Fortune’s 10th annual Change the World list has arrived, and this year it’s being led by a group of space pioneers pushing the boundaries of innovation. SpaceX, with its Starlink satellite internet service, GHGSat, the leader in space-based greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, and Rocket Lab, the creator of a revolutionary reusable orbital-class small rocket, are just a few of the companies at the forefront of this year’s list.
This list, which highlights 52 companies across the globe, celebrates those who are making a significant social or environmental impact through their profit-driven strategies and operations. The companies represent a diverse range of industries including technology, space, e-commerce, and healthcare.
The list includes companies from all corners of the world. 30 companies come from North America, 12 from Europe, 8 from Asia and Australia, one from Africa, and one from South America.
Matt Heimer, Fortune Executive Features Editor, stated, “This year’s edition, our 10th, showcases 52 businesses that continue the Change the World list’s legacy of combining public-spiritedness with the profit motive. These companies let their actions speak for themselves—harnessing the creative impulses of capitalism to address social problems and generating revenue while doing so.”
Alongside space innovation, the Fortune Change the World list shines a light on technology companies demonstrating the positive potential of AI. These companies are dedicated to using technology for the greater good. Ello (No. 5), for example, utilizes AI to address childhood literacy gaps with personalized reading tutorials, while Alibaba Group (No. 8) employs advanced technology to detect pancreatic cancer lesions. Samsara (No. 23) uses AI to detect and automatically notify drivers of unsafe driving behaviors, and Kayrros (No. 30) maps wildfire patterns for improved fire prevention and disaster management.
Beyond technology, Levi Strauss (No. 13) is recognized for its efforts to increase voter turnout and encourage employees in retail to exercise their right to vote.
The top 10 companies on the Fortune 2024 Change the World List are:
The Change the World list was meticulously selected and sequenced by Fortune editors based on their own reporting and analysis. The final list was chosen from a pool of 250 nominees.
Anastasia Nyrkovskaya, Fortune CEO, emphasized, “The Change the World List spotlights companies that are shaping our future, whether in the near term or 100 years from now. And it recognizes leaders who are driving true innovation and addressing social issues – and making money while doing it.”
You can view the complete 2024 Fortune Change the World list here and the methodology here.
About Fortune:
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