that could be reached 24 hours a day at an easy-to-remember phone number similar to the 911 system in the U.S. The founders of ZHL were also very clear that the service should be accessible and affordable to all sections of the society without burdening those who did not have the capability to pay for the same.

This made them realize that there was no ambulance service in India that covered the entire city that could be reached 24 hours a day at an easy-to-remember phone number similar to the 911 system in the U.S.

It is a universally accepted fact that a patient who receives basic care and is transported tothe closest healthcare facility within 15-20 minutes of a severe injury has the greatest chance of survival. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a critical element of any healthcare system as it has the potential to save countless lives by providing immediate care. The state of emergency care, however, varies radically from developed countries to developing countries.

There is a high demand for quality ambulance services in India. India is very disaster prone; almost 57% of India’s land mass is vulnerable to earthquakes, 68% to drought, 8% to cyclones, and 12% to floods. Additionally, the ratio of traffic accidents per 1000 vehicles is 21.3 times higher than the world average. 30% of accident victims in India die due to delays in transportation to medical facilities

The existing system is terribly fragmented and does not meet demand. The main providers of ambulance services are private ambulance owners, hospitals, NGOs, and government agencies. Some services are free, while others are not. These ambulances are often unavailable on a regular basis, are in poor condition and do not have appropriate medical equipment or trained paramedics, and the time taken to arrive at a patient’s location is lengthy. Regardless, most people in India do not use ambulances for medical emergencies The statistics collected show why ambulances are typically not called for in India.

Three key reasons demand the need for high quality emergency healthcare in India:

1. Highest disaster and health accident prone areas in the world are in India
2. High road traffic accident ratio and poor road infrastructure
3. No established high quality emergency service in India

The solution of the founders to the above questions / issues was to set up and operate the ‘Dial 1298 for Ambulance’ Service as a cross-subsidy fee based business model. Under this model, it uses differential pricing: wealthier customers would pay the full rate for the Ambulance Service while the poor received a heavy discount and free service when required. To generate fixed income to service subsidized calls, 1298 gives external advertising space to corporates on yearly basis. Our corporate partners work with us through branding and awareness opportunities through our highly visible ambulance operations. This innovative pricing and leveraging corporate support has enabled us to make the service financially sustainable and cater to all sections of the society at the same time.

ZHL saw opportunity of partnering government to reach out quality ambulance service across the country, to execute the 108 services. Realising that it limited the opportunities for private organizations to participate in the process, ZHL played a very critical role in getting various states to introduce transparent bidding processes for private ambulance providers to bid for these PPPs in ambulance services. In 2009, ZHL won the 1st ever tendered out ambulance service in India (for Patna), bringing about a sequential change in other states also.

Keeping these factors in mind in 2005 and based on personal experiences of the founders the company was formed as Ziqitza Healthcare Limited. Our organization’s vision is to be the leading Ambulance Service provider in the developing world by assisting in saving human lives by providing a leading network of fully equipped Advanced and Basic Life Support Ambulances across the developing work.

We intent doing so, firstly, by adhering to our core values of being ethical, transparent and fostering teamwork within our organization. Secondly, in our road to realize our vision, we want to make sure that we meet international standards for quality in Emergency Medical Services, be accessible to all people irrespective of income and to be financially sustainable. At ZHL, emphasis on technology has been an important driver for improved service levels and quality of treatment during transit in emergency situations. Early technology adoption has helped ZHL with better management of our ambulance movements. During the very early stages the gap in existing training standards for the paramedics was very evident therefore to bridge this extensive emphasis is laid on skill training of the staff.

Today ZHL is operating more than 3300 ambulances across 16 states in India and has served more than people since inception. In last 15 years have created multiple service solutions that are tailor-made with quality standards benchmarked to international EMS. The focus has always been ensuring efficient transfers to trauma cenrtes by trained pre-hospital care professionals to save as many valuable lives. To this end, Ziqitza created different medical emergency response solutions, each serving the needs of very specific segments of customers and income class in India:

1. Corporate EMS Wellness: Targeted at hospitals, corporates and manufacturing facilities, Special Economic Zones, Corporate Parks, Events, Sports Facilities, Public Gatherings and many more. Staffed with trained paramedics and drivers to manage day-to-day fleet operations with both Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances
2. Cross-Subsidized Subscription Model: A subscription based model that guarantees ambulance services at one’s doorstep, and one pays what they can afford. By charging more from the affluent, ZHL was able to provide the same quality service to those who came from less affluent strata.
3. Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Model: ZHL engaged with State Governments under the PPP model, making quality and standardized EMS accessible even in the remote corners of the country. ZHL is also working closely with the government to move towards a single EMS number, and has partnered with state governments of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Punjab and the National Health Mission (NHM) to operate the 108 helpline for medical emergency services for the general public.

