Yunus Thailand

Name

Yunus Thailand

Legal name

Yunus Thailand

Website

https://yunus-thailand.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yunus Thailand is a Bangkok-based nonprofit foundation co-founded by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus that designs and launches social business ventures and programs in Thailand. It operates Grameen Thailand microfinance, Seaweed Social Business cultivation, Waste Hero education, and justice-innovation programs serving women entrepreneurs, coastal communities, schools, and social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Business Development Services

NAICS

Aquaculture (1125)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM), Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management (BPADALAG), Governance, Democracy & Rule of Law (BPAGABAI)

Keywords

• Social business development
• Microfinance services
• Circular economy education
• Women entrepreneurship programs
• Social enterprise incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangkok

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Foundation/Grant Funding: Yunus Thailand operates as a foundation and social business co-founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus. The organization receives funding from international donors, foundations, and government programs to support its social business ventures and programs.
2. Social Business Model Replication: Replication of Nobel Peace Prize winning Grameen Bank model in Thailand, providing collateral-free income generating loans to women entrepreneurs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yunus Thailand is a nonprofit foundation and social business builder co-founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus that designs programs and launches social business ventures to address social and environmental challenges in Thailand. Its portfolio includes the Seaweed Social Business (women-led land-based Caulerpa seaweed cultivation in Satun), Grameen Thailand microfinance (replication of the Grameen Bank model providing collateral-free loans), and the Waste Hero circular economy education program, alongside research, toolkits, and white papers on inclusive business, justice, and plastic policy.

Product overview

Yunus Thailand is a foundation and social business organization co-founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus, pioneer of microfinance and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The organization operates as a portfolio of social business ventures and programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core ventures include the Seaweed Social Business (supporting Caulerpa seaweed cultivation by women entrepreneurs in Southern Thailand), Grameen Thailand (microfinance replicating the Grameen Bank model), and Waste Hero (circular economy education reaching 750,000+ students). Programs focus on people-centred justice innovation, social procurement frameworks, and HIV/AIDS awareness. The organization also produces publications and toolkits including white papers on ASEAN plastic policy and social procurement frameworks. All offerings are oriented toward social impact rather than commercial technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Waste Hero: A circular economy education campaign providing free zero waste resources to +750,000 students globally
• The Seaweed Social Business
• Grameen Thailand

