A bigger idea took root at Columbia.

She went into the program with one idea of her own. But somewhere between the lectures, conversations and stories of social enterprises from around the world, she began to notice a bigger problem: businesses that make millions in revenue often receive enormous attention and recognition, while smaller social enterprises that spend years solving real problems and changing people's lives can remain almost invisible.

That is where Banyan began.

Banyan exists to give social entrepreneurs a place to be seen, to document what they have built, to find people who can help them, and to give their work a chance to continue beyond its founder.

Saina is grateful to her professor and to Columbia University for the conversations, questions and experiences that pushed her to look beyond her own idea and think about what the wider social entrepreneurship community needed.

So Banyan is free. There are no ads, subscriptions or premium tiers, and there never will be. It is open for others to contribute to, guide and, one day, lead.