mit ideas social entrepreneurship competition, ryan allis, the great opportunity of our generation,...

MIT IDEAS COMPETITION

MAY 4, 2009

The Great

Opportunity Our

Generation Has

By Ryan Allis, CEO of iContactMay 4, 2009

IDEAS COMPETITIONMIT

My GoalMotivate you to focus your time and

passion on solving world changing social issues and give you the

resources to do so

A quote…

What’s On TapThe Great Opportunity Our Generation Has

1. My Background

2. The Challenges We Face

3. The Opportunities We Have

4. A Vision for the World

5. CSR at iContact + Why We Do It

6. The Lessons I’ve Learned

7. How We Can Change the World Together

1

Business Background• Age: 24

• Position: CEO of iContact Corp.

• Size: 165 Employees

• Annual Sales: $28 million

• Capital Raised: $13.8 million

• Customers: 47,000

The Team

6

14

The Team

19

The Team

43

83

165

The Team

Social Background• Executive Director: The Humanity Campaign, Inc.

• Board Chair: Nourish International

• Working With: Africa Rising, Ashoka, Acumen Fund,

Opportunity Intl, Stop Hunger Now, UN Foundation

• Countries Working In: U.S., Uganda, Kenya, Ghana,

Tanzania, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Mexico

• Areas Working In: Water distribution, primary education,

soccer leagues, health clinics, nutrition, microfinance

The Kids

The Humanity Campaign

The mission of The Humanity Campaign is to work to

reduce poverty and hunger by increasing access to

education, healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurial

opportunity in the U.S. and in developing countries.

The Humanity CampaignThe Humanity Campaign• Started in November 2005, originally a global network of

bloggers writing about experiences in developing countries • Incorporated in February 2008, now a grant making

foundation• We contribute 50% of funds in the U.S. and 50% in developing

countries• Contributing to organizations in 6 countries working in

primary education, water distribution, health care, nutrition, microfinance, and vocational training

• Small now, but growing as iContact succeeds

Nourish International• Nourish teaches college students

entrepreneurship and then uses the net profits

from ventures to contribute to and volunteer at

sustainable projects in developing countries

• Started in 2001 at UNC-Chapel Hill

• Chapters now at 21 colleges in the U.S.

• Adding 10 additional college chapters in 2009-

2010

• Sending 65 students to 7 projects this summer

Social Entrepreneur MeetupsEntrepreneur & Social Entrepreneur Meetups

1. Started June 2007. Now held monthly at my house in CH2. About 70-80 attendees each month3. All ages/backgrounds. People who care about helping others4. Small cost for food/drinks provided by local sponsor5. Schedule is approximately:

8 – 9pm – Socializing9 – 930pm - Intros930 – 1030pm – Presentations (2 business, 2 social)1030 – 11pm – Announcements, Life Changing Books11pm – 12am - Socializing

Buzzword Bingo Fun…

Social Business

Social Enterprise

Capacity-Building

Microfinance

Sustainability

LDCs Upcycling

Social Entrepreneurship

Appropriate Technology

Intervention

Bottom-up

PPP

Weatherizing

Scalability

Green Jobs

Top-down

LEED

Vertical Farming

Cradle to Cradle

The Challenges We FaceThe Great Opportunity Our Generation Has

1. My Background

2. The Challenges We Face

3. The Opportunities We Have

4. A Vision for the World

5. CSR at iContact + Why We Do It

6. The Lessons I’ve Learned

7. How We Can Change the World Together

2

Slide showing rise in CDOs and credit swaps

NASDAQ at 1719, same as it was in 1998

DJIA at 8212, same as it was in 1998

The last 13 years of stock market returns, gone.

