When most people think ‘venture,’ they think risk. A daring undertaking that has no guarantee of success. Venture capital. Much like traditional business ventures, Ashoka’s Venture program does involve some level of risk—risk inherent in investing in individuals and their ideas at the launch stage.

Rather than measure success with a bottom line, we measure it in the form of social impact and systemic change. In Ashoka’s case, the investment is often small, and the social change it makes possible is remarkable.