Fortune’s 10th Annual Change the World list highlights 52 companies making a substantial social or environmental impact through innovations. These firms combine profit with purpose advancing critical solutions across multiple industries.
Fortune’s 2024 Change the World List spotlights companies that fuse innovation with social responsibility demonstrating their ability to tackle global challenges while driving profits. Among the 52 firms honoured this year space technology giants SpaceX, GHG Sat and Rocket Lab lead the charge.
SpaceX through it Starlink satellite service, is bridging the digital divide by providing internet access to remote and underserved regions. GHG Sat is transforming environmental monitoring with satellite-based tracking of greenhouse gas emissions, which aids efforts to combat climate change. Rocket Lab has developed a reusable orbit-class small rocket, pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
Fortune’s list includes companies from a host of industries, such as technology, healthcare and e-commerce with North America leading the pack, followed by Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Fortune Executive Features Editor Matt Heimer noted that the list reflects businesses merging capitalist ambition with public-minded initiatives, creating impactful changes while staying profitable.
In addition to space, the 2024 list features ground-breaking AI-driven solutions from tech companies like Ello, which uses artificial intelligence to personalise literacy education for children. Alibaba Group’s AI technology detects pancreatic cancer lesions, while Samsara uses AI to improve driver safety. Kayross maps wildfire patterns to enhance disaster management.
These innovations embody the spirit of Fortune’s List by delivering long-term societal benefits through their operations proving that addressing pressing global issues can go hand in hand with commercial success.