From its inception as a social space full of tech crazed college kids, removal of breast bearing photos likely would have been related to a college aged girl a la Girls Gone Wild.
Today Facebook is dominated by tech crazed adults — those 25 and above — and their breast related controversy surround breast feeding infants. The good news for Fbook is that these folks have more $$ than college kids.
Facebook is only the latest high profile example of a product or service created and tested in and around the campus. Clear, often constained markets for testing new ideas. Eager, experiment oriented customers. Continual entry of new consumers.
The unique nature of it marketplace is a primary reason that the campus presents great opportunities for entrepreneurs.
In working with Zoltan Acs and his ‘new model of American Capitalism’ and Phil Auerswald on Social Entrepreneurship, I am becoming increasingly interested in the role of philanthropists in economic growth and opportunity. Philanthropy is different from charity — philanthropists provide opportunity to others, charity provides immediate needs.
I am reminded of this more and more as I dive into the history of US higher ed with such books as Randolph’s The American College and University: A History.
An editorial at the WSJ points out a Congress Member that is planning on going after foundations in order to get more ‘public’ control over their activities. Given my growing understanding of the power that philanthropy — often through foundations — continues to play in America’s political and social development. From the WSJ: Congress Targets Philanthopy…
Like divining rods, Members of Congress are always alert to fresh sources of money, which once discovered they will spend. California Democratic Congressman Xavier Becerra thinks he’s discovered a new source of political treasure: the money inside private and community foundations.
The tax exemption foundations enjoy, says Mr. Becerra, is a “$32 billion earmark.” As he explains: “I have an obligation to make sure that those $32 billion that would have gone to the federal government are used for a . . . public good.”
This sounds like political intimidation. Unless the foundations reprogram money in the direction of Mr. Becerra’s preferences, he’ll start proceedings to dismantle their tax exemption.
Mr. Becerra and his allies, however, may want to think twice about whacking foundations. A study out this month suggests that foundations spread economic benefits more broadly through society than had been previously imagined. The research was commissioned by a new organization called the Philanthropic Collaborative and was conducted by Robert Shapiro, President Clinton’s under secretary of commerce for economic affairs, and Aparna Mathur, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The Washington-based group’s goal is to persuade policy makers of the benefits of philanthropic dollars flowing to communities across the country.
For the $43 billion that foundations spent on grants in 2007, they created direct economic benefits of $368 billion. Those nonprofits that consistently outperform government programs have been saving taxpayers a bundle.
I am in the midst of a steep learning curve on the role of philanthropists in society as Zoltan ramps up work on his forthcoming book and GMU moves further into the Social Entrepreneurship field with the ChangeMakersCampus effort, active social entrepreneur networks on campus, and more coursework and research.
Many believe the rise of Gates, Skoll et al. on one extreme and Kiva.org etc. on the other extreme herald a new day for philanthropy and sustainable development globally. What are your thoughts? Also, should the government be making new policy on as the players bring in their new models, methods, and ideas?
4 Appalachian State U. students won the Juicy Ideas Competition with their bicycle made out of plastic bottles.
The students had to take a ‘throw away’ item and make something useful out of it. The four industrial design students ended up making a bicycle frame out of plastic soda bottles. They win some money for school and also a trip to visit Google HQ in Silicon Valley.
Check out the full list of finalists (including blankets made from plastic bags and coat insulation made from plastic bottles).
InsiderHigherEd.com has a pretty good review/preview of a new study on impact of diversity on student attitudes. The data at the core of this study comes from students at UCLA and focuses quite a bit on comparing those who lived with someone from ‘an outgroup’ versus someone from their ‘ingroup.’ (UCLA frosh are randomly assigned roommates).
From the review,
Some of the findings may cheer supporters of affirmative action. Notably, the research found a positive impact on racial attitudes from students who are exposed to those of other races and ethnicities. While many educators have long said that they believe in such an impact, the new study provides longitudinal research to back up what to many has been conventional wisdom more than scientific research. These findings may be crucial because court rulings upholding the legality of affirmative action have made the point that some broad societal gain is needed, not just the individual benefit that goes to an admitted minority students.
Other findings, however, may anger some diversity advocates (not to mention some fraternity and sorority leaders). The researchers examined the impact of membership in groups that are defined largely by race and ethnicity (such as black student unions) as well as membership in groups that do not have an explicit racial or ethnic mission, but have overwhelmingly white members (some fraternities and sororities). Generally, they found that a negative impact resulted from membership in these groups — white or minority.”
Its funny, I read the review and the findings from the study and wondered what they mean for entrepreneurs in and around campus. (more…)
When I was in college at U of M, one of my favorite movies to watch with my housemates was Conan the Barbarian. Our favorite line was when the Mongol General asks what is the best thing in life, one soldier answers incorrectly and then Conan (played by Arnold Scwarznegger) responds, “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.”
