I have yet to see a working definition for "change the world." And if there is one, who creates this definition? VC? Journalists?
Once I see a workable definition, my next question is why "change the world" is a metric, a goal, or whatever it is. Given your answer, what does that imply? Maybe the phrase should be more truthful... something like "make a meaningful contribution".
Maybe this is just an American buzz phrase and I am not getting it? To be honest, I am getting a little tired of it.
There's that Woodstock generation song from the 60's with the chorus: "I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do..."
I guess software VC and tech journalists have now solved that issue?
Funny, but "changing the world" (in the idelistic sense of the song) today seems a much more daunting task than it did back then, even with the addition of cable TV and now another communication medium being offered by the telcos and cable companies. The world is better entertained and possibly better informed. The "change" it led to is some ridiculously strong monopolies that like to maintain status quo.