Across the technology industry and especially among larger firms, it may seem that the social consequences of products or services aren’t much more than a liability or afterthought, at best. This week, I’m featuring just a few of the technology-based companies and startups for whom social impact is the key ingredient in doing business.
Watsi: “Everyone Deserves Healthcare”
Founded in 2011, Watsi is a healthcare crowdsourcing platform that funds critical medical treatment for patients in developing countries. Real-time data on patient progress is collected for supporters to track the impact of their contributions by health outcomes. Watsi works directly with medical partners in host countries to review and approve cases eligible for funding, and 100% of every donation directly funds healthcare for the patient chosen by the backer.
Browsing the Watsi site, I was impressed by the organization’s dedication to transparency, patient and provider privacy, and innovation. Leveraging the newest technologies to further their mission of providing low-cost, high-impact care is undoubtedly a primary business goal: Watsi even accepts cryptocurrency donations (including Bitcoin)!
Each patient featured on the site has their own profile, containing their photo, personal story, detailed timeline of care, financial needs, and the cost breakdown of their treatment, so you can see exactly how donated funds are being used to treat the patient.
If you’re at all interested in the intersection of healthcare, crowdfunding, and technology, I highly recommend browsing Watsi’s FAQ page to learn more about how they got their namesake, remain financially sustainable, and more!
Loftium: “Stay where it counts”
For many, buying a home and getting a mortgage approved can be an incredibly costly, difficult, and time-intensive process. A few weeks ago, I wrote about housing insecurity in Milwaukee and the increasing scarcity of affordable, quality housing options. One company responding to this growing need is Loftium, a Seattle-based startup on a “mission to make living in cities affordable”.
Originally, the company partnered with prospective homeowners who were willing to rent out an extra room of their new home on Airbnb. Customers were provided down-payment assistance in exchange for agreeing to split Airbnb profits with the company. More recently, however, Loftium pivoted to the rental market due to rising housing prices, and now offers discounted rents on homes and apartments for tenants who become Airbnb hosts. WIth this model, Loftium’s clients don’t have to factor in the cost of their sanity and stability into already high housing prices.
As a consumer, it can be difficult to know whether the products we choose are furthering missions we support. For me, the most interesting aspect of Loftium’s model is not only how it empowers clients who host in exchange for affordable, long-term housing, but also how it empowers guests that stay at these residences. For example, a vacationer who chooses to stay at a Loftium residence not only receives a clean, reliable space for their visit, but also knows that their stay is providing a vital service by helping their on-site host family cover their own rent. Check out their website to learn more about their community-based business model!
DataKind: “Data Science in the Service of Humanity”
For many businesses, data is becoming just as much about understanding people as it is about profit. DataKind is a growing global network of data and artificial intelligence (AI) enthusiasts who are working to use their technical and project management skills for social change. A data scientist feeling unfulfilled with the focus of their day job might, for example, volunteer with DataKind on a project “alleviating poverty using satellite imagery with the World Bank”. A project in California forecasted clean water demand to save nonprofits millions of dollars, and a London-based project used open data to uncover corruption and improve government policy.
“… use data to not only make better decisions about what kind of movie we want to see, but what kind of world we want to see”
DataKind
DataKind aspires to build community across its global chapters, from San Francisco to Singapore. What stuck out to me about this particular organization, however, is its emphasis on the broader movement of “data and AI for good”, beyond the individual data projects that its volunteers participate in. While these projects are important, the organization’s work is immediately scalable as its volunteers apply the valuable mindset and perspectives gained through social impact projects to their daily work and life, which may not be as socially or ethically-minded. This includes a community-wide response to COVID-19, revealing how their services are as important as ever.
Watsi, Loftium, and DataKind are a few examples of the many ways in which data and technology are being used creatively and sustainably to create social impact at an impressive scale. I’m excited to keep researching and learning about thoughtful, innovative companies and the inspiring entrepreneurs that lead them– this is just the beginning!
- Activism, Meet Impact: Erika on GameStop, Hacktivism and Empathy - February 8, 2021
- Innovative is not Progressive: What Technology Means to Activists - January 5, 2021
- Hacktivism: Resistance from Digital Gabon - December 8, 2020