BRIC ETF down 61.47% since June 2008

Unemployment Rate Highest Since 1984 at 8.5%

IPO Pricings 1999-2008

Down 84% in 2008, Only 1 So Far in 2009

Source: http://www.ipohome.com

Global ChallengesKey Global Challenges

1. Extreme hunger and food distribution2. Water sanitation and distribution3. Infant mortality4. Lack of access to childhood education5. Malaria, measles, TB, diarrhea, HIV/AIDS6. Human rights violations, sex trafficking, and child soldiering7. Fossil fuel usage leading to climate change8. Nuclear proliferation9. Major conflicts in Congo, Palestine, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq10. Lack of transparent leadership in Zimbabwe, N. Korea, Somalia

The Opportunities We HaveThe Great Opportunity Our Generation Has

1. My Background

2. The Challenges We Face

3. The Opportunities We Have

4. A Vision for the World

5. CSR at iContact + Why We Do It

6. The Lessons I’ve Learned

7. How We Can Change the World Together

3

In the big picture, this decline is just a blip in growth

DJIA 1967-2009

Here’s another 13 year period when stocks were flat

DJIA 1969-1982

But look what happened between 1982-1995.

DJIA 1982-1995

Yale Professor Robert Shiller’s P/E10 Ratio as of May 4, 09 is 15.14 down from 43.51 in April 00

P/E10 2000-2009

Source: http://www.econ.yale.edu/~shiller/data/ie_data.xls

Only 23.5% of humanity is on the Internet as of 2009. There is much growth to go. There is great coming power in a connected humanity that can

communicate.

Infant Mortality is Decreasing…

Reduced by 50% in last 45 yearsSource: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/annual-letter/

Global OpportunitiesKey Global Entrepreneurial Opportunities1. Agricultural production yields2. Food distribution and logistics3. Water collection, sanitation and distribution4. Wireless electricity distribution5. Wireless mesh broadband networks6. Conflict resolution consulting7. Leadership transparency consulting8. Improved education and reform9. Improved preventative health care and reform10. Clean tech/alternative fuel (the coming Green Revolution)

You could build a billion dollar company in each of these areas

Profit EQUALS

SUSTAINABILITYSUSTAINABILITY

EQUALS

Profit

Profit EQUALS

SUSTAINABILITY

How to Get Funded 101

How to Get Funded1. Submit to Competitions Like MIT IDEAS

MootCorp (UT-Austin) MIT 100K Challenge2. Apply to Start-up Summer Mentorship Programs

Y-Combinator (SF) LaunchPad (DC)TechStars (Boulder, CO)

3. Pitch to Boston Angel Networks4. Connect With Great Boston Venture Capital Firms

Highland Capital Partners - Neill OcchiogrossoMatrix Venture Partners – Nick Beim

5. Send in Your Plan Via a Trusted Referrer6. Find Current Entrepreneurs and Buy Them Lunch

DESIGN FOR PEOPLE

ENGINEER FOR LIFE

A Vision for the WorldThe Great Opportunity Our Generation Has

1. My Background

2. The Challenges We Face

3. The Opportunities We Have

4. A Vision for the World

5. CSR at iContact + Why We Do It

6. The Lessons I’ve Learned

7. How We Can Change the World Together

4

A Vision for the WorldI’d Like to Work With You Over the Next 50 Years to Create a World in Which…

1. There is no killing of humans on a mass scale (genocide or

warfare)

2. All humans have access to the basic human needs of clean

water, nutritious food, shelter, and primary education

3. We end preventable diseases like malaria, TB, and measles

4. We are environmentally sustainable

Starting from a Simple Principle

All Lives Have Equal Value

Is this possible?Can we actually end genocide, warfare, starvation, and preventable disease in our lifetimes?

YES

Is this possible?Can we actually provide accessible clean water, food, shelter, and primary education to every human in our lifetimes?

YES

But people laugh…

“But older people laugh at me.”

“Experienced” people laughed at Marconi when he claimed had a device that wirelessly transmitted sound

“Experienced” people laughed at Yunus when he said he could lend to poor women with no assets

“Experienced” people laughed at Edison when he said he had a device that recorded sound

But how?

It Takes Entrepreneurs…

1. Many of the future leaders of our generation are in this room

right now. You are one of them. We can achieve anything we

set our minds to.

2. We do it through a combination of entrepreneurship and

social entrepreneurship.

3. We do it through investments in education, infrastructure,

technology, leadership, and sustainable energy.

What is a Social Entrepreneur?

