Today I met someone who really got my attention and blood pumping as he talked about his work with the Gates Foundation. I’ve got tremendous respect for Bill to leave a legacy for the world through his philanthropic efforts, but I had no idea about specifics about how he would go about solving the deep inequities in the world specifically in health. Today, I learned a bit…
Did you know that the Grand Challenges Exploration has given away 105 grants so far totaling $100,000 each to solve global health issues? Some of these grants are going to entrepreneurs with for-profit ideas. It’s absolutely mind-blowing some of the ideas being researched and developed. For example, malaria is a huge problem in the developing world and mosquito nets while very effective in protecting humans from mosquitos isn’t comfortable as it’s just too hot to have a net over you when it’s hot and humid out. So, Marka Szabolcs from Columbia University, is developing how optical irradiation might be used to physically disrupt mosquitoes’ sensory systems such that they can’t find human hosts. In other words, using “light” that humans can’t see to keep the mosquitos away. Now, if that isn’t cool, I don’t know what is. I’d buy this right off the shelf of REI if it was available today!
The great thing about entrepreneurs is that we are able to spot opportunities when most people just see unsolvable problems, or if you’re like the government you try to spend your way to solve the problems. These issues require dreamers who have creativity, high risk-tolerance, and ability to execute. The more entrepreneurs we can get to focus on issues that threaten humanity - hunger, disease, inequality - the less we have to worry about our security. Maybe that’s too naive of a belief, but have you ever wondered how the world would be a better place if defense budgets were spent on development rather than weapons? People would be employed and would have the ability to provide for the families and would have *gasp* human dignity. The less likely people would get desperate and join organizations that lead to violence. Governments and officials won’t solve these problems, let’s get more entrepreneurs to tackle these problems head-on.
This opportunity with the Gates Foundation is kick-ass for you entrepreneurs out there that want to think out of the box and save lives, Bill’s got money for you! Do you have any crazy ideas? Share below, who knows maybe you and I can pitch Bill for some bucks to save the world (or Cheerleaders, for those of you who know the reference) and maybe even a ..profit..!
Great to see your blog and love the post, Andy!
Thanks Sara!
I can’t agree with you more. A huge part of my life to this point has been spent enlightening America as to how to really be healthy, which of course is not what mainstream marketing would lead you to believe it would be.
In order to get the word out required becoming a blackbelt in internet marketing.
One of my lifes goals has always been to handle the situation in Africa. There is no way we as a species are going to be able to fix Africa’s problems without the best entrepreneurial minds of our times working together to re-build Africa to its former vitality.
Thanks for the visit and the comment! Very encouraging to hear more folks share the sentiment that we should focus on leaving a historic legacy of solving the extreme poverty problem in Africa. Now, wouldn’t that be a healthy living!!
Arrived here from a problogger tweet a few moments ago.
I work in a residential/training facility for adults with MR/DD (mental retardation/developmental disabilities) and witness on a daily basis the injustices they suffer in public in our supposedly enlightened society. I can only imagine what happens to them in countries without our resources.
LuAnn - appreciate you visiting. Thank you for what you do, we need more folks like you.
Thanks for the really interesting post Andy. I believe it’s a noble cause that you discuss and research of this sort is vital if development of any sort is to continue. However, the problem I perceive with development in Africa being driven by for profit ventures is that the vast majority of Africa’s population cannot afford to put a bowl of rice on the table for their family on a daily basis, let alone buy fancy gadgets, no matter how clever they are. As someone who has spent a substantial amount of time living in Africa, and in fact married to an African, in my experience many for profit ventures, no matter how well intentioned, dissolve in a mess of governmental corruption, often never really getting off the ground after fighting the never ending obstacles placed in front of them by government and ordinary people alike. Much of this is due to the cultural and historical divide. Many Africans have such a jaded view of Westerners now that any dealings with white people are tainted with distrust and opportunism. Is it any wonder with the atrocities that have occurred there over the centuries.
I hope and pray that somehow we can push through this tangled web in order to save lives. But with the way things are now, both politically and socially, in many countries in Africa, it would take some working to these great resources out of the research lab and into the lives of those who need them most.
Nina - thanks for your insightful post. There is no doubt this is a tall order and the issues are extremely complex. Not only that, there will be a lot of failures in the future including the the big NGO’s and for-profit ventures trying social entrepreneurship. That being said we can’t give up on Africa - the more entrepreneurs who tackle this problem by being laser-focused will find success.
Couldn’t agree with you more!
Hey Andy,
Reading your blog makes me want to start something backup again. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Howard! Would love to see you back in the game again:)
Wow Gates is throwing money around eh… wheres a list of third world country problems? time to come up with a great profitable idea…!
Eric - thanks for visiting. They actually list out the priorities on the site to tackle - http://www.grandchallenges.org/Pages/BrowseByGoal.aspx. Check it out!
Thanks for Sharing Andy! I came over from the shoemoney blog - if he recommended you then there is no turning back! I loved the post and like you I wish more folks were in the same mindset as you - I guess its our job to make the world better..
Thanks for the perspective!
-Ruben
Ruben - great to have you here, and thanks for the comment!
Great post. Very useful info.
I want free money for saving the worlds problems. First I need to work on getting rid off these crabs. Maybe Mr. Gates will give me $10,000 if I can figure that out.
Good luck with blog
Lol!
Andy - it’s your old buddy Erik MacKinnon from the ol’ EO days. Congrats on the fantastic blog and for such an insightful post!!
Cheers
Erik - great hearing from you! Appreciate the comments!
Very nice info Andy. I am very interested to check out your blog
Thanks for checking this out and participating. Hope to see you around!
I am thinking.
