by Jana Branch
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- A growing number of lauded, oversubscribed Kickstarter projects are aimed at solving sustainability issues like energy and construction. “Savvy” is the watchword as these inventions emerge from smart entrepreneurs and gain support from discerning fans.
- ReadySet Solar Kit, developed for Africa, is coming to the US after asking for $20K and getting $112K. That success will generate wider distribution to developing markets.
- The PowerPot generator doubles as a cooking pot, turning heat directly into electricity with no moving parts. The $50K project goal nabbed $126K.
- The oversubscribed Global Village Construction Set modular DIY platform, like an industrial LEGO set, can be configured into 50 different industrial machines.
- Attention from the likes of WIRED, New York Times, TechCrunch, Huffington Post, Fast Company and MIT Technology Review help the momentum.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- While “innovation” can conjure images of high-tech, sleek complexity, sustainability depends on low-tech inventions that work without First World conveniences.
- Where is innovation coming from these days? Look to the grassroots. Etsy. Indiegogo. Kickstarter.
RESOURCES
- ReadySet Solar Kit is a project of Fenix International
- Open Source Ecology Global Village Construction Set
- PowerPot
