1. MIT Legatum Center 2009 Annual Conference
Leila Chirayath Janah
Founder and CEO, Samasource
2. The Need
Paul Parach, 24
Dadaab, Kenya
Refugee Work Program
Born in South Sudan
Orphaned at 9, walked to Kakuma camp
Denied formal employment
Speaks English
Learned to use a computer 2 months ago
samasourcegive work
TM
3. samasourcegive work
TM
1.2 billion youth in the world
at least 200M in Africa (World Bank)
+
50% unemployment
up to 70% in some regions (World Bank)
+
Rising education levels and literacy
Literacy now at 84% globally, up from 76% last decade (UNESCO)
=
4. samasourcegive work
TM
âI joined the militia because I thought I could get paid after the war. I knew I was
risking my life but I had no other choice. My mother was ïŹnding it hard to feed us. I
joined to have a job.â - Sylvestre, 18, Congo-Brazzaville.
5. samasourcegive work
TM
Microwork (or, The World Really is Flat)
samasource
Mako
Abdiyo
Hassan
Marian
web services
virtual
assistance
data entry
image
moderation
training
quality assurance
contracting
billing and invoicing
6. samasourcegive work
TM
Our secret sauce: transparency
Worker bio, earnings
Partner story
Connection tools:
$$, work, or social
media
Earnings to date: $335
Projects to date: 12
Client testimonials:
Working with Tashina has
been a pleasure -- she
manages my calendaring and
travel booking with ease.
See more >>
8. samasourcegive work
TM
Major Wins
Rockefeller Foundation
Templeton Foundation
Business in Development Network
Stanford Social Enterprise Challenge
Rainer Arnhold Fellowship
Premal Shah, President, Kiva
Bill Trenchard, former CEO, LiveOps
Dr. Paul Milgrom, Stanford University
Tim Ferriss, Four-Hour Workweek
Mohamoud Jibrell, CTO, Ford Foundation
Partnerships & Support
Grants & Funding Donors & Advisors
Growth
6 Countries
18 Service Partners
517 workers
$220K
in sales
Since September 2008:
9. samasourcegive work
TM
Future Directions
More PartnersMore Work
Virtual Goods
Imagine a virtual fair trade handbag or
UNICEF card
Virtual goods = $2.5B market, 0 (or
very low) marginal cost to produce
What we could offer: Customized
songs, poems, sayings, images, e-
cards
Capture the 15% margin on socially
labeled goods
Great existing relationship with largest
distribution channel in the world
Domestic expansion pilot in E. Palo Alto
Growing our hubs in South Asia, E. Africa