Social Good Startup: Kopernik

Kopernik is one of the 8 finalists to Startups Good Challenge that was held about a month ago, sponsored by the good guys at Mashable, 92Y and UN Foundation. I tried to reach out to all of the finalists, however, only 5 responded – with one left the event early, before I had the chance to interview the founder.

The criteria:

“Startups that are building or using technology to make a positive impact on the world will compete for a chance to present at the Social Good Summit and win a $10,000 cash prize for their company.”

So this is the first social good organizations out of four (that I was able to have conversations with) that will be featured here. The lineup: Kopernik, Empower Energy, Simple Energy and the winner of this competition – a 19-yo kid, Sun Saluter.

In this interview, I talked with Toshi Nakamura, the co-founder of Kopernik, a social enterprise who’s also a member of Clinton Global Initiative. Toshi and I shares one thing in common: Indonesia. Oh well, his organization is based in Indonesia, and I was lifted from there. That’s about it.

The problem that they’re trying to solve is in the distribution of life-changing technology to the last mile in the developing country (read: the poorest). Think of this business as the online store for innovative technologies, i.e. technology like what you see from the picture above showing d.light lantern, which is one of the products available from their store.

South Korean President Talks Green to US Congress

         photo: Pete Souza – White House

Did Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid give hint to South Korean President to speak about green economy to members of congress? The President of South Korea, Lee Myung Bak, who is on a state visit to Washington this week – his speech seems to hit the chord at today’s Joint Session of Congress.

At the session, Lee Myung Bak talks about his country’s emergence to join the economic powerhouses of the world. Transforming itself from one of the poorest to the most dynamic economy. Think about for a sec. You probably know some of the household names here via technology or car, brands like Kia, Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. Those brands originated from Korea and branched out from there.

So. Korea is a small country, with only 48 million people in comparison to the U.S. with 312+ million in population. This is a country that have no natural resources and yet managed to become global top 10 economic power!

It’s very impressive, when you think about how they achieved that position – in just one generation. Why? Because, they prioritized education. 

DuPont Packaging Awards Show Sustainability Drives Innovation

DuPont made the announcement of the winners for their 23rd packaging awards yesterday. DuPont packaging awards dates back to 1986. “The awards is the industry’s longest running, global, independently judged celebration of innovation and collaboration throughout the value chain.”

And welcome to social media! Because I learned about it via @DuPont_ability (their witter account for their sustainability news) and the winners was announced through a global webcast.

5 Population Trends that can either Disrupt or Transform Your Business (and Career)

The 7 billion questions. According to National Geographic, by the end of 2011 our population growth will reach 7 billion. What are the consequences for the shift in population? How does population growth have an impact on business and career development? This is something that we all need to think about the implications of, as we witness the shifting of population growth and economic clout from developed to developing nations.

You might not realize that big corporations have ‘quietly’ building their presence at places, where they see having the most potential to grow in the emerging markets. Because they see that emerging markets is the place to go to maintain their growth.

20 Global Trends that can Have an Impact on Your Business

Whether you run a small, midsize or large company, some of the trends will have an impact on how you do business. The question is – how ready is your business?

“We are actually within the next 5 years that I would call the great transformation,” says Daniel Burrus, a futurist, in an interview with Dr. Maira Gunn of IT Conversations.

This is not something that you should be afraid of. Instead it should challenge you! It’s about how you manage risks, especially risks that you have no control of. And see how these challenges can actually help redefine your business via innovation.

So here we go.

1. Population growth

The world’s population is pushing 7 billion (6.914 billion) by end of 2011. Asia accounts for more than 60% of the world’s population with more than 4 billion people. China and India make up about 37% of the world’s population. The U.S. is third most populous countries in the world with 308,745,538 people, according to Census 2010.

2. Technology

Four things that can impact your business: internet, mobile technologies, smart phones, and social appsonomics.

3. The world is increasingly urban

The world’s is 50.5% urban. In the U.S. 22 of the 30 fastest growing metropolitan areas are located in the fifteen most populous states, according to City Mayors. Twenty-four out of 27 megacities in the world (cities with more than 10M people) by end of 2011, are cities located outside the U.S.

