Pollinate has sold more than 3,000 solar lights in Bangalore and reached approximately 470 urban slum communities, giving the thriving social business confidence in its plans to expand its operations to other cities in India later this year.

The possibilities are endless. As the community residents greet me with excitement and a welcoming smile, it’s clear the Pollinate brand is trusted. I asked one of the Pollinate co-founders why Pollinate has prospered when so many similar organisations struggle. Her response surprised me: “It’s because of our special sauce,” she said, and I took this to mean the differentiators that make Pollinate stand out.

During my time with Pollinate, I have observed two key differentiators that I believe are fundamental to the team’s success. The first differentiator is the people. An organisation’s biggest asset is its people, and Pollinate is no exception; its team full of motivated, passionate entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The second differentiator is the team’s client focus. Working in consulting, client focus is a driving factor for business success and is commonly preached. From being out in the field with Pollinate’s co-founders, it’s clear Pollinate goes above and beyond to ensure its products suit the needs of its customers; indeed, the business has focused on appropriate technologies and on developing a business model that suits its diverse customer base. They have trialed many products in the field and welcome constructive criticism from their customers, as it allows them to understand which products and approaches work, and informs those products’ further development.

To learn more about the journey of Pollinate, we had a training session on social entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. Social entrepreneurship is defined as the process of pursuing innovative solutions to social problems, while intrapreneurship involves bringing innovation and change within a large organisation. We learned about how to fail effectively, pivot, turn your friends into partners, think creatively and innovatively and believe in your ideas. As I related these learnings to my time at ArchTam, I could see that these insights were transferable and very relevant to large organisations. Whether you call it thought leadership, change-making, smart thinking or innovation workshops, we’re all working together to think of better ways to do things. I’m looking forward to implementing some of my new ideas as I return home next week, as soon as I work out my special sauce!

Until next time,

Megan

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The first few days in Bangalore have been an amazing and eye-opening experience. Delicious food, welcoming people, exotic smells and vibrant colours. Over the next two weeks, the Young Professionals group will be conducting an impact assessment for Pollinate Energy, an organisation tackling energy poverty in the urban slums of Bangalore. I’m excited about the journey ahead and hopeful that we can make a lasting impact on the future strategy of Pollinate Energy as it plans its expansion into other Indian cities.

On day one, we headed straight into the urban slum communities to talk directly with Pollinate Energy’s customers and hear their stories. I felt inspired by the determined attitude of people to improve their family’s lives, despite the challenging circumstances. It was heart-warming to understand the positive impact that reliable, affordable and safe energy has had on their lives with Pollinate Energy solar lighting products. Growing up in Australia, lighting a room was as simple as flicking a switch and didn’t require much thought. In the urban slums in Bangalore, lighting a room is a luxury and provides endless possibilities. Without solar light products, slum communities rely on kerosene lamps, which have alarming safety and health concerns.

Light has various benefits. Light allows mothers to see their children, enables children to study and provides safe cooking areas. The first image below shows Mary, an inspirational woman living in the urban slums of Bangalore. Mary told me that the solar light has “put power in her hands.” The second image below includes Ghandiyappan, a community leader showing us how he uses the solar light in his shop. During the consultations a Mahatma Ghandi quote resonated with me: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

This experience has helped me understand that reliable and safe energy is a fundamental building block for development. Sustainable development improves the lives of individuals and grows the capability of the wider community and the world.

Until next time,

Megan

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