The Global Good Fund

Welcome to Founder’s Friday — The Global Good Fund’s weekly spotlight on changemakers rewriting the rules of leadership and impact. Every week, we celebrate innovators turning big ideas into global good. I’m proud to stand beside these extraordinary founders and share their stories as it is proof that when resilience meets purpose, change follows. _________________________________________________________________ Turning Trash Into Triumph: How Anish Malpani and Without are Redefining Waste Sometimes, the biggest problems hide in plain sight. For Anish Malpani, the plastic piling up in our cities was more than an environmental headache — it was a chance to change lives. As founder of Without, based in Pune, India, Anish is on a mission to turn “impossible-to-recycle” plastic into high-quality products while lifting waste-pickers out of poverty. Anish’s journey began in finance in New York, a career that left him feeling like he was making the rich richer. In 2017, he quit his corporate job to chase purpose — to build a business that solves social and environmental problems at once. Without uses patented technology to upcycle multi-layered plastic, like chip packets, into products such as sunglasses, signage, and apparel accessories. But the real innovation is human. Former waste-pickers like Rani now earns $250–$300 per month — more than double their previous income — and receive fair wages, stock options, health benefits, training, and job security. For Rani, this wasn’t just a paycheck: it was confidence, independence, and a new chapter in life. Anish knows impact isn’t just about numbers. Yes, Without recycles plastic, but the deeper mission is transforming lives. That’s why partnerships with small and medium-sized brands are key: they create revenue streams that are sustainable while expanding social impact. Leadership for Anish means rolling up his sleeves. He leads by example, aligns the team around shared goals, and uses his expertise in operations, finance, and tech to create systems that maximize impact. But he’s candid about the challenges: building the right leadership team, navigating bureaucracy, and balancing growth with mission. His anchor? The purpose of building a world without waste and poverty. Looking ahead, Anish envisions Without as a platform for systemic change. He aims to scale decentralized recycling, empower more workers, and make sustainable materials accessible globally. It’s about turning an environmental problem into a social solution and proving that doing good can also make business sense. Without shows that when technology meets empathy, and strategy meets social impact, we can transform communities and the planet, one piece of plastic at a time. Learn more: https://without.live/ Follow Anish: https://lnkd.in/gWm-x9z8 #SocialImpact #CircularEconomy #WasteReduction #SustainableBusiness #WomenInLeadership #ImpactEntrepreneur #GlobalGood

The last three weeks were crazy, but finally we’ve wrapped up both the Soft Launch and the Grand Opening of the era92 Hub. A huge thank you to every friend who traveled miles, made time, and honored us with your presence, you made this milestone truly special. But this is just the beginning. A place for redemptive work is finally here in Kampala Next up, we’re excited on how this Hub will become a powerhouse for our mission: creating 100,000 skilled jobs and transforming the stories of young people across Uganda. The journey continues, and we can’t wait to share what’s ahead.

Leadership is often celebrated for bold ideas and big moves. But in my experience, the most powerful form of leadership begins long before a decision is made, in the quiet act of preparation. Preparation is how we show respect. It tells others their time matters, their work matters, and the mission matters. The world does not need perfect leaders. It needs prepared ones. What does preparation look like for you right now?

Welcome to Founder’s Friday! The Global Good Fund’s weekly spotlight on bold changemakers rewriting the rules of leadership and social impact. This is where bold ideas meet big impact. I’m proud, as a Global Good Fund board member, to celebrate these innovators and help their visions reach farther. Because when resilience meets innovation, the future wins. Every week, Founder’s Friday reminds us: when resilience meets innovation, and when we invest in leaders who care, the future shines brighter for all. __________________________________________________________________ Daniela Milosheska Is Proving That Style Can Spark Social Change Sometimes the spark for a life’s work comes from an unexpected encounter. For Daniela Milosheska, founder of Bastet Noir, it started after earning her master’s in fashion when she met a seamstress trapped in abuse and financial dependency. That conversation flipped a switch: what if fashion could be more than beauty—what if it could be empowerment? In 2013, Daniela launched Bastet Noir, a zero-waste, sustainable label built on a powerful social mission, employing women facing social and economic barriers and helping them achieve financial independence. Today, the brand partners with five women-led studios run by single mothers and survivors of abuse and it’s only growing from here. Without spending a dollar on ads, Daniela scaled Bastet Noir to $1M in revenue, earning coverage in Vogue, Marie Claire, and Refinery29. Every piece carries a story, and Daniela has made those stories central, spotlighting the women behind each garment to build connection and advocacy. The impact goes far beyond fashion. Bastet Noir offsets carbon emissions, protects forests, and has offset the equivalent of 1,100 trees in the past year alone. The women leading production are thriving, growing incomes, building confidence, and rewriting their futures. And Daniela’s just getting started. She’s building partnerships with women-led cooperatives, expanding globally with pop-ups, and launching educational programs. She’s also refreshingly honest about the hurdles including funding, mentorship, balance as a solo founder which makes her leadership even more powerful: empathy, persistence, and vision in action. Daniela’s story is proof that fashion isn’t just about fabric and design—it’s a platform for change. Follow Daniela’s journey on: Instagram https://lnkd.in/gG2fhtYy LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/g2raDKHC Her newsletter https://lnkd.in/gHkMNTya Support Bastet Noir’s women-led initiatives https://lnkd.in/g5-wGpd9 Learn more about the mission and impact of Bastet Noir https://lnkd.in/g4MbrrF5 #WomenEmpowerment #SustainableFashion #EthicalFashion #SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship #FashionForGood #GlobalGoodFund #SocialEntrepreneurship #Storytelling #ImpactDrivenBusiness

Carrie Rich doesn’t wait for perfect pitch decks. She told me that if a founder is only just reaching out when they need money, they’re already late. We talked on the latest episode of The Venture Variety Show about how to build a relationship with investors when you don’t have warm intros or the usual pedigree. Her advice was that relationships come before capital. Comment on LinkedIn posts. Join founder groups. Reach out early. And don’t wait until you're running out of runway. Carrie leads The Global Good Fund and Global Impact Fund, and she backs underrepresented founders who’ve lived the problems they’re solving. New episode is out now on The Venture Variety Show. I'll drop a link to the full episode in the comments.

We’re proud to share that America On Tech received an investment of $2.5M from Google.org to help scale our mission-driven work. This is more than just a funding milestone. It’s recognition of the power of staying the course. 🏁 Every member of our team, past and present, has contributed to this moment through their dedication, work, and belief in making an impact. Thank you to our partners, board members, and the greater AOT community.

It was UNGA80 earlier this week where we put together the first-ever AI Safety event at the UN during high-level week!! A collaboration between AI Safety Connect, FAR.AI, The Future Society, UNDP, and the Missions to the United Nations from Singapore, Canada, and Brazil; we wanted to catalyze discussion on international coordination for the governance of advanced AI systems through the lens of sustainable development, respect for human rights, and human advancement. This year's UNGA was different and it was heartening to see global leaders lean into the AI safety challenge and begin charting a path forward together. Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this possible. Adam Karl Karolina Lindsay Cyrus Nicolas Kay Leah Niki Uma Anoush Wan Sie