Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises

In Episode 6 of the Tools for Scale podcast I chat with Julian Alvarez, co-founder of Vize, on navigating entrepreneurship and using technology to empower low skilled workers to find and search for better job opportunities.Julian is an entrepreneur, software engineer, podcaster, futurist, productivity aficionado, and a life-long learner. He is currently the Co-Founder and the CTO of an early-stage startup named Vize, where our mission is to help low-income workers find a job that they love and empower them with the skills they need to advance in their professional lives.He is also the Host of the Inventing The Future Podcast, where his mission is to inspire and empower entrepreneurs to solve the world's biggest problems.In June 2021, Julian will start working as a Software Engineer with Facebook at their HQ in Silicon Valley. He previously interned at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Goldman Sachs.Mentioned in the podcast, here are some React templates: https://dashboard-ui.com/https://www.creative-tim.com/product/material-dashboard-pro-react?partner=104080https://www.creative-tim.com/product/argon-design-system-pro-reacthttps://www.creative-tim.com/stacks/react-stack-bf?utm_medium=internalemail&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_campaign=bf+2020+react+btn&hash=fIQG9e8jgMSsLASubscribe on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyConnect with me:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInIG ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

If you enjoy this podcast, please rate and review the show. It's a huge help. Thanks!In episode 101 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, we speak with Josh Goldman, Ph.D., Co-founder of KoBold Metals, on the future of efficient and sustainable mineral exploration and how EV batteries can create a circular economy for mobility.KoBold Metals is developing artificial intelligence to improve the efficacy, efficiency, and sustainability of critical mineral exploration and development. KoBolds principal investors are Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a climate technology fund overseen by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and other global business leaders and Andreessen Horowitz, the premier Silicon Valley venture capital fund.The mineral exploration company uses machine learning and other scientific computing techniques to increase the ethical supply of critical materials (i.e., Ni, Co, Cu, Li, Pt, and Pd) needed to build electric vehicles and personal electronics.The sustainable and efficient development of new mines will be needed if electric vehicles are to become widespread, but before new ore deposits can be mined, they must be found.KoBold is the first full-stack exploration company that combines the world’s top mineral explorers with an outstanding team of data scientists and software engineers to bring a comprehensive skill set to bear on exploration.Josh earned his Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University for experiments in atomic physics that demonstrated how trapped electrons could be used to make quantum computers. He also holds master’s degrees in history of science from Imperial College London and applied mathematics from Cambridge University, where he was a Marshall Scholar, and a B.A. in physics from Cornell.Josh was an advisor to top executives at oil & gas, electric power, and energy equipment and services firms with the Houston office of McKinsey & Company. Josh was at the forefront of McKinsey’s deployment of advanced analytics, leading operational transformations that delivered 10%+ performance improvements in power and oil & gas equipment engineering design and sourcing and power plant operations. His work on strategy and corporate finance ranged from E&P business unit growth strategy, to electric power utility disintermediation strategy, to acquisition target scans and due diligence.As principal of Phase Change Resources, Josh led business development, sourcing investment opportunities and leading commercial underwriting and valuation of all PCR transactions. He also wrote PCR’s proprietary forecasting and valuation software and led PCR’s big-data digital prospecting efforts.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.Check out:ImpactInvestor.io - Discover impact investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In episode 100 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, we speak with Chaitenya Razdan, Founder of Care+Wear, on leaving his career as an investment banker to begin designing innovative clothing for cancer patients.When Chat founded Care+Wear in 2014, all he had was an idea: to improve the experiences of those receiving treatment by bringing clinicians, designers, and patients together. But this idea became a reality through innovation and perseverance. He left his career as an investment banker to begin designing clothing for cancer patients - cold-calling his way from an idea into a start-up that bridges fashion and function to create a more human healthcare experience. Today, Care+Wear makes patient apparel in partnership with Oscar de la Renta, March of Dimes, NBA, MLB, and other major brands. Care+Wear is a for-purpose and social-mission inspired company that set out to change the status quo in the healthcare industry. The idea for our company came about after realizing that the only products that existed at the time in healthcare focused solely on the function, and not how they made patients look and feel.Chat knew he had to come up with something better for patients - something that fostered both comfort and dignity. The team soon created their first product: an ultra-soft, antimicrobial, breathable and machine washable PICC Line Cover. Since then, Care+Wear went on to develop a dual port access chest shirt, a dual port access chest hoodie designed in collaboration with Oscar de la Renta, a patient gown designed with Parsons School of Design, a NICU one-piece designed with March of Dimes, mobility gloves designed with Lucy Jones and a recovery bra for those undergoing mastectomies and reconstructive surgeries.From the very beginning the brand created a comprehensive three-tiered approach to developing products, which includes collaborating with patients, clinicians and designers. The objective is to ensure that these products are not only ones that patients want to wear and clinicians want to use, but are medically superior with our leading-edge innovation.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.Check out:ImpactInvestor.io - Discover impact investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In episode 99 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I speak with Adam Mullins, founder of Brixilated, on using Lego® to help individuals in their opioid recovery journey and promote mindfulness and self-care.Adam Mullins is the Founder/CEO of Brixilated, an early-stage social enterprise whose mission is to make life better with LEGO®.  