Key Links

• Singularity University

In this introduction to Singularity Series, we’re uncovering some of the most innovative companies leveraging leading-edge technology. These companies are taking on the global goals with social-impact driven business models.

We want this podcast to be a resource for you to learn about the innovative tech of our time and integrate it into your business model. And with this series of interview with Singularity University staff and companies, you’ll hear how other entrepreneurs are doing just that.

• 1:00 What is Singularity University? How are they changing the world?
• 2:15 SU’s positive mindset about exponential technology.
• 2:45 Being an entrepreneur in residence at SU
• 4:00 Who we’re talking to in this season

Listen in to this season of The Global Goals Project to learn about the 120-country ecosystem, the game-changing staff and the exponential portfolio companies we’re interviewing.

Key Links

• Bonus Episode
• Singularity University

In this podcast, our goal is to uncover some of the most innovative companies leveraging leading-edge technology. These companies are taking on the global goals with social-impact driven business models.

We want this podcast to be a resource for you to learn about the innovative tech of our time and integrate it into your business model.

We’ve learned about:

• Artificial intelligence
• Data
• Satellites
• The power of the crowd
• Robotics
• 3D printing
• IOT (Internet of things) technology
• And more!

Beyond that, we’ve looked at all different kinds of business models:

• Emotional intelligence
• Disability support technology
• Satellites to gather ecological health data
• How to use data to measure impact
• How to grow economies, energy, newborn health, and education in Africa
• ...and more!

From impact investors, we heard about the mindset of an impact investor and how to raise money. We heard how to leverage donor-advised funds and how blockchain can revolutionize the VC model.

In the Kenya series, we heard how to support emerging markets with new technology like MPesa and solar energy. With the IFC sub-Saharan Africa, we saw that you can invest profitably into an emerging market.

We’ve just scratched the surface to learn about the industries behind the Global Goals. To get the numbers behind the progress, be sure to listen to the Bonus Episode where Chandler shares his top 6 data resources.

We will be taking a short break, and when we come back we’ll focus on Singularity University. SU is the mothership hub of exponential technologies to impact a billion people. Stay tuned!

Key Links

• Worldpoverty.io
• Worlddata.io

Did you know 1.1 people escape poverty every second? In this episode, we talk with Kris Hamel, Chief Operating Officer at World Data Lab. World Data Lab sources high-quality data and then makes the data come alive in the form of interactive tools, such as the World Poverty Clock. Here’s a podcast summary:

• 1:45 What is the mission of World Data Lab?
• 8:15 What is WorldPoverty.io, and why did you join World Data Lab?
• 13:00 Why did you choose Global Goal #1?
• 14:50 What is the current state of poverty and how can we remove it?
• 18:30 How does the tech work?
• 14:45 How does the business model work for World Data Lab?
• 27:50 What are some of your biggest 90-day challenges?
• 32:00 What do you see for the future of impact data in general?
• 36:30 How can someone get involved?

In this episode, we're going to focus on how World Data Lab addresses Global Goal #1, no poverty. At worldpoverty.io you can see a real-time estimated number of people living in extreme poverty.I'd highly recommend this episode for anyone who is interested in learning more about interactive data tools and how to help eradicate poverty.

So without further ado, please listen and enjoy!

Key Links

• spring.is

In this episode, we’re talking with Keith Ippel, Co-Founder and CEO of Spring.Spring helps social entrepreneurs make an impact with their Incubator, Accelerator, Peer to Peer learning network, and their Funding Roundtables.

• 2:20 How Spring started
• 3:30 Spring has worked with a LOT of entrepreneurs… how?
• 5:45 What does it take to start a social venture?
• 15:30 What are the top lessons Keith has learned?
• 26:45 Keith’s proudest company wins
• 37:30 Impact investing tips and the Global Goals

Spring is taking on Global Goal #8, decent work, and economic growth. We’ll cover some of the top lessons learned while working with these social entrepreneurs, and the key things to know as you look to raise for your social venture.

If you're listening to this podcast you're a social entrepreneur. As social entrepreneurs... We believe that we can use business as a vehicle to solve problems.  

One of my biggest takeaways from kenya is that you have to go to where you want to solve a problem to see it from the ground. If you don’t have the chance to go... You better have really good data about the challenges.

And I've found that's pretty tough. So I started digging, and I found some amazing resources. Here are my favorite top six:

1. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
2. The SDG Indicator Handbook
3. UN Stats List
4. SDG Data Hubs - Explore Geospatially Referenced Data by Goal
5. UN Data Forum Blog
6. The UN Global Pulse

Listen in to hear why these six are such game-changers… and to source data on the problem you’re solving!

