The original social entrepreneur himself, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, will be sitting down with VIRTŪ during his upcoming trip to the Dominican Republic. Obviously, we are incredibly honored, excited and perhaps a little star struck! When you are down in the weeds trying to start a new business, dealing with the day to day frustrations, this is an extreme confidence boost. Like a little reminder that our efforts are part of a greater movement that is changing the world. :) As our co-founder Jason Grullon says, as “young social entrepreneurs, we are nurtured by the visions of people like Professor Yunus.”
For those unfamiliar with the work of Professor Yunus, he pioneered the concepts of microcredit and microfinance. His groundbreaking work has proven that the, “poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own development" through tiny loans to start their own small businesses. Most of the recipients of the loans at the Grameen Bank are women - and are used to support their families from abject poverty into a decent standard of living. Believing that the right to credit is a fundamental human right that then provides the opportunity for the right to food, shelter and much more, was a factor in being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
Professor Yunus also works closely with social businesses and discusses their merits frequently. Claiming that, “in order to accommodate the whole of human being—one first step would be to create another kind of business: business to do good to people without any expectation of any personal benefit out of it.” It is from this concept that VIRTŪ was born - as a rejection to the standard for-profit business model that values the almighty dollar above all else. Proessor Yunus believes that social businesses are a tool for peace - as no lasting peace can happen when people are subjected to extreme poverty.
As a young social business it’s obvious we have a lot to learn. We’re constantly looking to those who have come before us, those who believe in what we do, and those who champion our causes. Professor Yunus is a source of inspiration and awe for us at VIRTŪ, and to have the opportunity to show him our business, explain our goals and learn from him first hand is a true honor. Our gratitude knows no bounds!
If you are interested in learning more about the work Professor Yunus does, or would like to know his thoughts on certain topics, please leave us a comment!
Professor Yunus also works closely with social businesses and discusses their merits frequently. Claiming that, “in order to accommodate the whole of human being—one first step would be to create another kind of business: business to do good to people without any expectation of any personal benefit out of it.” It is from this concept that VIRTŪ was born - as a rejection to the standard for-profit business model that values the almighty dollar above all else. Proessor Yunus believes that social businesses are a tool for peace - as no lasting peace can happen when people are subjected to extreme poverty.
As a young social business it’s obvious we have a lot to learn. We’re constantly looking to those who have come before us, those who believe in what we do, and those who champion our causes. Professor Yunus is a source of inspiration and awe for us at VIRTŪ, and to have the opportunity to show him our business, explain our goals and learn from him first hand is a true honor. Our gratitude knows no bounds!
If you are interested in learning more about the work Professor Yunus does, or would like to know his thoughts on certain topics, please leave us a comment!
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