Posts tagged entrepreneurship

Empower Young Australian Entrepreneurs to Attend the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Summit

The Enterprise Network for Young Australians (ENYA), invests in Australia’s youth, creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem so they can connect, flourish, and create a better tomorrow. This year, 23 entrepreneurs from ENYA are representing Australia at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Summit in Moscow which brings young leaders together from all over the world to represent their countries. These 23 entrepreneurs are working to build a better future for Australia and have the chance to influence policy and agenda when the G20 Summit Leaders meet later this year. 

Of these 23 delegates who are going to Moscow, 10 are leading early stage startups and are on very tight budgets. They need to find ways to fund their flights, accommodations, and registration fees. This is where you come in—their StartSomeGood campaign can aid them in raising part or all of the costs associated with traveling to Moscow. You can have a direct hand in helping get these amazing leaders over to Moscow to represent you and the future of Australian business!

By the way, this campaign is jam-packed with amazing rewards for supporters. Just $30 gets you a one day coworking pass to HUB Sydney, Melbourne, or Adelaide. Want to hang out with the delegates? $99 grants you entry to their Russian-themed party with a 3 course dinner, drinks, and Russian entertainment. Other rewards include workshops and training sessions with noted entrepreneurs, domestic plane tickets, corporate identity and brand creation, an iPhone app designed for your business, and even the chance to be an honored guest of the ENYA team at the summit. These are some of the most exciting rewards we’ve seen on StartSomeGood to date, so don’t miss out!

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Interview with Max Harris, Combat Veteran and Founder of Support No Stigma

Max Harris is an Iraqi Freedom combat veteran with PTSD. He is starting Support No Stigma, a non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness of Combat PTSD, supporting veterans and their families, and educating veterans in entrepreneurship. Max raised almost $6,000 on StartSomeGood to launch his initiative.

Your story is so inspiring and we’re incredibly honored to have worked with you here at StartSomeGood. For those who aren’t as familiar with your story, can you share a little about your background and motivations for starting Support No Stigma?

About two and a half years ago, I was journaling offline on my computer and the hard drive got corrupted. I decided after a lot of deliberation, that I would create a subdomain of the web content management service weebly where I could blog about my struggles with PTSD. I thought it would be hidden in the noise of the internet, but to my surprise, within two weeks of starting the blog, I had followers who were encouraging me to buy a domain and start a website dedicated to PTSD awareness. Over the ensuing two years, that website developed into a mission: To reduce the stigma associated with Combat-Related PTSD by empowering veterans and educating the general public. I had been researching and thinking about forming a non-profit for about a year but never thought it would come to fruition this soon. Then I had a blog post go viral. When the blog post went viral, I knew I had to leverage that increased viewership into something worthwhile. Enter StartSomeGood.

What made you decide crowdfunding was the right platform for raising funds?

I’m an early adopter with tech and tech trends. I’ve been following crowdfunding for almost three years. When I knew that I wanted to raise the funds, crowdfunding was the only solution - especially in a down economy. Not only that, pursuing crowdfunding demonstrates to potential donors that I am aware of the current mediums through which people raise funds. It may sound goofy, but appearing on the ‘cutting edge’ excites people.

Can you take us through your campaign process? How did you prepare during the weeks leading up to the launch? What strategies did you use during the campaign that worked particularly well?

Honestly, this was really straightforward for me. I am influential on social media. I got the word out ahead of time and made sure that my mission was clearly stated and that all monies that I wanted to raise had a specific purpose. I just kept at it over the course of the fundraising campaign. All of my money that I raised was online via social media and email.

What advice do you have for crowdfunding rookies looking to start their first campaign?

Don’t come out of the gate half-cocked. Have the patience to fully flesh out your mission and basic operating budget for your program or event. Make sure that you have done the research to ensure that you can accomplish what you envision. Patience is everything. I knew I wanted to crowdfund to raise the funds to start my campaign almost a year before I joined StartSomeGood. I took the time to bolster my reputation and credibility with the community I strongly desire to serve. StartSomeGood isn’t going anywhere. Take the time to get it right.

