The growing social entrepreneurship movement is increasingly attracting the interest of venture capitalists and corporations. Designing products to be ecologically, culturally and economically sustainable is a necessity in places where resources are scarce. Cheap and renewable sources of energy, such as the sun, are key elements of "leapfrogging" technologies that surpass the limitations of unsustainable yet entrenched technologies in the first world.
Draper Fisher Jurvetson awarded $250,000 to DLight Design in May. The company is perfecting this prototype of the Forever Bright LED light, which it boldly aims to replace kerosene lamps still used by one-third of people in the world, who often pay one-third of their earnings for the fuel. Unlike hand-cranked or solar LED lights that can be found in U.S. hardware stores, this model is built to be cheaper and longer-lasting.
CEO Sam Goldman dreamed up the concept while serving in the Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa, where the son of a friend suffered serious burns from ignited kerosene. Such accidents are estimated to maim or kill about a million people each year.
Photo by d.light design
