Guayaki's Reforestation

I am a tea drinker, not a coffee drinker. Some are often surprised as I was a barista for nearly two years. One of my favorite tea beverages is yerba mate. The plant, Ilex paraguariensis, is grown in the Amazonian rainforest of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. Unfortunately, with the deforestation of the rainforest, the area where yerba mate is grown is rapidly shrinking.

One of the leading vendors of the drink, Guayaki, has a unique business plan. As the company grows, they invest in reforestation of the rainforest. This is not only in the best interest of company stakeholders, but also in the sustainable interest of the company, as it is dependent on the continued supplies of the leaves.

Have you heard of any businesses with similar programs, either reforestation, other environmental replenishment programs, or social sustainability initiatives? If so, I would love to hear about it!

Better Living Show

Friday and Saturday night I visited the Better Living Show at the Portland Expo Center. Has anyone else been to the show yet? There is one day left: today, Sunday the 30th of March. There is no cost for admission. I highly recommend the event, and will be writing about a number of the vendors in upcoming posts.

Marketing in Mexico

Don't forget to post an idea in response to my MotoGear entry. I can't wait to hear about all of your creative and clever marketing strategies.

Mercy Corps Northwest

I mentioned that I am interested in Microfinance and I was just talking about Mercy Corps Northwest with one of my friends at Neighborhood Roasters. Mercy Corps Northwest is, "financing change through Microenterprise development and Self-employment." This is something that is happening right here in Portland, Oregon. I think this is wonderful, because we aren't going to be effective overseas if we ignore the issues in our own backyard. So many times it is easy for us in American to see the problems on a global scale, but this Mercy Corps program aims to address an issue that is close to home. I think that's great.

Neighborhood Roasters

"Could a coffee company benefit a neighborhood and our planet, while also being profitable?...[My friend] is seeking to answer this question through pioneering a business enterprise that has, in its vision, profitability, livable wages for single parents, business training and ownership apprenticeship programs, high-quality products, and environmentally responsible business practices." I am really excited about this project. Part of the reason I came to Portland was so that I could study business in the MIM program to start a revolutionary, community-based coffee shop like the one described. Since I am not one to re-invent the wheel if someone is already doing things right, I am going to do whatever I can to help the people involved in setting this up. What kinds of things do we need to take into consideration when in the beginning stages of financing this kind of social venture?

Social Venture Partners Portland

Check out Social Venture Partners Portland. I just started doing a little bit of volunteer work for them. They are a non-profit in town that funds and provides volunteer efforts (by SVPP's Partners) to local organization, such as the Boys & Girls Club's Kids Cafe, Free Clinic of SW Washington, Children's Relief Nursery, Morrison Family Services, Metropolitan Family Service, The Shadow Project and New Avenues for Youth. Has anyone heard of SVPP before? What do you think about these kinds of funnel organizations?

MotoGear in Mexico

In term two of my study in the Master of International Management program at Portland State University, I took a course in marketing for global enterprises from Brian K. McCarthy, who introduced me to Gustavo Buhacoff, an alumnus of the MIM program, and founder of the internet start-up MotoGear.  MotoGear is an Internet-based venture that sells motorcycle safety gear, including helmets, boots, gloves, wheels, etc.  When describing his motivation behind the company, Gustavo said:

"On my (fairly extensive) trips to Mexico I noted that the average Mexican motorcyclists have very limited access to good, reliable riding gear.  Most shops, even in the larger cities, have little or no supply on hand and prices for special orders are high.  The idea behind MotoGear is to offer a reliable source for quality riding gear at a competitive price.  To allow riders from all over the country the same access to quality gear, it was designed as primarily an e-commerce store, with potential for a small local shop considered for those who live near our offices/warehouse in the future."

But, the general Mexican public is aware of potential fines for neglecting to use a helmet, but proper safety gear is not seen as a necessity.  Thus, Gustavo faces this the following dilemma: how to market a product that people do not necessarily think they even need.  What would you do?  Where would you begin?

Microfinance in Africa

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a presentation by Chris Brookfield, Investment Director at Unitus, at TiE Oregon's monthly meeting.  Much of the presentation highlighted Unitus' unique approach as a for-profit microfinance lending institution, and its various successes in Latin America, India, and other parts of Asia.  The part I found most intriguing was when Chris was asked about barriers in other parts of the world, and he mentioned how microfinance has been tried in the poorest parts of Africa and has failed.  The reasons for failure are typical, as one would assume the likely culprits of corruption, and inadequate infrastructure.  Additionally there is a lack of historical commercial endeavors in many countries of the world.  

Prior to the event, I had thought that microfinance seemed a highly adaptable model, that had the potential to help people all over the world to earn higher wages by taking initiative.  Now I am not so sure.  I keep coming back to Chris' comment about Africa, and wonder what could work there if not microfinance.  I have yet to form any concrete ideas, but I am continuing to work through some ideas.  

How do you feel about microfinance in countries that lack infrastructure?  Do you think there is another way to provide funds and encourage economic development, thereby increasing the quality of life in countries in Central Africa for the long-term?

Inspired

My dear friend Sean Harry and I were discussing my career and personal interests over coffee this morning, and my love for various humanitarian and social causes came up. Additionally, I am intrigued by the philosophy behind social entrepreneurship, and that is that innovators can and choose to do business in a way that solves human problems and evokes change, not simply pads the founders' pocketbook.  I like the way Bill Drayton, leading social entrepreneur and founder of Ashoka, said it best when he said: "Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish, or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry."

Sean also pointed me to an interesting international social venture: Play Pumps International. Play Pumps International is a non-profit organization that installs and maintains merry-go-rounds that not only provide entertainment for young children, but also pumps clean drinking water in Sub-Saharan Africa.  These pumps fill a tangible community need, in villages where water must often be carried in buckets and walked back to town, causing countless other health and social problems.