The Social Entrepreneur Podcast

Latest Episodes:

080, Audrey Cheng, Moringa School | Code School for Kenya May 06, 2016

Show notes

When Audrey Cheng was working with Savannah Fund, Africa’s leading technology seed fund and accelerator, she ran into a problem. She could not find software developers. She noticed that she was not the only one who was experiencing this problem. In fact, a 2011 survey found that, in Kenya, 45% of employers with developer positions were not able to find qualified coders. And the developers they were able to find were very expensive. Many Kenyan companies outsourced work to India, Eastern Europe and other regions.

Audrey began to ask questions. With unemployment rates around 40%, and universities teaching computer science, why were there so few qualified developers in Kenya? Audrey realized that Kenyan universities and training schools were not teaching the needed skills. With her cofounder Frank Tamre, Audrey set out to solve her problem. She and Frank created Moringa School.

Moringa has three programs. Junior Moringa School teaches basic coding skills. Moringa School is an intensive 16 week bootcamp where aspiring programmers are taught to become world-class developers. And Moringa DevShop provides services to companies around the world.

Nearly 100% of Moringa graduates find employment. Many increase their income by 350% as a result of having experienced the program.

Social Entrepreneurship Resources:

Moringa School: http://www.moringaschool.com
Culture Shift Learning Academy waiting list: http://tonyloyd.com/assessment

Culture Shift Learning Academy

We’re moving closer to the launch of Culture Shift Learning Academy, a comprehensive system to help you flesh out your social impact idea and start achieving it.

Enrollment isn’t open yet, but you can join the waiting list with other changemakers. Just go to http://TonyLoyd.com/Assessment and enter your email address. As a thank you, I’ll send you the Social Entrepreneur Startup Readiness Assessment. This useful tool is designed to help you to determine where you are on your startup journey and to successfully focus your development efforts.

079, Nedgine Paul, Anseye Pou Ayiti | Listening as Leadership May 04, 2016

Show notes

Listening is a key strength of Nedgine Paul. Before launching Anseye Pou Ayiti (Teach for Haiti), she spent more than three years actively listening to her native Haiti. The result of her listening is a highly contextualized solution that turns teachers into community builders. Anseye Pou Ayiti recruits, trains, and supports high-quality teachers where they are needed most.

Over the years there have been many stories told of Haiti, from conquest to coups; from corruption to catastrophe. Anseye Pou Ayiti is creating a new narrative of Haiti, one of a capable nation rebuilding itself; one of pride in culture, customs and community. And it all began with listening.

Social Entrepreneurship Quotes from Nedgine Paul:

“I think language matters a ton.”

“What troubled me was that many of them had school end at sixth grade.”

“From that point forward, I’ve been trying to find the answer to that why.”

“You want to be a changemaker, you want to have an influence but you have to be informed.”

“Zip code does not determine destiny.”

“I joined the Partners in Health Team because I wanted to learn from a grassroots organization that had taken a very deep and local approach to building credibility and trust and maintaining longevity.”

“Every single voice matters and every single voice can answer the question of what is Haiti at its best?”

“I never thought I would be a social entrepreneur a few years ago.”

“We launched it in late 2014, but again, that was the culmination of 3 – 4 years of active conversations, active listening and active learning.”

“The lens of mediocrity and good enough has killed too many people in Haiti.”

“Everything has brought me back to the quality of the classroom teacher and making sure that that teacher sees their influence and their power as extending beyond the four walls of the classroom.”

“What is possible when we band together and have true roots in our culture, our customs and our community?”

“We believe that if you look inward, it helps a nation to push forward.”

“I would not have been able to launch Anseye Pou Ayiti without the help of Echoing Green.”

“We’re in the business of creating an entirely new narrative of Haiti and rooting leadership in collective action.”

“What you need is a community.”

Culture Shift Learning Academy

We’re moving closer to the launch of Culture Shift Learning Academy, a comprehensive system to help you flesh out your social impact idea and start achieving it.

Social Entrepreneurship Resources:

Anseye Pou Ayiti (Teach for Haiti): http://anseyepouayiti.org/en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnseyePouAyiti
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anseyepouayiti
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachForHaiti
Book: Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World: http://amzn.to/23mv3np
Teach for All: http://teachforall.org/en
Echoing Green: http://www.echoinggreen.org
Culture Shift Learning Academy waiting list: http://tonyloyd.com/assessment

078, Amit Bouri, the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) | The Conscious Investor May 02, 2016

Show notes

Impact investing is always happening, whether we think about it or not. If you put money in a bank account, the bank uses your money and there is an impact. If you invest in the stock market, even if you invest in an index fund of all stocks, your money is still making an impact. The only question is, are you consciously choosing the kind of impact that you want to have.

