Shows
Impact at ScaleHard Truths About Building Climate Tech in Asia - Michael Gryseels Managing Partner Antares Ventures - EP 127In this episode of Impact at Scale, Zal Dastur speaks with Michael Gryseels, founder of Antares Ventures, a deep tech investment fund. Michael shares how a thesis-driven strategy helps identify and solve major challenges in Asia’s energy, healthcare, and water sectors. From transformers to renewables, Michael explores what it takes to make deep tech investments work and why commercial focus, research, and founder partnerships matter for scaling impactful solutions.
2025-06-2045 min
Impact at ScaleBottling a Star: Rewriting the Rules of Fusion - Al Simpson - COO OpenStar - EP 126In this episode, Zal Dastur speaks with Al Simpson, COO of OpenStar, about the race to bring fusion energy to life.They discuss why the company’s differentiated levitated dipole approach might be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.They explore the difference between fusion and fission, why fusion is often called the holy grail of clean energy, and how OpenStar’s approach is simple, safer, and more scalable than traditional fusion concepts. Fusion energy isn’t just a lab experiment anymore. It’s a serious candidate for powering the world by the early...
2025-06-0534 min
Impact at ScaleEP 125 - Amy Carter-James - CEO Raaise - #1 Mistake Founders Make Raising Climate CapitalIn this episode, Zal Dastur speaks with Amy Carter-James, CEO of Raaise, a platform designed to help pro-planet startups raise capital with confidence and clarity. Amy shares her journey from running an eco-resort in Africa to impact entrepreneurship and offers a candid look at the challenges founders face when fundraising for climate solutions. From understanding investor psychology to the importance of storytelling, this episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, investors, and anyone passionate about scaling climate tech.
2025-05-2134 min
Impact at ScaleEP 124 - Anthony DeOrsey - Cleantech Group - Unlocking Limitless Power: The Promise of the Energy TransitionIn this episode of the Impact at Scale podcast, Zal Dastur sits down with Anthony DeOrsey, Research Manager at CleanTech Group, to explore the future of sustainable innovation. They delve into the CleanTech Forum Asia and the group's mission to promote cutting-edge technologies, while emphasizing the importance of positive narratives around sustainability. The conversation touches on emerging trends in electric mobility, energy, and AI-powered solutions for data centers. Anthony also highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by political shifts, localized solutions in developing markets, and the crucial role of critical materials in the energy transition.
2025-05-0747 min
Impact at ScaleEP 122 - Nadya Hutagalung - Sustainability Advocate - Journey From MTV VJ to Sustainability SuperstarIn this engaging conversation, Zal Dastur speaks with Nadya Hutagalung, a renowned sustainability advocate and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environmental Program. We explore Nadya's multifaceted work, the importance of inner resilience in driving sustainable change, and the tools necessary for emotional well-being. Nadya shares her journey from the entertainment industry to environmental activism, emphasizing the impact of individual actions and the need for collective responsibility in addressing climate issues. The discussion also delves into the shifting corporate mindsets needed for sustainability, managing climate anxiety, and the power of media in advocacy.
2025-03-1954 min
Impact at ScaleEP 119 - Adrien Desbaillets - CEO Salad Stop - Shifting Food Towards SustainabilityIn this episode of the Impact at Scale podcast, Zal Dastur speaks with Adrien Desbaillets, CEO and co-founder of SaladStop, about the evolution of the food industry towards sustainability and health.
Adrian shares insights on how SaladStop started as a response to the demand for healthier food options in Singapore and has since integrated sustainability into its core mission.
Adrian discusses the need for businesses to adapt to the next generation of consumers who are increasingly aware of their health and environmental impact.
The conversation explores the challenges of changing consumer behaviour, the...
2025-02-0634 min
Impact at ScaleEP 118 - Ryan Schermerhorn - Partner Marshall, Gerstein & Borun - Fast Track To US Greentech PatentsIn this episode, Zal Dastur interviews Ryan Shermahorn, a patent attorney and partner at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, to explore the critical intersection of climate change, clean technology, and intellectual property.
They dive into the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program, which accelerates the patent process for climate-focused innovations, highlighting how this program can benefit startups and smaller companies.
Ryan explains why securing patents is essential for attracting investors, safeguarding innovations, and mitigating risks from patent trolls and counterfeiters.
The conversation also unpacks the challenges of protecting AI-related patents, strategies for navigating international markets, and...
2025-01-2227 min
Impact at ScaleEP 117 - Martijn Lopes Cardozo - Partner Regeneration VC - Insider's Look at Climate VCIn this episode of Impact at Scale, Zal Dastur speaks with Martijn Lopes Cardozo, a partner at Regeneration VC, to uncover how climate venture capital is shaping a sustainable future. They dive into the principles of the circular economy, revealing that only 7% of materials are recycled—a stark call for change.
Martijn highlights how Regenerative VC targets consumer climate tech investments and tackles underfunded climate sectors with innovative business models.
The discussion emphasizes the importance of de-risking investments through corporate collaboration and securing customer validation as a cornerstone of startup success.
Martijn also sh...
2025-01-0939 min
Impact at ScaleEP 115 - Jeremy Bentham - Co-Chair World Energy Council - Smart Business, Smart Policy and Smart PoliticsIn this week's episode of Impact at Scale with Zal Dastur, we are doing a deep dive into energy with my guest, Jeremy Bentham, the Co-Chair of the World Energy Council.
Jeremy discusses the critical themes surrounding the energy transition, including the role of the World Energy Council, the need for a shift in perception regarding energy transition, the importance of aligning various factors for successful implementation, and the potential of nuclear energy.
We also explore the geopolitical aspects of energy planning, the size and impact of the energy system, the evolving role of fossil...
2024-11-1949 min
Impact at ScaleEP 115 - Joel Tasche - Founder Cleanhub - Waste Always Finds The Cheapest DisposalImpact at Scale with Zal Dastur discussed all things waste management with Joel Tasche, the founder and co-CEO of Cleanhub. Cleanhub brings waste management services to areas with inefficient systems, aiming to keep plastic out of the environment and create local jobs.
Joel shares his company's mission to tackle plastic pollution at scale and emphasizes the importance of strong partnerships and building relationships with local partners and communities. He also discusses Cleanhub's business model, which involves partnering with consumer goods brands to sponsor the cleanup of plastic waste.
Joel...
2024-11-0742 min
Impact at ScaleEP 101 - Richard Youngman - CEO Cleantech Group - The Greatest Economic Opportunity Of Our Lifetime.This week, I am releasing The Impact at Scale Podcast with Zal Dastur early because I wanted this episode with Richard Youngman, CEO of Cleantech Group, to be out before the CleanTech Asia Forum taking place this week in Singapore.
In our conversation, Richard and I discuss his organization's role in supporting global Cleantech innovation. They provide research, data, and consulting services to help corporates, investors, and the public sector engage with startups addressing climate and environmental challenges.
Richard explains that the Cleantech industry has evolved significantly over the...
2024-05-0641 min
Impact at ScaleEP 93 – Ben Horton – Dir Earth Observatory Singapore – It Is What We Do Now That Determines the Future of the EarthIn this episode of Impact at Scale, Zal Dastur, your host, dives deep into the sobering reality of climate change with Ben Horton, Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore. We confront the stark truth of science's struggle to communicate the urgency of the crisis to policymakers and the public. Ben unpacks the daunting challenges of prioritizing carbon reduction in decision-making, emphasizing the critical need for a swift transition to renewable energy.
Beyond technical solutions, the conversation delves into the psychological dimension, exploring the role of behavioral change in addressing the crisis. Ben emphasizes the importance of...
