makesense

MakeSense Software Services provides end-to-end solutions spanning Salesforce, MuleSoft, Data, and Artificial Intelligence, designed to streamline operations and foster measurable growth for its clients. The company specializes in complex integrations, advanced data analytics, and strategic AI implementation, enabling businesses to enhance efficiency and scale their capabilities effectively. Its technical approach emphasizes aligning tailored solutions with specific business challenges to deliver impactful digital transformations.

The firm was founded in 2018 by Basil Penkar, Srinivas Gadi, and Gururaja Rao. Their initial insight stemmed from a vision to revolutionize how organizations engage with technology and customers, specifically by leveraging MuleSoft's API-led approach to address disparate systems. This strategic alignment allowed the leadership team to establish technical credibility and expand their offerings into broader enterprise solutions.

MakeSense Software Services serves a diverse clientele across various industries, including government, retail, manufacturing, and utilities. The company's vision centers on empowering these organizations to achieve transformative, data-driven success. It continues to focus on close partnerships, translating client objectives into streamlined realities that drive long-term operational and customer engagement outcomes.

High-Level Overview

makesense is a mission-driven organization founded in 2010 that empowers citizens, social entrepreneurs, and organizations to drive social and environmental change through collective mobilization tools, incubation programs, workshops, mentoring, and impact investing.[1][4][5][9] Its core mission is to "give everyone the power to act" by building an inclusive and sustainable society, offering no-barrier programs like incubators for social startups (e.g., Too Good To Go, Wecandoo), strategic consulting for organizations, and impact funds targeting early-stage projects in areas such as nutrition, education, waste management, and migrant support.[1][4][8] In the startup ecosystem, makesense acts as an accelerator and investor, managing incubators, providing funding credibility, and launching initiatives like a €15 million fund in 2025 for circular economy and socially inclusive ventures, fostering hundreds of social enterprises across France, Philippines, and globally.[1][4][9]

Origin Story

makesense's journey began around 2010 on the roads of India, sparked by a travel experience that inspired its founders to create tools for collective action against 21st-century challenges.[5][9] Over 10+ years, it evolved from grassroots events and workshops into a global network with programs in multiple countries, including France (its primary base), Philippines (e.g., partnering with Sanofi to treat 20,000 underprivileged people via 1,000 citizens and 9 startups), and beyond.[1][4][5] Key milestones include building an incubator that supported over 100 entrepreneurs, launching makesense_invest with two impact funds, and expanding to jobs platforms connecting impact seekers with 6,000+ structures offering 20,000+ roles annually.[4][6] This evolution reflects a shift from citizen empowerment to comprehensive ecosystem support, including a 2025 €15M fund launch amid rising demand for social innovation.[9]

Core Differentiators

makesense stands out in the impact space through its holistic, accessible model blending education, incubation, and investment:

• No-barrier entry programs: Free workshops, 6-week entrepreneur courses, mentoring, and networking open to all, enabling systemic change without classification or exit fees.[1][8]
• End-to-end entrepreneur support: Personalized incubation, funding access, and credibility for social ventures across impacts like obesity, waste, and education; alumni include Too Good To Go and les Talents d’Alphonse.[1][4]
• Organizational transformation tools: Consulting, open innovation, intrapreneurship training, and community-building to shift companies toward ecological and solidarity models, e.g., Sanofi Philippines collaboration.[1]
• Impact investing arm: makesense_invest manages funds for early-stage social/environmental projects, with a new €15M vehicle targeting circular and inclusive startups.[4][9]
• Ecosystem scale: Global reach with job platforms driving 210,000+ applications yearly, measuring real recruitments for social impact.[6]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

makesense rides the wave of social innovation and impact investing, capitalizing on post-pandemic demand for purpose-driven business amid climate urgency and inequality.[4][9] Its timing aligns with Europe's green transition policies and rising ESG investments, where social startups address gaps in traditional VC (e.g., circular economy ventures underserved by profit-first funds).[9] Market forces like regulatory pushes for sustainability (e.g., EU Green Deal) and corporate social responsibility amplify its model, enabling collaborations like Sanofi’s health access initiatives.[1] By incubating scalable tech-enabled social enterprises and funding early-stage impact, makesense influences the ecosystem as a bridge between citizens, corporates, and startups, democratizing innovation and proving profitability in purpose (e.g., alumni unicorns like Too Good To Go).[1][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

makesense is poised to scale its €15M fund into a cornerstone for circular and inclusive tech ventures, potentially tripling its portfolio amid 2025's impact investing boom.[9] Trends like AI for social good, climate tech, and hybrid work will shape its path, with expansions in job platforms (targeting precise recruitment metrics) and global incubators.[6] Its influence may evolve toward deeper tech integration, such as low-carbon digital tools, positioning it as a leader in reorienting capital toward systemic change—echoing its founding motto to empower everyone to act.[1][5][6]