Products and services

• Seaweed Social Business A social business venture supporting controlled land-based cultivation of Caulerpa seaweed (feather seaweed) by women entrepreneurs in Satun, Southern Thailand. The initiative provides cultivation toolkits valued at 9,000 baht each, training in entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, and sustainable practices, enabling 50 women-led enterprises to harvest within two weeks and generate sustainable income.
• Grameen Thailand A microfinance venture replicating the Nobel Peace Prize winning Grameen Bank model in Thailand, providing collateral-free income generating loans to women entrepreneurs. Plans include establishing branches by 2025, achieving financial sustainability, and disbursing cumulative loans totaling 509 million baht to support 8,600 micro-entrepreneurs.
• Waste Hero A circular economy education program providing free zero waste resources to over 750,000 students globally. Includes the Waste Hero Development Campaign and Waste Hero School Competition, implemented in partnership with Indorama Ventures and SEAMEO SEPS across Southeast Asia.
• Catalysing an Innovation Ecosystem for People Centred Justice A program focused on the participatory design of an innovation ecosystem for people-centred justice in Southeast Asia. Resulted in a White Paper presented at the UN Regional Conference on People-Centered Justice, developed with the Thailand Institute of Justice and insights from over 45 innovation and justice sector experts.
• Social Business Guide for HIV and STI Screening and Counseling A toolkit providing guidance on social business approaches to HIV and STI screening and counseling services in Thailand. Published in 2023 in both Thai and English, available as a full guide and executive summary, and developed in collaboration with the Thai NGO Coalition on HIV/AIDS (TNCA).
• White Paper on ASEAN Plastic Policy Interventions A joint policy research report with PXP Sustainability on mandatory and voluntary interventions for plastic pollution reduction across ASEAN. Provides systematic analysis of 100 interventions with qualitative assessment of policy effectiveness, presented at an ASEAN Plastic Policy seminar co-hosted with the Yunus Social Business Center at CUSRI.
• Social Procurement Framework Publications A working paper developed with United Nations ESCAP examining the role of social procurement in advancing inclusive business across Thailand's agrifood value chains. Featured at the World Economic Forum in Davos and supports Yunus Thailand's broader social procurement framework work with OSEP, ChangeFusion, Social Enterprise Thailand, and Yunus Social Business.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 women-led enterprises officially registered as seaweed entrepreneurs in 11 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global Seaweed CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership focused on empowering women through seaweed farming and skills development. The Global Seaweed Coalition provides technical expertise and global market insights to enhance the Seaweed Social Business program impact.
• Yunus Social BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to strengthen Thailand's social procurement framework. Conducted market analysis on social procurement with 50 social enterprises surveyed on B2B opportunities, featured at World Economic Forum in Davos.
• Grameen TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Grameen Trust supports the replication of Grameen Bank model in Thailand (Grameen Thailand), providing expertise and guidance for microfinance operations targeting women entrepreneurs.
• The Asia FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated on Grameen Thailand initiative focused on grassroots financial empowerment, bringing expertise in economic development and financial inclusion programs.
• Kasetsart UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing technical expertise for Seaweed Social Business project. Conducted research on Caulerpa seaweed cultivation practices and commercial applications.
• Prince of Songkla University Pattani CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing research on sustainable seaweed cultivation and providing technical training to women entrepreneurs in the Southern Thailand project.
• Scottish Association for Marine SciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner providing scientific expertise in marine science and seaweed cultivation research for the Seaweed Social Business project.
• Natural History Museum UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GlobalSeaweed-PROTECT project, leading scientific research on seaweed biosecurity and climate resilience. Co-hosted biosecurity planning workshop in Bangkok.
• University of MalayacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in ASEAN seaweed development initiatives, providing expertise on seaweed industry trends and cultivation standards across the region.
• Office of Social Enterprise Promotion (OSEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency under Social Entrepreneurship Promotion Act (2019) with 327 registered social enterprises. Partnered for social procurement market analysis and policy development.
• ChangeFusionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Finance Lead organization involved in social procurement market analysis collaboration with Yunus Thailand.
• Social Enterprise ThailandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in social procurement market analysis and social enterprise ecosystem development efforts.
• Indorama VenturescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in Waste Hero Education Programme and Waste Hero School Competition. Hosted the Education Excellence Announcement event at their headquarters.
• SEAMEO Regional Centre for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability (SEAMEO SEPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional educational partner supporting Waste Hero Development Campaign and school competition across Southeast Asia.
• PXP SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint policy research partner on ASEAN plastic policy interventions. Co-presented report on mandatory and voluntary interventions affecting plastics value chain.
• Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute (CUSRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYunus Social Business Center at CUSRI co-hosted ASEAN Plastic Policy seminar. Partnered on policy research and academic initiatives.