2024-01-2450 min
Impact at ScaleEp 88 - Steve Hoy & Grant McDowell - Co-Founders of Enosi - Clean Energy + Lower Cost + Consistency of Supply is the goalImpact at Scale had a great conversation with Steve Hoy and Grant McDowell the founders of Enosi.
Enosi is an energy traceability solution enabling households and businesses to buy energy directly from solar and wind farms. Technology that will become more important as consumers start to demand their energy comes from renewable sources.
Steve and Grant are both at the forefront of the energy transition and we talk about how that is progressing and how much longer we have on the journey to 100% clean and renewable energy.
They are strong advocates for giving...
2023-10-1933 min
Impact at ScaleEP 87 - Simon Schillebeeckx - Co-Founder of Global Mangrove Trust and Handprint - Make it easy for anyone to do, then you can change the worldImpact at Scale had a chat with Simon JD Schillebeeckx the Co-Founder of Global Mangrove Trust and Handprint. Both of these organizations work towards preserving the natural ecosystems around the world.
Simon is in a unique position of being both an academic at Singapore Management University and an entrepreneur which gives him an interesting perspective on sustainability. His combination of science-backed research along with business practicality allows him to contribute positively to both aspects of his life.
Some of the topics that Simon covered:
What an academic entrepreneur is
The contradiction...
2023-10-0551 min
Impact at ScaleEP 86 - Dr Darian McBain - CEO Outsourced Chief Sustainability Officer Asia - Lack of Experienced Sustainability TalentThe Impact At Scale Podcast had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Darian McBain, CEO of Outsourced Chief Sustainability Officer Asia and a Visiting Professor in Practice with LSE.
Darian has a wide range of experience covering sustainability in companies as diverse as healthcare, agriculture and even a central bank. This gives her a magnificent perspective on the way sustainability impacts the economy from various angles.
Her insights into what companies can do to improve their sustainability processes have led her to start her latest business and this conversation covers a wide range of topics...
2023-09-2146 min
Impact at ScaleEP 85 - Sonia Weymuller - Co-Founder and General Partner VentureSouq - As Long As We Are Walking In The Same Direction, That Is All I Care AboutThe Impact at Scale Podcast had a lively and exciting conversation with Sonia Weymuller Co-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouq.
VentureSouq is a Dubai-based venture capital fund with a global portfolio. They manage thematic funds, with a current focus on FinTech and ClimateTech.
Sonia got her start in investing by organizing what would become one of the largest private investment syndicates in the Middle East. She talks to us about her usual journey to being a VC and how she feels about
Some of the...
2023-07-1940 min
Impact at ScaleEP 84 - Jeremy Lee - CEO & Founder at SimplyGood - 1 Year of Cleaning Supplies in an EnvelopeImpact at Scale got to discuss the world of sustainable cleaning products with Jeremy Lee, CEO & Founder of SimplyGood. SimplyGood is a cleaning product supplier that has developed an innovative new way to package a traditional product.
Jeremy started the company during covid when cleanliness and hygiene came into sharp focus. He realized we were wasting so much space and energy in the transportation of cleaning products when most of the product was actually water. He felt there could be a better way.
Some of the topics that Jeremy...
2023-07-0426 min
Impact at ScaleEP 83 - Konstantin Popovic - Founder of Impact3P - Create Win-Win-Win SenariosImpact at Scale got the chance to sit down with Konstantin Popovic the founder of Impact3P a consultancy that helps businesses turn their sustainability journey into a competitive advantage by aligning people, planet, and profit. KP believes that all companies need to be sustainable businesses and that doing so will be good for their business. Increasingly stakeholders such as customers and employees want.
Some of the topics KP talked about
Midlife awakening
How we can make marketing part of the solution
Approaching Sustainability from a business standpoint
Employees want to work for c...
2023-06-0134 min
Impact at ScaleEP 82 - Barak Ekshtein - Founder of TONTOTON - We Cannot Do It Alone, We Need To Go All TogetherImpact at scale caught up with Barak Ekshtein the Founder of TONTOTON. TOTOTON is a plastic credit solution for non-recycled plastic. Choosing to focus on the hard-to-recycle plastic that typically gets left behind in the current recycling system. So far they have collected and treated more than 2,513 tons of orphan plastic and are growing every day.
Barak was inspired to start this business when he noticed the growing amount of plastic that we could not recycle and wanted to do something about it—developing an economy around cleaning up orphan plastic and creating jobs fo...
2023-05-1834 min
Impact at ScaleEP 81 - Nishchay Chadha - CEO ACE Green Recycling - Recycling Makes the Local Ecosystem for Materials Self ContainedThe Impact At Scale Podcast enjoyed talking about the recycling industry with Nishchay Chadha the CEO of ACE Green Recycling. ACE is a green battery recycling technology company that has sustainable solutions for both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries and is developing clean technology solutions for other metallic waste streams.
Nishchay started his career in the mining industry where he experienced firsthand the impact that it had on the planet. This was where he first got a view of the recycling space and saw that there was an opportunity in this fast-growing market to develop...
2023-05-0429 min
Impact at ScaleEP80 - Renat Heuberger - CEO & Co-Founder South Pole - You can be Profitable when Protecting the EnvironemntImpact at Scale got the chance to talk to Renat Heuberger the CEO and Co-Founder of South Pole. South Pole develops and implements comprehensive emission reduction projects and strategies that turn climate action into long-term business opportunities for companies, governments and organisations around the world.
Renat has been in the sustainability space for a long time and we talk about some of the stories from the early days of South Pole and how he feels the world needs to change it's perspective on what success is. Renat is a firm believer that people should...
2023-04-2027 min
Impact at ScaleEP 69 - Brice Degeytar - Founder at Bizsu - I Would Rather Aim High and Miss Than Aim Low and HitThe Social Innovation Podcast had a great chat with Brice Degeytar the founder of Bizsu which has set an impressive goal of reducing 1 million tons of CO2 by 2027. They intend to do this by helping businesses reduce the energy required to cool buildings and offices.
We discussed everything related to air-con and cooling and just how big an impact this has especially in Asia. Brice has a tool that any building can easily deploy on existing systems to reduce the energy requirements to cool any property.
Some of the topics Brice covered:
Bizsu's goal...
2022-10-1923 min
Impact at ScaleEP 68 - Matt Ward - Partner and Syndicate Investment Lead, 4Ward VC - The Biggest Heart and the Biggest Hustler on Your Cap TableThe Social Innovation Podcast sat down with Matt Ward a Partner and Syndicate Investment Lead at 4Ward VC. 4Ward.VC is a sustainability-focused investing syndicate.
In this episode, we asked Matt all the questions that early-stage companies would want to ask about raising money from investors. If you have recently started a company or are thinking about doing so, this is a show you don't want to miss. Matt gives great advice for companies that are looking to raise their Seed or Series A funding.
Some of the details that Matt discussed:
Team, TAM, a...
2022-10-0528 min
Impact at ScaleEP 67 - Dharsono Hartono - CEO of PT Rimba Makmur Utama - Good Intentions and Wanting to HelpThe Social Innovation Podcast sat down with Dharsono Hartono, the CEO of Rimba Makmur Utama. Rimba Makmur Utama manages the world's largest nature-based solution generating more than 7 million tonnes of carbon credits annually.
Dharsono is an EY Entrepreneur of the year, a World Economic Forum Sustainability Pioneer, a Schwab foundation social entrepreneur of the year, and in 2022 won the YPO Global impact award. Dharsono has been working on this project for more than 15 years and he talks to us about the power of nature-based solutions, the importance of working with local communities as well as the challenges o...
