Founded in 1980 by Bill Drayton, Ashoka:Innovators for the Public is a global non-profit organization that has pioneered the ‘social venture capital’ approach in international development. The organization’s mission is to develop the profession of social entrepreneurship globally.

Ashoka therefore invests in social entrepreneurs who are practical visionaries. They pioneer new approaches to achieve systemic social change in their field. Ashoka Fellows have been elected in 43 countries, on five continents, and work in the six broad fields of Learning/Youth Development, Environment, Health, Human Rights, Civic Participation and Economic Development.