• Yunus Center AIT (YCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner hosting Social Business Innovation Hub and Yunus Center. Dr. Faiz H. Shah serves as Executive Director of YCA and Chair of Yunus Thailand Board.
• Payap Center for Social Impact at Payap UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner establishing new Yunus Social Business Center at Payap University, with plans for new degrees in Social Business.
• Impact Hub Asia PacificminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional ecosystem partner participating in Thailand Country Forum at Social Business Days in Manila.
• Albukhary International UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Malaysia where Seaweed Social Business expansion was presented at International SDG Conference. Part of blue economy and social business education initiatives.
• Thailand Institute of JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on White Paper for Catalyzing Innovation Ecosystem for People-Centred Justice in Southeast Asia. Presented at UN Regional Conference on People-Centered Justice.
• National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in social business research and dialogue on rural development, agrifood sector, and ESG performance frameworks.
• University of MataramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Global Seaweed PROTECT project focused on seaweed biosecurity and sustainable cultivation in Southeast Asia.
• United Nations ESCAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on working paper examining social procurement in Thailand's agrifood value chains. UN agency focused on inclusive business advancement.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial procurement efforts proudly featured at World Economic Forum in Davos, highlighting Thailand's social business ecosystem.
• Kenan Foundation AsiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in program connecting University of North Carolina students with Bangkok-based social businesses for consultancy services.
• The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) projectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner in HIV/AIDS workshop supporting community-led organizations providing health services across Thailand.
• Thai NGO Coalition on HIV/AIDS (TNCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner in workshop convening community-led organizations providing HIV/AIDS services across Thailand with over 118 organizations from 47 cities.
• Global Committee on Social Business for SDGsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational committee where Alex Wang serves as Secretary General; participated in Grace Preservation Global Conference in Abu Dhabi.
• ASEAN / ASEAN SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation partner for SEA-MaP Regional Platform connecting start-ups, corporates, investors, and policymakers for plastic circularity solutions across ASEAN.
• Pollution Control Department (PCD) - MONRE ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment co-host of SEA-MaP Conference on Innovation and Investment for Plastic Circularity, aligning national policies with regional expertise.
• Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in SEA-MaP activities, collaborating on marine plastic pollution initiatives under MONRE.
• Grameen BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal Nobel Peace Prize winning microfinance institution that Yunus Thailand is replicating in Thailand. Hosted study visit for Yunus Thailand Director of Ventures to observe operations.
• Grameen TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture partner for Grameen Thailand replication, providing guidance and expertise for adapting the Grameen model to Thai context.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global nonprofit supporting leading social entrepreneurs and changemakers. Comparable as a peer in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, building capacity and networks for impact ventures in Southeast Asia.
• Kiva: Nonprofit crowdfunding microfinance platform enabling collateral-free loans to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable as a peer operating at the intersection of microfinance, women entrepreneurship, and digital platform technology.
• ChangeFusion: Thai-based intermediary supporting social enterprises and social finance development in Thailand. Comparable as a named partner on Yunus Thailand's social procurement market analysis and as a domestic peer in the Thai social enterprise ecosystem.
• Yunus Social Business (Yunus Centre): Global flagship entity of the Yunus network, focused on creating social businesses addressing poverty and social/environmental issues. Directly comparable as the network umbrella and named partner on Yunus Thailand's social procurement work featured at WEF Davos.
• Opportunity International: Global microfinance institution providing collateral-free microloans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. Comparable as a direct peer in microfinance-based women's entrepreneurship programs analogous to Grameen Thailand.

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: Large international development organization running microfinance, social enterprise, and livelihoods programs across Asia and Africa. Comparable as a similarly structured multi-program social business/nonprofit combining microfinance with social ventures.
• Habitat for Humanity: International nonprofit operating sustainable development and inclusive economic programs across ASEAN, often through local country affiliates. Comparable in structure and operating geographies as an international nonprofit with Thai presence.
• Acumen: Global nonprofit impact investor supporting social enterprises tackling poverty. Comparable as a similarly structured nonprofit deploying blended capital and capacity-building support to social enterprises in Asia and Africa.
• Grameen Bank: The original microfinance institution founded by Muhammad Yunus in 1983, whose model Yunus Thailand is replicating in Thailand. Directly comparable as the parent methodology and reference institution for Yunus Thailand's Grameen Thailand venture.
• Mercy Corps: Large international NGO operating market-driven programs across agriculture, finance, and environment in Southeast Asia. Comparable as a peer operating social business / livelihoods programs across multiple sectors including aquaculture and circular economy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@yunusthailand5530
• Facebookfacebook.com/yyunusthailand
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yunus-thailand
• Instagraminstagram.com/yunusthailand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yunus Thailand