Hemp Starter Kit: Back To The Roots Promotes Home Hemp Growing Kit
A new hemp starter kit gives families a chance to grow their own hemp at home.
https://ministryofhemp.com/blog/hemp-starter-kit/
Alumni News
Affirm, Kabbage, Tala — The Big Three of Online Loans
Tala is another interesting company that provides hi-tech and automatic loans.
https://bitnewstoday.com/news/affirm-kabbage-tala-the-big-three-of-online-loans/
Wecyclers Wins €200,000 Prize In Waste Management
Wecyclers, a Lagos-Based waste recycling company founded by Mrs Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola in 2012, has won the 2019 King Baudouin African Development Prize worth €200,000 (N104 million) for its development work in Africa.Herve Lisoir, Coordinator Africa and Developing countries, King Baudouin Foundation, told newsmen on Wednesday that Wecyclers won the prize for its contribution to solving waste management problems not only in Nigeria but Africa.
https://naijabizcom.com/2019/05/02/wecyclers-wins-e200000-prize-in-waste-management/
Wells-Goodfellow Vacant Parcels to Receive $1 Million in Rainscaping, Helping MSD Meet its Pledge to Reduce Stormwater Pollution
The installations will collect and manage about 2.4 million gallons of rainfall each year from a 6.9 acre area, slowing rainwater down and increasing infiltration to improve Mississippi River water quality. This project represents MSD and implementation partner Greenprint Partners’ push for equitable distribution of funds and high-impact rainscaping projects in underinvested areas.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b1490f731d4dfc24eb042a8/t/5ccb16e2ffd51600010bbb9e/1556813538578/Press+Release_+Vacant+Parcels+to+Receive+%241+Million+in+Rainscaping+Improvements.pdf
On Labour Day, we look at non-profits that equip workers against exploitation, ensuring fair pay and good working conditions
LabourNet is a social enterprise that enables sustainable livelihoods for men, women, and youth in urban and rural areas. Its three-pronged engine integrates social and business impact by bridging the gaps in education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
https://yourstory.com/socialstory/2019/04/labour-day-non-profits-welfare-fair-pay
No Ola or Uber? MoveInSync promises to get you a cab for your daily office commute exactly when you need it
This changed the DNA of MoveInSync from a 100 percent technology company to one that also concentrates on operations. Today, it manages a fleet of around 1,100 cabs.
https://yourstory.com/2019/05/ola-uber-challenger-move-in-sync-office-commute
New forest product plant owned by Komaza Forestry Limited to be unveilled in Kilifi
Komaza’s investments in smallholder forestry and entire value chain development has led to increased forest cover in the coast region with over 14,000 farm forestry players and 4,000 Ha planted by end of long rains 2018
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001322900/new-forest-product-plant-owned-by-komaza-forestry-limited-to-be-unveilled
5 Women-Owned Companies Revolutionizing the Zero-Waste Movement
“Living in North America you can easily separate yourself; you don’t see landfills or trash being burned. You don’t see waste in the ocean,” Rachel Faller, founder of Tonlé, tells Teen Vogue. “In Cambodia, you see the influx of trash from the way corporations design and manufacture products.”
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/zero-waste-movement-women-owned-brands
How 2 GWU alums are making meals cheaper for students — and bringing local restaurants business
Now they’re positioning their online marketplace to grow, to attack the food waste problem and help students who struggle to regularly afford meals. They recently got a shot in the arm from the New Venture Competition at GW, a pitch contest for resident startups to secure funding. And Last Call cleaned up.
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/04/24/how-2-gwu-alums-are-making-meals-cheaper-for.html
Big Win at SXSW by Sproutel, Slater and More
“I’m so very proud of our team for both awards, and they represent very different achievements,” said Aaron Horowitz, co-founder and CEO. “For me, the People’s Choice Award means a lot because it was chosen by all of the attendees. I was blown away by so many of the companies and products I saw at SXSW so this award, in particular, was a great honor.”
https://www.golocalprov.com/business/ri-tech-and-innovation-report-big-win-at-sxsw-by-sproutel-slater-and-more
TerViva’s $20 million financing tops recent funding news in Oakland
TerViva BioEnergy makes low-cost, tree-based feedstock for the biodiesel market at 10 percent the cost of corn-based ethanol. It restores productivity to idle agricultural land while generating clean energy, supporting local food production and restoring environmental health. Its non-GMO tree crop can be grown with little or no irrigation and produces oilseeds that are processed into oil for biofuel, plant protein for animal feed or biogas and biomass for baseload electricity generation.
https://abc7news.com/business/tervivas-$20-million-financing-tops-recent-funding-news-in-oakland/5258996/
These 5 New Startups Are Turning Heads And Changing Minds
Another household necessity that no one wants to talk about are sanitary pads. Periods are pretty much taboo conversation in most cultures, but Saathi Pads are hoping to change the “yucky” into the “yes!”. Saathi Pads are made from banana fiber, so they’re fully compostable and biodegradable. They also are free from bleaches and perfumes so you can easily say bye bye to that nasty pad rash.
https://feminisminindia.com/2019/04/17/these-5-new-startups-are-turning-heads-and-changing-minds/
Biosense: Low-cost medical diagnostic devices, for rural doctors
While volunteering in rural India 10 years ago with several NGOs, Abhishek Sen, a doctor, saw a large number of people suffering from non-communicable diseases but few ways to diagnose them. “There were several families suffering from serious non-communicable diseases. The male would be hypertensive, the female would be anaemic and the kids would be underweight,” recounts Sen, who along with Yogesh Patil, a classmate from TN Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai, and a doctor, decided to come up with technology to deal with the problem.
http://www.forbesindia.com/article/innovation-factories/biosense-lowcost-medical-diagnostic-devices-for-rural-doctors/53083/1
Affordable water disinfecting nano-silver paper filters
Folia Water has also just received a $400k contract from Unilever Global Innovation to prove the consumer sales recipe in partnership with the Unilever Bangladesh PureIt team.
https://makingprosperity.com/solutions-details/affordable-water-disinfecting-nano-silver-paper-filters
MIT D-Lab awards fellowships to six East African social entrepreneurs
EcoAct plastic timber is an affordable alternative to traditional timber, reduces the need for building material manufactured from wood, and helps to preserve forests and mitigate climate change.
http://news.mit.edu/2019/mit-d-lab-awards-scale-ups-fellowships-six-east-african-social-entrepreneurs-0416
Smog-busters: Dell uses ink made from pollution
Dell “discovered” Chakr during its 2018 Innovation Olympics competition. Explains Oliver Campbell, Dell Technologies Director of Worldwide Procurement & Packaging, Dell is constantly on the lookout for small companies with innovative new sustainable packaging technologies that it can nurture and support through its supply chain expertise.
https://www.greenerpackage.com/adhesives_coating_inks/smog-busters_dell_uses_ink_made_pollution
Customers Applaud 9mobile’s Iska Weather Service
Customer-focused telecommunications company, 9mobile, has said that its Iska Weather (forecast) service launched recently in partnership with weather forecasting portal, Ignitia, has gained impressive traction among the target users over the short period since its introduction.
https://businesspost.ng/2019/04/10/customers-applaud-9mobiles-iska-weather-service/
A Lagos School Now Accepts Waste Plastic Bottles As School Fees
In what will come across as a rather unbelievable development, a school in Lagos state now accepts waste plastic bottles as school fees.
https://www.kemifilani.ng/2019/04/a-lagos-school-now-accepts-waste-plastic-bottles-as-school-fees.html
Heard About The ‘Smart Kiosk’ That Is Empowering Disabled Women & Improving Lives In Rwanda?