Brixilated builds what you love with Lego®. From mosaics to miniatures, their custom-designed products and experiences aim to spark curiosity, instill confidence, and promote self-care for builders of all ages.The company recently developed a partnership with the University of Dayton and the Institute of Applied Creative Transformation (IACT).The mission with this partnership is to provide personalized employment opportunities that support the sustained recovery for the people, families, and communities impacted by the opioid epidemic. Partnering with Dr. Emily Cory, the Director of Leonardo Enterprises, the Paper to Practice series challenges students to radically reengineer our operational procedures to better meet the unique needs of individuals going through recovery and, ultimately, improve long-term outcomes.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.Check out:ImpactInvestor.io - Discover impact investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In episode 98 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I speak with Akhil Sivanandan, Co-founder of GreenStory on combining supply-chain sustainability analysis with informative graphics to help brands show customers the exact impact they can make by choosing sustainable products.The mission of Green Story has always been about helping consumers choose the more sustainable and ethical option. We all want to do the right thing but we need to know, and feel, the positive impact we’re making. By providing a simple, credible and flexible impact marketing platform, Green Story is bringing a sustainable way of doing business into the mainstream.Green Story combines supply-chain sustainability analysis with informative graphics and marketing strategies, making your business’ environmental choices stand out for all to see. The interactive data and impact visuals will inspire brand-customer affinity, increase conversion rates, and highlight your business’ green choices. GreenStory integrates the software with your e-commerce platform so consumers can experience carbon neutrality on each product page, every purchase email and beyond.GreenStory currently has three solutions to help you stand out as a impact business and a conscious consumer. Impact MetricsEcommerce Carbon OffsetConsumer offsets – SimpliZeroAkhil's goal is to help companies and people achieve a greener and socially responsible way of doing business. His experience includes strategic advisory for major global firms, public and private companies, non-profits, and the government.On his journey, Akhil has worked in multiple impact roles:Green marketing and analytics: helping companies with a positive environmental impact realise and communicate the value they create to customersManagement consulting and market research: exploring key strategic opportunities for companies, defining and achieving specific objectives for clientsMergers and acquisitions: working on several aspects from valuation to integration for M&A moves in the utilities sectorSustainability solutions: engaging with companies and developing sustainability risk metrics for marketsBusiness development and marketing: developing and executing methodologies to increase client reachCSR and sustainability initiatives: Creating and participating in environmental and social outreach programsListen to more Causeartist podcasts here.Check out:ImpactInvestor.io - Discover impact investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This episode features an interview I did with Bobby Turner, CEO of Turner Impact Capital, on the Investing in Impact podcast stream. Subscribe to that feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thanks :) In episode 19 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Bobby Turner, CEO of Turner Impact Capital, on building one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing social impact investment firms, positioned to invest $3 billion into solutions to address societal challenges across the United States. Those solutions include three major sectors - Housing, Education, and Healthcare.Over the past two decades, Bobby Turner has established himself as a pioneer in the area of social impact investing. Since founding Turner Impact Capital in 2014, he has rapidly built one of the nation’s largest social impact investment firms, with over $3 billion in investment potential to help address some of the country’s most pervasive social issues with real estate solutions.As former Chairman, CEO and Co-Founding Partner of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors (CCRA), he oversaw a commercial real estate and mortgage asset portfolio totaling over $12 billion and was responsible for launching several groundbreaking funds that helped define the “triple bottom line” investment movement. In his years as a social impact innovator, Bobby has dedicated himself to providing sound financial returns for investors while fostering opportunities for the communities in which his funds invest.Bobby is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., Finance) where he serves on Wharton’s Board of Overseers and where he has endowed a number of initiatives focused on social impact and triple bottom line investing. Today these programs have grown to include curriculum development, summer internships for students interested in pursuing social impact careers, financial scholarships for minority students, the Turner Social Impact Society and the Lauren and Bobby Turner Executive Speaker Series for Social Impact.“Most investors believe if you are going to impose a societal objective on a financial return you’re going to sacrifice yield. I just refute that. Our results do, too.” Bobby Turner, CEOAbout Turner Impact CapitalTurner Impact Capital brings a multi-disciplinary investment approach to underserved communities where large mismatches exist between the supply and demand of community-serving infrastructure and related services. They pursue compelling opportunities in markets where the traditional investor has been either the government or philanthropy. These opportunities are often overlooked by conventional investors and intensified by demographic trends.By harnessing market forces, Turner Impact Capital is creating sustainable solutions to some of our society’s most pressing challenges on a broad, nationwide scale.