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.

You can watch this episode below or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts (search for “Ventures”).

0:03 - Intro to the episode

1:35 - On-site intro - application we are onboarding Togolese into with Impact Stream

1:57 - Who is Hans? Why is he here with Will and the Impact Stream team in Togo? Origin story how Hans and Will met.

3:20 - “Can I come”? (Hans asking to come to Togo with us). Productive and effective aid in Africa.

3:53 - What kinds of projects does Hans hope to see funded in Togo?

4:45 - The need for basic infrastructure

5:07 - How do we inject financial aid into projects in Togo that help the local economy? How do we ensure the projects are regenerative and sustainable?

6:24 - Impact Stream manages the flow of money. More info about blockchain technology that Impact Stream will be using.