Innovation for Social Impact

Years ago I was interviewed by George Stroumboulopoulos on The Strombo Show and I spoke to him about the need for Capitalism with a heart. It was one of the first times I had articulated what I believe - you can be ambitious and entrepreneurial and socially responsible. The two are not diametrically opposed. The need for capitalism with heart has never been more necessary than it is today.  I am a capitalist. I believe in capitalism. But it’s not an “at any cost” view. Capitalism has driven innovation, progress, and opportunity. It’s a system that rewards risk, creativity, and hard work. But it’s not perfect—especially when it forgets the people at its core. “Capitalism with a heart” isn’t about rejecting profit or success. It’s about balancing them with purpose. It’s about understanding that businesses don’t exist in isolation; they’re part of a community. When we prioritize fair wages, ethical practices, sustainability, and the well-being of employees and customers, everyone wins. This isn’t just idealism—it’s smart business. Companies that invest in people and the planet are more likely to build loyalty, attract top talent, and create lasting value. Capitalism without a heart looks like short-term gains at any cost. It’s the quick win that leaves communities struggling, employees undervalued, and the planet worse off. The choice isn’t capitalism vs. socialism. It’s capitalism as usual vs. capitalism that cares. It’s time to show that profit and purpose can coexist—and that doing the right thing isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength. Let’s prove that success isn’t just measured by what we gain, but also by what we give back and how we treat people. Capitalism can evolve for the better. I want to believe that. I need to believe that.

The New York Times profiled a start-up with 28 employees serving nearly 50 million users. That company is us. The traditional startup playbook: raise massive funding, hire hundreds of employees, and worry about profitability "later." But there's another way. Everyone at Gamma could fit in a small restaurant. We're not just surviving—we've been profitable for 15+ consecutive months, with revenue growing month over month, and lifetime negative net burn (we have more money in the bank than we've raised). This isn't an accident. We've deliberately designed our organization to maximize impact per person. Instead of creating specialist silos, we hire versatile generalists who can solve problems across domains. Rather than building management hierarchies, we find player-coaches who both lead and execute. Our team leverages AI tools throughout our workflow - Claude for data analysis, Cursor for coding efficiency, NotebookLM for customer research synthesis. These aren't just productivity hacks; they're force multipliers. Examples: — When our growth PM needed better analytics, he didn't file a ticket with a data team—he built a self-serve system that anyone can use without SQL knowledge. — When our marketing lead needed to understand our customers better, she fed thousands of interactions into an LLM and created actionable personas that now guide our entire strategy. — When our design team needs to test a hypothesis, we create a rapid prototype and show it to our power users. What we're seeing isn't just about "doing more with less." It's about fundamentally changing what's possible per person. The most valuable employees aren't specialists who excel in narrow domains - they're resourceful problem-solvers who continuously expand their capabilities. This approach creates remarkable resilience. Since everyone understands multiple functions, we don't have single points of failure when someone leaves or moves to another project. If you're building today, the question isn't how quickly you can scale headcount … it's how much impact you can create with the smallest possible team. The future belongs to tiny teams of extraordinary people.

