About the Awards

The Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Award was established to support business owners and founders who are driving real impact in their communities by demonstrating a deep commitment to equity and sustainability in their business practices. We are looking for creative small and medium-sized business owners who have developed innovative products and services to make a positive social or environmental impact.

The awards platform will grant these groundbreaking small- and medium-sized businesses a 20K cash prize and connect them to data and insights, technical training, and marketing/brand activations to accelerate their work and impact.

Introducing the 2025 Winners

Somnath Ray

CEO & Cofounder | CLIP

Som Ray is a design technologist and serial entrepreneur recognized by MIT TechReview as a top innovator. With 20+ years of experience, he’s built consumer software and hardware, founded India’s first EV auto rickshaw startup, and won the TR35 award for a low-cost wheelchair. As CEO of CLIP, a Brooklyn-based clean mobility startup, he’s making urban commuting sustainable through affordable e-bike tech.

ABOUT CLIP

CLIP’s mission is to democratize access to e-bike technology in order to fight climate change. The Brooklyn-based startup launched the world's first and only Plug & Play device that upgrades any bike into an e-bike—no tools or pre-installation required. CLIP is 4x less expensive than the average e-bike and is patented in 47 countries. 

Following the launch of the groundbreaking CLIP, we began piloting BOLT—our newest and more affordable addition designed for emerging economies. BOLT retails for $100, is 20 times less expensive than the average e-bike, and can immediately motorize the 2 billion bikes already in circulation and eliminate up to 5% of CO2 emissions globally. 

Kunjpreet Arora

CEO | Angirus

Kunjpreet Arora is the co-founder and CEO of Angirus, a climate-tech startup building sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials. A civil engineer by training and an IIM Indore alumna, Kunjpreet is passionate about solving systemic environmental problems through practical, scalable innovation. She has been recognized by Forbes Asia, TiE Global, Netflix & the Govt. of India, Clinton Global Initiative & World Economic Forum.

ABOUT ANGIRUS

Angirus is a climate-tech startup transforming plastic and construction waste into Wricks®, high-strength bricks made without cement, burning, or excess water. Our innovative, patented process creates durable, waterproof, and thermally efficient building materials while reducing CO₂ emissions and landfill waste. By decentralizing production through micro-manufacturing units, we empower local entrepreneurs, create green jobs, and make sustainable construction accessible and affordable. With over 100,000 Wricks® deployed, Angirus is proving that circular solutions can drive real environmental and social impact.

Franco Rodriguez Viau

CEO & Cofounder | Satellites on Fire

Franco Rodríguez Viau is an Argentine entrepreneur harnessing technology for global environmental impact. By 15, he created a wheelchair-racing game promoting inclusion. At 16, he co-founded Satellites on Fire, a wildfire alert system protecting 56 million hectares across 19 countries and preventing 400+ wildfires in recent months. Recognized among the Top MIT Innovators Under 35, Franco has raised funding from MIT and the UN, has taken part in Techstars and the 776 Fellowship by Reddit’s co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Connected with leaders like Richard Branson and Tim Draper, he continues advancing innovation at the intersection of technology and sustainability.

ABOUT SATELLITES ON FIRE

Satellites on Fire is an AI-powered wildfire early alert system, co-founded by Franco, Joaquín and Ulises after witnessing Argentina’s devastating fires. We integrate satellite imagery every 5 minutes, tower cameras, forecasts & proprietary AI to detect fires 35 minutes faster than NASA. Unlike fragmented or hardware-heavy systems, we deliver fast, accurate alerts. Operating in 19 countries and protecting 56M+ ha, we prevented 400 wildfires in the last quarter. Backed by $850K from MIT, Techstars, the UN Green Climate Fund’s top climate-tech accelerator, and Reddit’s founder, our mission is to stop wildfires before they spread and protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems worldwide.

Zizipho Ntobongwana

CEO | Sheba Feminine

Zizipho is a menstrual health innovator designing new narratives and solutions at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and education. As the Founder and CEO of Sheba Feminine, she focuses on sustainable product innovation and menstrual equity, producing eco-friendly menstrual products while leading community programs like “Pay for a Pal’s Pads,” which tackles period poverty through education and distribution.

ABOUT SHEBA FEMININE

Sheba Feminine is a South African menstrual care company founded in 2017 to create sustainable, inclusive, and socially impactful period products. Our range includes organic, biodegradable pads, tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, period underwear, and bamboo wipes, designed to protect both people and the planet. Beyond products, we tackle period poverty through education, outreach, and partnerships with schools and NGOs. With the upcoming launch of “Blud”, our youth-focused brand, and “Bluddy”, a data-light, multilingual period tracking app, we are reshaping menstrual care in Africa through innovation, accessibility, and social change.

