Anyone have any examples of "entrepreneurial activism" in history? That is, individual entrepreneurs who had a large social or political impact (contra the state, especially). I'm looking for more things like Lysander Spooner's American Mail Letter Company:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Letter_Mail_Company
Or S.B. Fuller:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_B._Fuller
Fred Smith who started Federal Express comes into my mind first. Also, Henry Ford (Except for his stance against the Gold Standard).