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. 2021 Nov 28;23(3):e13378. doi: 10.1111/obr.13378

TABLE 2.

Examples of innovative interventions developed by social entrepreneurs

Area of Innovation Social Ventures Description
Urban Renewal Sole Food Street Farm (Vancouver, Canada)

  • Reclaimed vacant, contaminated land in city slums into urban farms; produce was sold locally

  • Trained people who recovered from substance abuse and patients with mental health conditions as farmers
Food Wastage Hungry Harvest (USA)

  • Rescued odd‐sized or surplus produce from farmers, packing houses and wholesalers

  • Produce was repackaged and sold to multiple cities under a weekly subscription model
Combating Obesity and Malnutrition Table for Two (Japan)

  • Worked with corporate and school cafeterias in Japan to serve healthy food

  • Directed part of proceeds from each healthy meal purchased towards funding meals for children in developing countries
Technology PlayCity (Canada)

  • Partnered sports centres and recreational facilities to advertise activities on the free‐to‐use PlayCity app

  • Connected users looking for players and venues for physical activities (such as basketball, hockey, bowling, and trampoline)
Business Model: Subscription Eat My Lunch (New Zealand)

  • Offered a subscription‐based, healthy meal service that delivered directly to offices and schools every weekday

  • Customers could also purchase meals for school children from low‐income families
Business Model: Cross Subsidy Good Bowls (USA)

  • Sold healthy frozen meals at different price points; meals cost US$2.99 in convenience stores at low‐income neighbourhoods and US$4.99 at premium food stores

  • Customers at premium food stores had the option to pay an extra US$2 (or US$6.99) to further subsidise meals sold to low‐income consumers
Business Model: Platform Box Divvy (Australia)

  • Connected local farmers to residents in West Sydney via an online platform

  • The online platform model offered farmers better prices compared to negotiating with wholesalers; customers saved on costs by buying directly from farmers
Business Model: Employment Green Bridge Growers (USA)

  • Trained and hired young adults with autism in aquaponic farming
Business Model: Leveraged Non‐profit Green Urban Lunch Box (USA)

  • Trained volunteers in organic farming and connected these volunteers to elderly residents with unused backyards

  • Provided materials for volunteers to build and maintain organic gardens in the elderly residents’ backyards at no cost to them.

  • The produce was shared among volunteers, elderly residents and the social venture.