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From the Blog

Aug
03

Investing in Girls’ and Women’s Education: A Smart Strategy for Development in Africa | U.S. Department of State Blog

Posted by brianrants at 1:54 pm

I’m sure many people are familiar with the Chinese proverb, “women hold up half the sky.” But, after meeting some of the dynamic and accomplished women from the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) last week, I’m convinced that, in Africa, they probably hold up 60 or even 75 percent of the sky!

The best solutions solve many problems: empowering women apparently is good for business and national security too! Read this great article…

via Investing in Girls’ and Women’s Education: A Smart Strategy for Development in Africa | U.S. Department of State Blog.

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Aug
03

Loyal customers infuse New Mexico Tea Co. with green – New Mexico Business Weekly

Posted by brianrants at 1:50 pm

Call it Conscious Capitalism, call it Social Entrepreneurship, but in this age of faceless multi-national corporations there is a movement to business that partners with communities rather than undermining them.

When New Mexico Tea Co. needed financial capital, they called on their extensive social capital:

Edwards owns New Mexico Tea Co. near Albuquerque’s Old Town. It sells a wide variety of bulk loose leaf teas. When his bank turned him down for a line of credit recently, he turned to the loyal customer base he has built over four years.

He sent an e-mail to the 3,800 people on his newsletter list in an effort to raise $5,000. Within about 48 hours, he had raised $10,000, made up of $4,500 in “microloans” and $5,500 in gift cards that can be redeemed starting in December for slightly more than their cost.

“You don’t really know how much the community cares about you until you ask for help,” Edwards said. “Most of them had never done anything like that. But most had never been asked.”

via Loyal customers infuse New Mexico Tea Co. with green – New Mexico Business Weekly.

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May
10

The barriers that Social Enterprise overcome – Sankalp 2010 at NextBillion.net

Posted by brianrants at 11:41 am

In many underserved communities, however, neither the invisible hand of the government nor markets cater to even the most basic needs of their members, resulting in structural and behavioral barriers to the community's growth and development. These barriers are addressed by products and services engineered by social entrepreneurs.

Social Entrepreneurship is an emerging and evolving concept. This article from an Indian Summit called Sankalp 2010 provides a great snapshot. It talks about what Social Enterprise is, an example in Mumbai of the “Dabbawallas,” and the need it fills.

via Reporting from Sankalp 2010 | Blog | NextBillion.net | Development through Enterprise.

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Mar
09

“Create Jobs in Continent, and All Else Will Follow”

Posted by brianrants at 1:52 pm

The Wall Street Journal recently asked eight prominent philanthropists and NGO executives how they would spend $10 billion to achieve the biggest and longest-lasting impact on the world's problems. All eight came up with great ideas, but the clear winner in my opinion came from leading Swedish businessman and philanthropist Percy Barnevik, who said he would use the money to unleash the entrepreneurship of the world's poorest citizens.

I’m with you Percy Barnevik

via allAfrica.com: Africa: Create Jobs in Continent, and All Else Will Follow.

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Jan
11

Fortunately few social entrepreneurs realize the madness of the journey when they start

Posted by brianrants at 1:51 pm

If starting a business is like climbing a mountain, then starting a business intended to make the world a better place is like climbing a mountain with a 200 lb backpack in a blinding snowstorm.

…Competitors can take short cuts and cheap shots and not worry about collateral damage.  But not “social entrepreneurs” out to better the world – we have the usual startup challenges, then spend countless hours designing new business models to support social welfare and planetary health, worry constantly that our model isn’t perfect, and then often pile on costly alternatives to the exploitive, cheap solutions our competitors use.

Fortunately, few social entrepreneurs realize the madness of their journey when they start.  We forge ahead, confident we can better the world, blind to the pitfalls that lie in our path.

Read more from this amazing article at: Trailblazers for Good – Lessons from Care2. As a social entrepreneur it was profoundly encouraging to me.

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Apr
12

Life Update

Posted by brianrants at 2:21 am

I have to admit…I feel like I'm spamming all of you.

However, I get this comment a lot when talking about what's been going on in my life: "Really, I never heard about that!"
So I'm going to risk inbox pollution and  tell you about a development in my life.

My Creative Director, Matt, has been working with eye9 for about 3 months. During that time time I've been working at the CU Foundation
(see many of you may not even know this)

Matt has decided to take another job opportunity, and I have decided to leave the CU Foundation and return to eye9 Design. My two biggest "professional" passions are entrepreneurship and art…and eye9 allows me to do both.

It's certainly a risk, I'm leaving a pretty comfy job and salary. But, read the quote below. That is a theme for my life

Ok, there I did it. This was really hard for me. I'm not a details person, but I realize it helps us all stay connected.

Love you all

–
Brian Rants
—
"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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