Snapshot of gender equality across the SDGs. 🔎 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intrinsically linked to gender equality beyond the explicit targets set by Goal 5. It is critical for governments and companies to adopt a gender lens in addressing the SDGs, recognizing that gender disparities intersect with broader developmental challenges. This approach is not only a matter of social justice but also an economic imperative, with clear evidence that gender equality can drive sustainable growth and benefit society as a whole. A data-centric review of the current status of gender equality within the framework of the SDGs reveals the following: ▪ Poverty: Predictions show that over 340 million women and girls will be in extreme poverty by 2030 if trends persist. To achieve the SDG's 'No Poverty' target, the pace of progress must be accelerated 26 times faster than the current rate. ▪ Hunger: Food insecurity threatens to affect one in four women and girls by 2030. Closing gender gaps in agrifood systems could potentially boost global GDP by $1 trillion. ▪ Health: Maternal mortality rates declined by a third globally between 2000 and 2020 but have not improved since 2015, indicating a need for focused health interventions. ▪ Economic Empowerment: An investment of an additional $360 billion per year is estimated to be necessary for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, which are vital for ending poverty and hunger. ▪ Education: Disparities persist in educational attainment, with 60% of girls versus 57% of boys completing upper secondary education, suggesting that parity in education has not yet translated into universality. ▪ Labor and Employment: The workforce participation gap is notable, with a significant disparity in earnings where women make 51 cents for every dollar that men earn. ▪ Political Representation: Despite progress, women are still underrepresented in political and managerial roles, which impacts decision-making processes and policy development. ▪ Urban Development: Without inclusive urban planning, it is estimated that 1.05 billion women and girls could be living in inadequate housing conditions by 2050. ▪ Climate Impact: Climate change is poised to disproportionately affect women and girls, with millions at risk of poverty and increased food insecurity. The data underscores the necessity for integrated strategies that address gender disparities as part of the broader sustainable development agenda. The advancement of gender equality is not only a standalone goal but also a catalyst for achieving all SDGs. Source: THE GENDER SNAPSHOT 2023 (UN) #sdgs #sdgs2030 #sustainability #sustainable #gender #genderequality #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #genderequity

"How do we ensure that the rapid development of AI is more considerate of harms and the public interest? In our inaugural Responsible AI Impact Report, All Tech Is Human (ATIH) aims to reveal our most urgent risks, emerging safeguards, and public-interest solutions, and provide a roadmap for how we will shape how AI impacts society in the year ahead. We examine the state of Responsible AI (RAI) throughout 2025 and highlight what we consider to be some of the most impactful contributions made by civil society organizations this year to enrich this broad and dynamic field. We believe the Responsible AI field can only thrive if we effectively tackle the complex challenges at the intersection of technology and society. When we refer to “Responsible AI,” we mean AI that is well-regulated and guard-railed, governed and assured (documented, standardized, and benchmarked with relevant measurements), and assessed, evaluated, and red-teamed. As we outlined in our recent Responsible Tech Guide (2025), our organization believes in a human-centered future that values our agency in desired outcomes and rejects tech determinism. As such, we are focused on elevating AI models that do as little harm as possible, for use cases in which risks have been carefully considered and meaningfully mitigated; and ethically deployed AI, in which lofty principles are operationalized with grounded KPIs. This Responsible AI Impact Report highlights the growing focus on Public Interest AI that is of, by, for, and in service to the people. This Public Interest AI should be applied to humanity’s most pressing challenges and enable us to reimagine what a better tech future entails. This report also explores a future in which Public Interest AI is developed on public infrastructures for an AI-literate society. At the heart of the years ahead lies a defining question: who determines the purpose of AI and the kinds of lives it will shape?" Rebekah Tweed, with support from David Ryan Polgar, Sandra Khalil, and Sherine Kazim. 

While national agencies play a vital role, the true strength of disaster management often lies at the grassroots. Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM) empowers local populations to become their own first responders, transforming vulnerability into collective resilience. When a disaster hits, local communities are the first on the scene, often before external aid can arrive. By equipping them with knowledge, skills, and resources, we foster self-reliance and accelerate effective response. This approach focuses on local risk assessment, tailored preparedness plans, and empowering community leaders who can coordinate efforts and disseminate information effectively. According to a systematic review of disaster management approaches, communities with CBDM plans experience up to 50% fewer casualties in disasters. This is a testament to the power of local knowledge and collective action. From remote villages in Pakistan organizing local flood watch groups, to Indigenous communities in Australia revitalizing traditional fire management techniques, CBDM leverages intimate local knowledge for powerful results. It's about collective ownership and shared safety that builds strength from the ground up. Is your community empowered to respond? Support community-based disaster management for a stronger, more resilient future. #CommunityResilience #CBDM #LocalAction #UNICEF