You raised almost $6,000 to help get Support No Stigma off the ground. Do you have any updates you’d like to share with us post-campaign?

Wow. I have a lot to share. This past week I talked with the consultant at the Foundation Group that is preparing all of my incorporation and 501(c)3 formation documents. I received the incorporation application and instructions for submitting it on Friday and I sent them out in the mail to the State of PA on Saturday. I should be receiving my Articles of Incorporation before the month is out. Also, the consultant sent me my EIN and a draft of my bylaws for my board to approve. I am working with college graphic design students to create the logos and am offering prize money for the logos I choose. I have purchased domains and created landing pages for the non-profit - they will complement my existing website, www.combatveteranswithptsd.com:

-Support No Stigma:  www.supportnostigma.org
-Lehigh Valley Veteran Entrepreneurship Initiative (LVVEI):  www.veteraneurship.org

Lastly, I wanted to share that my board of directors is an absolute homerun. I’m saving the specifics for Support No Stigma’s official ‘coming out’ party.

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Inspired by Max’s story? What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

StartingGood - Interview with Hildy Gottlieb

Today’s guest is author and entrepreneur Hildy Gottlieb, the co-founder of Creating the Future.  She also has the distinction of leading the first organization on StartSomeGood to run three successful crowdfunding campaigns.  We’ll talk with her about the power of positive language, how to recognize the world of abundance all around us and how changemakers just starting out can raise friends, raise funds and galvanize their community to collaboratively create the future.

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StartSomeGood News

Let’s Celebrate! Recently Tipped Campaigns…

The Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association (ARCAS), a non-profit formed by a group of Hawaiian citizens concerned about their native wildlife in Guatemala, Hawaii, is raising funds to reconstruct the sea turtle hatchery in this rural Hawaiian town. The Leatherback and Olive Ridley Sea Turtles are both endangered. To make matters worse, their nests in Guatemala are poached and the eggs are sold as an aphrodisiac. To counteract this trend, the government started requiring local residents who collect these eggs to donate one dozen eggs per nest to a local hatchery. ARCAS operates one of these local hatcheries, increasing the number of eggs rescued each year from 5,000 to 50,000. Unfortunately, the main Hawaii Hatchery is over 18 years old and severely deteriorated. There is an urgent need for reconstruction because the hatchery can’t accommodate the increasing number of eggs that ARCAS collects. Reaching the $2,500 tipping goal means ARCAS can now purchase the most essential materials needed to begin building the initial structure for the hatchery. This is where you can step in to help rebuild a hatchery and save a species—$6,800 will cover all the costs of building two hatcheries.

Stephen Sumner, an above-the-knee amputee, is dedicated to using mirror therapy to alleviate suffering caused by ‘phantom limb pain’ among amputees in impoverished areas across the world. Using a cargo bicycle and delivering acrylic mirrors to amputees in impoverished areas worldwide, Stephen aims to remove this painful daily challenge from an amputee’s life. Mirror therapy, developed in the 90’s, is a visualization technique requiring nothing but a mirror. It tricks the brain, causing it to re-map itself when the patient looks at a mirror image of his/her limb they no longer have. Most patients should be cured after about 5 weeks of therapy. Stephen raised $5,532 for his plane ticket to Cambodia and a first run of 200 mirrors.  

February is a month for records to be set on StartSomeGood, the second campaign this month to launch, tip, and meet its funding goal the same week it launched is Tibet Women’s Soccer. Tibet Women’s Soccer introduces a formal soccer training program to the female Tibetan refugee community near the Himalayas of India. These women, displaced from their homeland, can have a tough time adjusting to their new surroundings. An organized sport like soccer enriches their lives and gives them a positive presence in their community. In 2012, this program was introduced to 9 Tibetan schools. Due to increasing demand, Tibet Women’s Soccer is looking to expand its program to 5 more schools in 2013. Within just one week of launching Keep the Ball Rolling on StartSomeGood, Tibet Women’s Soccer has already surpassed its total funding goal, which will help start 5 teams in 2013. Any funds raised beyond this will help Tibet Women’s Soccer form additional teams this year.

