About Us - YSBFB

We believe in the power of business to end poverty and the climate crisis.

Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru

The Yunus Social Business fund was founded on the philosophy of “social business”—using business tools to solve social problems such as poverty, waste, livelihoods and other issues. This approach draws inspiration from Muhammad Yunus, globally acclaimed for his pioneering work in microfinance and poverty alleviation. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (2006) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009) by US President Barack Obama, and has deeply influenced India’s microfinance sector, inspiring the creation of many of India’s leading MFIs and Small Finance banks. In India, he has been honored widely, including receiving a gold medal from PM Narendra Modi at the 102nd Indian Science Congress for “giving the poorest a life of hope, opportunity and dignity”. However, our organization in India (YSBFB) has no legal connection to Professor Yunus.

⁠Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru Pvt Ltd (YSBFB) is an RBI-regulated NBFC was established in 2017 for providing debt funding to Indian social businesses. YSBFB has also promoted Zero Poverty Funds, an AIF (SEBI registered) dedicated to invest in WASH and waste-related businesses.

The fund’s founders have their roots in social development and microfinance. Vinatha M Reddy, who was a Founder and Chairperson at Grameen Koota, a leading microfinance institution (MFI). Suresh Krishna was the Co-promoter and MD of Grameen Koota. Suresh now serves as the Country Director and CEO for Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru.

YSBFB’s founders were instrumental in building, leading and transforming Grameen Koota, from an NGO to a large NBFC MFI. Grameen Koota became a seminal movement, empowering over 15 lakh poor and rural women, across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, providing microfinance services. Grameen Koota was inspired by Grameen Bank (Bangladesh) founded by Prof. Muhammud Yunus.

YSBFB is committed to fund and support businesses that are solving human problems. With specific focus in housing, healthcare, education and agriculture, YSBFB is set to provide financing solutions to game-changing businesses.

‍ ‍Our long-term, patient loans and hands-on growth support are delivered by our teams of local professionals, partnering with social businesses to help them flourish.

We are based in Bangalore, Karnataka.

Moments of hope and transformation

YSB’s mission is to promote social business as a sustainable alternative to long-term aid, bridging the gap between business and philanthropy.

Our fund's founders have their roots in social development and microfinance. Vinatha M Reddy, who was a Founder and Chairperson at Grameen Koota, a leading microfinance institution (MFI). Suresh Krishna was the Co-promoter and MD of Grameen Koota. Suresh now serves as the Country Director and CEO for Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru.

YSBFB's founders were instrumental in building, leading and transforming Grameen Koota, from an NGO to a large NBFC MFI. Grameen Koota became a seminal movement, empowering over 15 lakh poor and rural women, across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, providing microfinance services. Grameen Koota was inspired by Grameen Bank (Bangladesh) founded by Prof. Muhammud Yunus.

What is a Social Business?

A social business is a company with a social mission at its core. Set up to solve a specific problem to the benefit of poor or disadvantaged members of society, social businesses operate exactly like normal companies except for a few small differences.

Unlike a charity, a social businesses generates profit and aims to be financially self sustaining. Removing the need for fundraising allows social businesses to re-invest profits back into generating sustainable social impact.

A social business is either created by the disadvantaged population it serves or serves them as its primary customers, and 100% of the company’s profits are reinvested in continuing the company’s social mission.

7 Principles of Social Business

Our guiding principles as laid down by Prof. Muhammud Yunus.

1. Goal is to solve social or environmental problems
2. Financial and economic sustainability
3. Debt repaid to investors. No further returns, profits or dividends
4. Reinvest for expansion or seeding other social businesses
5. Practice environmental consciousness
6. Market wages and better working conditions
7. Do it with joy

We are proud of our talented, experienced and innovative team, whose members are based throughout the world.