Consumers are waking up, becoming conscious of the impact of their spending in alignment with their values. Millennials are choosing to work in jobs that are more closely aligned to their values. In the same way, investors are beginning to ask questions about impact of their investments.

Amit Bouri is a thought leader in the area of impact investing. He is the cofounder and CEO of GIIN, The Global Impact Investing Network.

GIIN is a nonprofit with a mission to increase the scale and effectiveness of impact investing. They provide several tools to help anyone from students to impact investors to make data-driven decisions. Their site is rich with answers for general consumers.

The GIIN noticed that investors need a common language to describe and compare the social, environmental and financial performance of their investments. Therefore, GIIN has developed IRIS, a catalog of generally accepted performance metrics help impact investors to measure and manage the performance of their investments.

Fund managers and investors need a way to find one another. Therefore, The GIIN provides ImpactBase. ImpactBase is a searchable, online database of impact investment funds and products designed for investors. An accredited investor can sort investment opportunities by impact themes (e.g., Green Tech), target geographies, asset class (fixed income, private equity, etc.), status (open, commitments, etc.) and target returns, including risk-adjusted market rates.

Impact Investing Quotes from Amit Bouri:

“Impact investments are investments made into companies or organizations with the intention of having a positive social and/or environmental impact, alongside financial returns.”

“How do we build the capital markets that will support the growth of social entrepreneurs?”

“The role of capital is shifting in terms of what people think about what capital should be accomplishing.”

“People are thinking about where their values belong very differently.”

“It’s really important to think about the impact your assets are having, and they’re all having an impact whether you like it or not.”

“I encourage you to think more broadly about your investments. We don’t typically think of our savings accounts as investments.”

“As long as you have a bank account, you’re technically an investor.”

Announcing Culture Shift Learning Academy

In today’s episode, we announce Culture Shift Learning Academy, a comprehensive system to help you flesh out your social impact idea and start achieving it.

Enrollment isn’t open yet, but you can join the waiting list with other changemakers. Just go to http://TonyLoyd.com/assessment and enter your email address. As a thank you, I’ll send you the Social Entrepreneur Startup Readiness Assessment. This useful tool is designed to help you to determine where you are on your startup journey and to successfully focus your development efforts.

Social Entrepreneurship Resources:

The GIIIN: https://thegiin.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theGIIN
Culture Shift Learning Academy waiting list: http://tonyloyd.com/assessment

077, A 4-Step Process for Finding Your Big Social Venture Idea Apr 29, 2016

Show notes

076, Drew Meyers, Horizon | Building Empathy through Travel with a Trusted Network Apr 27, 2016

Show notes

Building empathy is the first step in becoming a changemaker. And what better way to build empathy than to travel? But not all travel is created equally. As it has been said,

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

When you travel, you have choices of just how “local” the experience is. You can stay in a homogenous hotel chain, a local boutique hotel, stay in the home of a close friend, or even stay in the home of a stranger. You might want the most local and authentic experience possible, but how do you know whom to trust? Trust is the currency of the shared economy.

Horizon is allowing people to tap into their trusted network to find accommodations from a couch for a night to an apartment for a month. And, by allowing us to tap into our network, we are building empathy.

Building Empathy Quotes from Drew Meyers:

“This is a really, really unique big world that we live in, but if you really get down to it, and actually talk to people, we’re all in the same boat.”

“We enable travel opportunities via community with the long-term end goal of increased empathy in the world.”

“There is a very real life lottery that exists in this world, and it’s as simple as where you were born.”

“Horizon’s long-term goal is to enable community wherever you are, and unlock opportunities.”

“We’re trying to counteract the time-suck economy.”

“Really be crystal clear about the why, but don’t be married to the how.”

Coaching Giveaway:

Throughout the month of April, we’re giving away ten one-on-one coaching calls to help you launch or grow your social enterprise. This is the last week to enter. To enter, go to http://tonyloyd.com/coaching

Social Entrepreneurship Resources:

Horizon App: http://www.horizonapp.co
Horizon App on Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/tech/horizon-for-android
Last week to win a one-on-one coaching call! http://tonyloyd.com/coaching
Try Audible and Receive Two Free Audiobooks: http://tonyloyd.com/books

075, Alberto Ibargüen, Knight Foundation | Civil Society in a Time of Transformation Apr 25, 2016

Show notes

074, Founding and Funding, Part 3 | Sonja Rossteuscher, Triple S Advisory & Consulting Apr 22, 2016

Show notes

Today’s founding and funding series dives into the area of funding a social venture. I am honored to be joined today by Sonja Rossteuscher of Triple S Advisory & Consulting. Having served as the Chief Financial Officer of the African Development Corporation, Sonja brings a great deal of experience in funding social enterprises at all stages of growth.

