Anya Kamenetz of Fast Company discusses what she sees as the most disruptive, innovative, and sustainable business ideas. As a writer, she sees a lot of marketplace and social trends affecting business and quality of life. The four big ideas she elaborates on include 1) Green without "Green" 2) Social Media for Social Change 3) Learner Centered Education 4) Better by Design. The first challenges the notion of compromise that typical green/ethical solutions carry in terms of higher prices, inconvenience, etc. Anya takes a look at alternative energy like biofuels from algae, healthy food, sources, and how the viable path for wider market adoption isn't to push the ethical agenda, but either financial or desirable qualities. The idea of compromise must be shunned. Most people don't want to change their behaviors, so create solutions that fit in well to the mass market. Social media for social change applies enabling creative communications technology and software, used by businesses, nonprofits, government, and volunteers. Education is another industry that is seeing radical change through the opportunity for people to learn on their own terms, path, and needs without a traditional university experience. How can both kids AND adults improve their skills, in fun and effective ways? Lastly, Anya discusses how the diverse design community is conversing and forging new paths on creating products and services for the greater good.

1. Today's Top
Disruptive
Sustainable
Business Ideas
Anya Kamenetz
Fast Company Magazine

2. Today’s Top Disruptive Sustainable
Business Ideas:
The View from
Anya Kamenetz
Staff Writer, Fast Company Magazine

3. Today’s Top Disruptive Sustainable
Business Ideas
1) Green without “Green”
2) Social2 = Social Media for Social Change
3) Learner-Centered Education
4) Better by Design

4. Green without Compromise: Green without
“Green”
In a post-Copenhagen
world, alternative-
energy and other
sustainable business
advocates are facing up
to some real
inconvenient truths.

5. Green without Compromise: Green without
“Green”
“People have to think about
living in an unsubsidized
world. Consumers are
completely unforgiving—
they want it to work, be
reliable, safe, and
affordable.”
–Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest

6. Green without Compromise: Green without
“Green”
The Case for Green in 2010:
Less about:
• Policy instruments (cap & trade) or even climate change
More about:
• Immediate threats—
disasters, energy
security, peak oil
• Price parity right out
of the gate
• Immediate benefits—
healthier, safer,
affordable, efficient

7. Green without Compromise: Green without
“Green”
Case in Point: Cash for Caulkers, The Food Revolution
Revolution Foods + Naked Pizza = Better, Healthier, Fun,
Friendly, and oh yeah, the Planet too.

8. Social2 = Social Media for Social Change
Technology (blogs, wikis,
social networking,
crowdsourcing) used by
citizens, agencies,
nonprofits, or companies
to solve problems in the
real world.

9. Social2 = Social Media for Social Change
Haiti Response:
CrisisCamp
Social mapping—
open-source maps
collaboratively
updated by satellite
data used by rescue
workers and the
World Bank.

10. Learner-Centered Education: DIY U
Distribution of Information: Government as Platform
Tim O’Reilly. Gov 2.0
EPA: @Oil_Spill_2010
San Francisco: Open 311
• Deliver services
• IAVA: the Veterans’
Administration
updated for
Facebook and
Twitter
• Engage the public
in decision making

11. Learner-Centered Education: DIY U
School as Platform: LinkedIn, Knewton, Einztein,
Straighterline Academic Earth

12. Learner-Centered Education
Pocket Schools for the Mobile Generation

13. Better by Design
Valerie Casey, Designers Accord:
Rally the Interactive
community to bridge industry
and sustainability.
Design for
the
system,
not the
symptom.

14. Better by Design
“If we’re gaining all this value and traction in the
boardroom, design can solve really hard problems.”
– Jon Kolko (frog design/Austin Center for Design)
Empathy through Ethnography+ Rapid Prototyping