This week I am participating in the LAUNCH: Energy Forum –wish you were here!
It’s nothing short of luck to get to participate in this endeavor.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) along with fellow founding partners NASA, the U.S. Department of State, and NIKE, Inc. selected ten innovators to participate in their LAUNCH: Energy challenge.
LAUNCH is a unique initiative formed to identify solutions to the world’s most urgent sustainability challenges. The focus of this year’s challenge is energy, and the finalists have been chosen for their groundbreaking ideas for the provision of more sustainable energy sources and improved access to energy for both developed and developing world populations.
My job, as a member of the LAUNCH Council, is to help position these ten innovators and their ideas for success, and utilize our network and resources at Ocean Tomo to make sure these become a reality. Gladly!
Just prior to joining Ocean Tomo I spent a year working with NIST, NASA, and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) from Colorado on “technology acceleration”. Also, when I lived overseas for a bit a while back, I worked with USAID and Department of State in some of the most difficult conditions in a developing, war-torn country. I can tell you for a fact that all these people mean business: they are smart and serious, and have a track record of incredible accomplishments, with very limited resources.
Now, add to that general mix these ten new entrepreneurs, NIKE, and the Who-is-Who LAUNCH Council (including executives from companies like SK Telecom, Vestergaard Frandsen, and Autodesk) — well, who wouldn’t be excited and honored to just be there. I am taking an extra dose of vitamins today to make sure to be able to keep up and contribute. Tough crowd, sparks guaranteed to fly.
A cartoon inescapably comes to mind as I prepare for this…
Pinky: “Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”The Brain: “The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!”