Brand New Good! StartSomeGood’s Newest Campaigns…

ADAMA helps people without resources or who are at risk of social exclusion—the homeless, victims of gender violence, people living with HIV, children, and senior citizens by providing them with professional services for free. At ADAMA, therapists, tutors, accountants, lawyers, yogis, etc. give their time to help marginalized people all over Barcelona. OTOXO Productions is going to make a social documentary about the work of ADAMA, the people who do it, and the people whose lives are changed by it. Prevent Social Exclusion in Innovative Ways—just $300 will help produce this documentary and funds raised beyond the tipping point will help ADAMA and OTOXO promote the film.

Amicus Young Entrepreneurs Fund (AYEF) is a nonprofit that recognizes the significance of youth entrepreneurship. It supports youth entrepreneurship by providing young people with the resources they need to begin or grow their start-up. Some of these resources include grants, micro-loans, business mentoring, a lecture series, and a scholarship program. The $2,500 tipping point goal will help AYEF develop and promote its website, helping to provide these services to young entrepreneurs across the U.S.

Shawn D. Ross

I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

• Being an entrepreneur is tough—and being a minority entrepreneur can come with even more challenges. Join Inc. and Spark Business from Capital One as three Inc.5000 women entrepreneurs participate in a tell-all about how they beat the odds that were set against them. Gain some valuable insight into how to manage the perceptions that go along with being a female entrepreneur in a traditionally male dominated field. How I Did It: Women Entrepreneurs Tell All will take place on December 19th in Boston from 5:30 to 8:30pm. 

• So you have an idea and you want to transform that idea into a business. What’s next? This hands-on experience lead by Green Spaces and The Hatchery can teach you how. This Skillshare series of classes is meant to help tech and social entrepreneurs in the early stages of their business. Revenue, viability, and fundability are all important components of the first session and future sessions will cover the business, investor approach, and technology product. If you’re ready to work on your business, join Turning Ideas into Companies on Tuesday, December 18th from 6:30 to 8:30 in NYC. 

• Calling all student writers interested in social entrepreneurship! The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the Huffington Post, and The Student Reporter are teaming up, inviting a team of students to collaborate, report, and reflect on the current and future developments in social entrepreneurship for six months. If you’re interested, check out this call to action, which further explains this awesome opportunity for student writers interested in reporting on social entrepreneurship.

• Have you ever thought about how your talent could help solve the world’s problems? Do you have a viable social business but need funding and professional guidance to take it further? Aspiring changemakers rejoice—the prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship just opened applications for 2013. This year, your application can be used for both the 2013 Echoing Green Fellowship in addition to the Open Society for Black Male Achievement. Get more information on the fellowship application by visiting the frequently asked questions and don’t miss the deadline to apply: January 7, 2013!

• The Acumen Fund is looking to create hope, build solutions to tackle poverty, and inspire hope in this cynical world. This week, Acumen Fund released Acumen Fund: The Radical Idea of Creating Hope in a Cynical World, celebrating an amazing achievement—100 Million Lives have been impacted by Acumen Fund’s charitable investments into companies making a difference in local struggling communities in India, Pakistan, and Africa. Celebrate with Acumen and learn more about how you can help.

Rachael Casagrande

I am currently working towards a BS in Information Design and Corporate Communication at Bentley University. Before college, I hadn’t any idea where I wanted life to take me so I decided to just let the wind blow me around a bit. The following summer, I shipped myself off to Romania through Learning Enterprises where I volunteered running English camps. The children I met there made me realize how much just one hello, one meal, or one hug can really grow change in someone’s life. After coming back to the US I’ve been keeping myself busy working odd jobs, studying and taking every opportunity I can to mesh my business degree with my love for positive change.

