Topic:   Social Impact

How to avoid destroying local economies with economic aid

Will's General Newsletter (Weekly) :: Aug 15, 2023

A brief introduction to Impact Stream's first project in Togo, West Africa

How can Web3 technology, global trust networks, and strategic injections of financial aid help with poverty alleviation in West Africa and beyond?

How to use Web3 technology and financial aid to help (and not hurt) poverty alleviation in West Africa :: with Hans Mulders

In this episode of Ventures, my guest Hans Mulders (https://obertal.com/leavenworth-wa-hotel-owner/) and I recorded a conversation while we were on-site at a demonstration farm in Togo, West Africa. We had just helped dozens of local Togolese people onboard into a progressive web application that we are building with Impact Stream (https://impact.stream), a new NGO helping to decentralize poverty alleviation via trust networks and blockchain technology. In our conversation we cover how Hans got involved in Impact Stream and how to smartly use technology and aid to sustainably help lift people out of poverty.

Why I traveled to Togo, West Africa this summer

Will's General Newsletter (Weekly) :: July 26, 2023

Web3 & Poverty Alleviation in Togo, West Africa: Impact Stream progress update

In this episode of Ventures, I (https://linkedin.com/in/wclittle) walk through the current progress of a new NGO called Impact Stream (https://impact.stream). I and fellow team members were able to travel to Togo, West Africa this month to help onboard dozens of local people into a progressive web app we are building to facilitate proposals, on-chain voting, and funding via cryptocurrency. Importantly, these proposals are submitted by local people to be built by local vendors/workers and prioritized by their own community (and not outside influencers). In this episode I share plenty of footage from our trip, so be sure to watch the video via the link below if you happen to be on your podcast player.

A new non-profit is launching this week called Impact Stream (and I'm fired up about it 🔥)

Will's General Newsletter (Weekly) :: May 30, 2023

Introducing Impact Stream: A new non-profit that helps digital communities create IRL impact

In this episode of Ventures, I (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wclittle) introduce a new non-profit called Impact Stream (https://impact.stream), which is all about creating transparent streams of impact between digital communities and real-life communities. Our first project - in partnership with Gitcoin, Supermodular, Prota Ventures, International Literacy and Development, and Primordia - will create a software application to onboard 100 Togolese (West Africa) into Web3 and allow them to create, submit, and vote on proposals to fund public goods in their community with a global matching pool.

Web3 & Philanthropy

Will's General Newsletter (Weekly) :: Oct 25, 2022

Coming back - and looking forward - to what matters

Will's Weekly Newsletter :: Tuesday July 26, 2022

Web3 vs. Web2 incentives for tangibly helping the developing world :: with Daniel Wilson, PhD

In this episode of Ventures, I introduce and play an important clip from episode 97 with Daniel Wilson, PhD (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-wilson-phd-46956b35/) regarding the importance of Web3 to help humans flourish around the world. We talk about how while incentives for traditional organizations (e.g. banks) are often not compelling enough to provide the same services that developed nations enjoy, Web3 - especially Decentralized Finance (DeFi) - allows unprecedented access to quality financial services. We also talk about how a multidisciplinary approach to Web3 in the developing world is critical, and we discuss the work that Daniel is doing right now to help more language communities participate on the Internet.

The Otherside Metaverse: A powerful new medium for brands, entrepreneurs, and social impact :: with Jesse Bryan

In this episode of Ventures, my guest Jesse Bryan (https://twitter.com/jessebryan) and I talk about our experience on the first voyage within The Otherside (https://otherside.xyz/) and the resulting implications for brands and people IRL. During this episode, we overlay video of our experience, talk about addressing skeptics, the Otherside litepaper, what can be built on plots of land, how brands should be thinking about The Otherside, and how specifically entrepreneurs can - and should - be thinking about impacting the world with metaverses in general.

DeFi deep-dive, and why venture build/invest?

Will's General Newsletter (Weekly) :: July 5, 2022

Web3 101 (for what matters), Impact Ape, and an important new NFT campaign coming this summer

Will's General Newsletter (Weekly) :: June 14, 2022

Web3 101 for Global Impact: Blockchains, DAOs, and NFTs for Preserving Languages :: with Michelle Schubert

In this episode of Ventures, my guest Michelle Schubert (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-schubert-92b259158/) and I discuss a “Web3 101” from her perspective as a relative newcomer to the space, and we talk about her work with International Literacy and Development (ILAD, https://ilad.ngo/). We learn about her story leading into development work, how her team’s upcoming “Stop the Extinction” NFT campaign is aiming to preserve languages all around the world, advice for those writing about and teaching Web3, and reflections from her attendance of Consensus 2022 in Austin, TX last week.

Leveling up our definition of human flourishing

Will's General Newsletter (Weekly) :: May 17, 2022