What drives your business forward: profit or impact? This question often surfaces when navigating entrepreneurship. In a world fixated on scaling quickly and chasing revenue, there’s something I’ve learned: without a deeper purpose, success can feel hollow. The businesses that resonate with me most are the ones that bridge the gap between profitability and purpose. They create something greater than numbers - they build movements. Take the agriculture and dairy industry, for instance. It’s not just about products; it’s about people, communities, and livelihoods. Driving change in this space isn’t just about having sharp business acumen - it requires empathy and a vision for something bigger. One example that stands out to me is Srikumar Misra and Rashima Misra, the dynamic duo behind Milk Mantra. I’ve been following their entrepreneurial journey since my college days. From that moment on, the Milk Mantra story has been an enduring source of inspiration for me. They didn’t follow the usual startup formula. Instead, they launched their venture in Odisha, an area often overlooked in the world of innovation. What they’ve achieved is remarkable. With Milk Mantra, they’ve done more than build a thriving business: - They modernized dairy supply chains through technology. - Empowered thousands of farmers with fairer deals, improving lives. - Created opportunities that elevated Odisha’s reputation as a hub of innovation. Their brand, Milky Moo, became a household favorite. And their impact? Undeniable. Fast Company even recognized Milk Mantra as one of the most innovative companies in Asia Pacific. But Sri didn’t stop there. Today, he’s leading aarnâ protocol, where AI and DeFi intersect, reshaping how investors grow and manage digital assets. His journey reminds me of what makes entrepreneurship magical. It’s not just about solving problems - it’s about reimagining what’s possible and building a better future. If you’re working on something that blends purpose with profit, don’t stop. The world needs more builders like you. What’s your take: Can purpose and profit go hand in hand?

Access to justice organizations present unique opportunities for technology companies. Some thoughts on effectively engaging with this impactful sector: 1. Prioritize affordability: Develop flexible pricing models, including sliding scales based on organizational size or client volume. Consider offering pro bono licenses to qualifying nonprofits. 2. Streamline intake processes: Demonstrate how your case management system can reduce initial client screening time by 50% or how your chatbot can triage inquiries, freeing up staff for complex cases. 3. Emphasize data privacy: Highlight robust anonymization features and compliance with domestic violence shelter confidentiality requirements. Detail your approach to handling sensitive immigration status information. 4. Design for accessibility: Create interfaces optimized for users with limited digital literacy. Ensure compatibility with screen readers and offer multilingual support for common languages in underserved communities. 5. Form community partnerships: Collaborate with bar associations and law schools to gather insights on unmet legal needs. This informs product development and builds credibility with potential clients. 6. Develop social impact metrics: Invest in analytics that quantify your technology's effect on case outcomes, time saved, or number of additional clients served. This data supports grant applications and impact reporting. 7. Address specific legal domains: Tailor solutions for high-need areas like eviction defense, debt collection, or public benefits appeals. Offer modules that incorporate relevant local laws and court procedures. 8. Facilitate knowledge sharing: Implement features that allow easy creation and distribution of know-your-rights materials or pro se resources, amplifying the reach of limited legal staff. The stakes in this market extend far beyond profit margins. By developing tools that expand access to justice, tech companies have the potential to reduce inequality, prevent homelessness, protect domestic violence survivors, and strengthen the very fabric of civil society. Those who successfully navigate the unique challenges of this sector won't just capture market share – they'll play a pivotal role in fulfilling the promise of equal justice under law. #legaltech #innovation #law #business #learning