StartSomeGood News

Kids with Ability Inc seeks funding to open its first Serviced Office and Business Incubator for young people in wheelchairs to develop their Internet Marketing skills and start their own ventures. The organization has operated the past two years with funding from the local community and has found this model allows socialization and helps build self esteem while nurturing young entrepreneurs. Funds raised will help pay an architect that will develop a floor plan for the 560 sqm space that will be the Service Office.

Deejai, whichtranslates as “joy”, seeks funding to provide educational resources to teachers and students in less fortunate schools in Thailand. Founded by three MBA students from Thammasat Business School, Deejai will begin by providing educational toys for pre-school students that will be provided to schools, helping children develop basic skills and instilling in them the curiosity of learning. 

Winde20 is a vertical axis wind turbine with a socially conscious business model. The goal is to provide emission free energy to the world. Winde20 is designed for a wide range of uses—individuals, schools, public office buildings, small businesses, and water treatment facilities. The money saved can potentially be reinvested into education, business, and society. One turbine can generate up to $125,000 in scholarships over its life. When this campaign is successful, the first Winde20 can begin being manufactured.

Corners2cornerstones Social Enterprise a for-profit social enterprise, seeks funding to design and build a flexible use office space and classroom to house a social enterprise incubator operated by formerly incarcerated men and women. The c2c incubator will support mentorships and demonstrate that for-profit enterprises have a social responsibility to pay-it-forward. Campaign funds will be used for general renovation and outfitting of a space.

The Hunger Project Danmark is starting a national branch in Denmark. The Hunger Project brings together a community to help local, poverty stricken people increase their income by 600% in just a few years through education. As a result these individuals will be able to provide for themselves, their families, and provide their children with a better future. The Hunger Project is a global, non-profit strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. Denmark is an unusual challenge because it requires lawyers, auditing, and insurance, all which contribute to high administrative costs. This campaign seeks funding to cover these costs. This will help kick-start the project and organization to make an official national branch of The Hunger Project in Denmark. 

Just a week after launching, LBS Baltimore’s campaign has tipped! Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle is an organization focused on advocating progressive policy change to advance youth justice. With the funds raised, LBS will run a summer program, teaching music and artistic skills, political education, and personal development to previously incarcerated youth. Tipping point funds will be used to cover summer program costs. All funds raised past that point will be used for the summer end celebration showcase for the community.

Spend Consciously publishes crucial product, company, and government information into an easy to use mobile app and website. This allows the user to research issues that are important to them such as who really benefits from company profits, whether a company creates American jobs or outsources, what business practices are used, whether or not the company engages in sustainable business practices, etc. With this information, the consumer has the means to become a more conscientious shopper. Thanks to some amazing supporters, Spend Consciously was able to raise $7,525 and can now purchase the hardware necessary to finish building a proof of concept.

Ferment Collaborate aims to support change organizations in Sri Lanka and showcase new ways of working together through the Venesa Program. Ferment Collaborate empowers local people to collaborate, learn and share skills, build networks, and access resources, creating a culture of community building and teamwork. This campaign supports three projects along Sri Lanka’s southern coast—Art and Social Change Symposium, Local food Project, and Bundala Youth Arts. Ferment Collaborate was able to raise $3,625, securing complete funding for the Symposium and partial funding for the other two projects.

