On this week’s episode of the AshokaTECH Podcast, host Alex Budak interviews the co-founder and CEO of Kiva.org Matt Flannery.

Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe through the internet. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva creates a global community of people connected through lending.  As of last November, Kiva had facilitated over $100 Million Dollars in loans world-wide, with an extremely high repayment rate of over 98%

Focusing on how technology can change and improve microfinance, Alex and Matt discuss how to make philanthropy more social thanks to web 2.0 technologies, how to balance economic and social goals, and best practices for social entrepreneurs looking to choose business partners in developing countries.

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On this week’s episode of the AshokaTECH Podcast, host Alex Budak interviews Ben Rattray, the founder of Change.org.

Founded in 2005, Change.org seeks to be the central platform informing and empowering movements for social change around the most important issues of our time.  From homelessness to genocide, health care to human trafficking, global warming, and more, Change.org leverages technology and social media to connect people with one another and organizations to advance their common causes.

Alex gets Ben’s take on how technology is changing the game for non-profits, strategies for striking a balance between being a competitive organization while not being motivated solely by profits, and what his experience suggests to counter critiques of so-called online “slacktivism.”

Check out the podcast in iTunes to subscribe and automatically download episodes as they’re released.

To listen to the online-stream or download the .mp3 directly, please visit the official site of the AshokaTECH Podcast

“It’s critical to identify the best, most high-impact and sustainable ideas…throughout the world.” — Julia Novy-Hildesley, Executive Director, Lemelson Foundation

In advance of the Tech 4 Society event convening in Hyderabad, India later this week, AshokaTECH Podcast host Alex Budak interviews Julia Novy-Hildesley, executive director of the Lemelson Foundation. As a sponsor of the Tech 4 Society event — which brings together leading social entrepreneurs, showcasing tech solutions and innovations revolutionizing social change throughout the world — the Lemelson foundation continues its tradition of supporting innovation and invention throughout the wold.

In addition to the Tech 4 Society event, Alex asks Julia about her recent research on the “innovation engine” model for growth, her thoughts on where social-tech is headed in the next decade, and how we can ensure that a diverse group of future inventors are creating the next great innovations for the world.

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“Earthquakes don’t kill people…poorly built buildings do.” — Elizabeth Hausler

On this week’s episode of the AshokaTECH Podcast, host Alex Budak interviews the founder of Build Change, Elizabeth Hausler, an expert on sustainable building practices to prevent earthquake damage.  Alex asks her for her thoughts on the recent tragedy in Haiti, and how similar catastrophies might be avoided in the future.  Elizabeth has faced similar challenges following earthquakes in India, China and Indonesia, and provides poignant commentary on the challenges that now face Haiti, as well as advice on engaging the community.

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To listen to the podcast stream online, please visit the AshokaTECH Audioroom.

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Have feedback on the podcast, or a guest you’d like to see interviewed?  Get in touch! Enjoy the podcast?  Consider leaving a comment and a rating on iTunes to spread the word to other changemakers around the world.