Ever think how ambulance is so ineffective in developing countries that they do not even save 10% of the patients? That’s exactly the case in India. Having recently covered social enterprises, I am intrigued by a blog post mentioning Sweta Mangal, an entrepreneur in India that acts as a private-firm, providing efficient and fast-response ambulance to anyone whether they can afford it or not.

The blog post gives me an insight of how turning something like an ambulance service into a profitable yet socially committed business is possible. The fact that Mangal also left a solid corporate career to set this business up, without ignoring profit-seeking nature of the business, is not something I often heard. The idea of the higher-income people paying more than the lower-income is viable; as it still ensures profitability while helping the ones that otherwise cannot afford the service while creates positive brand image and loyalty. Best of both worlds.

The concept of social enterprise and the fact that entrepreneurs are starting to embrace it amaze me. I didn’t think this is a feasible concept as I have always seen satisfying social responsibility as a non-profit thing and profit-making is a profit-maximizing firm thing. Combining both of them certainly take an effort and doesn’t ensure immediate profitability. However, firms will enjoy greater future profitability and social satisfaction.