Sonja took the time today to answer several questions today. In fact, I almost called this episode, “Everything you wanted to know about funding your social venture, but were afraid to ask.” Here are some questions that she tackles:

What are some forms of funding that social entrepreneurs can consider? (6:32)
What is the difference between an angel investor and a venture capitalist? How do I think differently about an angel investor and a venture capital fund and what they might need? (9:09)
When should a startup founder NOT seek capital? What are some pitfalls when seeking capital? (11:30)
What is equity and what is dilution? (13:58)
Before approaching investors, what should a social entrepreneur have accomplished? (15:49)
As a social entrepreneur, how do I find a potential investor? What if I don’t know any angels or VCs? (19:17)
What are some common mistakes entrepreneurs make when approaching potential investors? What is the right way to approach an investor? (21:52)
Any tips on pitching? (25:39)
Other advice to aspiring social entrepreneurs hoping to fund a company? (29:05)

Social Entrepreneurship Funding Quotes from Sonja Rossteuscher:

“We’re looking at 70% of startup funding in Europe is coming from people’s own savings.”

“There is a difficult size to fund too because you might be too big for some people but too small for other institutions.”

“Particularly in the space of smaller institutions or larger angel investors at family offices, they want to see more proof of concept. They want to see that your business model has been de-risked.”

“I’ve heard it said that there is no such thing as a free lunch. That’s exactly what it looks like when you get investors on board.”

“There’s a company that made an app called Yo. You write Yo and someone else can respond Yo. And they raised a million dollars.”

“It’s easy to ignore an email. It’s not so easy when you have them on the phone.”

“Take the time to figure out which investors care about the pain you’re trying to solve.”

“You have to be ready to hear a lot of no’s.”

“There is a certain amount of shaping of your message that you can do, while being true to yourself.”

“When you’re doing a sales pitch, you’re selling yourself, your business and your idea. The best way to do that is to tell a story.”

“It’s really important that the founders, or the people pitching, have the right balance of quiet confidence and enthusiasm.”

“Focus on the business of your company if you care about the impact of your company.”

Mentoring Giveaway:

Throughout the month of April, we’re giving away ten one-on-one mentoring calls to help you launch or grow your social enterprise. We’ll be drawing each week. To enter, go to http://tonyloyd.com/coaching

Social Entrepreneurship Funding Resources:

Sonja Rossteuscher on LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/sonja-rossteuscher-549896
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/RossteuscherS
Enter to win a one-on-one mentoring call! http://tonyloyd.com/coaching
Try Audible and Receive Two Free Audiobooks: http://tonyloyd.com/books

073, Mathieu Senard, Alter Eco Foods| Earth Day Special on Full Circle Sustainability Apr 20, 2016

Show notes

In celebration of Earth Day 2016, we’re featuring Mathieu Senard of Alter Eco. Alter Eco is a full circle sustainability company – from the earth to the earth. Their products are organic, fair trade, carbon neutral and, even their packaging is biodegradable. Their mission is nothing short of global transformation through ethical relationships with small-scale farmers, and an integral sustainability orientation at every point on the supply chain. Globally, Alter Eco works with about 25,000 small-scale farmers.

For Earth Day 2016 I wanted to feature a food company. After all, of all of the buying decisions we make every day, one of the most frequent and important decisions we make is the kind of food we’re going to consume. As Anna Lappé said,

“Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”

Evidently, quite a few people believe that Alter Eco is creating the kind of world that they want. Alter Eco’s US revenues are at $22 million plus an additional $20 – 25 million from their French operations. Their year-over year growth has been around 40 % - 50%.

Earth Day Quotes from Mathieu Senard:

“From cooperatives to cooperatives.”

“We believe cooperation will lead us and give us the tools to build a better world.”

“The farmers we work with have on average 1- 2 acres of land.”

“It’s based on cooperatives that are owned by the farmers.”

“It’s been a bit of pioneer work.”

“We went out there, told our stories and gained support from retailers and consumers.”

“We saw that the US was a little late as far as the acceptance of fair-trade products, but the market is so powerful.”

“There were not many venture capitalist funds who wanted to fund a couple of 23 year-olds who wanted to launch a fair trade brand in the US.”

“For us, it’s also about working with investors who are likeminded.”