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In episode 97 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I speak with Henry Ines, CEO of GoChain on building blockchain solutions to help create a more transparent and sustainable world.Henry is a global executive with 20+ years of professional experiences to include more than a decade as a VC working in Silicon Valley and Asia. He currently serves on the Steering Committee of the GoChain Foundation and as CEO has been responsible for driving enterprise adoption and overseeing the strategic growth and direction of the network.Henry began his career as a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies. Later, he worked in corporate finance focusing on sell-side M&A within the IT and consumer & industrial product sectors before transitioning to merchant banking and direct investments in early-stage technology companies. Henry is an advisor to multiple tech startups and serves as a mentor for accelerators & incubators globally. Henry is passionate about global impact and seeks to leverage technology for the benefit of humanity. Henry holds a BS in Finance from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, PA and an MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business in Durham, NC.Founded in 2017, the GoChain Foundation started with an idea to build a network that solved the blockchain scaling problem to drive enterprise and mainstream adoption; and ultimately to leverage innovative solutions and technologies for the betterment of society and our habitat. At 1,300 transactions per second, GoChain’s network is now among the fastest, most reliable, web3 based public and private blockchain protocols.GoChain’s Proof of Reputation (PoR) consensus algorithm relies on a decentralized consortium of highly reputable, legal entities ranging from Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, nonprofits to leading universities to validate transactions and support governance of the GoChain network. GoChain partners with companies in all industries to quickly launch and manage their own scalable, low-cost blockchain solutions, run distributed applications and to deploy smart contracts. GoChain also supports its designated public cryptocurrency, which has the ticker symbol GO. Follow GoChain on Twitter.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In a bonus episode of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, we speak with Steven Clift, CEO of GoodCarts and building social good tech products for mission driven ecommerce brands. GoodCarts is the easiest way for mission-driven ecommerce stores to build customer loyalty, scale your impact, and gain new customers for free.As a brand, you can seamlessly share digital coupons with shoppers post-purchase from other “shop for good” stores in the GoodCarts community—and get more customers and sales from other mission-driven stores for free. It’s a great way to reach more customers, grow your impact, and improve your ROI—for zero cost.Why Choose GoodCarts?Cut back on customer acquisition costs and grow your store. GoodCarts is 100x cheaper than paid ads because it’s free.Join a unique community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs and independent merchants working together to make a difference.Set up your first offer and start promoting your store in minutes, without needing a degree in tech.Match your brand with a custom feature image, your logo, and offer text.Customize the value of your offer and when it expires. Your discount codes remain safe from public distribution.Install the Free Shopify App.If your online store is not on Shopify, no worries, GoodCarts will help you set up their technology on your platform for free.Check out a quick video demo of how GoodCarts works here.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In episode 96 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I speak with Bernardo Carreira, Founder of 8000 Kicks, on creating a new category of functional sustainable footwear using cannabis hemp fibers.Bernardo, the co-founder, moved back to Portugal in 2017 to start a new project, but he didn’t know exactly what it would be. One night, after a few beers and joints with the boys, someone came up with the idea of making a shoe for smoking. It was probably an awful idea, or maybe not.Bernardo decided to give it a shot since he had seen some bags and wallets made of cannabis fibers before. He asked the most unlikely person for help: Otilia, his grandmother, with over 50 years’ experience in textiles.Together, they spent over 1 year actively working with suppliers from around the world until what is now the World’s 1st waterproof hemp shoe, a whole new category into functional sustainable footwear.Hemp is the “sober cousin” of marijuana. It has a minimal amount of psychoactive components, and for that reason it is legal everywhere in the world.Features of the sneakers:Made of Super Strong Cannabis Hemp FibersEcological Soles Made of Algal BloomsThe World's First Natural Hemp InsolesBreathable Waterproof Sneakers100% Vegan and Eco-friendly ShoesDesigned for Those With an Active LifestyleListen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In episode 95 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I speak with Jake Orak, founder of Ethnotek on his decade long journey in social entrepreneurship and creating jobs across multiple continents.Ethnotek's mission is to keep culture alive by creating high-quality laptop and travel bags that feature ethically sourced handmade textiles. Your purchase sustains employment for the art of hand printing, weaving, and embroidery with partnering artisan villages in Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Ethnotek is so much more than just a bag! It's a celebration of culture, it's a community, it's a global movement! The one thing all of the Ethnotek weavers and artisans have in common is the fact that their craft is disappearing. Every year they see less and less local demand for their fabrics due to low yield and long lead times. Traditional techniques are quickly being replaced by machines and factory labor in major cities, drastically reducing the number of jobs and industry in the regions where it is needed most. By creating new demand for these traditional handcraft practices, the brand and its customers are in a sense forging an effort to keep them alive and well and in the same villages from which they came. The last and most important part of the mission is to spread the idea that we should all celebrate each other's differences more often. The only way culture can stay alive is if we keep it that way. Culture runs deep; from the tribes of Yunnan Province to the Subways of New York City. From the Ghats of Varanasi to the Cafes of Paris. To ensure the survival of these incredibly interesting differences we must learn about them and retell their story. This is why we see our bags as a flag. A flag that you wave which says, "I care"​. Check out Ethnotek's Sourcing Roadmap: This is an article to describe Ethnotek’s internal ethical guidelines for working with artisans and is to provide suggestions to designers & business owners who are looking to practice Cultural Inclusion in their supply chain. We in no way claim to be experts in this department and are still learning, but we do have over 10 years of first-hand experience and not only does our system work well, everyone is happy and having fun in the process! Hopefully you find this helpful, enjoy!Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.