Page 142 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

Better Capital Society (BCS)

Formerly known as Big Capital Society, the Better Capital Society (BCS) was established in 2012.
It is a prominent impact investment organization frequently referenced in the social enterprise
sector. BCS was founded using GBP 425 million from dormant bank accounts, mobilized
through the Reclaim Fund and four leading UK banks: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group,
and The Royal Bank of Scotland (later rebranded as NatWest), each contributing GBP 50 million

(UK Parliament, 2024). BCS functions as a wholesale intermediary, pooling and distributing
capital to other impact investors. Its mission is to address and alleviate social problems such
as unemployment, homelessness, health disparities, educational inequity, community
underdevelopment, and broader social and environmental challenges. BCS is an independent,
nonprofit private organization governed by its own board of directors. To date, it has raised
more than GBP 7 billion and employs a blended investment model that supports a range of
initiatives. Among its supported funds is Fair by Design, which aims to reduce the cost burden
on low-income families and increase access to essential goods and services at affordable prices.
Further information on impact investors supported by BCS is provided in Appendix 4.1.

Acumen Fund Inc.
Founded in 2001, Acumen Fund Inc. was established by Jacqueline Novogratz, a renowned
author and social activist. The organization’s mission is to alleviate poverty in developing
countries by investing in companies and organizations that build markets and empower
entrepreneurs in sectors such as education, agriculture, climate resilience, and alternative
energy. Acumen pioneered the concept of “Patient Capital,” a long-term, risk-tolerant
investment approach that supports social enterprises with the potential to deliver lasting

change. Between 2001 and 2020, the organization disbursed USD 115 million in funding to 113
companies (The Security & Sustainability).

Acumen has supported ventures through a combination of grants and equity investments. One
notable example is d.light, a solar energy company operating in Africa. d.light is a social
enterprise committed to providing clean, bright, safe, and affordable lighting to low-income
communities. The company manufactures and distributes solar-powered lamps at low prices,
making them accessible to people with limited resources. In line with its mission, d.light’s
products are widely used in remote areas, particularly in developing countries and disaster-

affected regions such as Bangladesh, India, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, and Haiti (SE Thailand,
2024).

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