ABSTRACT
elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization (elea), whose purpose is to fight absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means, was created in 2006. It is a philanthropic impact investment organization with a focus on early-stage impact enterprises. Alluding to the origins of modern capitalism, The elea Way proposes a new formula for reinventing capitalism toward more inclusivity. Entrepreneurship and capital must be closely integrated, based on a strong partnership between entrepreneurs and investors, to result in both profitability and impact. This is so because achieving profit is the lifeblood of sustained impact and innovation. Over almost 15 years since its journey began, elea has gained many insights and lessons that could also prove to be valuable for entrepreneurs, investors, and philanthropists on their own journeys. The elea Way is underpinned by strong ethical principles rooted in liberty, private initiative, and responsibility. Its journey reflects evolutionary pragmatism rather than dogmas and ideologies. In addition to discussing how elea came to be and why, this introductory chapter provides a preview of the structure of the book and closes with some observations within the context of the Global Covid-19 Crisis.
