Several decades ago, nobody could imagine the success the agricultural project of producing rice in Bangladesh would come to take. Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, assumed the responsibility of it and, step-by-step, shaped it from a simple project to a nonprofit company called Agricultural Foundation. That was the beginning of a series of projects, which gave great access to opportunity, confidence, and power to poor people. It raised them economically and especially helped women in Bangladesh.

Professor Muhammad Yunus believes strongly in a global need for a new kind of capitalism -- one that puts poor people's needs first. He is skeptical of conventional businesses because of their goal to maximize the profits, and of charity organizations because of their dependence on donated money. He does, however, see social venture business as a better alternative.

Today, there are more than two dozen foundations which help people out from poverty, hunger, and misery. These foundations are active in various industries. Grameen Telecom, for example, is a very successful mobile operator that enables women in rural areas to earn money by re-selling minutes on their phones at a slight mark-up to fellow villagers.