2022-09-2134 min
Impact at ScaleEP 66 - Alex Budak - Faculty at UC, Berkeley and Author of Becoming A Changemaker - Influence Matters Much More Than AuthorityThe Social Innovation Podcast spoke to Alex Budak, a University of California, Berkeley faculty member and the author of Becoming A Changemaker. "Becoming a Changemaker is a radically inclusive playbook for leading positive change...Budak is driven by the belief that anyone—regardless of title, personality, race, gender, age, or class—can be a changemaker"
Some of the topics Alex and I discussed:
Alex’s Ah-Ha moment
The importance of change at the grassroots level
Community and changemaking VS heropreneurship
Alex’s path to teaching changemaking at UC Berkeley
What is flow?
Sneak peek of findings from stud...
2022-09-1443 min
Impact at ScaleEP 65 - Marc Allen and Grace Sai - co-Founders, Unravel Carbon - The Main Stakeholder Is the PlanetThe Social Innovation Podcast spoke to Marc Allen and Grace Sai, the co-Founders of Unravel Carbon. Unravel Carbon is enterprise software that helps companies track and reduce their carbon emissions, focusing on Asia's supply chains.
Some of the topics that Marc and Grace covered:
The existing 92 different carbon accounting software solutions
How competing regulatory environments complicate the problem
Unravel Carbon's goal to reduce 5% of global carbon emissions
SaaS plus Service business model
The necessity for Asia to be the leader in emissions reduction
Why all countries have to go net zero
Other titles we considered...
2022-09-1140 min
Impact at ScaleEP 64 - Erika Balzarelli - Founder of The Sustainable Smallholder - The Transformative Lever of Co-creationThe Social Innovation Podcast spoke to Erika Balzarelli the Founder of The Sustainable Smallholder, an innovation studio that focuses on helping smallholder farmers become sustainable, commercial suppliers.
From her years in the field, Erika shares with us an understanding of the needs of farmers on the ground. Her passion for what she does shines brightly in this conversation along with her inspiration to contribute to making a change, "The woman effect" and the power behind co-creation.
Some of the topics Erika covered:
The challenge of reaching more than 525 million farmers
Her unique B2B2F...
2022-09-0335 min
Impact at ScaleEP 63 - Dr. Farshad Shishehchian - CEO of Blue Aqua - 75% of Our Food Should Come From the OceanThe Social Innovation Podcast thoroughly enjoyed its conversation with Dr. Farshad Shishehchian, the Founder and CEO of Blue Aqua International. Blue Aqua combines the art and science of farming to build a sustainable, new world.
Some of the topics that Dr. Farshad covered:
Born in Iran/Azerbaijan
Obtaining a Ph.D. in shrimp farming
Fishing versus farming and the importance of replacing what is caught
If we want to tackle food security, we need to eat Tilapia
Why salmon and shrimp dominate the finance of fishing
Ecosystems below 10,000 meters
Other titles we considered for this e...
2022-08-2648 min
Impact at ScaleEP 62 - Tiffany Tong - co-Founder and CEO at Aloi - Seeing How Data Positively Impacts People Is a Dream Come TrueThe Social Innovation Podcast was recently introduced to Tiffany Tong and after a quick chat, we knew we had to have her on the show. Tiffany is a co-Founder and the CEO of Aloi, a tokenized, digital-loan platform that powers affordable finance for micro-entrepreneurs.
Some of the topics that Tiffany covered:
Studying Development and Agriculture at University
How small-holder farmers manage a large part of natural resources globally
Aloi's mission and reason for being
Farmer success stories and what it actually feels like to the farmers that benefit
Proving the platform with Standard Chartered and getting...
2022-07-2035 min
Impact at ScaleEP 61 - Carolin Barr K. - Founder of susGain - Local Is the Starting PointThe Social Innovation Podcast spoke to Carolin Barr K., the Founder of susGain. susGain is a social enterprise on a mission to connect better the different eco and socially-conscious stakeholders in Singapore to accelerate the change towards a more sustainable nation. susGain's rewards app nudges and incentivizes consumers in Singapore to adopt more sustainable lifestyle habits.
Some of the topics we covered with Carolin:
How her work in behavioral science helps her understand how to drive behavioral change
The importance of cultural norms and social influence
Culture is an important part of her identity
What influences h...
2022-07-1633 min
Impact at ScaleEP 60 - Evelyn Tay - foodpanda - It’s Not a Trend, It’s a Paradigm ShiftThe Social Innovation Podcast was fortunate to have Evelyn Tay, VP, Communications and Public Affairs, Sustainability - APAC, at foodpanda on the show. What made this even better was recording in the foodpanda offices in Singapore.
Some of the topics Evelyn discussed:
Her father’s immigrant story from China to Singapore
Multilingualism as a competitive advantage
Saving 900 million pieces of plastic cutlery as a result of one decision
The importance of building a community around what you do
The need to have continuous dialogue with the drivers and riders
Internal feedback sessions as an integral part of...
2022-07-0643 min
Impact at ScaleEP 59 - Marina Tran-Vu - Founder of EQUO - I Went Into the Startup World Completely BlindThe Social Innovation Podcast was joined by Marina Tran-Vu, the Founder of EQUO. Derived from the words ECO, meaning not harmful to the environment and STATUS QUO, meaning an existing state or condition, EQUO stands for the ideal of creating products with minimal impact to the environment.
Some of the topics that Marina and I discussed:
Leaving a high-paying job and going 'back' to Vietnam
Living quite an unsustainable life prior to founding EQUO
The grass straw and deciding to commercialize them globally
Starting a business during a recession
Building a sustainable AND fun brand
European e...
2022-06-2945 min
Impact at ScaleEP 58 - Lily Dempster - Founder & CEO at One Small Step - Change Does Not Happen on a Linear BasisThe Social Innovation Podcast welcomed Lily Dempster, the Founder & CEO at One Small Step. One Small Step is a mobile app with tailored programs to help you cut your carbon footprint. It employs behavioural science to make green living simple, easy and fun.
Lily started her career working in the Prime Minister's office before realizing she could have a bigger impact by helping people make changes on an individual basis. She has always viewed success in terms of the positive impact she is having on the planet. It is clear from the way she speaks that she i...
2022-06-2336 min
Impact at ScaleEP 57 - Max Nelen - Founder & CEO at Agros - Close Your Eyes, Make the Jump and See Where You LandThe Social Innovation Podcast spoke to Max Nelen the CEO and Founder of Agros about all things farming and agriculture. Max moved from being a management consultant to talking to smallholder farmers all over Southeast Asia to try and find a solution that works for them to lower their carbon footprint. He takes a farmer-first view for his business, ensuring that all of his solutions are driving value for the farmer, first and foremost.
This episode was guest-hosted again by Zal Dastur. Zal, has been an entrepreneur for the last 14 years and has turned his attention to...
2022-06-1030 min
Impact at ScaleEP 56 - Samridh Goyal - Founder & CEO at Solar Horizon - Nations of Energy "Prosumers" Not Just ConsumersThe Social Innovation Podcast had a great discussion with Samridh Goyal, the Founder & CEO of Solar Horizon. Solar Horizon is a full service solar project consultancy operating in South East Asia and India with a mission to help companies unlock the full value of their rooftops by harnessing the power of the sun. Sam comes with a wealth of experience having been in the solar industry for more than a decade. In this conversation we talk about the future of solar in South East Asia and we cover the next big thing in solar, decentralized energy creation.
T...
2022-05-2332 min
Impact at ScaleEP 55 - Mayur Singh - a co-Founder at Green Collective - Choose Your Own RouteThe Social Innovation Podcast was joined by Mayur Singh, a co-Founder at Green Collective and a Founding Partner at IxSA.
