The Green Stock Exchange (GREENSX) is the first social stock exchange in North America and in fact the first social exchange operating in any developed country (serving "US, Canada, Europe and Asia").
Worldwide, there are 2 other social exchanges operating, namely South African Social Investment Exchange (Sasix) and Brazil’s Social Stock Exchange (BOVESPA), but they do not compete directly in the North American market. Other competitors are coming mainly from established exchanges, such as AIM, NASDAQ and TSX Venture Exchange, but not directly in the social business arena.
Our Niche
The Green Stock Exchange (GREENSX)
niche is micro, small and medium size social businesses ("a social business is a business that makes money, while benefiting society").
Financial funding for small green businesses
are scarce with public money; SustainAbility, a consultancy and think tank, says " money remains the main headache for social businesses; 72% of the social businesses surveyed cited raising money as their main challenge". The Green Stock Exchange (GREENSX) intend to bridge this funding gap. It allows investors of green businesses to have more options for quicker exit strategies.
Many businesses with triple bottom lines (values, social and economic) make plenty of money - look at Aveda, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, The Body Shop, Smith and Hawkins. It is possible to be both ecologically sustainable and economically profitable.
Furthermore, small business has added 20 million new jobs over the last 15 years to the US economy, using less than 1% of publicly traded equity capital. Therefore, it is obvious that if small businesses had more access to public money, they could propel the economy forward in a spectacular fashion. There is a huge opportunity to serve this market.
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What is a social business?
There is no stock market in any developed country, targeting specifically social businesses. Social businesses are wary of listing on a mainstream exchange for fear of having their social mission hijacked.
Students in business schools now learn that businesses are of two kinds: a) for-profit: business to
make money, and b) non-profit: business to do good to others. We envision a third type of enterprise, that both makes money and also benefits society, which we call social entrepreneurs or social business.
The new "social business" is a mission
driven enterprise that makes money, while benefiting
society. A social business is a new model of business. Since a company makes a profit, while
benefiting society, some people call it a b-company
(benefit company) or social business or social
entrepreneurs or social capitalist.
Examples of
"social business": are micro-credit to
the poor (founded by Nobel Prize winning Dr. Muhammad Yunus founder
of Grameen Bank), The Body Shop (when it was first
founded), Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (when it was first
founded), EDUN (ethical clothing founded by wife of BONO, a member of rock group U2), and Plumpy'nut (a nutritious food bar
created by André Briend to feed the malnourished
poor).
We hope that green investors will support enterprises that:
- help people live longer (organic and healthy foods; alternative medicines; yoga & fitness);
- make people happier (personal development; social issues);
- bring a better future for our children (sustainable
practices and technology);
- help people live more comfortably (sustainable houses and buildings);
- support charity and local communities (giving back);
- protect the environment (organic farming, sustainable materials, recycling) ;
- foster peace, fight poverty and encourages equality (fair-trade, micro-financing, better board member and upper management representation);
We believe that the creation of the new Green Stock Exchange (GREENSX) will benefit mankind and planet earth, by supporting a more compassionate type of "creative capitalism".
"We started out by assuming a world with two kinds of people, one kind wants to make money, the other kind wants to do good. But in the real world there are not two types of people, but only one type of people with two types of interests, in varying proportions", says Dr. Muhammad Yunus founder of Grameen Bank.
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What is LOHAS?
There is no stock market in any developed country, targeting the LOHAS movement.
The Green Stock Exchange (GREENSX) is part of an green movement internationally known as LOHAS
(Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability).
The term LOHAS was first coined by sociologist Paul Ray and psychologist Sherry Anderson, co-authors of The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People are Changing the World (also founders of Gaiam, LOHAS Journal and LOHAS Forum in 1999).
Studies have classified 23% of the U.S. population
(about 50 million adults) of the U.S. adult population
as " LOHAS", who tend to make their purchasing decisions in keeping with their values of social and environmental responsibility; LOHAS members are those
who are passionate about organic foods, the environment,
the planet, social issues, health, about human
rights, relationships, fair trade, sustainable
practices, peace, spiritual and personal development.
It is a $230 billion market segment in the United
States alone and a $546 billion market worldwide.The
leading countries spearheading this green movement
is Japan and Taiwan.The marketplace includes goods and services such as:
- Organic and natural food
- Organic and natural personal care products
- Yoga, Tai Chi, massage centers, spas and fitness products
- Hybrid and electric cars
- Green and sustainable building
- Eco-tours, hiking and wilderness trips
- Energy efficient electronics/appliances
- Socially responsible investing
- Natural household products (paper goods and cleaning products)
- Natural and preventive medicine (Naturopathic, Chinese medicine, etc.)
- Fair-trade fashion
- Eco-publications and advertising
People are now just realizing the interconnectedness
of global economies, cultures, environments, and
political systems, as well as the interconnectedness
of mind, body, and spirit within individuals in
order to achieve full human potential.
The Green Stock Exchange (owner of the Green Stock Exchange (GREENSX)) will become a leader in spearheading
the LOHAS green movement. Read more about LOHAS >
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