Table 1.

Overview of the sample and data sources

#Company nameDescriptionType of enterpriseFounded yearCountry of originSources of collected data
1.SNL-ProloguesThe Solidarités Nouvelles pour le Logement (SNL-Prologues) support people excluded from sustainable housing due to insufficient resources. (www.solidarites-nouvelles-logement.org/)Cooperative (Union d’Economie Sociale) – ESUS***1995FranceThe data was collected from the interview, corresponding emails, the company's website – such as blogs, impact stories and impact reports – shared internal documents, the equity crowdfunding platforms (Lita.Co. and Investissementsolidaire.fr), and the information published by the main partners
2.Foncière ChêneletLa Foncière Chênelet sets up societal projects to build or/and renovate comfortable and low energy consumption accommodation (social housing) for the elderly or families with a disabled member, young couples starting their lives and big families to offer them a rewarding living environment by renting the social houses on the long term (https://fonciere-chenelet.org/)French B-Corp*, ESUS***2009FranceThe data was collected from the interview, corresponding emails, the company's website – such as blogs, impact stories and impact reports – shared internal documents, the equity crowdfunding platform (Lita. Co.) and the information published by main partners
3.World TreeWorld Tree offers impact investors the opportunity to participate in a timber investment through its Eco-Tree Program. In this program, each year, the company plant Empress Splendor trees in the Americas on the land of their partners (farmers and landowners) who own degraded lands or/and do not have the resources to cultivate that land. Besides social impact, this enterprise creates direct environmental benefits related to carbon sequestration, land regeneration, native forest protection and a healthy ecosystem – while through the sale of lumber, it provides a significant financial return to all its stakeholders, such as impact investors, framers and lumber buyers (www.worldtree.eco/)For-profit Social Enterprise2001The USAThe data was collected from the interview, corresponding emails, the company's website – such as blogs, impact stories and impact reports –shared internal documents, equity crowdfunding platforms (FrontFundr and Wefunder), and the information published by main partners
4.AUARAAUARA is the Spanish mineral water brand that sells mineral water and organic beverages in 100% recycled rPET plastic bottles, which CO2 footprint is up to 50% lower than standard PET and invests 100% of the generated dividends for access to drinking water projects in developing countries (https://auara.org/)Social Enterprise Mark CIC (UK)**2015SpainThe data was collected from the interview, corresponding emails, the company's website – such as blogs, impact stories and impact reports – shared internal documents, the equity crowdfunding platform (La Bolsa)
5.Impak FinanceImpak is an impact-rating startup that has built Impak IS² – the impact assessment and scoring solution that relies on leading international standards, such as Impact Management Project (IMP) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This digital platform provides the impact statement and Impak ScoreTM of each analyzed business organization to financial investors and banks. These offer services help financial investors and bankers to make impact-oriented sustainable decisions based on assessments that go beyond ESG and include both the positive and negative social or/and environmental impacts companies generate – whether listed or private (www.impakfinance.com/)For-profit, Mission-driven B-Corp*2016CanadaThe data was collected from the interview, corresponding emails, the company's website – such as blogs, impact stories and impact reports – shared internal documents, equity crowdfunding platform (FrontFundr) and the information published by main partners

Note(s):

*B-Corp: A certification for businesses that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability; **Social Enterprise Mark CIC (UK): An international social enterprise accreditation proving an enterprise is operating with social objectives as its primary purpose; ***ESUS: “Entreprise Solidaire d‘Utilité Sociale” (Solidarity Enterprise of Social Utility) – A French legal classification for enterprises pursuing social objectives

Source(s): Authors’ own creation

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