India’s cities are expanding at an unprecedented pace. Affordable housing, however, is not keeping up. The future urban challenge is not only home ownership. It is the availability of quality, well-managed rental housing for the people who form the backbone of our cities. This is where Charitable Trusts must evolve. Amending the Charitable Trust Act can play a transformative role by enabling trusts to develop, own, and manage affordable rental housing at scale—as a service, not merely as a project. This includes: • Service housing for essential workers such as healthcare staff, municipal employees, and support services • Industrial housing for factory and logistics workers located close to employment hubs • Student housing that is safe, affordable, and proximate to educational institutions • Trust-led rental housing for vulnerable and transitional populations Such an ecosystem would reduce urban congestion, improve workforce productivity, and enhance quality of life—while ensuring long-term affordability, social accountability, and institutional governance. If India is to build inclusive cities, housing policy must move beyond ownership models and embrace rental infrastructure as a public good. #AffordableHousing #UrbanIndia #RentalHousing #CharitableTrusts #PolicyReform #InclusiveGrowth #CityPlanning #WorkforceHousing #StudentHousing #SocialInfrastructure

🤖❤️ The social sector is generally behind in leveraging AI but it doesn't have to stay that way. In my conversation with data experts Joanna Teo and Joel Yeo, we all agreed that AI has the potential to transform social impact — but it’s not magic. The biggest roadblocks are bad data, incomplete data, and lack of collaboration. Social impact organisations need to be (and rightfully so) a lot more careful with their innovation. 3 thoughts on more meaningful use of AI: 1️⃣ Stop collecting data for the sake of it. Focus on data with actional gaps: Too often, NGOs and social enterprises collect data that looks good in reports but isn’t useful for decision-making. Instead of gathering more data, identify the missing data points that would change the way you design solutions. What do you wish you knew? Start there. 2️⃣ Your "competitor’s" data is more valuable than your own – if you share too: Many social organisations hoard data for fear of losing funding or control. But real AI breakthroughs happen when sectors share insights across silos—health, education, urban planning. If you want better AI models, think beyond your own data sets. Who can you partner with to fill the gaps? 3️⃣ AI won’t solve structural problems – but data can expose the right fights: AI can predict which students might drop out of school, but if the real issue is unsafe roads or lack of digital access, AI alone is useless. Instead of asking, “What can AI solve?” start with: “What does the data reveal about the system itself?” AI should be used to challenge flawed policies, not just optimise within them. 🚀 AI isn’t the hero. Better data strategy, radical collaboration, and systems thinking will determine whether AI for social good is transformative or just another tech trend. 👇 I'm still learning! What are some overlooked data challenges in your sector? #AIforImpact #SocialInnovation #TechforGood

The growing use of Revolving Loan Funds ("RLFs) is one of the most promising trends that has emerged as states and localities innovate to address the housing affordability crisis. In this latest piece, Niall Dammando, Paul Williams and I describe this positive state and local trend and provide a recommendation for how the federal government could extend it by launching an RLF Accelerator Program. In its simplest form, an RLF is seeded by municipalities or states selling bonds and using the proceeds to capitalize a fund that injects low-cost, public debt or equity into a project’s capital stack to kickstart construction. Governments require a lower rate of return on this financing than private investors, lowering the overall cost of capital needed for a deal to pencil out. While the revolving loan concept is not necessarily a new one in the housing space, it’s application towards short-term, construction financing for mixed-income developments was catalyzed by Montgomery County’s Housing Production Fund, which launched in 2021. Over the past two years alone, at least five states have established revolving loan funds for construction financing – and that number is growing. Our piece details how federal agencies and enterprises (including HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae) could smartly use existing financing vehicles in support of RLFs. A federal RLF Accelerator Program could integrate a disparate set of interagency authorities into a multi-agency initiative that utilizes the power of federal government balance sheets to enable better financing terms and empower and scale state- and local-led innovations. The nation's housing affordable housing crisis requires new federalist arrangements that lower the cost of capital and make it cheaper to build preserve housing. An RLF Accelerator Program is just one example of creative collaboration. https://lnkd.in/ehdUi2sz National Housing Crisis Task Force Center for Public Enterprise Colin Higgins