I feel this way about my entrepreneurial adversaries (though I don’t subscribe to ‘the lamentation of the women’ part — perhaps I’ll change that to ‘the lamentation of their vendors.’)
But it really is a good time to be crushing your enemies in the commercial space. In the last few weeks I have begun to notice a sentiment of resignation over 2008.
Most people I talk with just want the year to end quietly (many are staying home for the holidays). I have been on the phone a lot the last few weeks regarding my startup and pushing hard to get as much done as possible as we close out our beta offering (the 2008 fantasy football season). We have come across much malaise.
Apparently, I am not the only one interested in pouncing on the marketplace right now. Jeff Cornwall cites others who feel now is a great time to go on the offensive (‘to crush your enemies, see them driven before you….’) while others are licking their wounds or hiding out.
From Cornwall’s post:
There are many new opportunities out there. Don’t believe only the bad news you keep hearing about the business climate. Because for those willing to take the plunge, there are fewer competitors in the market and the cost of doing business is going down.
So if you are a new venture, keep pushing hard, and if you are considering a launch, don’t wait. Many of your adversaries are most weak and tired (both physically and psychologically) and waiting to be crushed.
Our friend Craig Newmark provided this link to Business Pundit with 8 different rankings of b-schools. The rankings range from BusinessWeek and Entrepreneur Magazine to UT-Dallas’ Research Rankings and the FT. My MBA alma mater did pretty well recently — scoring a #1 from BWeek. Interesting note is that the Acton MBA is not listed on the most entrepreneurial list — wonder if that is an accreditation issue?
Cool article from the CS Monitor on a social entrepreneur in the Phillipines who has created a huge leap forward for those interested in low cost bio fuels to help those in the developing world. From the article by Gisela Angela Telis,
Alexis Belonio’s obsession with rice husks began in 2003, when rising fuel prices and heavy dependence on foreign oil slammed his native Philippines with an energy crunch.
“I saw rice mills throw husks into the rivers,” says the agricultural engineer. “I started thinking about using them as fuel.”
Mr. Belonio was already an accomplished inventor, having designed over 30 devices ranging from paddy dryers to water pumps for poor Filipino farmers. So his thinking led him to the cooking stove, an item fraught with expense and danger in the developing world. (more…)
Today’s USA Today Sports Section (online for sure) features a story on GMU professor’s who have made huge breakthroughs in anti-doping testing. The article highlights how entrepreneurial George Mason is as an institution. From the article by AJ Perez:
Two GMU professors whose primary interest had been cancer research developed the first urine test for human growth hormone. Working outside the Olympic movement, outside the traditional research environment of a university-backed teaching hospital, and 20 miles outside the university’s main campus in Fairfax, Va., Emanuel “Chip” Petricoin and Lance Liotta moved directly to the forefront of international sports’ anti-doping efforts. They also furthered — at least for now — their university’s high-risk, high-reward pursuit of national renown and future income.
“From the early days at GMU, it’s taken an entrepreneurial spirit,” says Alan Merten, the university’s fifth president since its founding in 1972. “You don’t go from nowhere to a school this large in 36 years without that kind of mind-set.”
Found this social venture via twitter (twitter.com/teecyle_tim) while playing around the other day. TeeCycle.org is a site that sells used t-shirts under the motto of “reduce. reuse. teecycle.”
Funds from each sale to go various charities and they help achieve their goal of reducing landfill waste. They offer a pretty cool quote from Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, “The most responsible way for a consumer and a good citizen to buy clothes is to buy used.”
Check out teecycle.org — maybe buy a cool, pre-loved shirt.
Not sure if the team at Teecyle is looking to scale up or not, but the opportunity for recycled goods is enormous, especially in a slowing economy.
I just watched the press conference where Obama introduced his Secretary of Ed nomination, Arne Duncan. A colleague/friend of his from Chicago. Obama and Biden gave basic comments; nothing earth shattering.
Arne Duncan, in his comments, made no mention of higher education. I am going to check the transcripts, but it seemed like all he did was talk about himself and his great works in Chicago. (Not a good way to start in my opinion). His focus is clearly on primary education. He might be an innovator (a reporter’s question to PE Obama referenced Duncan’s plans to pay kids for grades), but he might not get the breadth of his job quite yet.
We’ll see what this means, if anything, but Arne Duncan’s first 5 minutes did not not do much for me.
Our favorite line was when the Mongol General asks what is the best thing in life, one soldier answers incorrectly and then Conan (played by Arnold Scwarznegger) responds, “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.”