Shawn D. Ross

I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me on twitter @shawndross and visit my websites: www.sdrinspire.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com

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Social entrepreneurs, have all these new and successful campaigns inspired you? What good do you want to create? Do you have a social enterprise, a non-profit, or an amazing idea that needs some momentum to take off? Visit our site to find out how to start your own campaign today. Still have questions? We have answers—check out our FAQ section.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

• For all you tech junkies out there, here’s your chance to put your skills to make good! GOOD Maker and NTEN want to support a proposal that uses technology to help out your community. Submit your ideas before July 12^th on their website. Voting will be open from July 12^th to July 26^th and the winner will receive a $2500 grant and a free NTEN membership.
• The Breakfast Connect Series 4^th business breakfast will feature how to make better decisions faster. Join other socially conscious individuals at the RACV Club in Melbourne on July 10^th. Get more information and register by checking out the website.
• Don’t miss the information session at Dixon Hall in Ontario about the School for Social Entrepreneurs on July 12^th at 5pm. Register and attend the event at absolutely no cost and learn about becoming a student at SSE-O, based off of the highly successful UK model providing action-based learning to initiate social change.
• The Social Innovators Survival Guide is a project that will provide social change makers with the advice they need to ensure long-lasting success. You are invited to attend the brainstorming workshop on July 11^th at the School for Visual Arts in New York City, led by Shana Dressler the Co-Founder of the Social Innovators Collective. Register for just $1!
• This is your chance to enter the Young Innovators Competition. Enter your ICT based project on the ITU World Telecom website before July 16^th and you may be invited to ITU Telecom World in Dubai where finalists will be presented with prize money, an industry mentorship, networking opportunities, and the chance to showcase your submission to the audience.
• wamda.com has shared with us 10 Video Resources Every Entrepreneur Should Know. Get educated and improve your skill set by familiarizing yourself with these entrepreneurial success tools. 

Rachael Casagrande

I am currently working towards a BS in Information Design and Corporate Communication at Bentley University. Before college, I hadn’t any idea where I wanted life to take me so I decided to just let the wind blow me around a bit. The following summer, I shipped myself off to Romania through Learning Enterprises where I volunteered running English camps. The children I met there made me realize how much just one hello, one meal, or one hug can really grow change in someone’s life. After coming back to the US I’ve been keeping myself busy working odd jobs, studying and taking every opportunity I can to mesh my business degree with my love for positive change.

Interview with Trek to Teach’s Brad Hurvitz

Trek to Teach is expanding the education system in Nepal. It recruits foreign teachers to work at a local school in Nepal’s Himalayas. Teachers also have the opportunity to live with a Nepali host family and immerse themselves in the country’s culture. The goals of this organization include inspiring students and improving educational quality through teachers, infrastructure, and supplies. A future goal for the organization is the expansion to other schools in the area.

Earlier this year, Trek to Teach completed a successful campaign on StartSomeGood. It was able to raise funds well beyond its tipping point goal thanks to the help of 35 generous backers. With the campaign funds, Brad Hurvitz, the founder of Trek to Teach, was able to lay the groundwork with Nepali schools and families as well as gain status as a non-profit organization. I recently spoke to Brad about his campaign and what the future holds for Trek to Teach.

It takes a special kind of drive and passion to have an idea and see it through to completion. Can you give aspiring entrepreneurs some insight into how you got over the initial hurdle and started Trek to Teach?

If you believe strongly in a certain goal or mission, you have to know that nothing can stand in your way. When looking at entrepreneurs, especially social entrepreneurs, they all have a certain dedication that will not allow them to stop at the hurdles. Trek to Teach has gotten to its current position by surpassing the difficulties that it has faced. There are solutions to every problem, it just takes patience and persistence to figure out the best way of problem solving.

While Trek to Teach continues to face obstacles, the most challenging ones were in the beginning, to make the dream into a reality. Those difficulties were based on idea execution. It might be hard to rationalize extra work and effort when there is no promise of payment or success. It is a risk that an entrepreneur must take and endure for a long time, but taking this risk is a mindset that must be made from day one.

What is your favorite memory from starting Trek to Teach?

I am visual person and among my first steps in creating a business is the design of the logo and face of the company. When the Trek to Teach logo was finally composed and confirmed, I was able to look at the face of a company I had only dreamed of until that point. Every time I look at the logo I remind myself that dreams can indeed be made into a reality.

What are some of the things you were able to accomplish with the funds you raised from the campaign?

