October 17, 2012 | Social Entreprenurship

Agents for Change: Mark Ruiz Empowers Small Businesses in the Philippines

When Mark Ruiz co-founded MicroVentures, Inc., he wanted to find a better way to distribute consumer goods to small villages in the Philippines. So five years ago he began connecting with women who were willing to be "redistributors" of products for local shops. Through his brand Hapinoy -- a take on "happy" and "Pinoy," a colloquial word for Filipino -- women's incomes have risen and rural communities have better access to basic goods.