TIECON Social Enterprise Track Provides New Perspective

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Raj Melville

For the first time TIECON EAST – TiE Boston’s annual conference on entrepreneurship and innovation – had a dedicated track on Social Enterprise. The three panels for the track were all well attended. Here are some excerpts from an article I wrote for Lokvani about the sessions.

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The Blue Sweater a book by Acumen Fund founder Jacqueline Novogratz

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Raj Melville

I had gotten a copy of Acumen Fund founder, Jacqueline Novogratz’s, book “The Blue Sweater” a couple of months ago and had kept promising myself that I would read it. Once I started reading I was hooked. Before I knew it I had plowed through the entire volume. This is an extraordinary and powerful book.

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Jacqueline Novogratz – Legatum Lecture at MIT

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Raj Melville

Speaking at the Legatum Center’s Lecture series at MIT, Jacqueline Novogratz described the innovative work of Acumen fund and how it helps build social solutions through its venture philanthropy.

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Two social visionaries from India

Posted on April 21, 2009 by Raj Melville

Vibha Krishnamurthy is the founder of Ummeed, and Ashish Karamchandani, leader of Monitor, Monitor Inclusive Markets, visit Boston

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Registration Opens for ForSE 2008-Forum for Social Entrepreneurs

Posted on September 10, 2008 by Raj Melville

The Forum for Social Entrepreneurship, or ForSE for short, brings together social innovators with leading business professionals, investors, donors, government officials, academics, and students to facilitate the sharing of new technology and business ideas along with hard-earned management learnings to foster informed discussion and action on new social venture concepts. Registration for the ForSE 2008 is now open. Registration is limited. Register early for the discounted registration rates available to the first 180 registered attendees.

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Scaling up healthcare solutions

Posted on September 6, 2008 by Raj Melville

Last Week’s Time magazine had an article written by Jeffery Sachs titled “Safety in Numbers” that highlights programs that are recruiting community workers to provide basic health services in rural communities. By investing in basic health care training of community workers, these programs provide a safety net for thousands of poor people who would otherwise be unattended.

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India’s Poor Get Health Care in a Card

Posted on August 28, 2008 by Raj Melville

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “India’s Poor Get Health Care in a Card”, outlines a program being launched in India to provide affordable healthcare to the masses. The key component of the program, which is targeted at those earning less than $100 per year, is the use of a secure smart card to store the beneficiary’s personal data and fingerprints.

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Forum for Social Entrepreneurs: ForSE 2008

Posted on July 5, 2008 by Raj Melville

We founded the Forum for Social Entrepreneurs (ForSE): To bring together social innovators with leading business professionals, investors, donors, government officials, academics, and students; To facilitate the sharing of new technology and business ideas along with hard-earned management learnings; To foster informed discussion and action on new social venture concepts.

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Water and Sanitation – the next global challenge

Posted on June 28, 2008 by Raj Melville

Water and sanitation, together with food security, are some of the most pressing issues globally. The root cause to most of the basic issues – health, nutrition, and even education can be traced in some way to water and sanitary, hygienic conditions.

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