Filip Lundin

CEO & Founder | Sopköket AB

Filip Lundin is the founder and CEO of Sopköket, a Swedish social enterprise leading a circular, financially sustainable model that reduces food waste, donates meals and creates jobs for people from marginalized backgrounds. A serial entrepreneur since age 16, Filip lectures globally with Wharton University and the European Union on food waste reduction and sustainable policy.He is now preparing Sopköket’s international expansion through larger production kitchens and a SaaS platform for grocery kitchens, while advocating for Scope 4 CO₂ accounting —proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

ABOUT SOPKÖKET AB

Sopköket (the waste kitchen) is an award-winning Stockholm-based social enterprise fighting food waste, hunger, and social exclusion through a financially self-sustaining model. Founded by Filip Lundin in 2015, it rescues surplus food to create catering and frozen meals, donating thousands monthly via partners like the Red Cross. Sopköket has rescued over 150 tons of food, donated 90,000 meals, and built a team where half come from marginalized backgrounds. Clients include Spotify, Marshall, PayPal, ICA,Coop, and Fotografiska,and the company has earned four of Sweden’s top sustainability awards.

Evaluation Criteria

🚀 Innovation
How your business’s innovation supports your mission and creates a positive societal or environmental impact.

📋 Vision
Compelling vision and concrete plans for how to expand this work in the next 3-5 years.

🎯 Impact
Demonstrated track-record of measurable impact the last 3-5 years, advancing one or more of the Global Goals.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Active Business Leader
    Be the owner, founder or CEO that plays a crucial role in the current business.
  • Online Presence
    Have an online presence that allows your customers to buy your product. 
  • Small-to-Medium Sized Business
    The business must be classified as a small-medium-sized business, typically with fewer than 50 full-time employees or annual revenue under $1 million (subject to local regulations and standards). 
  • Demonstrate Community Impact
    The business needs to have 1-5 years of impact in their community. 
    The business should demonstrate significant, tangible contributions to the local community. This may include, but is not limited to:
    • Supporting local causes, charities, or nonprofit organizations. 
    • Engaging in community development projects or local partnerships. 
    • Implementing sustainable practices that benefit the local environment or economy. 
    • Creating jobs or providing educational/training opportunities for community members. 
  • Location
    The business must be based in one of these regions:  North America,  Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America
  • Exclusions:
    • The business must not be affiliated with an organization from any country or entity subject to financial or other sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or other government entity of the United States of America that may restrict the transfer of the Award 
    • The business must not be a franchise or part of a national or international chain, as the focus is on independent, locally owned enterprises. 
    • You must live and work in North America,  Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America to be eligible.  

Apply

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards?

The Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Award was established to support business owners and founders who are driving real impact in their communities by demonstrating a deep commitment to equity and sustainability in their business practices. We are looking for creative small and medium-sized business owners who have developed innovative products and services to make a positive social or environmental impact. 

The awards platform will grant these groundbreaking small- and medium-sized businesses a 20K cash prize and connect them to data and insights, technical training, and marketing/brand activations to accelerate their work and impact. 

What is needed for the application?

The application consists of four parts: (1) About you & about your business, (2) Pitch (3) Description of how your work aligns with the judging criteria (4) Supplemental organizational details (upon request)

For the first part, you will be required to submit basic information about you and your business.

For the second part, you must explain why you deserve this award and provide us with a 1-2 minute video of your pitch. 

For the third part, you will be required to answer four short answer questions about your work. In 250 words or less, you will describe how you meet each one of the Awards’ criteria.

What is the judging process?

Candidates will be judged against set criteria by a group of Global Citizen and independent experts.

Up to fifty (50) finalists will be selected between August - December 2026 and will be required to submit three (3) letters of recommendation. If applying for the Prize, you should have your letters of recommendation ready for submission. Additional supplemental information might also be requested of finalists.

If selected as one of the 50 finalists, you will be judged by a panel of representatives from Global Citizen and independent experts. 

Previous Winners

Somnath Ray

CEO & Cofounder | CLIP

Som Ray is a design technologist and serial entrepreneur recognized by MIT TechReview as a top innovator. As CEO of CLIP, a Brooklyn-based clean mobility startup, he’s making urban commuting sustainable through affordable e-bike tech.

Kunjpreet Arora

CEO | Angirus

Kunjpreet Arora is the co-founder and CEO of Angirus, a climate-tech startup building sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials. A civil engineer by training, Kunjpreet is passionate about solving systemic environmental problems through practical, scalable innovation.

Franco Rodriguez Viau

CEO & Cofounder | Satellites on Fire

Franco Rodríguez Viau is an Argentine entrepreneur harnessing technology for global environmental impact.  At 16, he co-founded Satellites on Fire, a wildfire alert system protecting 56 million hectares across 19 countries and preventing 400+ wildfires in recent months. 

Zizipho Ntobongwana

CEO | Sheba Feminine

Zizipho is a menstrual health innovator advancing solutions at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and education. As Founder & CEO of Sheba Feminine, she develops eco-friendly menstrual products and leads initiatives like “Pay for a Pal’s Pads” to combat period poverty through education and access.

Filip Lundin

CEO & Founder | Sopköket AB

Filip Lundin is Founder & CEO of Sopköket, a Swedish social enterprise reducing food waste, donating meals, and creating jobs for marginalized communities. He is leading their international expansion through larger production kitchens and a SaaS platform for grocery kitchens, while advocating for Scope 4 CO₂ accounting.