Mayur truly embodies the title of this week's episode. From a young age, he has chosen his own route both in what he wanted to study and in his career. Coming from a background in investment banking, Mayur has combined his love of sustainability and a for profit mindset to develop a retail as a service concept in Singapore.
This week's episode is guest hosted by Zal Dastur. Zal, has been an entrepreneur for the...
2022-05-1227 min
Impact at ScaleEP 54 - Mick Liubinskas - co-Founder at Climate Salad - A Trillion Positive DecisionsThe Social Innovation Podcast had the chance to talk to Mick Liubinskas, a co-Founder of Climate Salad, an online community dedicated to fostering and developing the climate and sustainability industry in Australia. Mick shares with us what made him leave the tech world and commit to climate and how we can all look around and ask, "What more can I be doing?".
This episode is hosted again by Zal Dastur. Zal, has been an entrepreneur for the last 14 years and has turned his attention to helping solve the climate crisis in the best way he knows how...
2022-05-0432 min
Impact at ScaleEP 53 - Marie Cheong and Quentin Vaquette - Founding Partners, Wavemaker Impact - Approach Carbon in the Same Way You Approach DollarsThe Social Innovation Podcast sat down with Marie Cheong and Quentin Vaquette, two of the founding partners of Wavemaker Impact, to talk about solving the climate crisis through impactful businesses. Wavemaker Impact is a fund and a venture builder looking to grow companies that can earn $100 million in revenue and abate 100 megatonnes of carbon per year.
This week's episode is guest-hosted by Zal Dastur. Zal, has been an entrepreneur for the past 14 years and has turned his attention to solving the climate crisis in the best way he knows, helping for-planet businesses develop and grow. As an...
2022-04-1338 min
Impact at ScaleEP 52 - Shamini Dhana - Founder and CEO at Dhana, Inc. - They Saw Chaos at Its BestThe Social Innovation Podcast had such a wonderful conversation with Shamini Dhana, the Founder and CEO of Dhana, Inc. and the CEO at D/Sphere. Dhana Inc. is a fashion tech company, transforming customer experience from zero-waste designs to social and environmental impact through Circular Fashion. D/Sphere is the creative fashion platform for people to create clothing using second-life materials, share stories while doing good in the world.
Some of the topics that Shamini covered:
Recording on an auspicious day and naming her company after her father
Growing up in Singapore
How working for the g...
2022-03-0441 min
Impact at ScaleEP 51 - Edward Booty - CEO at reach52 - How Do We Act In a More Inclusive Way?The Social Innovation Podcast was joined by Edward Booty, the CEO at reach52. reach52 delivers health services in markets others don't reach.
Some of the topics Ed discussed:
Encouraged by his father to travel after graduation from university
Traveled to India among other countries
Worked at a pharmaceutical company in Bombay creating new business models for emerging markets
How even some of the people that join reach52 just assume that basic services exist everywhere
According to a WHO report, half the world lacks access to essential health services
The chronic shortage of healthcare workers
Rural areas...
2022-02-2734 min
Impact at ScaleEP 50 - Chaitali Patel - Chief Impact Officer at 100 Women in Finance and the CEO of EverGood - From Success To SignificanceThe Social Innovation Podcast enjoyed the opportunity to talk to Chaitali Patel, the Chief Impact Officer at 100 Women in Finance and the CEO of EverGood. EverGood seeks to help the world’s most innovative, resourceful, and mission-driven organizations plan, measure, and communicate their impact.
Some of the topics that Chaitali discussed:
Immigrating from India to the United States as a 17-year-old
Falling in love with finance because it was part art and part science
The difference between her computer classes and finance classes
Transitioning from FinTech and finance into impact and sustainability
Having a short-lived desire to...
2022-02-1036 min
Impact at ScaleEP 49 - Brandon Ng - AMPD Energy - You Need Materials, You Need Labor and You Need EnergyBrandon Ng, a co-Founder and the CEO of AMPD Energy, was kind enough to join the Social Innovation Podcast. AMPD Energy is committed to making the construction industry emission-free and sees electrification and connectivity as a key part of this transformation.
Some of the topics Brandon discussed:
His parents were both accountants and encouraged him to be one as well
Was born in Brunei
While interning at an accounting firm, realized he was wired to be an engineer
Started AMPD in 2015 and started focusing on the construction industry in 2018
The cost of batteries kept going down
Th...
2022-02-0435 min
Impact at ScaleEP 48 - ShuFen Lin - An ex-Startup Founder Deeply Interested in AI & Climate Change - It's Everybody's ResponsibilityThe Social Innovation Podcast thoroughly enjoyed its conversation with ShuFen Lin, an ex-startup founder deeply interested in artificial intelligence and climate change.
Some of the topics that ShuFen discussed:
Working from home and work/life integration
A work-life that encompassed corporate, startups, and back to corporate
Worked in the telco business for 15 years
Left corporate life to start Gluu - a marketplace for trading mobile data
How she got interested in artificial intelligence
The implications of AI and our own awareness of its implementation
The importance of AI literacy and personal responsibility
The International Energy Agency...
2022-01-3133 min
Impact at ScaleEP 47 – Fengru Lin – Founder and CEO of TurtleTree – It’s Just Because of the CheeseThe Social Innovation Podcast was joined by Fengru Lin, the Founder, and CEO of TurtleTree. TurtleTree believes that "Food should nourish and delight." They envision "a world where people, animals, and the planet no longer have to pay the price for the meals on our table..."
Some of the topics that Fengru covered included:
Working at Salesforce and Google prior to starting TurtleTree
Learning how to make cheese
Listening to a speech her co-Founder Max gave at Google
Filed for patents in 2019 and then founded TurtleTree
How the cow population has remained constant but milk output ro...
2022-01-3134 min
Impact at ScaleEP 46 – Nabeel Ismeer – MPWRNRGY – It’s Gotta Be an Across-The-Board ApproachWe were joined by Nabeel Ismeer, a co-Founder of MPWRNRGY (I think it needs more vowels.) and the author of "The Hunters Walk." MPWRNRGY develops, installs, and operates green technologies like solar power on rooftops of commercial and residential properties and electric vehicle charging stations at carparks and other locations.
Some of the topics that Nabeel discussed:
The story of how his Sri Lankan father got a job in Saudi Arabia
Why being early matters
The Hunter's Walk - his first book
The IPCC and what its mission is
Climate change
Where we get pre-satellite era h...
2022-01-3131 min
Impact at ScaleEP 45 - Steve Melhuish - Planet Rise - The Biggest Problems Are Where the Largest Emissions AreSocial Innovation Podcast was super happy to be joined by Steve Melhuish, Founder PropertyGuru, Sustainability Advocate & Investor, and a co-Founder of Planet Rise. Planet Rise believes that climate and social inequality are the biggest challenges facing humanity today. It supports companies solving these issues, using tech to achieve impact at scale.
Some of the topics Steve and I covered:
Hiring a CEO at PropertyGuru in 2018 and remaining on its Board
Packing for a flight for the first time in 2 years
The beginnings of his climate and social impact journey
The critical role that corporates play in c...
2022-01-3132 min
Impact at ScaleEP 44 - Aliza Napartivaumnuay - CEO at SocialGiver - Always Be the One That Starts FirstAliza Napartivaumnuay joined me on the Social Innovation Podcast to talk about Socialgiver, of which she is the CEO. Socialgiver is a platform that is pioneering new ways to connect and use the spending power of consumers to create positive change in the world.
Some of the topics that Aliza and I discussed:
How growing up all around the world helped shape her
Her membership in the Obama Foundation
Working in logistics and supply at a Thai corporate and what it taught her
What is Socialgiver, why it was founded, and what it is trying to a...