Without our StartSomeGood campaign, we would not have progressed to where we are today. I was able to boost the marketing and start an NGO in Nepal. Both of these will build our awareness and credibility overseas. I will now use the funds to boost our marketing efforts domestically and in Western Europe to find qualified Trek to Teach-ers for our program. At that point, I believe the company will be self-sufficient. StartSomeGood helped provide Trek to Teach with the seed capital that it needed to become legitimate.

Do you have aspirations to expand Trek to Teach even further?

I will never be fully satisfied by where Trek to Teach rests, I will always be looking towards the next step and how to get there. Currently, we have three schools in the Annapurna region of Nepal that are involved in our program. I would like to expand to several more schools within Nepal including some in the Everest region. Waking up in the shadow of the largest mountain in the world and working on improving the lives of others sounds like a dream, but we want to make it into a reality. Down the line, we would like to expand to other countries that might have a need for assistance with their rural education.

Expansion must not only include finding more locations but it also must include the depth of our program. I would like to build upon our program and ensure greater success with the education we will provide. We are working with the Department of Education and some local institutions to modify and improve our current program.

To what do you attribute your campaign’s success? Do you have any advice for other entrepreneurs on StartSomeGood about how to run a successful campaign?

Trek to Teach is still building and will have continued success. We have come a long way in our short history and I attribute these successes to the team I have built around me. A company is only as strong as its weakest link, it is absolutely necessary that an entrepreneur relies upon people that he considers smarter than himself. I have done this and I believe we will enjoy a continued success because of their vital input and creativity.

The people who have SSG campaigns have passion and have a mission. Success is relative and it must be defined by the entrepreneur and his or her team. I believe one of the most important lessons that I have learned is to understand that there is no such thing as “failing.” With every wall that an entrepreneur hits, and they will indeed hit several, there are ways of getting beyond these speedbumps. Hit the speedbumps early and learn how to avoid them in the future. If you can learn from your mistakes, it is not a failure.

Anything exciting in store for the future of Trek to Teach?

Trek to Teach has many exciting goals for the future. We are in the process of working out several partnerships domestically to provide further educational incentive to students at many campuses throughout the country. Also, we are building our current partnerships with nonprofit organizations in Nepal to further prep our Trek to Teach-ers with a more thorough educational orientation program.

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Benjamin Brower

I grew up and live in a rural area of Southern New Jersey called the Pine Barrens. I went to Gettysburg College where I received my BA in History and French, and studied two semesters in Southern France. My professional career has ranged from weighing trucks at a landfill to teaching English on Réunion Island, a French territory near Madagascar. I recently decided I want to combine my passions of writing and making a difference so I joined the StartSomeGood Blogging Team. I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, hiking, surfing, discussions, and tennis.

Are you inspired by Brad’s passion and success? Do you have a world changing idea, but need a way to fund it? Learn more about running a campaign on StartSomeGood here.

Image courtesy of http://trektoteach.org/.

Interview with Learn to Live’s Yanti Turang

Learn to Live brings healthcare to the people of North Sulawesi via three-week traveling clinics with teams of doctors, nurses, and medical students from the United States and Australia.The clinics provide basic healthcare, teach preventative strategies, and initiate follow-up care with local health facilities, when needed.  The main goal of Learn to Live is to provide healthcare to people living in remote areas so that they can live long, healthy lives.  The secondary goal is for medical and nursing students to use these clinics as a means to gain the experience they need to jump-start their careers.

A few months ago, Learn to Live ran an overwhelmingly successful campaign on StartSomeGood.  Learn to Live surpassed its overall campaign goal of $6,805 by recruiting support from 93 different backers.  With the funds raised, co-founder Yanti Turang was able to take a small group to North Sulawesi to lay the groundwork for Learn to Live.  Recently, I got to chat with Yanti about Learn to Live and its campaign.  Below are her thoughts on inspiration and success, in addition to some practical advice on how to run a successful campaign on StartSomeGood.

