Opp Biz Dev

Microlending

This area of microfinance/microlending is a fascinating one.  Not sure I could tell you when or where I first came across the idea, but recently a friend recommended a book called "Small Change, How $50 Can Change The World" by Juriaan Kamp, editor of Ode Magazine.  Ode is one of my all time favorite publications (their motto/tag line is "For Intelligent Optimists"--I love that.)

I'm still reading Kamp's book, but so far I'm in love with the idea.  Basically, he gives real stories about how microlending is making poverty a thing of the past.  Small sums are loaned to people who typically make less than $30 per month (which is the World Bank poverty threshold).  90% or more of these loans get paid back.  That's incredible! 

More importantly, the money is being put to work by these individuals who are using it to buy a second milk buffalo, or put an hitherto unplowed field into use.

It's enough to make a chap wonder what the world could be like if we reached 100 million families (or 500 million people) with this sort of one-on-one sort of financial help, vs. giving the state all sort of "aide" which gets squandered, hoarded, or just has so many conditions put on it that it does little to no good for the individual people.

You know, there are no "countries".  There are only people who, together, make up what we have given "country" as a name.  In other words, if we are ignoring the needs of enough individuals, we have in turn turned our backs on the whole country.  Conversely, to raise the standard of living in a country, we must address the individual and his/her needs.

That is what I think makes microlending a solution where other forms of aide have failed.

Here are my ongoing research notes on this subject, with links back to sourced websites.  I'll be adding to these notes from time to time.

Meebo: Should Tech Start-Ups Begin In The Valley?

Here's an interesting POV on the value of booting up a techno-startup in Silicon Valley from the folks at one of my favorite online tools, Meebo.

Link: meeblog » meeblog.

From time to time, someone will call or write about turning one of their ideas into a startup. It’s always really fun to chat with folks like this… you get to hear some pretty nifty ideas, see what folks think are emerging areas, and just get to know someone new. One question that always comes up in these conversations is “do I need to be in Silicon Valley?”

Opp: Home Health

Parks Associates produced a white paper "primer" which caught my eye today.  It suggests that there is an opportunity presenting itself as a result of the innovations in medical and other technologies in the area of home healthcare.  It's an interesting look.  I'm sure they won't mind if I offer you just the tip of the iceberg here and then suggest you get the rest on their website (scroll down to "Digital Home Health--A Primer).

Home healthcare enters a new stage in the digital age. Previous care delivery models included paid nurse visits, traditional phone-based telemedicine applications, and assisted living/nursing homecare, each with its own problems. Traditional telemedicine has been marketed as a substitute for the other two models but with mixed results. The models using home visits by registered nurses and nursing homecare have been challenged by factors such as a nationwide shortage of experienced nurses and varying and uncertain reimbursement policies in both private health plans and public sources.

But technological advances are making over the home healthcare industry.

Ecolonomics

The topic "green", meaning the use of enviromentally-friendly products in the home or business, is gaining more and more attention these days.  And it's about time, too.  If we're lucky, we might yet reverse Earth's ecological tailspin, set into motion by our collective disregard for what is right not just convenient for ourselves this very instant.   

The good news in all of this may be there is probably tremendous opportunity in the green movement.   

"All Marketers are Liars"

Seth Godin (bio) is a smart mutha. Google knows this and so they had him speak as part of their Authors@Google program.  If you're a marketing buff, or have a reason to know something about marketing (hint: you sell anything including yourself to your significant other), you'll probably find this to be a pretty thought-provoking presentation.  If nothing else it will give you some info of comparable magnitude to what you already have studied, and that often can be itself worthwhile. 

Approx. 48 mins long.  Click the arrow to begin watching.  When you're done, click on Comments under this post and let me know what you think about his talk.  Personally my favorite part was the Hallmark story.

The Virtual Rockefeller

This is a pretty intersting article about innovative, online real estate environment.  It sounds a bit like a Neopets for grown-ups.

Link: Business 2.0 :: Magazine Article :: What's Next :: The Virtual Rockefeller.