Introducing World Within

Some people talk about changing the world. Rostam Zafari doesn’t just talk; he builds. And through World Within, the nonprofit collective he founded, he’s creating a space where capital, creativity, and community come together in a way that feels both ambitious and profoundly human.

At first glance, World Within might look like a fund; they invest in community-led solutions, rethink food systems, energy, and banking, and support changemakers across the globe. But it’s also a studio, a storytelling platform, a space for ideas to breathe. Films, podcasts, conversations, all of it is part of their mission. Because for Rostam, change isn’t only about funding solutions; it’s about shaping the stories we tell ourselves and each other about what’s possible.

Rostam’s own journey has always been about extending circles of responsibility. In his early twenties, he helped create rapid Ebola detection strips that made testing accessible and affordable. When he won the Cyrus Prize for young entrepreneurs, he donated the award to a school for aspiring changemakers. Every step of his path, from global investments to boardrooms and advisory roles, seems guided by a quiet question: How far can I stretch my circle to serve others?

That idea, that our capacity to serve grows with the size of our circle, is at the heart of World Within. The organisation isn’t just about fixing broken systems. It’s about creating new ones, and telling the story of a world that looks and feels different. Scroll through their Instagram, and you’ll see it: podcast recordings, behind-the-scenes moments, glimpses of a community of builders and dreamers. It’s vibrant, grounded, and quietly inspiring.

Their first fund, launched in 2021, was a reimagining of venture capital: slower, more thoughtful, rooted in long-term impact. But what feels most alive about World Within today isn’t the fund itself. It’s the energy, the culture, the invitation to stretch ourselves, to think bigger, to imagine a future that includes more.

For the Forming Impact community, their work is a gentle reminder: change isn’t only about systems or outcomes. It’s about circles, stories, and the people we choose to bring along with us. And in that sense, World Within isn’t just an organisation. It’s a call to expand, to build, to imagine and to hold space for a bigger “we.”