Doing Good And Making Money

Goro Gupta, founder of Ethical Property Investments, transforms lives with disability-friendly housing, through ethical investment.

A new kind of entrepreneurship is arising that puts profit and responsibility together: social entrepreneurship. Businesses can help address social problems and do well economically; these goals are not mutually exclusive. Social entrepreneurs create movements that transform industries, create meaningful impact and lay out a blueprint for others to follow. Entrepreneurs can be responsible for bringing society to a higher level. Once we have achieved a certain level of success, I believe it’s important that we grow our “common wealth” together as a society. Today’s problems need creative solutions, and we shouldn’t just leave them to the government and charities.

Purpose-Driven Business Power

Social entrepreneurship is all about the idea that businesses can make a difference—that they can be forces for good. It’s not just about making money, but also making changes—tackling big issues like poverty, inequality, climate change and education. Social entrepreneurs put their profits back into their mission and have an incredible ability to think outside the box. They come up with innovative business models that do more than just turn a profit—they solve problems in ways that last. They design strategies that sustain not just for now, but also for the future, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and positive impact.

Around the world, there are many innovative types bringing clean energy to remote areas, providing affordable healthcare and ensuring kids get the education they deserve. These entrepreneurs are on the ground, serving as living proof that business can be a force for good, creating waves of change that ripple out far beyond their immediate surroundings.

Doing Good While Making Money

Doing good and making money can be fundamentally simple, yet profoundly impactful. I fell into social entrepreneurship on my journey as a property investor. I was already working in the space helping people build a property portfolio when I heard far too many stories of the difficulties and frustrations people with disabilities had with finding a suitable rental property. It was a need that was glaringly unmet by mainstream property markets. My background in real estate investment showed me the potential profitability of property development, but my experiences on the ground highlighted how these developments often overlooked inclusivity and accessibility.

I thought, “What if I can combine building purpose-built homes for people with disabilities and show people how to invest in these homes?” I really wanted to challenge the traditional notion that business success is solely about financial gain, proposing instead that true success comes from making a meaningful difference in the world while building a profitable enterprise. We ensure our profits serve our mission, creating a sustainable cycle of investment and improvement that not only benefits our tenants and investors, but also our community.

Integrating Social Entrepreneurship Into Your Business’s Heart

If the way we have always done things worked, we wouldn’t still be talking about poverty, inequality and the many problems the world faces. It is time to do business differently so more people benefit, instead of just the shareholders and the people at the top. There’s so many things that need fixing that we shouldn’t wait for government or big business to step up. More people care more about what they’re buying and who they’re buying it from, as evidenced by consumers’ rising interest in sustainable goods. There’s demand for businesses that do good—those upfront about where their products come from and that they give back to the community.

When consumers trust a company, they’re more likely to keep coming back. The younger generation doesn’t just want to work for a weekly wage; many want to work at companies that align with their values and make an impact. This generational move seems to be encouraging more businesses to think about how they can make the world a better place, not just make more money.

Doing good can actually be good for the bottom line. Businesses focused on social goals tend to build stronger bonds with their communities and customers—think greater loyalty, fewer risks and healthier business.

Weaving social entrepreneurship into what you are already doing isn’t as hard as you might think. Think about how your business can naturally weave social impact into its core. This could mean plowing back profits to fuel community projects, adopting eco-friendly practices through the supply chain, or even designing products and services that tackle specific societal issues.

It’s crucial to get everyone on board—from your team to your customers and even the wider community. Be open about what you’re doing and why. When people understand and see the sincerity behind your mission, trust grows, and that shared sense of purpose can start to blossom. You’ve got to know if what you’re doing is working, so set clear metrics to track your social impact so you can show real results to those involved.

You don’t have to change the world alone. Collaborating with other organizations, NGOs and government bodies can bring in extra resources, expertise and even credibility to your efforts.

Share what you are doing. There’s nothing like a good story to connect with others. For example, we put together a documentary on an investor and tenant’s journey from design to moving in so people can feel connected to our mission. Stories like these resonate. The open-book approach where you share everything from financials to project updates also brings people along for the ride by showing the concrete effects of people’s investments or purchases. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn are also fantastic for storytelling. They let us share everything from behind-the-scenes action to customer testimonials.

A Win-Win Scenario

Social entrepreneurship is reshaping how we think about business—and balancing making a profit and doing something good with it. The change is being driven from all segments—consumers, investors and governments. For entrepreneurs, this shift opens up a world of possibilities. It’s a chance to get creative, think outside the box and make a mark. Innovative solutions that address real-world problems don’t just feel good—they can be smart business moves. Social entrepreneurship is a win-win scenario. By balancing earning money with meaningful impact, businesses can do more than just succeed—they can help change the world.

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