Business ventures commonly begin with a goal of making profits in mind, but now many startups are increasingly focusing their attention on giving back to various communities.

A study by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) in 2016 showed that 3.7 per cent of the global population is currently engaged in starting a social venture, with five in every 10 firms committed to reinvesting profits directly to social goals. By comparison, 7.6 per cent of the world’s population is engaged with starting commercial ventures, according to GEM.

Business models focused on creating positive change in the world have also attracted a number of celebrities to the space. In the latest episode of sidelines, BNN Bloomberg's Jon Erlichman interviewed stars such as Jessica Alba, Alessia Cara and Foster the People to learn how their own personal stories have driven them to jump into social enterprises. Here’s a look at what they said:

Jessica Alba, actress
Alba founded The Honest Company, which makes natural baby and household products

“I realized that there really needed to be a company that addressed all of my needs and everyone’s needs out there – a company that’s transparent, has high-quality ingredients, effective ingredients, but also beautiful and accessibly priced. And I looked at the marketplace and I was like, there really isn’t one company that embodies all of that and delivers on all these different product categories. So then I knew I had to learn about (consumer packaged goods), I had to learn about business,  I had to learn about e-commerce, I had to learn about retail, I had to learn about brands, and I still am learning every day.”

Mark Foster, lead singer of Foster the People
The band founded Do Good Bus, which helps grow local and community-based charities

“Our first tour, Torches, we crowdfunded this thing called the ‘Do Good Bus,’ which our drummer’s sister started a couple years before that. We basically took them on tour, so their bus followed behind our bus. It was a kind of a way we would team up with mom-and-pop charities that didn’t really have a lot of manpower. Maybe they were a food bank, or they had a lot of work to do as a charity, but maybe only had two people working there, so we would pick up like 30 volunteers in that town, and they would come and basically get six months of work done in a day.”

“I think that we can look at our circumstances and look around the world and see that a lot of other people weren’t nearly as fortunate to be in the situation that we were in right now. So I think that’s something for us to try and stay grounded with.”

Ashley Judd, actress
Judd was a prominent activist for the #MeToo movement, and has been working to promote workplace equality and safety

“It happens so commonly, especially to a woman, in workplaces across the country: That shift that goes away, the loss of opportunity for overtime that’s economically advantageous, being overlooked for the plum assignment, obviously not getting a promotion. Those things hurt American families, I mean, we’re already making less money than our male counterparts. So I’m really excited that we can bring an economic remedy to American workers who experience sexual harassment.”

Alessia Cara, singer
Cara is an ambassador for Smilezone Foundation, which is focused on creating positive spaces for children with health struggles 

“I did spend a big chunk of time growing up being really little in the hospital at Sick Kids [hospital] and I actually do remember, as young as I was, being in an environment that was bright and happy … I have good memories oddly enough. I think if I can be a slight part of that for these kids it would be really beneficial to them."

Kip Moore, singer
Moore founded the Comeback Kid Skatepark Project, which builds skate parks as safe spaces for youth

“I came from a family where we never had money, but I had two parents that I always knew loved me and were going to be there for me. I had that safety to go home to at night and witnessing first-hand the different struggles in life of other kids my age — I always said if I was ever in a position, that I was going to try and be a voice and someone who was making an impact those communities. So for me – building nice skate parks – it gives those kids a sense of pride, a sense of hope.”