Incubation
Understand the real problem, frame the action and move from an idea to an initial solution.
Standing with social entrepreneurs
through the full venture lifecycle
From turning purpose-driven people into social entrepreneurship candidates, to achieving results, and then building a second growth curve for founders and organizations.
From purpose to sustainable social value
Social entrepreneurship is a continuing process from problem identification and model validation to organizational evolution. NPI provides methods, peers and capital at every critical stage.
Acceleration
Refine products and business models, connect resources and make social value sustainable.
Second Curve
Support leaders through transformation, rebuild capabilities and find long-term growth.
From “supporting a project” to “standing with a person and an organization”
- Methods
- Peer Networks
- Business Enablement
- Patient Capital
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Social Entrepreneurship Companion Support
From establishing an action framework and validating a business model to the continuing evolution of founders and organizations, NPI provides long-term support through communities of practice, proven methods and real-world settings.
From 0 to 1Original Aspiration Learning Society
A professional peer community for early-stage social entrepreneurs
Original Aspiration Learning Society
A professional peer community for early-stage social entrepreneurs
Founded in 2021, the Learning Society combines action research with deep analysis of social issues, helping social entrepreneurs build systems thinking, identify innovation opportunities and turn their original aspirations into sustainable action.
Who It Is For
- Moving from a social issue toward entrepreneurial action
- Clarifying mission, users and value proposition
- Learning to apply AI systematically
- Seeking high-quality peers and practice feedback
Capabilities and Outcomes
- 100-day real-business co-creation
- AI-enabled capability codification
- Dual-Core Seven-Step social venture consulting
- Access to experienced social entrepreneurs
How NPI Supports
Co-creation assignments, venture consulting, thematic learning and peer networks help entrepreneurs frame problems, develop methods and iterate through real business practice.
Business AccelerationSocial Enterprise Support Program
Helping social enterprises do good and do business well
Social Enterprise Support Program
Helping social enterprises do good and do business well
This long-term capacity and growth program helps social enterprises strengthen products, operations and organizations while addressing real social problems. Standard Chartered and NPI have jointly advanced this work since 2021.
Who It Is For
- Using business approaches to solve social problems
- Operating an initial product or service
- Strengthening business and organizational capabilities
- Connecting with peers and partners
Capabilities and Outcomes
- Systematic capacity building
- Business-model and product refinement
- Peer and partner networks
- Alignment of social value and commercial sustainability
How NPI Supports
Capacity building, business development and network support help social enterprises cross the critical gap from model validation to stable growth.
Partnership Story | Standard Chartered × NPI
Long-term capacity building for social enterprise growth
Since 2021, the program has supported more than 800 social enterprises, provided RMB 4.8 million in seed support to 48 organizations and reached 37,000 social entrepreneurs and practitioners. The 2025–2026 cycle provides systematic support to 110 high-potential enterprises.
- 800+ social enterprises
- 48 organizations received seed support
- 37,000 practitioners reached
- 110 high-potential teams in the new cycle
Founder EvolutionOriginal Aspiration Peer Advisory Board
A deep support network for founders and organizational leaders
Original Aspiration Peer Advisory Board
A deep support network for founders and organizational leaders
The Peer Advisory Board is a deep support network—and a shared field of evolution—for leaders and founders of social innovation organizations. Members bring real challenges into real settings, using inquiry, constructive challenge and peer experience to see clearly and act decisively.
Who It Is For
- Founders and leaders of social innovation organizations
- Navigating growth, transformation or a second venture
- Willing to surface real challenges and accept challenge
- Committed to long-term trust and peer co-creation
Capabilities and Outcomes
- Think through problems in a candid and safe setting
- Use peer experience to clarify strategy
- Turn shared insight into action
- Build long-term personal and organizational capabilities
How NPI Supports
Starting from a member’s real challenge, deep inquiry, structured co-creation, peer challenge and field-based support enable shifts in understanding, strategy and action.
Five Current Groups
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NPI Impact Investment
For social ventures at different stages and across diverse issues, NPI provides stage-appropriate patient capital, growth support and post-investment partnership to advance solutions that are both commercially viable and socially impactful.
Essential Livelihood NeedsRBF Impact Investment
A financing map for modest-margin businesses serving essential needs
RBF Impact Investment
A financing map for modest-margin businesses serving essential needs
Focused on essential livelihood areas such as the silver economy and community services, the fund connects teams with early commercial models to patient capital that understands modest margins and supports growth through flexible, performance-aligned financing.
Who It Is For
- Serving essential livelihood needs
- An initial commercial model is in place
- Seeking flexible, stage-appropriate financing
- Committed to social value and long-term sustainability
Capabilities and Outcomes
- Tailored financing pathways
- Growth and business-model support
- Industry resources and partnership networks
- Long-term support beyond the financing map
How NPI Supports
From project sourcing, impact assessment and financing design to growth support, connections and post-investment partnership, NPI helps livelihood innovations grow with confidence.
AI + Social InnovationAI For Good Impact Investment
The first patient capital for very early-stage teams
AI For Good Impact Investment
The first patient capital for very early-stage teams
The fund supports very early-stage teams using AI to address real challenges in disability inclusion, ageing, communities and dementia, ensuring promising ideas are not overlooked simply because they are early.
Who It Is For
- Teams of 1–10 people, including unregistered ventures
- Using AI to solve real social problems
- An initial idea or minimum viable product (MVP)
- Nonprofit professionals, technologists or internally incubated teams
Capabilities and Outcomes
- Move from idea to MVP
- Product and business-model capability
- Connections to government, nonprofits and technology communities
- Entry into NPI’s patient-capital network
How NPI Supports
Beyond early patient capital, teams receive entrepreneurial peer support, sector connections, capability building, visibility and communications opportunities.
Social enterprises invested in or initiated by NPI
Moving beyond capital to long-term support, NPI grows alongside teams using innovation to address social problems.