Electricity was unavailable, or perhaps epileptic at best, in parts of Burundi, and his folks lived in an area that was particularly notorious for week-long blackouts. Thus, the locals had to make long trips to neighboring communities that were not as badly hit. And such journeys were not always fruitful – there were days that culminated in futility.
https://weetracker.com/2019/04/03/rwandan-entrepreneur-henri-nyakarundi/
Keurig Dr Pepper to distribute Runa Clean Energy drink
Runa hopes to build itself into the country’s top natural energy drink — and this partnership could help expedite that goal. Runa immediately gains access to Keurig Dr Pepper’s extensive distribution network. For AMI, working with Keurig Dr Pepper is a familiar one: the soda, water, tea and coffee giant already is a distributor of its Vita Coco coconut water beverage.
https://www.fooddive.com/news/keurig-dr-pepper-to-distribute-runa-clean-energy-drink/551772/
This Extreme Extrovert Started a Multimillion-Dollar Wellness Snack Company After Her Stint in the Peace Corps Was Cut Short
Lisa Curtis started her business, Kuli Kuli, on the basis of the benefits of the moringa plant, which is grown in parts of Asia and Africa. The plant also became her key selling point. But then she realized, after a friend’s suggestion, that her story should lead the way.
https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/This-Extreme-Extrovert-Started-a-13731665.php
TerViva Raises $20 Million
TerViva, an agriculture technology firm commercializing resilient pongamia trees that produce as much as ten times the beans per acre as soy for the supply of plant protein, vegetable oil, and biofuel raised an additional $20 million in its first close of its Series D funding and current commitments.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/terviva-raises-20-million-in-series-d-to-drive-product-development-and-market-expansion-300818243.html
Jim Sarbh Puts Spotlight On Planet Healers In India
The series Planet Healers on Discovery Channel will deep dive into the journey of how these start-ups are working out innovative technology led solutions to environmental hazards faced in India. One of the first featured companies will be Chakr Innovation, who has created world’s first retro-fit emission control device for diesel generators which can capture over 90% of particulate matter emissions.
https://thecsrjournal.in/jim-sarbh-puts-spotlight-planet-healers-india/
Recycling Startup, Wecyclers to Get N81.4 Million After Winning King Baudouin Foundation’s African Development Prize
Nigerian waste management startup, WeCyclers, has won the King Baudouin Foundation African Development Prize receiving N81.4 million (US$225,000) in funding.
https://technext.ng/2019/03/25/recycling-startup-wecyclers-get-n81-4-million-winning-king-baudouin-foundations-african-development-prize/
Water technology companies: Seven start-ups bringing tech to the tap
change: WATER Labs is creating a portable toilet that does not require water and evaporates 95% of sewage without using energy.
https://www.compelo.com/water-technology-companies/
The walk for water
The household consumer brand Nilkamal has launched the innovative “Water Wheel” in partnership with an American firm, Wello. The revolutionary (literally!) design allows women to easily transport the water in a rolling drum eliminating the need for head loading. It has a carrying capacity of 45 litres (more than 2X of traditional methods) and made of durable plastic to withstand long, uneven surfaces while keeping the water hygienic and uncontaminated. The product has been tested for over 2000 kilometres and is leak-proof.
https://www.firstpost.com/india/the-walk-for-water-6307081.html
Making a Difference — and Making Profits
While Tala has a strong mission, Siroya also wants to build a successful, for-profit company. She wants to transform lives and tap into the 3 billion potential customers in the emerging global middle class.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marissaperetz/2019/03/21/making-a-difference-and-making-profits/#36db3865529b
From Commander to Student to Fellow to CEO
“Prakash’s leadership role at Maternova evolved swiftly based upon his combination of strategic leadership skills and ability to execute tasks and decisions at all levels,” shared Wirth. “We have worked with many, many students, recent graduates, consultants, and colleagues, but Prakash’s immediate understanding of the mission and vision of the company and his business acumen stood out.”
http://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/from-commander-to-student-to-fellow-to-ceo/
A CCAFS-informed public-private partnership reaches 300,000 farmers with climate information
As a result of the trials, Esoko adopted a public-private partnership (PPP) business model proposed by CCAFS to allow the sustainable and equitable dissemination of CIS. The PPP is targeting farmers subscribing to the “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ) initiative introduced by the Government of Ghana as part of its measures to improve food security and employment in the agricultural sector.
https://reliefweb.int/report/ghana/ccafs-informed-public-private-partnership-reaches-300000-farmers-climate-information
Kuli Kuli Closes $5M Series B Funding to Make Moringa a Household Ingredient
Griffith Foods, the global product development company from Chicago, USA, led the round with eighteen94 capital, the Kellogg Company’s venture capital fund.