In this episode, we talk with Eddy Vaisberg, the COO of Fuzu. Fuzu is a career platform where 500k active users can discover their talent, get the skills they need to fully unleash their potential and find a career they love. We will talk about:

• 3:00 The unemployment challenge
• 7:30 How Fuzu aims to help graduates and employers
• 26:30 The technology behind Fuzu
• 46:30 The business model
• 48:45 The global goals they are tackling

Find out how Fuzu tackles 3 Global Goals: Global Goal #8, decent work and economic growth for all, Global Goal #10, reducing inequalities, and Global Goal #1 of taking on poverty through the power of jobs. Listen and enjoy!

Key Links

• Green Mini Grid Facility Website

In Kenya, more than 1.3 million households are outside the national power grid. In this episode, hear Nakul Sharma talk about funding mini-grid development and the long term plan to shift Africa to sustainable power.

• 10:00 Why is a Power Grid Important? | Find out what life is like off the power grid, and what it takes to get power to people who live on less than $4 per day.
• 14:30 African Resources | Africa is world’s largest geothermal resource, so why is expensive diesel fuel so popular?
• 20:00 The Mini Grid Solar Business Model | See how GMG Facility addresses the biggest problem in their market: demand for power.
• 27:00 Maslow's Hierarchy | Kenyans priorities food first, then education. But when they can save 25% of their daily income, priorities shift.
• 36:00 A Business Model that Puts Itself Out of Business | With enough mini-grids, the governments and industry in Kenya will see rural areas as viable to connect to the grid. How will GMG Facilities stay in business?
• 40:00 Global Goal #7: Clean Energy for All | Nakul asserts that though access to sustainable power is clearly in the future, it will take time.

GMG Facilities has found strategic ways to provide financing, infrastructure, and sustainable options to solve a critical problem in emerging African markets. See just how possible it is to switch a continent to sustainable power in this episode.

Key Links

• IFC Africa

Ananya’s IFC portfolio group creates sustainable investment opportunities through partnership with the private sector. See how their investments impact education and healthcare in this episode.

• 2:00 How the IFC works | Investing in profitable AND sustainable ventures
• 12:30 What kinds of investments does the IFC do in Africa? | How the IFC impacts a whole ecosystem with $5 million+ investments.
• 18:00 Healthcare & Education | How the IFC supports these two critical impact areas in Africa
• 21:00 Medtech & Edtech | Technology can bridge the gap for off-grid families to get fully accessible, standardized education
• 26:00 Challenges to Scale in an Emerging Market | Kenyans value education, so the challenges of resources and infrastructure create opportunity for innovation.
• 28:00 Measuring Impact | Standard and case-by-case metrics for impact investing
• 35:00 Business in Africa | An invitation to do business in Africa

Get an inside look at impacting a continent through investment in this episode.

Full details here: http://www.globalgoalsproject.io/proving-the-value-of-impact-investing-in-emerging-markets/

Key Links

• Lori Systems

In this episode, Chandler interviews Ron Okello, the head of product marketing and PR at Lori Systems. Ron shows us how Lori Systems solves a major economic problem in East Africa: the relative cost of moving goods across East Africa is one of the highest in the world.

• 4:30 How the Platform Works | Lori Systems is a logistics coordination platform that seamlessly connects Cargo Owners and Transportation.
• 13:30 Why Does the Data Matter? | With data on transporter reliability and costs, the company helps suppliers optimize their business.
• 19:00 Business Model Insider | Ron talks about three pillars of their business: tech, operational excellence, and customer service.
• 27:00 Tech in Africa - Who Will Survive? | Hear the two main industries ready for tech innovation in East Africa.
• 32:30 Timeline for Exponential Technology | Ron expects exponential tech to come sooner than we think.
• 40:45 Lowering Costs, Alleviating Poverty | Find out how problem solving in the cost margins can shift a whole economy.

Listen to find out how Lori Solutions solves problems for the whole East African region, and how tech solutions for simple, specific problems can make all the difference in addressing the Global Goals.

More details at: www.globalgoals.io/ron-okello

Key Links:

• Mettā

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Mettā is a network of entrepreneurs who share resources and mentorship internationally. In this episode, the Kenyan manager of Mettā helps us see what it’s like to address the Global Goals in an emerging market like Nairobi.

• 6:45 What is the startup landscape in Nairobi Kenya? The small population and scarcity of talent and resources impact which businesses thrive.
• 18:45 What is M-Pesa and why is it such a big deal? M-Pesa is mobile money sent through text. It makes business safer and easier for Kenyans.
• 26:00 What are the biggest challenges to starting a business in Nairobi? Companies have to be solving an immediate, critical problem and avoid government corruption.
• 31:00 How does technology impact building a company in this ecosystem? The technologies that work are very simple and they solve a pertinent problem.
• 37:30 What will it take for people to get access to basic needs and address the Global Goals? Maurice talks about social impact companies that give people jobs while they address systemic problems.

Listen to this episode to learn how technology will revolutionize emerging markets by solving one simple problem at a time.

More details at http://www.globalgoalsproject.io/14-maurice-otieno/