Mentoring Giveaway:

Throughout the month of April, you can win one of ten one-on-one mentoring calls to help you launch or grow your social enterprise. We’ll be drawing each week. To enter, go to http://tonyloyd.com/coaching

Earth Day 2016 Resources:

Alter Eco Foods: http://www.alterecofoods.com
Earth Day 2016 site: http://www.earthday.org
Enter to win a one-on-one mentoring call! http://tonyloyd.com/coaching
Try Audible and Receive Two Free Audiobooks: http://tonyloyd.com/books

072, Sasha Dichter, Acumen | Impact Measurement with Efficiency, Speed and Rigor Apr 18, 2016

Show notes

Impact measurement is critical to success as a social entrepreneur. We become social entrepreneurs because we want to make an impact, but how do we measure our impact without detracting from our resources that are making an impact? Investors, business owners and customers can view our impact with different lenses, and therefore have completely different impact measurement needs. Impact measurement can be complex and resource-intensive, but does it have to be? Is there a better way?

Sasha Dichter of Acumen has a better idea – lean data. Lean data uses short, simple surveys, delivered via mobile phone to assess whether or not people’s lives are better as a result of our products and services. While the idea of mobile phone surveys is not new, the availability of mobile phones around the world now makes this possible in the poorest regions.

Impact Measurement Quotes from Sasha Dichter:

“You ask any entrepreneur what the need most after the money, and it’s a great team.”

“The ‘here’ where I am now did not really exist when I started my professional life.”

“I was on the privileged side of the window, if you will.”

“I was always aware that the world is not a particularly fair place, and I’d always hoped I could do something about it.”

“In three or four years, every person on the planet will have a cell phone.”

“We are using the phones in people’s pockets as a way to reach them.”

“We are working with people who are devoting their lives to solving some of the world’s toughest problems.”

“What we’re trying to understand is if we are making people’s lives better.”

“We want to be fast, we want to be efficient and we want to be rigorous.”

“At Acumen, in the first three months of this year, we did a lean data sprint. We had a seven-minute survey, with twelve questions. We surveyed 6,800 customers at 18 companies across six geographies. And each one of these engagements took a couple of weeks.”

“Our shift is not only to do more of this, but to make it as easy as possible for others to do it.”

“We hope to create a community of practice of lean data users.”

“You have to get your hands dirty.”

“The work of social change is really hard and takes a long time.”

Mentoring Giveaway:

Impact Measurement Resources:

Sasha Dichter: https://sashadichter.wordpress.com
Acumen+: http://plusacumen.org
Enter to win a one-on-one mentoring call! http://tonyloyd.com/coaching
Try Audible and Receive Two Free Audiobooks: http://tonyloyd.com/books

071, Founding and Funding, Part 2 | Jesse Finfrock, Morrison & Foerster Apr 15, 2016

Show notes

Founding and funding a social enterprise requires several practical steps. In today’s episode of Social Entrepreneur, Jesse Finfrock of Morrison & Forester walks us through these steps. With their headquarters in San Francisco, they see a lot of startups take off and other blow up. What makes the difference?

Keep in mind that Morrison & Forester is a global firm, working across a global network of 17 offices located in key technology and financial centers in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Their clients include some of the largest financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, and leading technology and life sciences companies.

Jesse works with Morrison & Forester in their impact space, where money meets mission. He works closely with Susan Mac Cormac, who popularized the idea of the hybrid corporation – part for-profit, part nonprofit.

Jesse took the time to answer several key question about founding and funding a company. I’ve listed the questions below with a timestamp to make them easier to find in this episode.

Founding and Funding Advice from Jesse Finfrock:

Is there a difference in how you advise startups versus how you advise mature companies? 05:39

What are some key agreements / assumptions that co-founders should communicate with each other at the beginning? What should be written down and when? 07:48

What is intellectual property (IP), when do you protect it, and what is the best way to do that? 13:21

What are some best practices when splitting equity among co-founders? What is vesting and why is it important? 15:43

When is the right time for co-founders to actually incorporate? Is there a time that it is too early or too late? How do I decide on the corporate form – LLC, Partnership, S-Corp, C-Corp, etc.? 20:44

What are the stages of financing a social enterprise? 26:40

What are some pitfalls that founders can fall into in the early days? 28:17

Key pieces of advice for aspiring or early stage social entrepreneurs 32:35

Founding and Funding Quotes from Jesse Finfrock:

“Our social enterprise clients actually have more tension in them than our traditional for-profit clients.”

“There are nastier disagreements, and more frequent disagreements in our social enterprises than in our traditional for-profit startups.”

“The social enterprises that we see the most success with are those that have aligned profit-making with mission.”

Mentoring Giveaway:

Social Entrepreneurship Resources: