Articles by Adeena Schlussel
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Saturday
February 4
2012From the Sun (Bypassing the Grid) to the BoP Consumer
Taking its name from the amount of time it takes sunlight to reach earth (yes, 8 minutes and 19 seconds), Eight19 is one of the many companies working to deliver solar energy to the 1.6 billion people of the BoP in need.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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Guest Articles
Sunday
January 8
2012Weekly Roundup – 1/8/12: Best Ideas of 2011 Making it Hip to Help the BoP
Warby Parker sells inexpensive, highly fashionable eyewear with the promise to give a pair to a child in need for every pair sold. The company bypasses the criticism that one-for-one models can be more disruptive than helpful. In partnership with VisionSpring, it doesn’t just drop eyeglasses in the developing world, but empowers local communities.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Wednesday
December 21
2011Social Innovators Collective, Shared Experiences (Without Consultants)
The Social Innovators Collective was established to address common challenges and share resources among social entrepreneurs. The NYC group is deep seeded in the belief that collective (as the name suggests) insights and efforts are more effective when united than apart. Launched nearly two years ago, the network is charting a new path for growth.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Tuesday
August 16
2011For Nuru, Energy Applies to Products and Microfranchises
Nuru Energy uses a multi-tier approach to developing and selling renewable energy devices, while steadily building a network of entrepreneurs. In September, Nuru will open offices in Uganda and Kenya, and plans to close the year with 170 microfranchises in Rwanda alone. The growth plans do not stop there.
- Categories
- Health Care
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Thursday
June 16
2011OpenIDEO’s Latest Challenge Aims For Practical Results in Colombia
OpenIDEO’s most recent challenge asks the design community an important question: "How might we use social business to improve health in low-income communities?" It’s not an idle query. The question applies directly to Caldas, Colombia where the poverty rate is near 60 percent, with 26 percent extreme poverty and infant mortality at 12.5 percent.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
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Guest Articles
Thursday
April 14
2011Ashoka Changemakers: Winners of the Sustainable Urban Housing Competition
Ashoka is in the final stage of its Sustainable Urban Housing Competition. With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, Ashoka has challenged innovators to orchestrate sustainable, safe, transferable and affordable housing solutions for any landscape or culture. Earlier this week, finalists were selected each pocketing $10,000 to seed their plans.
- Categories
- Education
- Tags
- housing
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Tuesday
March 22
2011Unreasonable Institute Finalists Emerge
The 2011 Unreasonable Institute, an intensive six-week mentorship program that seeks to accelerate budding ventures serving the base of the pyramid consumers, fielded applications from 300 entrepreneurs who hoped to attend. The first test was competing with other applicants to raise $8,000 in tuition fees, while rallying support for their mission.
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- Uncategorized
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Thursday
January 20
2011’One for One’ … Win for Win
The TOMS Shoes model has been lauded for its simple, marketable mission whereby for every pair of shoes purchased by a consumer in the West, a pair of shoes is donated to a child in need. But there is another One for One working to serve the BoP now - only instead of shoes, this organization is selling solar kits and water bottles.
- Categories
- Uncategorized