As part of #SocialEnterpriseDay at the @tarentogroup TarentoGroup, I was invited to give my perspectives on key questions in the impact sector. I'm a migrant to all this; I stumbled from astronomy to polar clouds to social tech and EVs, - caveat reader!
@tarentogroup Q1 - What is a social enterprise and how did the idea of starting one germinate?
A loose definition we have is to work on problems that affect large numbers of people, Initially, we set a threshold of 50 million people.
A loose definition we have is to work on problems that affect large numbers of people, Initially, we set a threshold of 50 million people.
@tarentogroup Urban mobility, which probably impacts 200 million people in the 12-15 largest cities in India, is a suitable focus. Similarly, disease control or access to capital, etc. The country is large, and the scale of problems is great. So interventions too should speak to that scale.
@tarentogroup Q2. What is @mapunity doing in this area?
Mapunity’s primary axis for work is ‘instance-able, multi-stakeholder’ tech. I.e. build once, in a higly reusable way. This is the only way in which we can reach the benefits of tech widely, without major price barriers to development.
Mapunity’s primary axis for work is ‘instance-able, multi-stakeholder’ tech. I.e. build once, in a higly reusable way. This is the only way in which we can reach the benefits of tech widely, without major price barriers to development.
@tarentogroup @mapunity We also think that building separately for the public, businesses and governance does not make sense; tech is social only when it has potential use across different stakeholder environments. This is the only way that we can all access the innovations of each other.
@tarentogroup @mapunity Q3. What is the role of tech in enabling social enterprises?
There is a peculiar thing about social problems - a lot of people think they understand them, and have opinions! This makes expertise and data even more important, without which unworkable ideas may gain acceptance.
There is a peculiar thing about social problems - a lot of people think they understand them, and have opinions! This makes expertise and data even more important, without which unworkable ideas may gain acceptance.
@tarentogroup @mapunity Technology is useful in social problem solving, but rather than focus too much on how it can solve problems, it is better to first use it to help more people understand the problems. This will prepare the ground for acceptance of the right solutions, with or without technology.
@tarentogroup @mapunity Q4. How does this impact India & Bengaluru in particular?
A large city like ours cant respond fast enough to changes, because (a) government alone is expected to solve most problems, and (b) the capacity of the govt is low. Plus these problems grow exponentially!
A large city like ours cant respond fast enough to changes, because (a) government alone is expected to solve most problems, and (b) the capacity of the govt is low. Plus these problems grow exponentially!
@tarentogroup @mapunity The way to tackle this by ‘increasing the number of problem solving people’. By strengthening citizens' ability to self-govern, and by building the internal capacity of government depts, we try to build a partnership across state and society, with tech as the binding factor.
@tarentogroup @mapunity Q5. Do you see millennials getting involved in social enterprises?
It’s not fair to even expect that. Social enterprises must overcome an imbalance betn the state, market and society which is at the heart of our problems. This is not a burden we can expect young people to bear.
It’s not fair to even expect that. Social enterprises must overcome an imbalance betn the state, market and society which is at the heart of our problems. This is not a burden we can expect young people to bear.
@tarentogroup @mapunity However, I think there is a better environment for those who are interested in social focus to learn how to engage it, than 20 or 30 years ago. That may allow more people to be involved and build their careers in it, and perhaps accelerate things even further.
@tarentogroup @mapunity Q6. Can social enterprises lead to commercial success and are VCs interested in funding social startups?
It’s easier to get retail investors interested than to get structured capital. There’s an element of ‘purpose’ in social goals, which is not yet part of VC world in India.
It’s easier to get retail investors interested than to get structured capital. There’s an element of ‘purpose’ in social goals, which is not yet part of VC world in India.
@tarentogroup @mapunity One space this gap can be bridged in is the middle of the pyramid, where commercial and social goals intersect despite their different origins. India needs optimisation & formalisation to improve productivity, and these are terms that VCs can identify with.
@tarentogroup @mapunity Q7. Any other messages or thoughts?
India will reach ‘middle income nation’ status in 55 years, at today’s rate of economic growth. A very large number of people will live thru avoidable suffering, unless we accelerate development and distribute its benefits more widely.
India will reach ‘middle income nation’ status in 55 years, at today’s rate of economic growth. A very large number of people will live thru avoidable suffering, unless we accelerate development and distribute its benefits more widely.
@tarentogroup @mapunity One of the most important things in this acceleration is to ‘increase the number of problem solving people’. More of us need to look in the mirror and see that if we choose to be one such person, we’re choosing to help make India and the world a better place.