2022-01-3135 min
Impact at ScaleEP 43 - Jan Ivar Czaplicki - CarbonClick - I Think I Am Leaning Towards OptimisticThe Social Innovation Podcast was happy to have a conversation with Jan Ivar Czaplicki, a co-Founder of CarbonClick.com and an Edmund Hillary Fellow. CarbonClick has built the world's simplest and most trustworthy carbon offsetting system to accelerate the fight against climate change. CarbonClick has built innovative, new ways for businesses and individuals to neutralize their impact on the planet as part of their everyday lives, aiming to have a significant and measurable impact in the fight against climate change.
Some of the topics that Jan and I covered:
How and why he became an Edmund H...
2022-01-3128 min
Impact at ScaleEP 42 - Sushil Vaishnav - Founder KNP Arises - We Are Trying to Break This ChainThe Social Innovation Podcast learned a lot from its discussion with Sushil Vaishnav, the Founder of KNP Arises. KNP Arises is a revolutionary startup that is at the forefront of building a green world. KNP Arises collects used cooking oils and fats from restaurants and then converts those oils into bio-diesel.
Some of the topics we covered with Sushil:
When he returned from 8 years in Dubai, was worried about eating out in India
Something just felt wrong with the food
Realized that one of the issues was with the reuse of cooking oil
Some of the fo...
2022-01-3126 min
Impact at ScaleEP 41 - Sylvia Yu Friedman - Author, Award-Winning Filmmaker and Serial Entrepreneur - A Long Road to JusticeThe Social Innovation Podcast enjoyed talking to Sylvia Yu Friedman. Sylvia is a renowned Author, Award-Winning Filmmaker, and Serial Entrepreneur. Sylvia has devoted her life to exposing the world to the horrors of sex trafficking and human slavery and inspiring others to join in fighting against them.
Some of the topics that we discussed:
Sylvia's involvement in media since 1997 and her perspective on omnichannel
How she first learned about sex slavery and comfort women from a newspaper article in 1991
The genesis of her first book, "Silenced No More: Voices of ‘Comfort Women’"
The intensity that is neces...
2022-01-3135 min
Impact at ScaleEP 40 - Matthew Friedman - CEO of The Mekong Club - We Need to Leave It Better Than We Got ItThe Social Innovation Podcast was excited to welcome Matthew Friedman, the CEO of The Mekong Club, back to the show. The Mekong Club is a catalyst for change, inspiring and engaging the private sector to lead in the fight against modern slavery.
Some of the topics we discussed this time around:
How Corporate Social Responsibility led to ESG
Why institutions now must include Purpose along with Profit, Growth, and Prestige
ESG offers an objective way of measurement
For ESG measurement to become as effective as possible, there has to be more standardization
Investment companies are also ta...
2022-01-3131 min
Impact at ScaleEP 39 - Sandeep Aneja and Jetu Lalvani - Kaizenvest - What Problem Are They Trying To Solve?The Social Innovation Podcast was honored to have Sandeep Aneja and Jetu Lalvani, Managing Partners at Kaizenvest on the show. Kaizenvest is an emerging markets asset manager focused on the future of learning and work, managing private equity and private debt funds in South & Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Kaizenvest believes that the future of learning and work is being redefined through technological, pedagogical, and learning-engagement model innovations.
Some of the topics Sandeep and Jetu discussed:
After a successful career in Silicon Valley Sandeep returned to India
Sandeep ran into Jetu who was already running the G...
2022-01-3147 min
Impact at ScaleEP 38 - Gautam Godhwani - Managing Partner at Good Startup - Once I Looked I Couldn't Look AwaySocial Innovation Podcast welcomed Gautam Godhwani, a Managing Partner of Good Startup, to the show. Good Startup is a venture firm focused on the alternative protein sector. It invests in entrepreneurs creating the next generation of food and materials companies.
Gautam moved to the United States with his family when he was 10 years old and settled in Silicon Valley. Surrounded by technological innovation, Gautam studied Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to found three startups prior to building Good Startup. His first startup was sold to Netscape while his third company (Simply Hir...
2022-01-3132 min
Impact at ScaleEP 37 - Paul Ark - Gobi Partners - Do Less BadThe Social Innovation Podcast sat down (virtually) with Paul Ark (Polapat Arkkrapridi), an Advisor at Gobi Partners. Paul has had an incredible and incredibly varied career, spanning investment banking, retail, venture capital, and philanthropy. Suffice it to say that Paul and I had a great conversation filled with thoughtful insights and ideas.
Some of the topics Paul and I discussed included:
Beginning his career as an investment banker helped him build skills he could use for the rest of his career
Being responsible for Central Group's China market entry and M&A
Building out a retail pr...
2022-01-311h 02
Impact at ScaleEP 36 - Regina Larko - #Impact - Making Magic Happen With AudioThe Social Innovation Podcast was joined by Regina Larko, the Founder, Host, and Producer of #impact Podcast. #impact is a "podcasting community built for and by visionaries making positive impacts by sharing stories that deserve to be heard."
Some of the topics Regina discussed included:
Being very much attuned to her 8-year-old self
Why Regina was always interested in #impact
Regina's unbridled optimism for making the world a better place
Growing a community and interacting with listeners
Making early mistakes and learning from them
Why Regina thinks podcast seasons are good (Can I still release weekly? i...
2022-01-3148 min
Impact at ScaleEP 35 - Andre Menezes - co-Founder and COO at Next Gen Foods - We Are Pushing Towards a More Sustainable DietThe Social Innovation Podcast was recently joined by Andre Menezes a co-Founder and the COO of NextGen Foods. NextGen Foods is passionate about using plants to create food experiences so delicious and satisfying, it will make you forget why animals were used for food.
Some of the topics we discussed:
Starting his first company as a 12-year-old and building a web presence for a car dealership
Living in Germany for a month as a teenager and building a global worldview
How he studied engineering but learned he did not want to be an engineer
Working as a...
2022-01-3141 min
Impact at ScaleEP 34 - Annette Werth and Jeffrey Char - SOGO Energy - Everything Is Linked to EnergyThe Social Innovation Podcast was recently joined by Annette Werth and Jeffrey Char, co-founders of SOGO Energy, and the CTO and CEO respectively. SOGO Energy believes that energy ventures in emerging markets have the power to create valuable, scalable businesses. However, despite solid business models and fast-growing customer acquisition, they struggle to raise the money they need to sustain such growth. SOGO Energy was birthed to invest in these local ventures and partner with them on management, technology, and funding.
Some of the topics we discussed:
Annette's introduction to the energy sector and building a solar fri...
2022-01-3134 min
Impact at ScaleEP 33 – Matthew Friedman – CEO of The Mekong Club – Human Trafficking Was Not Even a TopicThe Social Innovation Podcast was honored to have Matthew Friedman, the CEO of The Mekong Club on the show. The Mekong Club is a catalyst for change, inspiring and engaging the private sector to lead in the fight against modern slavery.
If you listen to this episode and are not moved, I do not know what WILL move you.
2022-01-3142 min
Impact at ScaleEP 32 - Neha Mehta - FemTech Partners - Amplify the Voice of Females In TechThe Social Innovation Podcast had an inspiring conversation with Neha Mehta, the Founder of FemTech Partners.
Neha is a Lawyer and Fintech professional, specializing in Digital Financial Services, financial inclusion, payment systems, anti-money laundering, and terrorist financing (AML/CFT). She has worked with financial regulators across key Asian markets and assisted in developing effective policies to support diversity and inclusion.
Some of the topics we covered were:
Neha's work for VSO and financial inclusion for female farmers in Bangladesh
bKash and the financial inclusion it represents
The impact of COVID on women and how...