 What inspired you to start Learn to Live?

I was first inspired to start Learn to Live because I had a friend who is a doctor and she had done work in India similar to how Learn to live is set up. We were away together and we were talking and I was thinking I had always wanted to do something like what she was doing in India with the Himalayan health exchange. She had always said that with my background, being half Indonesian, I should start something there. We chatted about it and then I came back to New Orleans.

Over the past year I have been working on movie sets as a set medic/nurse. Working in this industry, I saw how much money and waste there was—it’s so overwhelming! After a while it just made me feel sick—that I was in this huge money making wasteful environment. I needed to do something! So I began writing my proposal for LTL, and developed a program that would not only help the people in Indonesia, but also inspire and educate our healthcare workers in the western world.

The other reason I began LTL was because, while nursing in Australia, I worked with some jaded healthcare workers that seemed so uninspired and began to see patients as tasks rather than people. I thought that a way to have the healthcare workers feel inspired and perhaps deliver better care would be to experience something that would help them reflect on their own practice.  I thought LTL could do this for people, and then make them better healthcare workers at home.

Seeing someone so passionate about an issue and really taking the steps to find a solution is so inspiring.  A lot of us have ideas but don’t know where to even begin putting them into action.  Do you have any advice for these people on how to get their ideas started?

Thanks! You know a few people have said that to me, that many people say things, but find it hard to follow through. I guess my advice is you have to believe 150% in what you want to do, you have to begin writing it down, and think of all the questions you would be asked and answer them. You need to tell people your idea and say it 1,000 times and really believe in it, and see why it is essential to our world today. There are some days when I wonder what I have gotten myself into! Ha, but I guess that’s the whole reason of doing it, you create its own future, it has endless possibilities. It definitely shows me daily the goodness in human beings—it’s awesome.

How have things been coming along at LTL since the campaign ended? Has your team been able to travel to Indonesia yet?

Yes, I took my project manager, a filmmaker and a translator/advisor to Indonesia in the beginning of August. The trip was a huge success. We had our meeting with the health minister of North Sulawesi and he approved our program, which was huge! The Indonesian government is not an entity that you want against you, so we were very happy. We then scouted 4 villages in remote areas. All of these villages have different needs depending on their environment—some have no running water within 3 miles, others have a malaria problem, some skin cancer. Overall though none of these people could access or afford basic healthcare. So Learn to Live will come back next year with healthcare workers from the USA/Australia and team up with doctors from North Sulawesi and run 4 clinics. This would not have been possible without StartSomeGood.  We raised $7000, which funded our initial trip—it was great!

I’m sure all of your supporters will be thrilled to see that they directly contributed to your successful trip. Speaking of support, you were able to raise even more than your funding goal. The campaign was an overwhelming success. To what do you attribute this success?

It was interesting because I had no idea if people would be supportive of this or not, and amazingly people were! Many people said our video helped. I tried to make it as professional as possible. People react to visual things well, so we tried to do the best we could. I also used Facebook, which reached out to many people.  However, I didn’t bombard them—just a few posts. I also sent 2 emails at the beginning and the end. People also told me that they want to donate to a good cause, and because it was someone they knew and could connect with, they felt good about it and themselves.

Well it looks like your strategy certainly paid off. Do you have any other advice for ventures that are starting (or thinking about starting) campaigns on StartSomeGood?

I really believed in LTL so I invested money upfront to make it happen. This also showed people that I was serious. I think when we were in Indonesia and posting on our blog it showed people that we were doing it and it was real. Our campaign didn’t finish until we arrived home, so I think people seeing us out there really helped us go beyond our goal. Also, I set a high tipping point—people look at that. I think it’s better to go higher rather than lower. Finally, you can do anything. Take the time and just make it a priority in your life and it will happen!

Are there any new projects in the near future for LTL that you think readers and supporters would like to hear about?

