When Fortune first started putting together its annual Change the World list in 2015, it was big business that dominated. After all, corporations had the billion-dollar budgets that seemed best poised for tackling the world’s health, climate, and social problems.
But big data and technological advancements have made it possible for even the smallest companies to make a big impact. Last year was proof of that. Fortune’s 2022 Change the World list—which spotlights companies that are making strides to tackle climate change, public health crises, gender and racial inequities, and lack of economic opportunity—featured nine venture-backed startups. And 18 out of 54 of those companies had less than $1 billion in revenue, as my colleague Matt Heimer reported at the time. Last year’s list included Zipline, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, which delivers vaccines across West Africa, and KarmSolar, which develops solar energy for Egyptian farms and businesses to use instead of diesel fuel. And SoftBank-backed Alto Pharmacy is automating outdated prescription systems.