2022-01-3134 min
Impact at ScaleEP 31 - Peetachai (Neil) Dejkraisak - CEO of Jasberry - I've Never Seen a Single Farmer in Any of Those MeetingsThe Social Innovation Podcast had the honor of speaking with Peetachai (Neil) Dejkraisak, the CEO of Jasberry.
Neil and Palmmy were MBA students in 2011 when they learned that Thai farmers were among the poorest in the world, earning just $0.40/day, as a result of poor yield, rising costs, and inefficient agricultural systems. This problem affects 17 million farmers in Thailand alone and it is getting worse as farmers’ debts have tripled in the last decade resulting in a multitude of social problems.
Wanting to create a sustainable, scalable, and irreversible solution to such a problem, they fo...
2022-01-3144 min
Impact at ScaleEP 30 – Louis-Alban Batard-Dupre – Food Waste Fighter at Yindii – It Was the Tip of the Iceberg When It Comes To Food WasteThe Social Innovation Podcast spoke to Louis-Alban Batard-Dupre, the founder and Food Waste Fighter at Yindii. Yindii is a marketplace connecting Bangkok restaurants and cafes’ surplus to consumers at discounted prices. It reduces Thailand's food waste and its carbon footprint, one meal at a time. The team at Yindii believes that food consumption can have a positive impact on the planet if managed properly.
Clearly, Food Waste and concerns about it are not merely a passing trend.
Some of the topics that Louis and I discussed include:
Louis' introduction to the startup world in Fra...
2022-01-3138 min
Impact at ScaleEP 29 - Lin Hwang - co-Founder and CEO of DamoGo - One Third of Food That Gets Produced Never Gets EatenThe Social Innovation Podcast had the pleasure of speaking with Lin Hwang, a co-Founder and the CEO of DamoGo, a platform that helps reduce food waste by helping retailers and farms sell their unsold food and produce at a discount before it gets thrown away. Lin is an extremely experienced food-tech entrepreneur dedicated to making a positive impact through reducing food waste.
Lin and I discussed the following topics:
How he thought he wanted to be an Investment Banker until he visited his father's newly purchased seafood processing plant and saw a massive opportunity to digitize t...
2022-01-3029 min
Impact at ScaleEP 28 - Yuha Jin - CEO at Tella - Having To Instantly Respond Is Where You Get FrozenThe Social Innovation Podcast had the pleasure of speaking with Yuha Jin, the CEO and co-Founder of Tella.
According to Yuha, "Tella is short for "TellAfreeca"; a team that started out with the social mission of creating knowledge-based jobs in East African countries for university-educated youth. When my co-founder and I visited some East African countries, we experienced a totally different Africa than what the media portrayed (hunger, illiteracy, unskilled, etc).
We saw that hundreds of thousands of university graduates could speak at least 2-3 languages fluently. Yet most of them were jobless (83% of graduates...
2022-01-3027 min
Impact at ScaleEP 27 - Chris Fong - co-Founder of FefiFo - How Technology Can Move Farmers from Subsistence to ProfitabilityThe Social Innovation Podcast had an incredible conversation with Chris Fong, a co-Founder, and Chief Innovation and Strategic Growth Officer at FeFiFo. At FeFiFo, Chris is spearheading co-farming as a new model to disrupt and democratize the US$159b contract farming industry with a mission to make sustainable, profitable, smallholder farming commonplace.
Chris is passionate about affecting change for the better through process and technology innovation. He has strong business acumen and is also familiar with a wide spectrum of technologies both mainstream and emerging. In particular, he is interested in technology-driven innovation that decentralizes and disintermediates e...
2022-01-3031 min
Impact at ScaleEP 26 - Scott Salandy-Defour - co-Founder at Liquidstar - How Can a Platform Help Deliver Affordable and Sustainable Energy to the Unnelectrified Masses?I had the pleasure of speaking with R. Scott Salandy-Defour, a co-Founder of Liquidstar.
Liquidstar offers a new category of energy distribution, utilizing Waypoint charge stations to deploy smart batteries for beyond-the-grid electrical power distribution. Liquidstar’s vision is to leapfrog off-grid markets to the ‘wireless’ battery-powered sustainable ecosystems of the future - solving energy access challenges for the powerless 1.1 billion and providing electricity for essential services during grid destroying disasters.
The core Liquidstar Decentralized Autonomous Utility (DAU) platform strings together various innovation layers provided by expert partners to manage the charging and distribution of source...
2022-01-3040 min
Impact at ScaleEP 25 - Hannah Thinyane - Principal Research Fellow - United Nations University Institute, Macau - How Can We Use Technology To Support Migrant Workers In Vulnerable Situations?The Social Innovation Podcast spoke to Hannah Thinyane, a Principal Research Fellow at the United Nations University Institute in Macau. Hannah leads the Migrant Tech Research Project. Since 2016 she has led a multi-disciplinary team, innovating and inventing ICTs to support proactive and consistent screening of workers in situations of labour exploitation and human trafficking.
She has over 15 years of academic and practical experience in the area of mobile computing, ICT for development, and human-computer interaction. During this time, she has undertaken applied computing research, conceptualizing, designing, developing and rolling out systems for underserved areas in Africa and...
2022-01-3039 min
Impact at ScaleEP 24 - Bethany Jinks - Founder of Zoobie - The Pet's Health and Welfare is ParamountThe Social Innovation Podcast had a fabulous conversation with Bethany Jinks, the Founder of Zoobie. Bethany was raised in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria. In her own words, she has always been obsessed with animals which she says comes straight from her parents. You can hear the passion in her voice when she talks and when she says her love for animals is "in her blood", you know she means it. Bethany tells a great story about how her father once saved a young pig named 'Oinkle' from greyhound racing.
"Zoobie is an...
2022-01-3030 min
Impact at ScaleEP 23 - Anne-Marie Brook - co-Founder Human Rights Measurement Initiative - Building Human Rights LensesIn this episode of the Social Innovation Podcast, Michael Waitze was joined by the esteemed Anne-Marie Brook, a co-Founder of the Human Rights Measurement Initiative. Anne-Marie is a trained economist and holds a Masters Degree in Economics from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. She spent the better part of 20 years working as an economist including almost 6 years at the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and almost a decade between the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the New Zealand Treasury. Anne-Marie knows her stuff.
It was while she was in Paris working at...
2022-01-3028 min
Impact at ScaleEP 22 - Azalea Ayuningtyas - Du Anyam - I Want To See the Impact Directly from What I DoThe Social Innovation Podcast had a fabulous conversation with Azalea Ayuningtyas, the co-Founder and CEO of Du Anyam. Du Anyam is the leading ethical craft brand in Indonesia with a vision is "to empower women, promote culture, and improve livelihood." Azalea originally intended to be an academic after receiving a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan and a Masters Degree in Epidemiology from Harvard University's School of Public Health.
However, during a field study in India, she had an experience that changed her career perspective. While interviewing a young woman in her hom...
2022-01-3028 min
Impact at ScaleEP 21 - Troy Prince - Wall Street Bound - IQ and Talent Are Equally Distributed, Opportunity is NotQuote: "Being In This Skin Is the Only Way to Really Experience It"
You simply have to listen to the conversation I had with Troy Prince. Troy is the Founder of Wall Street Bound, an education and training organization focused on the recruitment, exposure, licensing, and placement of inner-city youth into front office intern positions on Wall Street. Troy is also a graduate of the prestigious Bronx High School of Science and the NYU Stern School of Business.
Troy and I talked about what it was like growing up in a strong, close-knit, education-focused family in...