Learn to Live is taking its first team of healthcare workers in July of 2012 , please follow us on our site. We plan to do this trip once a year and if you are interested in coming along or being involved please get in touch via the website.

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Are you inspired by Yanti’s drive and success?  Do you have a world changing idea, but need a way to fund it?  Learn more about running a campaign on StartSomeGood here.

Interview with Takeashine’s CEO, Sarah Baird

As anyone who has taken on the arduous task of applying for financial aid can tell you, there is usually a gap between what the government considers to be your Estimated Family Contribution for college and what you can actually afford to pay. Takeashine is an online crowdfunding platform that helps underprivileged students start online fundraising campaigns so they can afford college. These campaigns will not only help students close the gap, but will also teach them invaluable business and marketing skills. 

Earlier this year, Takeashine ran a successful campaign on StartSomeGood to get its website up and running. CEO Sarah Baird shares some exciting updates, her views on Takeashine’s success, what makes a successful entrepreneur, and advice on transforming great ideas into a reality.

It is one thing to have a remarkable idea and another to act on that idea and succeed.  What inspired and encouraged you to see your ideas for Takeashine through to fruition?

 I’ve always been a firm believer that vision and action should go hand-in-hand, “a little less conversation, a little more action” (cue Elvis) if you will. Despite any sort of hurdles we’ve faced until this point—or will face in the future as an organization—keeping a singular focus on the deep, profound need that Takeashine is addressing ensures that we’ll continue to grow, improve and use the power of community to help as many students as possible reach their higher education goals.

In your experience, what are the absolute must-haves for someone to become a successful entrepreneur?

I think the best entrepreneurs have a unique balance of creativity and pragmatism, and the ability to fuse these together in a way that ensures the success of their organization.

What do you think made your campaign so successful?  

The issue Takeashine is addressing—the college funding gap—is a pressing concern for the majority of families and individuals out there today: whether someone is a parent, recent graduate or young professional. With so many people touched directly by skyrocketing college costs, the opportunity to help in the creation of a platform to allow low-income students to bridge this funding gap was an opportunity to not only change lives, but help support the next generation of community leaders.

As a result of your campaign on StartSomeGood, what goals have you been able to accomplish?  Do you have any exciting updates to share with us since your campaign ended?

So many exciting updates: Takeashine is in our fourth month of being incubated through the Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans New Venture Accelerator, and the platform officially launched last week with our pilot class! The campaign on StartSomeGood was definitely the boost we needed to initially get off the ground and begin turning the vision into reality.

Since your campaign was overwhelmingly successful, what insider tips and advice do you have for other social entrepreneurs on how to start and run a successful campaign on StartSomeGood?

I would encourage you to reach out to family and friends for the first initial, small donations: a strong start (and quite a bit of pre-campaign planning) was something I really credit with the success of our campaign. Above all else, I encourage you to allow your passion for your organization and cause to shine through: don’t be shy!

Anything exciting in store for Takeashine?

Yes, so much on the horizon! I encourage everyone to visit Takeashine and see first-hand just what we’re doing right now. In February of 2012, after the pilot class this fall, we will be opening to the entire city of New Orleans, then expanding to three cities a year for the next three years. We’re thrilled about what’s in store, and hope that you (StartSomeGood readers and social-good-makers) will become part of the Takeashine community. 

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Asibi Danjuma

I am a 23-year-old Londoner currently in law school. I have a BA in Politics and International Relations and an LLB in law. I have worked as a Student Facilitator for the British Red Cross, taught at local schools in Berkshire and have done a lot of pro bono legal research for Amnesty International and the Arizona Capital Trials Project. When I finish law school, I hope to start saving the world by working in developmental research and perhaps move to Paris to eat macaroons, dabble in photography and write stories. I’m also an avid reader, white wine drinker and world traveler.

Are you inspired by Sarah’s passion and success?  Do you have a world changing idea, but need a way to fund it?  Learn more about running a campaign on StartSomeGood here.