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‘I Don’t Wish I Had AIDS’: If only diabetics worldwide could feel the same way
In a 2012 study, diabetic patients were consistently heard "wishing they had AIDS." That’s because, in many parts of the world, diabetes is a death sentence. However, with greater access to information and affordable care, it doesn’t have to be.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- public health
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Knowing the Customer (Whether You’re a Social Startup or Ford): At the UM India Business Conference
At the UM India Business Conference Mark Fields, chief operating officer of Ford Motor Co., and Desh Deshpande is an Indian American venture capitalist and entrepreneur, discussed the intricacies of reaching new customers in emerging markets whether it’s a multinational company or a social enterprise.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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India’s No. 1 problem is No. 2.: Tansa Clean tests ‘biodigester’ technology to improve sanitation
Some $54 billion is lost from the Indian economy from health costs, lowered productivity, and absent tourism revenues, all of which originates in diarrhea. Anaerobic biodigesters are airtight tanks that create just the right environment for bacteria to become active, breaking organic wastes down into methane-rich biogas and a nutrient-rich slurry. The founders of Tansa Clean, are launching a pilot to test the potential of their biodigester in India.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise
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Social Enterprise in Haiti: An oxymoron or a reality?
More than two dozen development-minded thinkers and doers convened in Cambridge, Mass., for a competition-based workshop designed to find a market-based solution to cholera in Haiti. The winning idea, which includes recruiting and training “community chlorinators,” is expected to be up and running by this time next year.
- Categories
- Education, Environment, Health Care, Social Enterprise
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NextThought Monday: Want to end poverty? Bring financial education and empowerment to the youth, says Jeroo Billimoria
Until recently, the financial industry tended to dismiss the thought of young people as necessary customers. Many still feel that youth should be protected, that they don’t need to learn about finance until later in life. On the contrary: to eradicate poverty, we have to ensure that every child is financially capable and included, says Jeroo Billimoria of Child and Youth Finance International.
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Can You Hear Me Yet?: mHealth breakthroughs not increasing as fast as the possibilities
How could mobile phones be even more important in the future, if most of the world already has one? Because one day soon they’ll be put to their highest use: saving millions of lives.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology, Telecommunications
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Micro-Franchising: How Business-in-a-Box Can Change Development: Why Jibu, a clean water franchise, sees power in local ownership
Micro-franchising lends the emerged market’s corporate advantage to local, emerging market entrepreneurs - propelling local innovations and adaptation. Jibu is piloting this model for clean water distribution. Why co-founder Galen Welsch thinks they may be onto something.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Social Enterprise
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NextThought Monday: Why I’m optimistic about small-dollar credit in the U.S.
The dangers of payday loans and similar products are well-known: they are extremely expensive, often with triple-digit interest rates, and structured in a way that easily traps borrowers in a cycle of debt. Yet CFSI’s Beth Brockland sees cause for optimism in the small-dollar credit marketplace in the U.S. - and this optimism could extend to other developing markets.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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