Yunus Social Business Fund

Enriched Impact Investor · Found: 2026-03-11 11:10

Invests patient capital (equity, quasi-equity, debt) of EUR 50K-500K in social businesses addressing environmental challenges including waste management and circularity. Focus on poverty alleviation, education, health, and environmental sustainability. Rolling applications.

Source: https://yunussocialbusiness.com/

Funding Details

Funder

Yunus Social Business (Yunus Funds)

Funding Goal

To invest patient capital in social businesses that tackle poverty, unemployment, and climate change across developing countries — supporting scalable ventures in areas like waste management, clean water, agriculture, health, education, and renewable energy.

Funding Amount

$100,000 – $500,000 (patient loans/debt financing) (100.000 € – 500.000 €)

How to Apply

Applications are submitted on a rolling basis via a Google Form on the YSB website. Before applying, entrepreneurs should ensure their social business fits YSB's investment criteria (impact-first, proven business model, experienced team, scalability). The YSB team then evaluates applications against their four-dimension framework: Impact, Leadership & Team, Business Model, and Scalability. Selected ventures receive patient debt financing plus hands-on growth support from local YSB professionals.

Target Region

Brazil, Colombia, India, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda

Contact

Headquarters in Berlin, Germany. Local offices in Kampala and Nairobi (East Africa), São Paulo and Bogotá (Latin America), Mumbai and Bangalore (India). Website: www.yunussb.com

Official Page

https://www.yunussb.com/funds/for-entrepreneurs

Last Checked

2026-03-11 19:53

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Organization must be a social business (financially sustainable, impact-driven venture), not a traditional non-profit or charity
• Must operate in one of the six target countries: Brazil, Colombia, India, Kenya, Rwanda, or Uganda
• Must demonstrate a proven model of profitability and a market opportunity serving low-income populations
• Business must be scalable with clear potential for cross-regional application
• Must have experienced leadership team with capabilities to scale the social business

Project Scope

• Must align with YSB's 'three zeroes' framework: zero poverty, zero unemployment, net-zero carbon emissions

Required Documents

• Submit application via the online Google Form on the YSB website

Constraints

• Funding is provided as patient debt (loans of $100K–$500K), not grants — applicants must be able to take on and repay debt

Summary

Yunus Social Business (YSB) is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 in Germany by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Saskia Bruysten, and Sophie Eisemann. It operates two business units: Yunus Funds, the impact-investing arm that provides patient capital to local social enterprises, and Yunus Corporate Innovation, which helps corporations integrate social business models into their operations. The organization's mission is guided by its "three zeroes" framework: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and net-zero carbon emissions. Through Yunus Funds, the organization provides patient and flexible debt financing (loans) of $100,000–$500,000 to social businesses in six countries: Brazil, Colombia, India, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, with offices across East Africa, Latin America, India, and headquarters in Berlin. Key sectors include agriculture and livelihoods, health and sanitation (WASH), education and training, energy and environment, plastic waste and recycling, and female empowerment. The fund has supported businesses serving over 17 million people. YSB also runs several accelerator programs in partnership with corporations, including the Reckitt Access Accelerator (water/hygiene), MAN Impact Accelerator (Europe and Brazil), and the CirculaRise Accelerator (circular economy solutions). The related Yunus Environment Hub specifically addresses waste management, circular economy, and plastic waste leakage through modular social business approaches in developing countries. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via an online Google Form.

Historical Context

Founded in 2011 by Prof. Muhammad Yunus (2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for Grameen Bank microfinance), Saskia Bruysten, and Sophie Eisemann. Built on the social business concept pioneered in Bangladesh. Has supported social businesses serving over 17 million people. Notable portfolio companies include Tugende (Uganda, motorcycle-taxi financing, 52,000 customers) and Impact Water (Uganda, water purification in 32,517 schools reaching 14.3 million students).

Why it was added

Impact investor/blended finance for plastic waste

Sources

• https://yunussocialbusiness.com/
• https://www.yunussb.com/funds/for-entrepreneurs
• https://www.yunussb.com/funds/home
• https://www.yunussb.com/about
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunus_Social_Business

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