From Scratch with Jessica Harris

Dr. Rodney Brooks is the co-founder of Rethink Robotics, a company that makes robots for the manufacturing industry. Rethink’s first robot, Baxter, was introduced in October 2012 with the goal of increasing US manufacturing productivity. Prior to Rethink, Dr. Brooks co-founded iRobot, which makes robots for the consumer and defense industries. iRobot’s first consumer product was the Roomba, a vacuum robot, introduced in 2002. Dr. Brooks is professor emeritus at MIT, where he was on the faculty from 1984 to 2010. Listen to the interview

Zulily is an e-commerce company focused on products for mothers and their children. The company offers daily flash sales of boutique and leading brands at discounted prices. Darrell launched Zulily in 2009 with Mark Vadon, the founder of the online diamond merchant Blue Nile. Darrell speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Zulily, from scratch. Listen to the interview

David developed an interest in computer programming when he was 11 years old. Instead of finishing high school he started working, and innovating, in the online community. Tumblr is a leading micro blogging and social media tool where creators can upload images, video, audio clips and bursts of text. The site– with more than 50 million creators serving 140 million people monthly– was an outgrowth of David’s own interest in improving his personal online expression. The company was sold to Yahoo in May, 2013 for $1.1 Billion. David speaks with Jessica Harris about how he built Tumblr, from scratch. Listen to the interview

Jeffrey Hollender set out to build a company that was both profitable and environmentally sustainable. Seventh Generation makes cleaning and sanitary products that focus on resource conservation and eco-friendly business practices.  Jeffrey is the author of several books and an advocate of corporate and environmental responsibility. Jeffrey discusses with Jessica Harris how he has helped to pioneer safer cleaning, from scratch. Listen to the interview

Some sculptors work with materials like bronze or marble, which last forever; but others build sculptures made of ice or snow, which last only a few moments. Who are some of the sculptors producing ephemeral art? Jessica speaks with one such pioneer, Andy Goldsworthy. Andy’s outdoor sculptures have been shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, The National Gallery in Washington DC, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others. Andy discusses how he has built a successful life building sculptures outdoors, and from scratch. Listen to the interview

Netspend was the first prepaid debit card company focused on the “underbanked” population in the United States. Launched in 1999, Netspend targets people who do not have access to credit cards or hold bank accounts. Bertrand and Roy started the company out of their one bedroom apartment in Austin, Texas with $750. They later raised almost $1.5 Billion in an IPO in 2010 and sold the company in early 2013 to Total System Services for approximately $1.4Bn. Bertrand and Roy are also the co-founders of Mpower Labs, an investment fund focused on financial services for the underbanked. The brothers emigrated from Mexico with their mother when they were teenagers in 1986. Bertrand and Roy speak with Jessica Harris about how they have helped to pioneer the international financial services landscape, from scratch. Listen to the interview

City Year is an organization focused on addressing the national dropout rate; one million American students drop out of high school annually. City Year’s corps members serve as tutors, mentors, and role models in America’s most challenging schools. City Year also played a role in the national service movement, helping to establish youth service programs, such as Americorps. Prior to starting City Year in 1988, Michael clerked for then Judge, later Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Michael speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched City Year, from scratch. Jessica Harris interviews Michael Brown of City Year

Infosys is a leading global information, technology and consulting company with more than 150,000 employees and $7 Billion in revenue. Nandan started Infosys in 1981 in Bangalore, India with 6 colleagues. Nandan then served as the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which through its project Aadhaar is seeking to provide unique identification numbers to close to a billion Indian residents. This biometric ID system aims to revolutionize the distribution of social benefits and financial services. In March, 2014 Nandan resigned from UIDAI to join the Indian National Congress. Nandan speaks with Jessica Harris about how he helped to transform India’s technological landscape— and India’s social sector— from scratch. This interview was recorded before Nandan joined Congress. Listen to the interview

TaskRabbit is an online service that allows users to outsource small tasks to individuals known as TaskRabbits. These TaskRabbits are freelance workers who have been background checked, and they perform small jobs ranging from grocery shopping to furniture assembly. Leah started the company in 2008, and the service is available in leading cities including Boston, Seattle, New York and San Francisco. Leah is a software engineer who formerly worked at IBM. Leah speaks with Jessica Harris about how she launched TaskRabbit, from scratch. Listen to the interview

NJOY is an electronic cigarette company that produces the flagship product NJOY King. E-cigarettes are non combustion cigarettes that contain nicotine and strive to have the look and feel and plume of a traditional cigarette. Craig’s brother Mark discovered ecigarettes in China, and the family started the company in 2006. Craig is a patent lawyer and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Craig speaks with Jessica Harris about his family’s pioneering role in the e-cigarette industry, from scratch. Listen to the interview