2022-01-3029 min
Impact at ScaleEP 20 - Michelle Jamieson - Green Door Solutions - The Door Opened to These Incredible AdventuresI was joined by the esteemed Michelle Jamieson, Communications and Change Consultant at Green Door Solutions. Michelle has traveled the world and is currently based in Toronto, Canada. Apparently, Canadians love to talk about the weather, which I did not know. Hockey, I knew...but the weather was new to me.
Although born in Calgary, Michelle is definitely a third-culture kid...OK, not SO much a kid anymore, but you know what I mean. Her father is Canadia and her mother is from India. When Michelle was going into the 8th grade, her father (Walter Jamieson) got a job...
2022-01-3031 min
Impact at ScaleEP 19 - Jessica Camus and Mark Blick - Diginex Solutions - The Full Remit of ESGThe Social Innovation Podcast had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Camus and Mark Blick of Diginex Solutions. Mark and I had a conversation about a year ago. Jessica also has an incredibly strong background and a deep interest in development issues. Jessica is originally from Haiti and grew up in Switzerland where she studied International Relations. She has advised International Organizations and Corporates primarily in emerging markets on Social Impact Strategies, Impact Investing, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance Issues). One of the issues that Jessica observed was that it was difficult for these institutions to scale their impac...
2022-01-3040 min
Impact at ScaleEP 18 - Adrian Tan and Greg Tan Tze Kai - co-Founders SGAssist - It’s All About Keeping CalmI had a great conversation with Adrian Tan and Greg Tan Tze Kai to start SG Assist. These are two guys that quit good-paying jobs to build SG Assist in response to a family medical problem that Adian Tan experienced. Greg comes from an Oil and Gas background while Adrian is a supply chain expert. Although neither of them had any medical experience, after long chats in the canteen while they were performing reserve military service in Singapore, they realized that the problems that Adrian was experiencing were likely pervasive.
If you listen to Adrian and Greg tal...
2022-01-3023 min
Impact at ScaleEP 17 - Anthony Moorhouse - co-Founder EarthTech Ventures - Creating Pathways to Scale Up Those IdeasAnthony Moorhouse, a co-Founder of EarthTech Ventures, started his career in the Special Forces of the Australian Army as a counter-terrorism commando. A frequent traveler, Anthony found himself at an airport and picked up a book by Richard Branson that talked about entrepreneurship...a word with which Anthony was unfamiliar at the time.
Anthony became obsessed with the idea that you could literally build something from scratch, from a blank sheet of paper. He realized that a 'blank sheet of paper' was literally the most exciting thing in the world for him. This was literally the beginning of...
2022-01-3029 min
Impact at ScaleEP 16 - Nick Kengmana - GoBeyond - Infinite Growth In a Finite World is UnsustainableI had the opportunity to speak with Nick Kengmana in the studio at True Digital Park. Nick is a co-Founder of Go Beyond and is committed to building a community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs and helping them change the world. We had a pretty amazing conversation ranging from the impact of mechanized farming on society to the evolution of capitalism, with a bit of religion sprinkled in.
We also discussed how technology companies employ strategies to encourage dopamine hits and the differences between them and serotonin, which is sometimes called the ‘happy chemical’. We touched on the topic of th...
2022-01-3032 min
Impact at ScaleEP 15 - Mark Blick - Diginex - The Question Used to Be, “Do You Employ Slaves?”Often the best articulation of the future is presented as a continuation of the past…
I had a great conversation with Mark Blick, the Head of Government, Blockchain Technology at Diginex. Diginex is a global blockchain solutions company based in Hong Kong. They really focus on two broad themes, Financial Services and a Solutions and Advisory Business. Mark focuses on the intersection of where regulatory change and policy frameworks meet with private sector implementation.
Mark and I spent a lot of time talking about a project he and the team have been working on for th...
2022-01-3033 min
Impact at ScaleEP 14 - Jeppe Mariager-Lam - People In Need - Use of Technology in a Humanitarian ContextJeppe Mariager-Lam is originally from Denmark. He is currently the Technology and Innovations Manager at People in Need in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He first came to Cambodia after his wife got her Master's degree in International Development and got an internship with an NGO in Phnom Penh. This was actually Jeppe’s first time out of Europe.
His first job in Cambodia was working in a project management role for a software agency called Golden Gecko that was developing websites and apps for European clients. Work went well and Jeep got promoted to a senior position pretty qu...
2022-01-3032 min
Impact at ScaleEP 13 - Sovan Srun and Maes Sak Pheng - Edemy - Think of It as a FitBit of LearningSovan Srun and Maes Sak Pheng join the series on social innovation in Cambodia to discuss Edemy, their award-winning social enterprise. The Tesdopi learning app developed by Edemy recently won the Cambodia Total Startupper of the Year award and Sovan Srun won the Top Female Entrepreneur Award.
After returning from the USA where they were Fullbright scholars, they turned to develop Edemy, which has the mission of equalizing “access to quality learning for everyone everywhere." To achieve this mission they combine their expertise in "education and technology to create a holistic learning experience".
They launched Ede...
2022-01-3038 min
Impact at ScaleEP 12 - Channe Suy Lan - InSTEDD iLab - We Need to be Faster than the Disease SpreadingAs part of our series on social innovation in Cambodia, we talk to Channé Suy Lan the Managing Director of InSTEDD's Southeast Asia iLab in Phnom Penh. InSTEDD stands for Innovative Support to Emergency Diseases and Disasters. It was founded by Larry Brilliant, who while working with a team to eliminate smallpox in India envisioned how technology could play a vital role in early disease detection and response. In 2006 he presented his vision in a TedTalk, which won the year's TED Prize and he used the prize money to launch InSTEDD. In 2008 they opened InSTEDD’s first iLab in Phn...
2022-01-3031 min
Impact at ScaleEP 11 - Thavry Thon - Seavphovjivet Publishing - You Can Design Your Own DestinyIn this episode, we are joined by Thavry Thon for an inspiring talk about education, literature, and social change in Cambodia. Thavry is the author of several children's books and a Proper Woman. She is also the co-Founder of the Seavphovjivet, a publishing house dedicated to supporting Cambodian authors and inspiring young people through literature. Thavry also tours the country speaking to young people about the value of education and taking control of their destiny.
The conversation begins with Thavry discussing the influence of her parents. She explains, “my parents believed in education, and told us it wa...
2022-01-3036 min
Impact at ScaleEP 10 - Tara Dermott - IOM X - Engaging With Young People Was a PriorityMichael Waitze spoke to Tara Dermott about how IOM X is using media to support safe migration experiences and stop trafficking and the exploitation of the vulnerable.
Originally from the USA, Tara Dermott moved to Thailand as a Peace Corps volunteer 14 years ago. Stationed in the Northeast of Thailand near the Cambodian border, Tara learned about issues related to migration, leading her to work at IOM X as the program leader.
IOMX is an off-shoot IOM (International Organisation for Migration), which is the UN’s migration agency dedicated to humane and orderly migration, providing services an...
2022-01-2740 min
Impact at ScaleEP 09 - Aung Thura - Myanmar’s Rapidly Changing Mobile Media LandscapeIn this episode, Michael Waitze and Daniel McFarlane talk to Aung Thura about Myanmar’s rapidly changing mobile media landscape. Aung is the Chief Strategist at Ignite Marketing Communications and, with a team of researchers around the country, he is in an ideal position to provide insight into the rapidly changing media landscape.
The pivotal year was 2013 when the telecommunications market was liberalized. In the past, SIM cards could cost a staggering $2000-$3000 USD, but with the liberalization of the market, SIM card prices dropped and mobile phone ownership rose. In 2014, Ooredoo from Qatar arrived and their sim cards...
