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Tech Hybrids Blend Lofty Ideals With Bottom-Line Business

By Kate Rockwood,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 13, 2008 11:38 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Tech companies that blend social missions with business ambitions are all the rage in Silicon Valley. Called “social enterprises,” they often generate sizable revenue (unlike most nonprofits), that’s then retained and reinvested (unlike most for-profits). Now, an ecosystem of related organizations is emerging, such as specialized legal services and independent Internet providers, reports the New York Times.

“We went through all these decades where we had nonprofits that thought business was evil and sustainability was irrelevant,” says one social entrepreneur advisor. “Now there has been an influx of business thought. People are saying, ‘I have enough money and I care.’” The best-known examples are Mozilla Corporation, which develops the web browser Firefox, and TechSoup, which delivers commercial software to non-profit groups in 14 countries.

Apratim Purakayastha demonstrates Lotus Symphony for corporate clients. The free suite of software uses the Open Document Format for creating and sharing documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
Apratim Purakayastha demonstrates Lotus Symphony for corporate clients. The free suite of software uses the Open Document Format for creating and sharing documents, spreadsheets and presentations.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Jim Fruchterman, CEO of social enterprise Benetech, demonstrates the Martus program to Benetech's human rights manager Patrick Ball, left, and Marc Lev.
Jim Fruchterman, CEO of social enterprise Benetech, demonstrates the Martus program to Benetech's human rights manager Patrick Ball, left, and Marc Lev.   (KRT Photos)
A new hybrid style of tech start-ups are sweeping Silicon Valley.
A new hybrid style of tech start-ups are sweeping Silicon Valley.   (Index Stock)
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TechSoup's website
TechSoup

Mozilla's website
Mozilla

Social Enterprise Summit brings 600+ groups together
Reuters

 
technology • Silicon Valley • social responsibility • nonprofit • Mozilla • open source

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