Imagine a set of electronics as easy to play with as Legos. TED Fellow Ayah Bdeir introduces littleBits, a set of simple, interchangeable blocks that make programming as simple and important a part of creativity as snapping blocks together.
Ayah Bdeir is an engineer and artist, and is the founder of littleBits and karaj, an experimental art, architecture and technology lab in Beirut.
Aavishkaar is a pioneer in early stage investing in the country and has been active in the space for over a decade. We are guided by the fundamental belief that investing in
early stage entrepreneurial ventures can not only deliver commercial returns, but also bring about significant efficiencies and developmental impact to rural and underserved communities. Over time, Aavishkaar has built a track record of high impact scalable enterprises in its portfolio that span across seven key sectors, namely Agriculture and Dairy, Education, Energy, Handicrafts, Health, Water and Sanitation, Technology for Development and Microfinance and Financial Inclusion.
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Omidyar Network is committed to creating opportunity for people to improve their lives and make powerful, lasting contributions to their communities. Our efforts are organized around five initiatives: Consumer Internet & Mobile, Entrepreneurship,Financial Inclusion, Government Transparency, and Property Rights.
United by the principles of individual access, connection, and ownership, we look for solutions that enable people to access credible information and resources, connect with others around shared interests, and take constructive action on the issues that matter to them.
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Our mission is to create a world beyond poverty by investing in social enterprises, emerging leaders, and breakthrough ideas.
Our vision is that one day every human being will have access to the critical goods and services they need – including affordable health, water, housing, energy, agricultural inputs and services – so that they can make decisions and choices for themselves and unleash their full human potential. This is where dignity starts – not just for the poor but for everyone on earth.
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Be! Fund invests in young entrepreneurs in India, age 18-29, to pioneer businesses that solve problems they face in their lives. From water to waste, energy to shelter and crime, we believe young people who have grown up in poverty have enterprise solutions to the problems they face; they have just never been given the chance to solve them. We invest in businesses designed and proposed by young people who live in poverty.
We ask young people to apply to the Be! Fund through our partner’s mass media campaigns: Be! Movies aired on national television each ask young people to submit their enterprise ideas to the Be! Fund by calling or sending an SMS.
Young people who fulfill our criteria are taken through three levels of interviews, and they build a business plan that is then presented to the Investment Committee. If they succeed they receive an investment (not a loan).
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Hanjer Biotech Energies is a India based group with a proven track record of Solid Waste Processing using Multi-Product Recycling and Waste Minimisation (MPRWM). Hanjer’s decade long experience in multiple locations with varied climatic and weather conditions across India has perfected the process and technology that can be implemented and work successfully anywhere in the world. The principle of the process is to extract usable, commercially viable end-products out of the MSW and create a processed remnant of less than 20% of the input volume, for the landfills. Hanjer has 16 operating plants in India with total installed annual processing capacity of 2.95 million tonnes. 9 more projects with an additional 1.05 million ton processing capacity are in implementation stage.
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Fair trade is a market led solution to poverty which aims to use trade, not aid, to improve livelihoods for disadvantaged farmers and artisans and promote sustainability.
Shop for Change works to empower farmers, businesses and consumers to change the way India does business and make shopping fairer and greener for a more sustainable future:
Consumers: Shop for Change Fair Trade empowers consumers to make informed choices and bring about positive change, while still enjoying affordable, quality products.
Farmers and artisans: Farmers and artisans can join together and develop their farms and skills through education and training programmes, so they can work their way out of poverty, support their families and plan for a better future.
Businesses: Shop for Change Mark helps businesses make their products stand out as socially responsible and environmentally friendly.
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Lee Rhodes was just 32 when she was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer, a nightmare for anyone but a particularly grim diagnosis for a mother of three small children. After a long, hard battle and many rounds of grueling chemotherapy, Rhodes not only beat cancer but came up with a dream of helping other cancer patients.
The dream began from Rhodes’ sick bed, moved to the garage of her Seattle home and has since evolved into a successful business called glassybaby.
A truly unique and inspiring enterprise, glassybaby not only employs scores of artisans in Seattle — over 50 glassblowers at last count — but also gives a big portion of its revenue to cancer-related charities, over $850,000 and counting.
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The information for the same is available on IMC Website ( www.imcnet.org). The Rules and Regulations and the Form for Application are attached for ready reference.
The Award for the Winner is an amount of Rs 20 Lakhs, in a form considered appropriate by the Jury. In addition, Certificates will be presented to those who are short listed for Q & A Session with the Jury.
We do look forward to your sending nominations/spreading information.
No.J.20012/212003-CT
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS CLEAN TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
Project proposals are invited for financial assistance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the Financial Year 2012-13 under the Central Sector Plan Scheme on “Development and Promotion of Clean Technology and Waste Minimisation Strategies” for those projects whose primary research has already been completed and are ready for Pilot scale demonstration research on innovative technologies in the areas of highly polluting categories of industries. Main objective of the demonstration research projects is to standardize the data obtained after primary research to develop and demonstrate the suitability of the prototype and to study the feasibility of the technology in the Indian environmental conditions both from economic and scientific points of view. The purpose of the scheme is to assist primarily the Small and Medium Scale units which may not have access to the clean technology end the requisite technical expertise to achieve waste minimization.
Ten copies of the proposal complete in all respect and duly recommended by the Head of the Institutions may be submitted by the Research Institutions, both public and private, Registered Companies, Apex Industry Bodies /statutory bodies under Central or State Government in the field of R&D/Extension, with proven track record of having tie-up/collaboration with industries/consortiums of industries etc. The proposal should be related to 17 categories of highly polluting industries identified by the Central Pollution Control Board. However, projects related to common treatment facilities and infrastructure may also be considered. The nature of proposals supported should conform to the objectives of the Scheme and aim at development of a new or improved product resulting in prototype development and ending with demonstration In commercial environment, or development of a new or improved process resulting in establishment of process knowhow, development of process equipment and demonstration of yield, efficacy, energy and material savings/recovery, conservation of resources and waste minimization, environmental benefits etc.
The details of the Scheme and the format for application may be accessed at http://www.envfor.nic.in, by clicking at ‘Divisions’ below ‘about the Ministry’ and further clicking at ‘Clean Technology ‘Division.
For further details please contact: Dr. M. Salahuddin, Director (SE), Clean Technology Division Ministry of Environment and Forests, Room No, 743, Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi — 110 003, Tel: 011-24364595 (Tele Fax)
E-mail: m.salahuddin.nic.in
Web Site: www.envfor.nic.in
Last Date for Submission of Proposals: 20°’ July, 2012
We have a problem. A big one. Our farmers are dying. Our land is being poisoned. Our children are being forced into labour.
We need to solve this. ASAP!
Believe it or not, you are a part of the solution. Your choices, your principles, your tastes, your style…all matter. You matter.
And you can make a difference without even going out of your way. Let us show you how.
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The Maids’ Company is a social enterprise that aims to revolutionize the domestic housekeeping sector by improving service quality, while upholding the rights of domestic workers. Through our pioneering approach, our maids become co-owners in the enterprise and enjoy a fair share of equity. Naturally, the workers are motivated to provide a great service experience that ensures a satisfied client.
While the maids are guaranteed a steady income, worker protection and increased access to a range of well being initiatives and financial services, the clients stand to benefit by engaging with a company that is sensitive to their household needs, as opposed to the constant tussle with maids over several issues.
To gain an insight into the several issues that domestic workers face in India, we urge you to visit this page.
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Enterprisers.in 