http://www.volans.com The Business of Social Innovation Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:18:41 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A few days back I led a session at the Tällberg Forum in Sweden on Entrepreneurship and Scale, which profiled four remarkable entrepreneurs. But rather than celebrating their heroism, this was in the spirit of a 'reality check'. An extraordinary amount of hope is being placed on entrepreneurs around the world but time ... http://www.volans.com/2009/07/entrepreneurship-and-scale-reworking-platforms/ Those of you who came across the article in a leading Sunday paper this weekend entitled “Britain’s Green Shame” would, like me, have started this sunshine filled week somewhat despondent. It introduced a report to be released this week by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) outlining that the UK is ... http://www.volans.com/2009/07/there-is-still-hope/ President Obama gave a compelling speech today on social innovation and the need to scale the work of entrepreneurs in the US. To do this he has set up a $50million Social Innovation Fund to support non-profit social enterpreneurs. One of my favourite quotes "Solutions to America's challenges are ... http://www.volans.com/2009/07/obama-announcement-on-social-innovation-fund/ The Swiss investment firm Pictet Asset Management is gaining traction with a new type of bond fund. It rates countries based on their ability to provide a high quality of life at a minimal ecological cost. Pictet is the first bank worldwide to join the Global Footprint Network, a move that strengthens GFN's ... http://www.volans.com/2009/07/government-bonds-to-reflect-ecological-footprint/ Iran’s Green Revolution, a mass movement in response to possible election fraud, has fascinated the world with its force, speed, and digital fuel.  In trying to find some connection between Iran’s mass mobilization towards democracy with the idea of “disruptive” social change catalyzed by social entrepreneurship, ... http://www.volans.com/2009/06/irans-lesson-for-social-entrepreneurship/ As Volans cranks up for its first birthday party on Monday, belatedly because we actually passed that milestone on 1 April, one new adornment for our 2 Bloomsbury Place office is a truly extraordinary poster done by artists at the Value Web to mark my 60th birthday, which I am ... http://www.volans.com/2009/06/value-web-poster/ The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched an Energy for All Partnership that aims to provide access to modern (renewable) energy to an additional 100 million people in the Asia-Pacific region by 2015. While the technology exists, the Pathways to Scale work we've been conducting with solar entrepreneurs shows that two of ... http://www.volans.com/2009/06/new-partnership-to-scale-energy-access-in-asia/ Next Wednesday (June 24th) I will be facilitating a workshop designed for the AVINA Foundation at Tällberg, Sweden, on the day before the kick-off of the Tällberg Forum. AVINA's International Bridge Building efforts are demonstrating the effective role that philanthropic foundations can play in building critical mass to scale up ... http://www.volans.com/2009/06/the-role-of-foundations-in-catalyzing-scale/ “We believe that a strong economy and a clean environment are not mutually exclusive, and that Korea has to take an active part in tackling climate change,” Han Seung-Soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, told 350 participants from 35 countries at the 18th World Economic Forum on East ... http://www.volans.com/2009/06/asia-focuses-on-green-growth/ The Rotary Youth Social Entrepreneurship Challenge 2009 (RYSEC 2009) opens for submissions from Singapore-based teams TODAY. RYSEC is organised by the Rotary Club of Singapore, SYINC and Volans. Teams of 2-5 budding young social entrepreneurs (between the age of 19-30) are invited to apply, with cash prizes being awarded as well ... http://www.volans.com/2009/06/rotary-youth-social-entrepreneurship-challenges-opens-for-your-ideas/