4. Water scarcity

Closest to home. One-third of all counties in the lower 48 – will face higher risks of water shortages, according to NRDC study. A new report by U.S. government finds that major rivers such as Rio Grande and Colorado could see reductions in flow up to 20 percent. Water is among top 5 environmental issues that are important to business.

5. The use of social media in the world

Facebook has a global audience more than 500 million users, which is bigger than some “real” countries in the world. In 2010, Twitter added 100 million new users. According to Pew, 73% of adult profile users use Facebook, 48% have profile on MySpace and 14% use LinkedIn.

6. Supply chain

The supply chain is so interconnected globally, if something happened in one place it can affect productions in other places. Take for example in the case of Japan’s impact for the world’s major industries after tsunami and earthquake. Toyota have to adjust their May production in North America, because of parts availability after the natural disaster.

7. Climate legislations

A recent study by the Graham Institute of Climate Change found a growing commitment for climate legislations in 16 major countries.

8. Reverse innovation

Reverse innovation is innovation adopted from emerging markets, first. Companies are developing products in third world countries before they bring them to the U.S. Emerging markets been the catalyst of growth that you see in the telecom industries. The concept of prepaid was unheard of before. Now Virgin, Boost, Cricket, AT&T are in the business of offering – prepaid phone services.

9. Demographics change

In the world, the average age: 28. Han Chinese ethic group represents about 19% of the global population. In the U.S., Hispanics is the fastest growing population. The recent 2010 Census counted 50.5 million Hispanics making up 16.3% of the population, which is up from 35.3 million in 2000. This segment of the population grew over 43% in the decade.

10. The rise of value-concious shoppers

This is the silver lining of global recession. 91% of respondents from 53 countries surveyed by Nielsen (registration req.), said that they’d continue to buy private label products. More than half of Americans (55%) said that purchased more private label brands during recession and 94% said that they’d continue buy private labels even after economic improves.

11. The business of helping the poor

In economic term, this is often referred to as base-of-the-pyramid. They are the largest and the poorest in world’s socio-economic group. In scale, 4 billion people in the world living on $1 per day! C.K. Prahalad says, that “corporate sustainability and inclusive growth of poor people in the global market will become inextricably linked.” Already there’s movement in saving the poor and making profit at the same time.

12. People power

Egypt. The rise of social consumers, social commerce. It’s more likely that people would listen to their friends’ opinion than brands.

14. Government regulations

15. Rising energy prices

16. Biodiversity, the pricing of nature

Biodiversity matters more to business execs than climate change, according to a survey by McKinsey. 59% of respondents viewed biodiversity as more of an opportunity than a risk for their companies. The United Nations is pushing to put price on nature.

17. Crowdsourcing

Wisdom of the crowd. You can crowdsource just about anything. Netflix $1M prize for creating better algorithm for recommending films. Kiva, is crowdsourcing microloans. Procter and Gamble, Nike, Starbucks, Dell, Best Buy, Threadless – these cos. have created digital platforms for their customers to help them with creating new products, etc.

18. Demand for organic food, products

 According to Global Organic Market Access, the global organic food and drink sales is projected to reach $60 billion. The North American market for organic food and drink continues to show healthy grow. It has overtaken European market this year to become the largest.

19. Social, open-source learning 

Khan Academy. Open Course Ware. Open Learning Initiatives.

20. Sharing

Sharing knowledge, you see this already happening via social networking, social publishing sites. Sharing things, yes. There’s a peer-to-peer car sharing solutions. ZipCar. Bikesharing.

There’s a lot more trends that we can think of.

What else do you see happening around you that can have profound impact on how you do business?

Lessons from the Top: How Top Performing Companies get Into Sustainability

A recent Sustainability and Innovation survey of global corporate leaders conducted by Boston Consulting Group and MIT Sloan Management Review, found that sustainability is at the core of many ot the top performing businesses. BCG and MIT surveyed more than 3000 business executives and managers and organizations from around the world. The survey captures insights from individuals in organizations in every major industry.

Point of entry: waste reduction and resource efficiency

These are initiatitives that companies can start working on. Waste reduction and resource efficiency are identified as the low-hanging fruit. Respondents put the two as priorities that help them run lean and efficient operations. It is measureable and it saves money.

Via MIT Sloan Review Management.

For Clorox, it was an entry point into sustainability. “We had done the measurement on footprint and the groundwork on projects so that people could buy into the greenhouse gas reduction, solid waste reduction and water reduction goals,” says Beth Springer, executive vice president of international and personal care at Clorox. “They could see the path.”

For Johnson & Johnson, resource management is also an efficiency measure that contributes to profitability. According to its 2009 Sustainability Report, between 2005 and 2009, the company completed more than 60 energy-reduction projects, representing $187 million in capital investments, which it expects will collectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 129,000 metric tons annually and provide an internal rate of return of almost 19%. The projects have so far generated about 247,000 megawatt hours of cumulative energy savings a year.

During the same period, Johnson & Johnson made a 32% cut in both hazardous and nonhazardous waste. “It’s been better for the bottom line, especially in terms of energy costs,” says Al Iannuzzi, senior director of worldwide health and safety at Johnson & Johnson. “Waste is cost to the corporation … and, of course, the less waste you send out of your gates, the less expensive it is to make your product.

The top drivers

From there, the embracers expand their practice to embed sustainability into their core values, because they see the link between sustainability and profit. Among the top drivers that support sustainability-related investments are:

• – Increase margins or market share.
• – The opportunity for greater potential for innovation in their business models and processes.
• – Access to new markets.

Click on image to see larger view.

Making it happen

The 7 habits of top performing businesses:

1. Move early – even if information is incomplete.

Be bold. Use your gut. This is a journey.

2. Balance broad, long-term vision with projects offering concrete, near-term “wins.”

It’s a balance between ambitious vision and areas of competitive advantage. The smart companies narrow their projects into those that they can produce early, show bottom-line results and practicality.

3. Drive sustainability top down and bottom up.

Sustainability must be driven not only from the top down, but also it must involve employees at all levels for ideas and insights from multiple sources.

4. Aggressively de-silo sustainability – integrating it throughout the company operations.

Top performers applied sustainability to all existing business processes.

5. Measure everything (and if ways of measuring don’t exist, start inventing them).

Establish baselines and develop method of assessments so that starting point can be identified and progress measured. Try to establish ways of quantifying the impact of sustainability on brand, innovation, and productivity.

6. Value intangible benefits seriously.

“Smart companies are realizing that conservation of natural resources they need is a fundamental part of risk management.” Coke and Pepsi realized that water is the key ingredient to their business. Water conservation is fundamental to their business, if they want to stay in business. Allow time to develop the ability to measure and understand fully – intangible advantages. Companies need to make investment decisions based on tangible benefits, intangibles and risk scenarios.

7. Try to be authentic and transparent – internally and externally.

Be realistic. Do not overstate motives or set unrealistic expectations. Communicate your challenges as well as your successes.

Dig deeper for Sustainability: The ‘Embracers’ Seize Advantage, here.

Chair Fabric Made of 80% Recycled Materials

Spotted this few weekends ago at a Safeway store. Cool chair made with fabric made of 80% recycled materials that include plastic bottles. That means, less plastic waste going to the landfill.

This is an example of what could be. You think Deer Park bottles made their way to make this product? Technically, they could. If they do, this eco-friendly chair can be their revenues generator and expansion to new markets (read: new customers). 

I checked Deer Park website. But couldn’t find any info about this particular product. In case you have some info about this product, drop me a line or let me know in the comment section. 

 

How Focus on Certainties can help Reinvent, Redefine Your Business, Career

“We are actually within the next 5 years that I would call the great transformation,” says Daniel Burrus in this interview with Dr. Moira Gunn of IT Conversations (Tech Nation). That’s kind of in-your-face prediction. Daniel Burrus is the author of the book “Flash Foresight.” (I haven’t read the book yet. However, listening to this conversation made me want to read it!)

The interview is thought-provoking. It brings certain conditions into perspective. Conditions that can impact the livelihood of either business or individual, if you ‘really’ care about your sustainability as a business or professional. Daniel Burrus, says “the future is where we’re going to spend most of our time.” Why not spend time thinking about it now?

The sure way to predict the future

The sure way to predict the future is by focusing on certainties instead of uncertainties. Things that you know will have bigger impact. For example, what do you think of the use of social technologies, will it go up? Yes or no? Yes, for sure. How about mobility? The number of people who’s buying smart phones? Growing or stagnant? The answer is: it’s growing.

Another one: population growth. According to National Geographic, world’s population soon will reach 7 billion people. Yes, you read that right. 7 billion people living on earth! How will this impact you, your job, your business?

 

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/sites/video/swf/ngplayer_syndicated.swf

 

The three certainties that can predict the future with accuracy, according to Daniel Burrus:  

1. Demographics

2. Technology 

3. Government regulations

That’s the big three.

Linking certainties with opportunities

There are other certainties that we can think of, i.e. people are living longer, that means we need to save more for retirement, stay healthy, etc. Figure out what this kind of certainty means to you. What are the opportunities if you are a financial professional or if you are in banking? Consumers are demanding more openness, transparency, access to better products, less toxic. If you are in the consumer products and haven’t made the move to clean products yet, this may be the time to create line of new products. Be innovative.

The same thing with access to (or scarcity of) fresh water, for human and business consumption. How does it impact you- say, if your key ingredient is water? You probably will need to start thinking about water efficiency – if you want to stay in business. Where’s the opening for your business? How do you keep the social license?

Some things are certain. The use of smart phones as replacement of a computer. Use of iPad in business. The growing number of users globally using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites. More people using social networking tools will have a big impact to anyone, business-wise or career-wise. Do you see how your company might need to have social presence to stay competitive, or even for branding? Do you need to retrain yourself in social media, so you can ‘keep’ your job? Etc. Okay, you get the idea.

That’s just a start.

I’m sure you can think of other certainties in your line of business or job that can help you see the invisible future  through the lens of opportunities.

So start thinking about it…

Once you know what “certain” things are growing in your line of profession or business, you can start envisioning the future and start looking for opportunities. 

Check out the rest: Flash Foresight.

The Business of Energy, Research and Innovation

I wanted to share some of the conversations that took place on another platform, Ecotwist. Last week, I had an opportunity to interview Dr. Gary Dirks (bio, PDF), who is the Director of Arizona State University’s initiative for light-inspired research, called Lightworks.

We talk about a whole range of issues from his work at ASU Lightworks, clean energy, research and innovation, to what he saw happening in Asia, where he spent 14 years as the head of BP Asia Pacific and China.

 

From the conversation, here is (transcript) of few topics that we touched:

 

Dewita: For our listeners give us the scope of the work at Lightworks?

 

Gary: I’d be happy to. LW is a university-wide initiatives that the President of the University asked me to lead when I retire from my position at BP. The idea that the President have in mind is that light being a very versatile phenomena of nature, would be important in many and the solutions to the many big problems the society faces going forward. Everything from telecommunications, and medicine through to the field that I’m most familiar with, and that is energy. And as you’re saying in your introduction, ASU been involved in light-related research across the broad range of field for many decades. So the idea behind LW is to draw together group of researchers in a very intradisciplinary way so we could take on some of the bigger challenges the society faces. In that regard we have on the technical side research going on in photovoltaics, concentrated solar thermal power. We do work on micro organism meaning photosythetic algae and photosythetic science of bacteria. We have research on artificial photosynthesis aimed at direct conversion of carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to fuel. And then we have a very active group of research that is also look at the business side of renewable energy and also policy and the social implications of renewable energy. So it’s a very broad portfolio.

 

Dewita: How many initiatives right now.. because you have so many things going on your Lightworks, how many initiatives Lightworks is focusing right now?

 

Gary: On the technical research side we focused on the next-generation photovoltaics. So devices get very high efficiency more than 30% of conversion efficiency. We also do work on algae, and algae is a photosynthetic micro-organism that is very efficient in converting sunlight into fuels, and we’re doing a lot of work on direct conversions of sunlight, meaning artificial photosynthetic. So on the technical side, we’re working on all of those areas. And it’s multiple teams in each case. So if you actually break it down we have several hundred researchers working on those areas.

 

Dewita: What stage are they in right now? I meant, how many years before become commercially available?

 

Gary: Well, it’s a very good question. Some of the researches is very basic, studying genes and how the genes end up affecting the way micro-organisms use sunlight to produce energy. Some of it is very practical. In fact, we have a spinoff company from our algae research, that is working on industrial scale system literally as we speak. They’re aiming to be a commercial producing commercial fuel in a couple of years. We have another spinoff company working on advance batteries and they’re in commercial production now. So it ranges from very basic research to things that are aiming to be on commercialization the next few years or so.

 

Dewita: You wrote something about “in America’s efforts to go green our Achilles’ Heel is transportation as cars, trucks, and buses represent 29% of U.S. Energy use.” How do you see the energy system in the U.S. and to change the habit going into renewable? There’s so much fighting moving into renewable energy..

 

Gary: It is complicated. There’s no question about that. And I would begin by saying that we have to view a transition into a more sustainable fuel as a journey. And the reason I say that is the current energy system is so large that it will take time for it to change. The fact that it is a journey does not mean we should wait to get started. In fact, we should start sooner rather than later, and I think there’s a number of things people can do now that will accelerate the pace for movement to more sustainable energy. The simplest thing that we can all do is use less. Look at the way we use our energy and ask the question.. ‘do I really need the lights on?’ ‘do I need that many lights?’ ‘could I combined trips in using my car?’ ‘am I using the most energy efficient car that can beat my lifestyle requirement?’ So I think the starting point is use less. Then with respect to newer form of energy, I really think public needs to say they want this. They need to say to their utility companies, “we like more electricity that comes from renewable resources.” They need to be saying to their elected representatives ‘support alternative to imported oil.’ Find ways for us to have options that we can use now. And options that will grow for us in the future. And the reason I put the emphasis on us, is because there are many things that we can do now, “if there was a political will to do it.” Now having said that I also believe that it’s important to continue the kind of research that we’ve been describing earlier so that technologies do improve…

 

Oh, there’s more to our conversation (than what you read here!). Check it out. You can listen to the full episode of “Solar Energy, Innovation and Research,” below (or you can download it, here).

 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eblogtalkradio%2Ecom%2Fecotwist%2Fplay%5Flist%2Exml%3Fitemcount%3D4&autostart=false&bufferlength=20&volume=80&borderweight=1&bordercolor=#999999&backgroundcolor=#FFFFFF&dashboardcolor=#0098CB&textcolor=#F0F0F0&detailscolor=#FFFFFF&playlistcolor=#999999&playlisthovercolor=#333333&cornerradius=10&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx?referrer_url=/profile.aspx&C1=7&C2=6042973&C3=31&C4=&C5=&C6=&hostname=DewitaSoeharjono&hosturl=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ecotwist

Listen to internet radio with Dewita Soeharjono on Blog Talk Radio

 

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FILED under: ecotwist, education.

5 Global Forces that Will Shape The Future of Your Business

Reasons for rethinking business as we go forward to 2011 and beyond. According to McKinsey Quarterly, there are five global forces that will shape the future of business and society that represents both opportunities and challenges. 

“These trends are important because each of them can create, reshape, or extinguish entire industries,” says Patrick Vigueri of McKinsey’s. (emphasis added)

1. The rise of emerging market as the center of consumerism and innovation.

2. The imperative to improve developed-market productivity.

3. Ever-expanding (and interconnected) global networks.

4. The tension between rapidly rising resource consumption and sustainability.

5. The increasingly larger role of the state as a business partner and regulator.

Watch the video. 

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/App_Themes/v2.0/swf/external_player.swf

For transcript, here.