PopTech SI Fellows: Design for Impact

The Mulago Foundation makes philanthropic investments in scalable solutions in health, development, and conservation in the Third World. As Director of the Rainer Arnhold Fellows Program, Kevin Starr helps the brightest social entrepreneurs maximize the impact of their ventures in the developing world.

Kevin works in the “Two-Dollar-a-Day Crowd” coaching entrepreneurs through the process of conceiving, developing and testing products and services that address the real-world needs of the vast markets in developing and emerging markets. As an investor, the ultimate goal is positive impact.

PopTech SI Fellows: Structure and Value Chain

Joy Anderson is president and founder of Criterion Ventures, a national firm that identifies, examines and solves system social problems by launching social ventures. A former school teacher and “accidental entrepreneur”, Joy’s mission is to incubate and scale ventures that build a better world.

Using the metaphor of the “meatball sandwich”, Joy shared her philosophy and methodology for building firms that change business landscapes.

2 Tweet or Not 2 Tweet

Twitter live from Vanderbilt 2009 Commencement

What the heck is Twitter?

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: “What are you doing?

This is a 10 minute presentation on the topic, given at a summit on Web 3.0 at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

It features Ashton, voter fraud, swine flu, a white african and siamese twins.

(You can “follow” me using this tool here: @peterdurand)

Wacom Bug-Eyed Portrait

Playing with our new Wacom Intuos 4 tablet to get used to all the clicks and taps required to be facile. The form factor is very nice, sleek, soothing.

I am ramping up for Remote Graphic Capture now that getting together for facilitated events is (a) cost-prohibitive and (b) bad epidemiological hygiene. As long as the electricity stays on, we’re set.

Did this whilst listening to Kurt Anderson’s Studio 360 on creative career change and good things from Mexico (music!).

In Search of the Perfect Personal Data Collection Application

Did Buddha have a scale?

PHOTO: Modern ceramic pop art. Peter Durand (c) copyright 2008

So, anyway, I try to weigh myself every morning.

Like many men approaching the tail end of my 30s, I am trying to lose weight. According to the official BMI calculator, I am obese, defined as BMI 30.0 or greater. Well, barely obese (I am 30 even!).

Alas, I am trying to make a concerted effort to eat right, read up on nutrition, turn down seconds, cut down on a bad pizza and coffee habit… anything to stave off the prospect of aging, developing diabetes, and (God Forbid!) cancer.

Well, you know, anything within reason.

Thinking About Global HealthTech

Modern Pharmacy in Liberia. Photo by Erik Hersman

Thinking about the people I’ve run across (mostly thanks to Pop!Tech) who are applying design and technology to global health. Wondering how to be part of the solution.

“All experts agreee that earlier diagnosis and treatment are the only effective ways to combat this [AIDS] epidemic. A key to this is how do you deliver information – which is what a diagnosis is – at the lowest possible cost.” - George Whitesides, Founder Diagnostics for All

Peter Durand has Gone Country!

Find me on the marquee downtown next to the boot shop, across from the wig store.

Living in Nashville, it was bound to happen sooner rather than later. See press release>>

I be Twitterfied

Twitter is mutating my brain.

I have sort of gone overboard on the Twittering.  (And I don’t even own an iPhone!)