A social entrepreneur is

someone who rearranges

resources to improve the world

The Old ModelThe Old Model of Top Down Development…

Developed CountryGovernment(s)

LDC Political Leader & Government

People

Politically Favored Projects by Western Contractors

Funneled to Corrupt Leadership

Odious Debt

Solutions without local knowledge providing little benefit

A New & Better Model?A New Model of Distributed Bottom Up Development…

Individuals& On the Ground NGOs

Local Entrepreneurs & Social Entrepreneurs People

Projects with appropriate scale and bought-into

solutions

CSR at iContactThe Great Opportunity Our Generation Has

1. My Background

2. The Challenges We Face

3. The Opportunities We Have

4. A Vision for the World

5. CSR at iContact + Why We Do It

6. The Lessons I’ve Learned

7. How We Can Change the World Together

5

CSR at iContactCSR at iContact

1. We believe in the 1% solution

2. We provide 1% of our annual payroll back to our community.

3. In 2008, we contributed $57,000 to 37 different non-profits

4. In 2009, we’re on track to contribute $110,000

5. We split the contribution approx. 50% U.S., 50% international

6. We do service projects with Habitat and Foster Care

programs

7. We added sustainability to our CSR program in 2008

8. We eliminate about 300 million pieces of direct mail per year

Why We Do ItThe Why Behind CSR at iContact

1. Because it’s the right thing to do

2. Because it’s part of the purpose of our company

3. Because we get positive attention that attracts customers

and new team members

“The purpose of iContact is not to make profits nor revenue. It is to create good jobs, give back to our community, and help organizations market more effectively. If we do these things right, the profits will follow.” – The Purpose of iContact

The Lessons I’ve LearnedThe Great Opportunity Our Generation Has

1. My Background

2. The Challenges We Face

3. The Opportunities We Have

4. A Vision for the World

5. CSR at iContact + Why We Do It

6. The Lessons I’ve Learned

7. How We Can Change the World Together

6

The Lessons I’ve Learned 1-5The Lessons I’ve Learned

1. If we are not achieving something, it is because we have not

put our minds to it.

2. We have great challenges facing our generation, but even

greater opportunities.

3. Surround yourself only with positive people and great

mentors.

4. Thoughts become things. Write down and frame your goals.

5. It takes at least five years from when you start to make it, so

start taking action today.

The Lessons I’ve Learned 6-10The Lessons I’ve Learned

6. Don’t be afraid of failure or of making mistakes. Things will go wrong.

7. Don’t take yourself too seriously.8. Live life to its fullest. Be passionate. Do what makes you

happy. 9. Money means nothing if you don’t have friendships, health,

and love.10. Our generation can, and must address the major inequities of

opportunity in the world.

Changing the WorldThe Great Opportunity Our Generation Has

1. My Background

2. The Challenges We Face

3. The Opportunities We Have

4. A Vision for the World

5. CSR at iContact + Why We Do It

6. The Lessons I’ve Learned

7. How We Can Change the World Together

7

The Future For Me?Figure Out How to Change the World in the Most Impactful Way Possible Through:

• Entrepreneurship• Social Entrepreneurship• Investing• Writing• Public Service

For more information you can visit…

• My Blog: www.ryanallis.com

• My Book: www.zeromillion.com

• iContact: www.icontact.com

• Virante: www.virante.com

• Humanity Campaign: www.humanitycampaign.org

• Nourish: www.nourishinternational.org

For More Information

I’m happy to help however I can. You can reach me via:

ryanallis@icontact.com

Or friend me on Facebook. I’m the Ryan Allis at UNC.

How We Can Connect

Let’s work together as entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, and

public servants for the next five decades to:

Let’s Work Together

Our generation has an immense opportunity if we set our minds to it.

1. Provide accessible clean water, food, shelter, and primary

education to every human

2. End genocide, warfare, starvation, and preventable

disease.

THANK YOU!

Thank you!

Some Recommended BooksDevelopment-Related Books

1.Three Cups of Tea

2.Fortune @ The Bottom of the Pyramid

3.Secret History of the American Empire

4.Confessions of an Economic Hitman

5.The End of Poverty

6.The White Man’s Burden

7.Globalization and Its Discontents

8.Be The Change

Business/Economics Related Books

1.Think & Grow Rich

2.Hot-Flat and Crowded

3.How to Win Friends & Influence…

4.Lexus and the Olive Tree

5.The Commanding Heights

6.Reinventing the Bazaar

7.The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team

8.Good to Great