Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises

Rising energy bills are leaving many Americans in financial strain, with an alarming 30% increase since 2021. The documentary explores a Georgia community battling a utility monopoly exemplifying a national issue. It highlights the influence of corporate power and regulatory failures, including the notable Ohio bribery scandal. Personal stories reveal the broader impact on families and democracy, prompting a call for public engagement and accountability. Listeners are invited to join critical conversations at Sundance to explore these challenges further.

In a fashion industry built on shortcuts, KENT has taken the harder road on purpose.Founded by Stacy Grace, KENT is a super natural basics brand focused on one simple but radical idea, underwear and essentials should be made entirely without plastic.No spandex. No polyester. No hidden synthetics.Just organic, plant based materials that are healthier for people and capable of returning to the earth at the end of their life.While many brands claim sustainability, KENT operates with a stricter definition.Every product is designed from fabric to thread to elastic using 100 percent natural materials, with the explicit goal of creating basics that can be composted instead of sitting in landfills for centuries. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Healthcare has not changed its patient attire in over a century. That is not an exaggeration. While medicine, technology, and clinical standards have advanced at a remarkable pace, the patient gown has remained largely untouched, often becoming a quiet barrier to care rather than a support for it.Shawn Gibbs knows this firsthand.After 15 years in clinical practice, he repeatedly heard the same story from patients. People delayed or avoided care because they felt exposed, embarrassed, or powerless the moment they were handed a standard medical gown.Over time, that pattern became impossible to ignore. What started as individual patient conversations turned into a clear systemic failure.GIV Gowns was born from a simple but uncomfortable truth. Dignity matters in healthcare. Confidence matters. What a patient wears can influence whether they show up, how open they are during an exam, and how effectively a provider can do their job.GIV is building what Shawn calls a new gold standard for patient attire, designed with real human experience in mind, not institutional convenience.Read full interview ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

For nearly 25 years, One Percent for the Planet has quietly reshaped how businesses think about responsibility, strategy, and long term stewardship. What began as a simple commitment has grown into a global network spanning more than 100 countries and hundreds of millions of dollars in certified environmental giving.In this episode of Disruptors for GOOD, I sit down with Kate Williams, the organization’s CEO, to unpack how the model really works, why progress matters more than perfection, and what it takes to keep climate action grounded, practical, and nonpartisan.This conversation goes beyond surface level sustainability talk. It digs into how businesses of all sizes can meaningfully participate, how philanthropy becomes strategy when done right, and why steady commitments often outlast trends, politics, and fatigue. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Transportation has always shaped how societies function. Who can move, how easily they can get from one place to another, and at what cost often determines access to work, healthcare, education, and community. In the digital age, rideshare platforms have quietly become part of that infrastructure.In a recent conversation, I sat down with Jerry Golden, Chief Policy Officer at Lyft, to unpack how transportation policy, technology, and social responsibility intersect. The discussion covered Golden’s unconventional career path, the realities of policymaking in a fast moving sector, Lyft’s expanding role in disaster response and accessibility, and how autonomous vehicles may reshape the future. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

For over a decade, Causeartist has published the annual Social Entrepreneurs to Watch list. If you know a founder building a real solution, put them on our radar.What is Causeartist Next?Causeartist Next is our annual list of social entrepreneurs building companies that put impact next to profit, not behind it. We cover founders creating practical solutions across climate, food, health, education, financial inclusion, ethical supply chains, and more.Check out the lists from past years:2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024 / 2025Frequently asked questionsIs nomination required to be included?No. We also source founders through interviews, research, and referrals. Nominations help us find people we might miss.Do you charge to be featured?No. If someone asks you for money to get on the list, it is not us.Can I nominate myself?Yes. Self nominations are welcome and encouraged. 😀When does the 2026 list publish?Deadline for nominations is January 20th. We publish in early February and share the list for all of 2026 via our website, newsletter, and social accounts.Nominate here ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

The statistics on marine pollution are staggering: an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans every single year, equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the sea every minute.This crisis impacts everything from coral reefs and endangered species to the seafood on our plates.For decades, the fight to save our oceans was led primarily by large, established non-profits. Today, however, a new, dynamic force has emerged: the ocean conservation startup.These ventures are attracting significant investment and deploying cutting-edge technology to tackle pollution at its source, in rivers, and in the open ocean. They represent the leading edge of sustainable ocean tech.Full post here. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

For decades, nonprofits have relied on the same narrow funding playbook. Donations spike at year end. Grant cycles are slow and unpredictable. Teams spend enormous time fundraising instead of delivering impact.Meanwhile, trillions of dollars move through global markets every day with no connection to social outcomes.In Episode 235 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, we sat down with Martin Simms and Aaron Rafferty, co founders of WYDE Impact Exchange, to explore a bold alternative.What if markets themselves could fund missions automatically.What if trading activity generated real nonprofit revenue And what if transparency and accountability were built directly into the system.WYDE is not another crypto exchange chasing speculation. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

The discussion highlights the innovative approaches startups are taking to convert agricultural waste into clean energy. From Brightmark's transformation of dairy manure into renewable natural gas to Husk Power's mini-grids powered by rice husks, these companies are tackling waste while lowering emissions. Char Technologies uses pyrolysis for carbon sequestration, and Anergia's facilities produce reliable clean energy from organic waste. This movement fosters a circular bioeconomy, turning waste into valuable resources that benefit farmers and communities.

Explore the urgent need for sustainable battery materials and innovative long-duration energy storage solutions. Discover how startups like Redwood Materials and Ascend Elements are revolutionizing recycling and production processes. Highlights include Form Energy's breakthrough in iron-air batteries for extended storage and Moment Energy’s creative use of second-life EV batteries. Additionally, learn about trends towards non-lithium storage and sophisticated recycling strategies, all vital for a resilient, decarbonized grid.