I wonder if this has to do with the fact that, since Watsi is a nonprofit, pg can still lay claim to the rather unique boast of not serving on any company boards. (This is as opposed to accepting the position simply because he thinks Watsi > other startups)
Non-profit organizations are still companies. They are required to retain their revenues rather than distribute them as profits. From Wikipedia: "Designation as a nonprofit and an intent to make money are not related in the United States." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonprofit_organization)
This made me think that often giving money is not the best way to help. Microcredit has been tried and don't fix everything. A development economist made a strong point showing that micro deposit was more likely to be helpful, for example incountries were it was not culturally acceptable to hold some tangible wealth when some neighbours are in need (in some parts of Kenya, people tend to eat all their corn once harvested as fast as possible to avoid having to give a part of it to... faster eaters).
Also, buying goods from peasants in poor countries is a more sustainable way to help. Just imagine an Amazon or a Taobao where you buy spices or coffee straight from the producer.
edit and move: In fact, a part of the pleasure of eating a good baguette is because you bought it to the boulangerie and met the guy who made it, or his wife. Same with cheese, or even more with wine (the summun of wine-snobism in to drink bottles that you got from the chateaux' cellar)
The Nescafe coffee I drink don't give me any pleasure of this kind, because I am not (or try not to be) emotionally affected by brands and commercials. But reversing the arrow: I would be fine and happy with buying my coffee grains from a Watsy-like website, choosing the guy and his family from a picture and short description (which is weak, but better than nothing). At least I would know who to curse if I found roaches in the bag (happened to me with industrial cereals).
So you actively and intentionally promote inefficient production strategies, or want to be sold a fake image of pre-industrial cottage production that doesn't much exist, especially as prices you'd want to pay. That is not the way to lift people out of poverty.
Better to buy cheap cheese and then pay someone to make bread for his neighbors.
Maybe this comment is off-topic here but I can't help but feel that Watsi is in a way making all these individuals "compete" in terms of who is more likable, or whose situation is the worst, in order for them to get the help they need. Maybe I'm exaggerating but this model really troubles me.
How would you change the presentation to avoid this effect?
If candidates were presented one at a time, perhaps contributions wouldn't come in as effectively. If I see only one person in need and they're 60% funded, what gives me the sense of urgency that I should help as opposed to the momentum that this person already has?
I really like how their operation cost is only covered by tips instead of a cut from donations like most other charitable organization. Not sure if they are first to do that.
I'd be curious to know what the average tip is.
When I give tips at the restaurant or the car wash, the more I give the better I feel about myself, it's not only a reward for the quality of the service but also the feeling of helping somebody who needs money more than I do. There's a little bit of charity in every tip, at least for me.
In this case the physiology is reversed. I'd rather donate more to the patient and less to the institution. I also have no reference of what a good tip is for Watsi. It would typically be the minimum amount to keep them operating and donate the rest to the patient.
Kiva is a lending platform focused on micro-finance. All the money you lend directly goes to the borrowers(via its lending partners), and once the lender returns the money, you can recycle the amount to another borrower on the website.
They do have suggested donations to Kiva, usually 10%/15%/20%/self-specify of the loan amount.
They get a month off twice a year (in between sessions), effectively, and outside of a few peak intensity periods (interviews, demo day, maybe applications), it seems dramatically lower stress than working at a startup.
Pain and hunger are the two main sensations that can cripple a person, preventing them from "competing" in the real world. I'm glad Watsi's tackling one of them. In my country, doctors are often equated to God, and Watsi should be commended for serving the same role.
That said, I'd love to see YC fund a company that can create more fundamental and lasting impact. Kalibrr, also from YC W13, somewhat falls into this category, even though it's positioned at a decently developed economic rung of society.
I'd love to see YC fund a company with a scalable model that can uplift a society and affect significant lasting change (doesn't matter if the company is non-profit or not). I guess this would require YC to fund more companies that're based out of developing countries and that have innovative business models. I'd like to think there's a lot of economic gain to be made in the process too.
I really hope this model gets extended by other people to cover things like community development.
EG "This village wants to build a wash block. They'll charge people to use it, so it'll be self-maintaining. The benefits of sanitation are clear, here's the evidence base. But they need $X to build it. Here are the costed plans so far."
Add some video commentary before, during, and after and I think it'd be pretty good.
[+] [-] rattray|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] monkeyfacebag|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] karamazov|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gbog|13 years ago|reply
Also, buying goods from peasants in poor countries is a more sustainable way to help. Just imagine an Amazon or a Taobao where you buy spices or coffee straight from the producer.
edit and move: In fact, a part of the pleasure of eating a good baguette is because you bought it to the boulangerie and met the guy who made it, or his wife. Same with cheese, or even more with wine (the summun of wine-snobism in to drink bottles that you got from the chateaux' cellar)
The Nescafe coffee I drink don't give me any pleasure of this kind, because I am not (or try not to be) emotionally affected by brands and commercials. But reversing the arrow: I would be fine and happy with buying my coffee grains from a Watsy-like website, choosing the guy and his family from a picture and short description (which is weak, but better than nothing). At least I would know who to curse if I found roaches in the bag (happened to me with industrial cereals).
[+] [-] Evbn|13 years ago|reply
Better to buy cheap cheese and then pay someone to make bread for his neighbors.
[+] [-] greenonion|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] joezydeco|13 years ago|reply
If candidates were presented one at a time, perhaps contributions wouldn't come in as effectively. If I see only one person in need and they're 60% funded, what gives me the sense of urgency that I should help as opposed to the momentum that this person already has?
[+] [-] chaseadam17|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Evbn|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] edouard1234567|13 years ago|reply
I'd be curious to know what the average tip is.
When I give tips at the restaurant or the car wash, the more I give the better I feel about myself, it's not only a reward for the quality of the service but also the feeling of helping somebody who needs money more than I do. There's a little bit of charity in every tip, at least for me.
In this case the physiology is reversed. I'd rather donate more to the patient and less to the institution. I also have no reference of what a good tip is for Watsi. It would typically be the minimum amount to keep them operating and donate the rest to the patient.
Should they add a suggested tip?
[+] [-] sgpl|13 years ago|reply
Kiva is a lending platform focused on micro-finance. All the money you lend directly goes to the borrowers(via its lending partners), and once the lender returns the money, you can recycle the amount to another borrower on the website.
They do have suggested donations to Kiva, usually 10%/15%/20%/self-specify of the loan amount.
[+] [-] Evbn|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dmix|13 years ago|reply
It seems to be a very intensive thing to keep doing twice annually, year after year.
But it also must be very exciting and constantly motivating.
[+] [-] rdl|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pcolton|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] coffeebite|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ta20|13 years ago|reply
That said, I'd love to see YC fund a company that can create more fundamental and lasting impact. Kalibrr, also from YC W13, somewhat falls into this category, even though it's positioned at a decently developed economic rung of society.
I'd love to see YC fund a company with a scalable model that can uplift a society and affect significant lasting change (doesn't matter if the company is non-profit or not). I guess this would require YC to fund more companies that're based out of developing countries and that have innovative business models. I'd like to think there's a lot of economic gain to be made in the process too.
[+] [-] DanBC|13 years ago|reply
I really hope this model gets extended by other people to cover things like community development.
EG "This village wants to build a wash block. They'll charge people to use it, so it'll be self-maintaining. The benefits of sanitation are clear, here's the evidence base. But they need $X to build it. Here are the costed plans so far."
Add some video commentary before, during, and after and I think it'd be pretty good.
[+] [-] unknown|13 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] mcintyre1994|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|13 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] unknown|13 years ago|reply
[deleted]