Dave Erasmus (left) and Louis Cole (right), co-founders of the Solvey Project. Photo Courtesy of... [+]
In May, I met YouTubers Dave Erasmus and Louis Cole in Delhi. They were on their third stop on a fast-paced world tour called Solvey, to find entrepreneurial individuals, interested in giving back and solving problems in their home countries.
Erasmus, a serial entrepreneur, and Cole, a travel vlogger on YouTube with a massive global fan following, hit 8 cities in 30 days. Two months later, I spoke to Erasmus, now back home in England, to see what the results were of that mega trip.
“I’ve finally recovered from my travels. Today, I woke up with a spring in my step,” he says, laughing.
That’s one month after their whirlwind tour ended. While it may have been ruthless on their bodies, it did yield the results they were hoping for: 145 people applied from around world and that too across generations (ages 12 to 67). Plus, the vlogs garnered over 3 million views on YouTube.
The seven winners, listed below, are well represented by South America and India -- two regions that Erasmus notes, where Solvey really resonated with the audience. Brazil and India, he explains, are examples of societies where people have a freedom to express but there serious environmental challenges, and development is lagging. So residents have the ability to be creative, entrepreneurial and expressive: “Naturally, that’s where we had the most energizing conversations,” he says.
Each fellow, regardless of location, will receive $1,000. But the funding is small fraction of the prize as winners will be mentored and supported over the next year. The Solvey Project, unlike many other social enterprise accelerates, isn’t rooted in the US or UK. It didn’t have clear defined rules: no age limits, no geographic barriers, and no definition of for-profit or nonprofit ideas. “That fluidity is what I’ve really enjoyed,” Erasmus reflects.
There was one baseline measurement that the duo used for each country they visited: the Social Progress Index. How do countries add up, beyond GDP? Where do they stand on freedom of expression, environmental preservation, broadband access -- issues that define quality of life, not just economic growth.
“What we both realized is that people need confidence, legitimacy, more so than even money,” Erasmus says. That held true even more in four of the cities they visited: Beijing, Dubai, Seoul, and Tokyo. While Japan is very different from China in its political and economic framework, a culture of homogeneity has prevented young people from taking more risks, and hence, entrepreneurial journeys. You could see that in the discussion, he says, referring to the jam sessions held in each country where Cole and Erasmus met with locals, some of which went on to apply for funding. "There was a hesitation to speak out and be expressive."
In China, where social media, including YouTube, is blocked, the duo struggled to connect with their audience. Only one young man, who was from mainland China, made it to their ideas session. “That’s where I began to see the cost of structures that don’t allow freedom. And so, maybe we have to put a price on freedom, in a subtle way.”
The tour concluded in Iceland, the most developed country on the trip. “The US and the UK are always invited to the party. Iceland is different,” Erasmus says. Indeed, 95% of Icelandic households have Internet access; a single
All the trials and triumphs of building a business – delivered to your inbox.
“I have much more appreciation for the value of listening to people and how vital that is to their development and to a society’s development,” Erasmus reflects. Setting up social enterprise accelerator like Solvey is as much about funding, logistics, resources as it is about penetrating societies, finding grassroots innovators, and listening to their stories.
These are the seven that emerged as the “winners” for 2016.
Alejandro Arias 21 & Isabella Bianco 22, of Venezuela, who want to rethink architecture in slum communities:
Theo Carvalho & Co, 22, of Brazil want to develop a medicine bank to use wasted or excess medicines that would otherwise be thrown away.
Lisa Booth, 49, of the US who wants to use Skype to connect children from around the world, giving them a glimpse inside each other’s lives.
Rithvik, 15, of India who is developing a technology (for $10) that would allow everyone to use their smartphone to clean their hands.
Bethany & Kathy, 26, of the US and Bolivia, who have a social enterprise called Conflict Crate, connecting products made in Bolivia with the global market
Akhil Kothari, 17, of India, who started a book bank, repurposed old books.
Hinar Adel, 22, of Egypt who wants to develop a new, more efficient means of recycling aluminum, which will be profitable and beneficial to the environment.
Erasmus is now building a “brain bank” to support these entrepreneurs. “I was amazed by not just the number of people who sent in pitches, seeking money, but all the folks who wrote to us wanting to just advise, mentor, and be part of the Solvey team.”
Would he do it again in 30 days though? “Maybe if I could get business class tickets instead,” he jokes.
