About

We believe in the power of business to end poverty and the climate crisis.

Our work offers a dignified hand out of poverty to millions of people through social business - a model pioneered by our Co-Founder, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

About Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru

Founded in 2017, Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru (YSBFB) was envisioned to harness the potential of impact businesses and leaders, in India. YSBFB is committed to fund and support businesses that are solving human problems. With specific focus in housing, healthcare, education and agriculture, YSBFB is set to provide financing solutions to game-changing businesses.

Our long-term, patient loans and hands-on growth support are delivered by our teams of local professionals, partnering with social businesses to help them flourish. We are based in Bangalore, Karnataka.

Our history

Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru is a part of Yunus Social Business Global Initiatives, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, YSB’s mission is to promote social business as a sustainable alternative to long-term aid, bridging the gap between business and philanthropy.

Our Bengaluru fund's founders have their roots in social development and microfinance. Vinatha M Reddy, who was a Founder and Chairperson at Grameen Koota, a leading microfinance institution (MFI). Suresh Krishna was the Co-promoter and MD of Grameen Koota. Suresh now serves as the Country Director and CEO for Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru.

YSBFB's founders were instrumental in building, leading and transforming Grameen Koota, from an NGO to a large NBFC MFI. Grameen Koota became a seminal movement, empowering over 15 lakh poor and rural women, across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, providing microfinance services. Grameen Koota was inspired by Grameen Bank (Bangladesh) founded by Prof. Muhammud Yunus.

What is a Social Business?

A social business is a company with a social mission at its core. Set up to solve a specific problem to the benefit of poor or disadvantaged members of society, social businesses operate exactly like normal companies except for a few small differences.

Unlike a charity, a social businesses generates profit and aims to be financially self sustaining. Removing the need for fundraising allows social businesses to re-invest profits back into generating sustainable social impact.

A social business is either created by the disadvantaged population it serves or serves them as its primary customers.100% of the company profits are reinvested in continuing the company’s social mission.

7 Principles of Social Business

Our guiding principles as laid down by Prof. Muhammud Yunus.

1. Goal is to solve social or environmental problems
2. Financial and economic sustainability
3. Debt repaid to investors. No further returns, profits or dividends
4. Reinvest for expansion or seeding other social businesses
5. Practice environmental consciousness
6. Market wages and better working conditions
7. Do it with joy