Articles by Daniel Waldron
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Guest Articles
Tuesday
September 17
2024Daniel Waldron / Christopher Emmott / Yash Vardhan Gaddhyan / Ruth Wairimu
Replacing Old Technologies or Creating New Markets?: The Pros and Cons of Two Paths to Impact for Productive Use of Energy
Productive use of energy (PUE) technologies have the potential to unlock higher incomes and reduce reliance on more costly, non-renewable energy sources in rural and low-income communities. Dan Waldron, Chris Emmott, Yash Vardhan Gaddhyan and Ruth Wairimu at Acumen discuss the advantages and disadvantages of two different paths to impact for PUE: replacing inefficient, fossil fuel-based incumbent technologies, vs. disrupting entire markets with innovative PUE approaches.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Investing, Technology, Transportation
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Guest Articles
Wednesday
June 5
2024Paul Breloff / Daniel Waldron / Coco Lim
A Hidden Reason for Business Failure in Social Enterprise: Exploring Innovative Talent Solutions in Frontier Markets
Social enterprises need extraordinary talent and leadership to navigate the challenges of doing business in frontier markets. As Paul Breloff at Shortlist and Daniel Waldron and Coco Lim at Acumen explain, failure to find the right talent is a leading factor in company and investment failure — and top talent is in short supply, and often comes at a steep cost. They share learnings from Acumen and Shortlist's shared experience recruiting and retaining talent, exploring some innovative approaches that go beyond traditional full-time structures.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Guest Articles
Wednesday
March 22
2023Daniel Waldron / Christopher Emmott / Priyanka Dudeja / Paraag Sabhlok / Chris Wayne
Outgrowing the Flower Pot: Why Just Selling Productive Equipment to Smallholder Farmers is Not Enough
A new wave of companies are bringing equipment powered by renewable, decentralized energy to smallholders, and these devices can significantly boost farmers' yields and product quality. But as Daniel Waldron, Christopher Emmott, Priyanka Dudeja, Paraag Sabhlok and Chris Wayne at Acumen explain, just like a tree growing in a flower pot, this new growth can become a burden if it has nowhere to go. They argue that productive equipment must be combined with market access interventions to truly benefit smallholders, and highlight two innovative companies that are demonstrating the impact of this approach.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Investing, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Guest Articles
Friday
May 1
2020Koen Peters / Daniel Waldron / Jacob Winiecki
Keeping the Lights On: How PAYGo Solar Can Offer Customer Relief During COVID-19
Off-grid solar delivers essential energy to millions of people, helping make households, business and institutions more resilient to the COVID-19 crisis. But as analysts at BFA, CGAP and GOGLA explain, the pandemic threatens the industry, particularly its very successful pay-as-you-go business model. They explore how companies could enable customers to continue using their solar home systems during the pandemic, with reduced – or even without – customer payments.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy
