Archives / 173 post/s found

Indian startup EmbroS develops 3D printed wearable travel aid for the visually impaired

by Iyas A
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Indian startup EmbroS is making a difference in the visually impaired community with 3D printing through their innovative product, Live Braille. Effectively replacing a walking cane with a remote sensor. See original article …

This sanitation startup in Kenya turns poop into a sustainable source of fuel

by Iyas A
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Great idea, turning faeces to energy briquettes. Not unique, but the challenges these guys had to overcome included giving their customers home addresses! Respect for persistence. See original article …

Does Gen Y Need to Get Over Itself at Work?

by Iyas A
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Or, Maslow’s hierarchy and why employers need to get over themselves and provide meaning at work. Summary There is an increase in people’s expectations and needs for their work to have meaning, and their employers to be doing more for society than increasing the bottom line. This is not restricted to Gen Y – it increasingly covers all generations, even though it is commonly attributed to Gen Y. If you want to compete for the best talent, your company will be much more appealing…

Student startup connects local farmers with city dwellers

by Iyas A
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This startup goes to farmers who have excess produce, and links them to local (likely well-heeled) suburbanites who want to eat local food. Great match, satisfies a need, stops waste, and reduces the environmental hazards of moving food. Good luck to them. A model that surely could be replicated in a lot of places. See original article …

Edinburgh universities support low-carbon startups

by Iyas A
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In Edinburgh, the town’s 3 main universities are collaborating to help support SMEs with a low-carbon focus. 200 products and services have emerged in the last 5 years. See original article …

30 years guarantee on a t-shirt. How’s that for sustainability?

by Iyas A
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Following on from Patagonia’s lead, a number of startups are now creating clothing designed not to be thrown away every season. One brand even has a 30 year guarantee! Fantastic to see clothing sustainability. See original article …
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What ONE Value Will Your Company Be Remembered For?

by Iyas A
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Summary Many companies have articulated a set of values. Their role ranges from covering stains on company walls to actually defining how the company does things. In most companies, one value reigns supreme. What that value is depends mostly on how the company is led and the authenticity of that particular value. Sometimes it is a value that isn’t articulated, but is the one that the founders or leaders demonstrate the most. Recommendation – take a hard look at the values your company…

How Culture Becomes Currency

by Iyas A
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… and how articulating values can hurt your company. Exec Summary Recent studies confirm that a positive culture has a direct impact on profitability. In addition, companies which have articulated values which they live up to outperform those that have none, while those that have articulated values which they fail to live up to underperform those that haven’t articulated any. Meaning it’s better not to talk about values if you can’t live up to them. At my last company,…

Startup aims to cultivate legit business skills in drug dealers

by Iyas A
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This startup aims to cultivate legit business skills in drug dealers. The founder, Bashaun Brown, is an ex-con who turned his shady business skills to good and is trying to get others to do the same. Funded by a grant for social entrepreneurship, he’s latched onto the need to get sustainable funding for his enterprise. I suspect it costs a lot less than locking someone up who’s more than likely to reoffend on release. See original article …

Singapore Helps Startups Focussing on Serving the Old and Mentally Ill

by Iyas A
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In Singapore, startups will be taken through a series of workshops including work with the aged and mentally ill, as well as user design and business planning, to come up with sustainable businesses to serve the sector. Those that make it to the last round will also get funding to get started. Great stimulus to socially focuses businesses. See original article …