https://vegconomist.com/health/kuli-kuli-closes-5m-series-b-funding-to-make-moringa-a-household-ingredient/
Ingressive Capital is Investing in Africa and Its Tech Startups
Ingressive Capital just launched its venture fund and investing in Africa. The fund is interested in cutting $50-100,000 checks to pre-seed and seed stage founders building tech-enabled African tech startups.
https://www.blackenterprise.com/ingressive-capital-investing-in-africa/
Celebrating women innovators
Today, Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day. The local theme for this year’s celebrations is Empowering Women Through Innovative Approaches to Social Protection; a Pre-requisite for Inclusive and Sustainable Development. Owen Wagabaza brings you profiles of some Ugandan women whose innovations are changing the world for the betterNatalie Bitature, Musana Carts
https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1495630/celebrating-women-innovators
Confessions of a ‘Shark Tank’ loser
“I lost on ‘Shark Tank,’ and it’s one of the best things that ever happened to me,” Polon says.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/confessions-of-a-shark-tank-loser-210445470.html
Inside Tonle: San Francisco’s only zero waste clothing boutique
In just the past five years Rachel estimates her company has diverted 35,000 pounds of fabrics that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill, or worse.
https://abc7news.com/fashion/inside-tonle-san-franciscos-only-zero-waste-clothing-boutique/5164624/
Generating electricity for millions: Husk Power bolsters Modi’s dream of power to all
Opportunity, they say, lies in adversity. Manoj Sinha, CEO of Husk Power Systems, could well vouch for this adage when he recalls how he abruptly had to quit his plush job in New York to take over the reins of the company he co-founded in 2008.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/entrepreneurship/generating-electricity-for-millions-husk-power-bolsters-modis-dream-of-power-to-all/articleshow/68213635.cms
Here’re Top 10 Innovative Indian Companies by Fast Company
Delhi-based Chakr Innovation has secured the 6th position. The innovative startup has developed the world’s first retro-fit emission control device for diesel generators. It uses technology to reduce emissions from diesel generators and bring down air pollution levels.
https://www.indianweb2.com/2019/02/27/herere-top-10-innovative-indian-companies-by-fast-company/
Currently in Kenya about 8 million people lack hygienic sanitation, particularly where community members don’t have access to clean toilets. In Nairobi, a company is tackling the waste problem:
Fresh life toilets are a hygienic, clean facility and Sanergy are also creating a useable by-product from the waste. “Everyday we collect about 10 tonnes of waste from the community which we take to a central processing facility and convert into valuable by-product; such as pure protein which is very good animal feed used by farmers who have livestock.” – Edith Karimi.
https://www.kbc.co.ke/turning-waste-into-organic-fertiliser/
On the Record: Nicole Van Der Tuin ’07
Financial institutions are trying to reach those people as quickly and efficiently as possible and to offer them credit to be able to grow businesses, [and] basically it’s like a $5 trillion credit gap across emerging markets for small businesses. And so these financial institutions where I was working were struggling to scale and meet the huge amount of demand for credit from customers because they have really manual processes.
https://kenyoncollegian.com/news/2019/02/on-the-record-nicole-van-der-tuin-07/
Saathi is Fast Company’s third most innovative firm from India
Notably, biodegradable sanitary napkins manufacturer Saathi has come up as the third most innovative companies from India.
https://entrackr.com/2019/02/jiosaavn-oyo-fast-company/
Back To The Roots Expands With New Funding And Retail Growth
Back to the Roots, the fastest growing organic food & gardening company innovating the way families are connecting with food, announces today its $3M series C led by Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT), the country’s leading lawn, garden and pet company. Central was joined by new investor Blue Scorpion Investments, a NYC-based consumer-facing venture capital fund. Back to the Roots will be using the capital to fuel its growth as leaders in the indoor gardening market with over a dozen new products in que to launch in 2019 and thousands of new retail partners including Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale’s, Petco and Costco.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/back-to-the-roots-expands-with-new-funding-and-retail-growth-300799593.html