: )
Hey Andy, I found your site from the Shoe. I am loving your blog, and I will definitely be checking in on a daily basis to read your business tips and insights!
hey jacob - thanks for visiting and commenting.
I too have blogged about the likes of Bill Gates and others, including rocket-scientist-turned-social-entrepreneur Jim Fruchterman, finding their service-driven work quite inspirational:
http://twsblog.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/highly-successful-business-leaders-opt-to-shift-their-focus-to-mission-driven-organizations/
Another example of a business immersed in the concepts of “conscious capitalism” is Whole Foods. Some time spent on that website is uplifting, as well. Leading this exemplary organization is John Mackey. He had a great article about conscious capitalism that has been around for a while but is worth reading, to be sure: http://www2.wholefoodsmarket.com/blogs/jmackey/2006/11/09/conscious-capitalism-creating-a-new-paradigm-for-business/
Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon the transcript of Mackey’s entire commencement speech given in June of 2008 at my own Alma Mater, Bentley College, now Bentley University. At the risk of making this a link-laden comment, following is the link to that speech which truly gives me hope that a new day is dawning in terms of the opportunities and responsibilities that are the future of the successful American business enterprise. Read it and consider the message given to these graduates of an incredibly successful business-oriented university: http://www2.wholefoodsmarket.com/blogs/jmackey/2008/05/21/bentley-college-commencement-speech/
As a fledgling social entrepreneur myself, my new business, which I’ve been working on for the better part of a year, will depend on the use of successful business practices to achieve the social and environmental goals which are my passion (in a nut-shell, mainstreaming socially and environmentally responsible lifestyle choices in the suburban community). So, as much as I’m not “about the money,” I’m learning that I have to embrace the financial aspects of the business as the fuel that will power and sustain the business in service to the values-based mission. I expect to get some words of wisdom from your new blog. It means a great deal to find worthwhile and sincere blogs in the midst of such an excessive amount of information on the internet. Furthermore, I also fully expect that you’ll become another successful business person and leader with a heart behind a great entrepreneurial mind ~ something we can’t have too many of ~ It’s truly a winning combination for all the stakeholders you will touch. Best of luck in 2009!
Nancy - thanks for thoughtful comment. making sure that your business is financially sound and sustainable is critical to being able to make the social impact you want to make. i applaud you for thinking about this at an early stage. at times, i think the for-profit model is such a stronger model for enabling social change than non-profits because it’s sustainable and in the right context also scalable. keep on the right track and you will be successful - i’ll check out the whole foods story:)
Hello Andy, learned about this site from a tweet. Very interesting and indeed inspiring. I love the logo.
Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
thanks for visiting Yael!
I just came over from Shoemoney’s site. This was a great article. You’re in the RSS reader. Please keep up the good work!
Hey Andy,,
I came across your blog today via quicksprout. Neil says you are his mentor.
neil’s great - i would call it a mutual mentorship:)
hey andy, great post i came across your blog via johnchow. and i’m inpressed with his recommedation.
keep up the good work man.
I love social ventures. It is amazing to see the impact entrepreneurs are having around the globe on true crises like disease, poverty, and education. I recently read Influence, which was a phenomenal read about how individuals are able to influence change. Having met with many individuals running social ventures it appears to me the greatest need is raising money. I am working on setting up tennis tournaments throughout the country and one big celebrity tennis tournament to raise money for select ventures. My next step is to create a large celebrity tennis event or beach volleyball. I love the good that is being done in the world.
Mark - thanks for visiting. I also read Influence, fantastic book! You are inspiring, it’s never easy raising money, but having a fun event like celebrity tennis is a great idea. personally, i’d love to see chang vs. mcenroe in a celebrity tournament:)
Very interesting about the Gates Foundation. And I’m always coming up with new ideas! My mind is like a machine.
I should really look into this because like I have said before, we sell fundraising products and with some grants like $100,000 we could advertise more and get better connections, as well as more machines.
Another great post Andy. I love the passion and I love the way you write. Very conversational and fun to read.
Shalom Andy
I love your blog and appreciate your generosity in sharing all of your clever insights.
Given that we share a commitment to positive social change in the world, I thought you might be interested in the innovative idea that I submitted to Google’s 10 to the 100th Project (just a few months ago–in October), “a call for ideas to help the world by helping as many people as possible.” Here’s a 30-second video that explains the concept. Click on ‘more info’ to the right of the video for a more detailed explanation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCQPLnXFE-4
If you believe in the cause and care to learn more about “Hungry for Change”,
I’d welcome (with arms wide open) the opportunity to discuss it further.
Warm regards & Happy new year
J
Jamie,
What a wonderful concept!
I just wanted to mention ideablob.com as a place to share your idea as well. They pick one winner a month I believe to receive $10,000. Your idea is so simple and simply wonderful that I think it would have the potential to rise to the top there. If it’s something that makes sense to you, I suggest a plan ahead of time for spreading the word as I get the impression that the ideas that win are those from people who know how to drum up the votes as much as they may or may not be the very best idea (for better or worse,good business tactics are the key to successful mission-driven goals). If you do go ahead with any type of vote-driven contest, please let me know. I am part of a changeblogger network that could help to spread the word right when you need it and would be honored to help spread the word. I’m guessing Andy and other readers of this blog would feel the same way!
You conveyed your idea so clearly in your youtube video short. I think this type of clear cut idea would do well on such a forum as ideablob. I’m jealous! My idea, while wonderful, is not quite so simple! Don’t give up on your idea - It has the potential to do so much good.
Best of luck to you,
Nancy Gallant
Time Well Spent
http://www.twsblog.wordpress.com
great project.. sounds like an excellent cause!
Thanks for a great article!
Wow, it is really nice to see that someone who made so much money now thinks about other people two. Bill Gates made much more money than he will ever need and its good to see that he now cares about the less fortunate.