2022-01-2731 min
Impact at ScaleEP 08 - Josh Woodard - FHI360 - Tech for Resilience and Resilient TechMichael Waitze and Daniel McFarlane visited FHI 360’s regional Bangkok office to talk with Josh Woodard, who is the organization’s Regional ICT & Digital Finance Advisor. In an insightful discussion covering many issues, Josh highlights the role of technology in creating resilient communities and the value of thoughtful planning.
Josh’s first experience with Thailand came as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Northeast of Thailand. He explains how it gave him “a sense of the world of international development” and insight into how technology can transform people’s lives. His experience in the Northeast led to a career foc...
2022-01-2743 min
Impact at ScaleEP 07 - Allison Sanders - Baan Dek Foundation - An Approach That is Collaborative and ProactiveIn this episode, Michael Waitze talks with Allison Sanders, the Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Baan Dek Foundation (BDF) about the Foundation’s work supporting the lives of vulnerable migrant children growing up in construction workers' campsites in Thailand.
The Baan Dek Foundation (BDF) was established in 2002 in Chiang Mai by Nicola Crosta, Magali du Parc, and Acha Sripaurya. After surveying vulnerable communities around Chiang Mai, they realized many of the most vulnerable in Chiang Mai were the children of migrant workers living at construction campsites around the city. They are at risk of neglect, abuse, ex...
2022-01-2739 min
Impact at ScaleEP 06 - Neil Gains - Tapestry Works - Researching Emotional Drivers Through Visual CardsWhat can a picture of eggs reveal about Indonesian beauty? What can an image of megaphone diplomacy tell you about family relationships?
In this episode, Michael Waitze and Daniel McFarlane talk with Neil Gains, who is the owner of TapestryWorks and helps clients decode people and culture to help them better connect with the emotions that drive behavior. He brings a breadth and depth of experience to the conversation after decades of work in research across the world including almost 20 years in Asia. He makes a valuable contribution to the podcast by providing an innovative visual approach...
2022-01-2733 min
Impact at ScaleEP 05 - Rithy Thul - Koompi - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is'Inspirational' is a good way to describe Rithy Thul, but it also captures what he wants Koompi to be for young Cambodians. Koompi is Cambodia's first locally designed laptop and Rithy Thul's latest venture. He discusses it, his company SmallWorld Cambodia and his dream for education in Cambodia with Michael Waitze on our first podcast on innovation in Cambodia.
An important part of Rithy's journey towards launching Koompi has been Bitcoin. He explains how it kept coming back to him, leading him to try to understand more about it by investing in Fortunately, he got in early...
2022-01-2730 min
Impact at ScaleEP 04 - Pinnapa Satitpatanapan - I Learned About PrioritizationJust before Pinnapa Satitpatanapan headed to Manila to take up a position at the Asia Development Bank, Michael Waitze caught up with her to discuss her experience studying at Yale, her passion for impact investing, and how to support the growth of impact investing in Thailand.
Pinnapa did a Bachelor of Business Administration at Thammasat Univesity before gaining experience in the investment banking unit of Bangkok Bank and as a Thai real estate developer. She then headed to the US for an MBA at the Yale School of Management.
While her BBA at Thammasat prepared...
2022-01-2728 min
Impact at ScaleEP 03 - Stephane Rousseau - Thammasat University - Boundary SpannerIn this episode, Michael Waitze and Daniel McFarlane, are fortunate to converse with Stéphane Rousseau, who is the Director of International Field Immersion Courses at the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University. He brings an enormous wealth of experience to the conversation after decades of humanitarian, human rights, and civil society work across Asia and the Pacific.
Over the years, his work has presented many ethical and moral challenges. It is not the uplifting work many people think it is, Stephane suggests. The people you could not help or the people left behind are the o...
2022-01-2742 min
Impact at ScaleEP 02 - Courtney Savie Lawrence - How Can This Be More InclusiveIn this episode of the Social Innovation podcast is an energizing conversation between Courtney Savie Lawrence and Michael Waitze. Courtney, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, arrived in Asia seven years ago with the perspective "the world is so much bigger than our own bubble.” After co-founding a social enterprise in the US, she was recruited to develop a Global Studies program at a university in Hiroshima. After a few years in Japan, Courtney followed her now-husband to Bangkok, where she teaches at the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University in Bangkok and facilities workshops and training on design thinking and...
2022-01-2738 min
Impact at ScaleEP 01 – Dipendra KC – Thammasat University – Yuwa the Hindi Word for YouthIn this episode of the Social Innovation Podcast Dipendra KC talks with Michael Waitze about his experience founding and running a youth organization in Nepal, and a new master's degree program of Social Innovation and Sustainability at the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University.
When Dipendra and his friends were seeking our work experience as young college students, they kept being asked if they had any experience. They didn’t have any so they went about building an organization through which they could experience. Its called Yuwa, which simply means youth in Nepali and has the ob...
2022-01-2731 min
Impact at ScaleEP 48 – ShuFen Lin – An ex-Startup Founder Deeply Interested in AI & Climate Change – It’s Everybody’s ResponsibilityThe post EP 48 – ShuFen Lin – An ex-Startup Founder Deeply Interested in AI & Climate Change – It’s Everybody’s Responsibility appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2022-01-2733 minImpact at ScaleEP 47 – Fengru Lin – Founder and CEO of TurtleTree – It’s Just Because of the CheeseThe post EP 47 – Fengru Lin – Founder and CEO of TurtleTree – It’s Just Because of the Cheese appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2022-01-2134 minImpact at ScaleEP 46 – Nabeel Ismeer – MPWRNRGY – It’s Gotta Be an Across-The-Board ApproachThe post EP 46 – Nabeel Ismeer – MPWRNRGY – It’s Gotta Be an Across-The-Board Approach appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-12-3031 minImpact at ScaleEP 45 – Steve Melhuish – Planet Rise – The Biggest Problems Are Where the Largest Emissions AreThe post EP 45 – Steve Melhuish – Planet Rise – The Biggest Problems Are Where the Largest Emissions Are appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-12-2032 minImpact at ScaleEP 44 – Aliza Napartivaumnuay – CEO at SocialGiver – Always Be the One That Starts FirstThe post EP 44 – Aliza Napartivaumnuay – CEO at SocialGiver – Always Be the One That Starts First appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-11-2335 minImpact at ScaleEP 43 – Jan Ivar Czaplicki – CarbonClick – I Think I Am Leaning Towards OptimisticThe post EP 43 – Jan Ivar Czaplicki – CarbonClick – I Think I Am Leaning Towards Optimistic appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-11-1128 minImpact at ScaleEP 42 – Sushil Vaishnav – Founder KNP Arises – We Are Trying to Break This ChainThe post EP 42 – Sushil Vaishnav – Founder KNP Arises – We Are Trying to Break This Chain appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-10-2626 minImpact at ScaleEP 41 – Sylvia Yu Friedman – Author, Award-Winning Filmmaker and Serial Entrepreneur – A Long Road to JusticeThe post EP 41 – Sylvia Yu Friedman – Author, Award-Winning Filmmaker and Serial Entrepreneur – A Long Road to Justice appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-10-2135 minImpact at ScaleSocial Innovation Podcast – EP 40 – Matthew Friedman – CEO of The Mekong Club – We Need to Leave It Better Than We Got ItThe post Social Innovation Podcast – EP 40 – Matthew Friedman – CEO of The Mekong Club – We Need to Leave It Better Than We Got It appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-10-0231 minImpact at ScaleEP 39 – Sandeep Aneja and Jetu Lalvani – Kaizenvest – What Problem Are They Trying To Solve?The post EP 39 – Sandeep Aneja and Jetu Lalvani – Kaizenvest – What Problem Are They Trying To Solve? appeared first on Social Innovation Podcast.
2021-09-1247 min