7 weeks into the Charity Entrepreneurship (CE) Incubation Program and things have moved swiftly!
Meeting the cohort and CE team in person back in Week 4 was a step-change in levels of engagement and the ability to get to know potential-cofounders. The educational projects continued (pitching practice, country selection, building a cost-effectiveness analysis), but the finale of the first 2 weeks in London, matching of incubatees to a specific idea and co-founder, loomed large on the horizon.
“Co-founder compatibility 1:1 walks” became a thing: not in any official sense, but it’s somehow easier to be on the move for frank conversations about why, as a pair, we might be more likely to succeed or fail. It was finally sunny again too, so an extra reason to walk the streets of Queens Park, around CE’s office.
The ample social opportunities were fun and really helped get to know the people beyond the previously 2-dimensional videochat personas. CE have a real sense of community, including weekly social dinners cooked by volunteer cooks from the team: David & I cooked Ximxim, very tasty. Even the commute to/from our Travelodge was valuable time to get a sense of incubatees’ interpersonal compatibility.
It might sound awkward. It’s certainly a unique situation, forming friendships across the group while simultaneously narrowing-down possible co-founders. But unusual social dynamic or not, it was genuinely enjoyable and a continued great learning experience.
Concluding the 2 weeks in London for the in-person part of the program, we wrote detailed charity proposals in pairs recommended by CE staffers, up to 3 each with different ideas or people. I wrote 3 across 2 ideas (my preference, Oral Rehydration Solution, and 2nd choice Antimicrobial Resistance).
A day later the CE team had reviewed the proposals and put forward their final recommendations – the official word on who’s aiming to found which charities. I was very pleased to land my first choice, others also, and a minority who hadn’t found their perfect match (yet).
So I now have a focus – reducing the 500,000 yearly preventable deaths of children due to diarrheal disease (leading to fatal dehydration) by driving availability and use of Oral Rehydration Solution & Zinc in high-burden regions. And a co-founder, Charlie, Medical Doctor and Master of Public Health whose many skills happily include maintaining good humour despite working long hours with me!
As I write this, Charlie & I have already spent 2 weeks preparing for our next major milestone in early September, a formal proposal to CE’s Seed Funding network with a request for Year 1 funds. Busy but exciting times!
(By happy coincidence, top charity evaluator, Givewell, last week published this report on the potential of ORS+Zinc – a good read on how an impact-oriented charity might approach the problem).
G2CE 