With more people than ever before using digital technology, the connection between businesses selling their products and also giving back has strengthened this last year. With more customers demanding that businesses be more transparent about their ethics particularly in line with sustainability, the landscape for entrepreneurs has shifted to become more inclusive and focused on helping others outside of their own business.
In recent years, the millennial generation have also become more engaged with supporting business and entrepreneurs who are giving back to society. As a result, we’ve put together the top five entrepreneurs who we feel are making a lasting positive impact in giving back and helping others and the planet as a result.
1) Judy Falkner
A relatively unknown name due to the fact that Judy prefers to stay away from the public eye, Judy is actually America’s wealthiest self-made woman in tech.
Having created her healthcare business Epic and amassed a fortune of $2.5 billion, Judy’s business provides software which allows Doctors to pull up a patient’s full medical history instantly.
Judy has also agreed to join Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge derived by Melinda and Bill Gates, agreeing to generously donate at least half of her wealth and fortune to philanthropy.
2) Bill Gates
Source - <https://www.gatesfoundation.org/>
Bill is a co-founder of Microsoft and an incredibly important figure for the personal computer revolution. In 2000, Bill and Melinda Gates also created the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation which aims to improve health care, reduce poverty and provide more education opportunities for young people.
Gates himself has currently donated over $28 billion to the foundation. With many other entrepreneurs participating in signing to be a part of the Giving Pledge created by Bill and Melinda Gates, their impact has been far reaching and continues to make a real difference in the world.
3) Diane Modahl MBE
CEO of Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, Diane is an influential athlete who is one of Britain’s most successful 800m runners. With a gold medal in the 1990 Commonwealth Games, Diane has created the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (DMSF), a registered charity which works with young people from disadvantaged areas across the North West. 
Source - <https://dmsf.org.uk/the-board/diane-modahl/>
Diane’s legacy is far reaching in helping young people across Greater Manchester access opportunities and help make their lives better. The programmes develop focused thinking, transferable skills and self belief, important key stones needed for young people as they mature and grow into responsible young adults.
4) Andrew Cernegie
Andrew is an entrepreneur whose story is very inspiring. Having spent his childhood working in factories, Andrew used to force himself to sleep as a way to forget his constant hunger.
Source- <https://www.carnegie.org/interactives/foundersstory/#!/>
Andrew has since created several businesses, the most successful being the Carnegie Steel Mill. Leading the American steel industry in the late nineteenth century, Andrew was a philanthropist and generous man who chose to donate large quantities of money. With his belief that "the man who dies rich dies disgraced," Andrew donated ninety per cent of his wealth to a number of charities and so remains a key entrepreneur who helped to shape society and improve lives.
5) Natalie Kyriacou
Natalie is an influential business owner who created ‘My Green World’, a hybrid business venture which aims to help young people help solve ecological issues. She has created an app called ‘World of the Wild’ which increases ecological interaction with children. 
Source - <https://www.mygreenworld.org/about-natalie-kyriacou>
Appointed the Medal of the Order of Australia for her ‘services to wildlife and environmental conservation and education’ in 2018, as well as being announced as a recipient of the Forbes 30 Under 30, Natalie is an inspiring individual who is making a real difference and positive change around the world.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article! If you have any questions or suggestions, please send us an email - katie@harmoni.design !
Sources
<https://www.thestartupsquad.com/5-successful-women-entrepreneurs-who-give-back/>
<https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/mens-month-entrepreneurs-giving-back-kwazulu-natal/>
<https://interestingengineering.com/27-most-successful-lgbt-entrepreneurs-executives-and-opinion-leaders>
<https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/greater-manchester-100-inspirational-women-12698813>
<https://dmsf.org.uk/>
<https://www.carnegie.org/interactives/foundersstory/#!/>
<https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/11-most-famous-entrepreneurs-of-all-time-and-what-made-them-wildly-rich.html>
<https://www.gatesfoundation.org/>