http://www.socialedge.org This is Sam Goldman's story. He grew up in Mauritania, Pakistan, Peru, India and Rwanda, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin and studied biology and environmental studies in Canada before receiving his MBA from Stanford. “My neighbor’s son in Benin was badly burned by a kerosene lamp. I decided to provide a source of light that is safe and cheap.” This is the story of a social entrepreneur in the making and the building of a global social enterprise: D.light Design. daily 1 2009-05-11T15:53:57Z http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/d.light-kiran-s10 D.light launches a Rs. 499 ($10) solar lantern to provide access to modern lighting to even more customers at the BOP! No publisher samgoldman 2009-11-13T13:08:02Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/the-moment-of-truth In last week’s TIME Magazine I referenced a $10 lantern. A trip with our Product Design team reveals a bit about the potential of a new product that will help us reach the customers who really need solar lighting solutions. No publisher samgoldman 2009-09-27T08:13:53Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/expanding-globally-d.light-in-senegal No publisher samgoldman 2009-06-01T04:03:54Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/d.light-video-from-sankalp The Sankalp investment forum in April saw a diverse group of players come together to look at social enterprises in India. No publisher samgoldman 2009-06-10T04:11:54Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/learnings-from-a-start-up This week – one of our top performers and a true all-star, Christina Riechers, is saying goodbye to D.light and hello to MIT. I asked her to share some frank thoughts about her experience with D.light India over the last year. No publisher samgoldman 2009-07-16T01:49:20Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/first-field-trip-for-our-new-coo Our recent trip to Uttar Pradesh was a great reminder of D.light's broad customer base and the connection people develop with certain products. No publisher samgoldman 2009-08-03T13:13:30Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/weblogentry.2009-06-25.7693073899 No publisher samgoldman 2009-06-25T08:49:33Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/government-scheme-1-154-the-legend-of-the-biogas-stove A short story of government interventions in the social space at first was depressing. However, I then met an NGO from Orissa, Gram Vikas, who picked up the government contracts and did an outstanding job. I wonder how a for-profit social entrepreneur would have faired? No publisher samgoldman 2008-02-21T03:17:05Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/investor-heaven This is the beauty of good investors - I was invited this week by Gray Matters Capital to their retreat in Atlanta to share ideas and meet incredible entrepreneurs; I generally am not a great fan of conferences - but I am completely energized by their portfolio! No publisher samgoldman Cell Bazaar Paralife United Villages Rent bureau Lumni Gray Matters Capital 2007-10-29T20:58:45Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/28yr-old-kamla-devy d.light was created, funded, and is fueled by stories. I particularly like the story of Kamla Devy and her husband Udayveer. I was shocked, amazed, and really excited when Kamla's husband, Udayveer, called up 2 friday's ago with an announcement... No publisher samgoldman 2008-06-29T19:00:54Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/iterate-iterate-iterate For me, the design process is all about iterations and improvements. We have gone through a few iterations on our products and the real test is about to come. Based on all our customer feedback over the last year we’ve designed the latest version of our light, and I am off to Asia with teams of volunteers, engineers, and business partners to put our products in the hands of rural villagers for a month of final testing, testing, testing… No publisher samgoldman 2007-08-28T03:52:51Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/200-brighter-than-what transitioning from product development to marketing, distribution, and opening up new country offices is exciting and completely perplexing. Marketing especially is a world apart from more western markets. Thankfully - I'll be back in India in a few days! No publisher samgoldman 2007-11-08T23:19:58Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/india-after-10-years-away There's plenty of budget airlines and a quarter million cell phones being made a day. India is 'calling all entrepreneurs.' And yet its not that easy. Razor thin margins, an older bureaucracy, whole neighborhoods of C&D (copy and develop instead of research and development), and the little things - like trying to get a cell phone present constant challenges. I was shocked by how demanding the Indian consumer is - requiring high quality, low price, and service guarantees even or $10 purchases. If we can crack this market - we can crack any. No publisher samgoldman India 2007-09-09T16:58:16Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/so-exciting-feedback-from-families Its always a great feeling when stories from the field come back. in the last week I have been hearing about some of the units villagers are using in northern India, as well as some old field tests from 2 year old LEDs left in Rajasthan. No publisher samgoldman 2007-12-04T07:24:38Z Weblog Entry http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/let-there-d-light/untouchability-affordability After visiting several villages in September, I have been speaking with a group organizing the Dalit community (previously referred to as untouchables or Harijans) to better understand the needs of a large segment of Indians poorest citizens. This will be the true test for devising new and innovative models to deliver affordability to those who cannot, quite literally, spend more than 50 cents per day. Here are some of my learnings. No publisher samgoldman Dalit Harijan Untouchable 2007-10-19T07:19:23Z Weblog Entry