Industry Firsts by Ziqitza: The impact has been tremendous in area of EMS as an effort of ZHL like:

• First company to launch GPS tracking of ambulances in India in the year 2005 with an aim to reduce response time.
• First company to launch First Responder Programme (FRPs) to generate awareness and impart life-saving skills. 3,40,000 people have been trained till date.
• First Indian ambulance service to partner with the London Ambulance Service and the New York Presbyterian-EMS for knowledge sharing.
• Opened doors for Transparent tendering for PPP for EMS.
• Had Created an innovative model under cross subsidy that makes world class ambulance service accessible and affordable to all sections of the society In this way, what started as a social initiative has become a highly successful business model, which is going the extra mile to ensure every life counts.
• Saved 2,76,70,269 number of lives.
• ZHL has a fleet of 3025 ambulances.
• 10,000 employees across the country.
• Served over 24 million people till date.

ZHL has been cited as a case study for its social impact in reputable educational institutions like Stanford, Columbia and Yale.

What is your company’s vision for the future?

Be the leading Pre-Hospital Service Provider of the developing world. To assist in saving human lives by providing a leading network of fully equipped Advanced & Basic Life Support Ambulances across the developing world.

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Ranking: 112

Industry: Education

Mission: A supplemental education program offering before and after school programs for children and professional development for adult educators. They inspire humans through playful imaginative exploration by bringing them closer to their true nature of love, one family, one community, and one planet. Cultivating the curious child within us all.

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Ranking: 58

Industry: Environmental Services

Mission: Sustainably manages the resale, recycling, and donation of corporate office furniture and equipment. They aim to help corporations and organizations recover value, benefit communities, and divert waste. Have thus far diverted over 73,000 tons of furniture, offsetting more than 183,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. 

What 3 words best describe your company culture?

People, Planet, Profit

What quote best exemplifies your company?

“Every step towards a circular economy counts. To achieve zero-waste, to extract the full value out of our products at their end-of-life, we need to see waste as the dynamic opportunity it is.” — Richard Beaumont, CEO of Green Standards Ltd.

How is your product or service having a positive social and/or environmental impact?

Background: Inspired by the circular economy, Green Standards (GSL) was founded in 2009 to solve the growing problem of office furniture waste. Green Standards has developed an industry-leading, managed program of office furniture donation, resale, and recycling, making it simple and cost-effective to clear out workspaces and enable our clients to do more good. To date, Green Standards has diverted 70,000+ tons of workplace furniture and equipment from landfill (a 98.6% diversion rate) and generated over $30M of in-kind donations to 5,000+ non-profits and communities across North America.

Now working with 22 of the Fortune100 companies, Green Standards has managed workplace decommission efforts on several of the largest corporate real estate portfolio modernizations/refreshes in history – often to the order of millions of sqft and tens of thousands of employees’ worth of furniture and equipment.

Our unique service gives corporations the ability to turn a conventionally wasteful process into something that actually drives value for their business, by helping them achieve their various CSR reporting mandates.

Initiative: By combining donation, resale, and recycling strategies with turnkey project management, Green Standards maximizes asset recovery, streamlines community donation, and virtually eliminates waste on corporate projects. It’s this innovative approach that generated value for businesses, local communities and the environment.

As pioneers of sustainable workplace decommissioning, GSL manages more than 10M sqft of projects annually and has forced would-be competitors to evolve their service offerings to catch up. Green Standards’ leadership and influence have led to a notable shift in the language and requirements that Fortune-sized companies use when preparing their workplace decom RFPs; “conventional disposal” is simply no longer the status quo – our solution is.

What is your company’s vision for the future?

Where conventional solutions like liquidation produce an alarming amount of waste, we generate value for businesses, local communities, and the environment, demonstrating industry innovation, leadership and social responsibility through our program. When we started, this was a service that people hadn’t even conceived of as an option. Fast-forward ten years, and we’re increasingly seeing Fortune-sized clients expecting a service like ours that can be employed across their portfolio. This is a testament to changing times, but also to how our work has influenced the industry. For many organizations, their real estate footprint is the largest component of their environmental impact. EPA estimates that 8.5M tons of FF&E are sent to landfill each year in the US alone, costing Americans up to $750M spent annually on landfill tipping fees. We discovered a niche and need within an industry and are set out to disrupt the current landscape keeping sustainability at the forefront. In the next 3-5 years we’ll be expanding to provide our services overseas in Europe, South America, and Asia as we have found our client partners are looking for a global solution to their furniture waste.

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