Cassie Betts is the founder of District2.Co, a technology company that connects brands/designers with factories to streamline the manufacturing process, and Made In South LA (MISLA),

a DevShop Academy. Hear how Cassie went from being homeless to being called “The Woman Turning South LA into Startup Land” by Forbes.

You'll hear

• How she went from coding her first computer game at 9 to being homeless at 19, and how she turned that all around.
• How do you help protect the poor from being displaced through gentrification?
• Why more money should be spent on technology bootcamps instead of other diversity initiatives.

Note: This episode uses includes explicit language and includes some difficult topics about Cassie’s past that may be uncomfortable for some listeners. Please use your discretion.

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Paul Tasner, Co-founder and CEO of PulpWorks and more recently, Co-founder of Sort, has more than 40 years of operations experience. He has held leadership positions in ventures ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. For the past decade, his focus has been on sustainability. Paul’s corporate affiliations include The Clorox Company, Clif Bar, Method Products, and Hepagen Vaccines. He has authored numerous papers and presentations on supply chain sustainability and currently lectures on this subject in the MBA Programs at San Francisco State University and Golden Gate University as well as the Packaging Engineering Department at San Jose State University. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Boston University.

In this episode you will learn:

• How PulpWorks manufactures packaging for consumer goods using fiber waste
• The story of Paul Tasner starting his first business at age 66
• The perks of being your own boss as an entrepreneur
• The specific challenges PulpWorks faces in securing new customers
• How to pursue investors in the competitive city of San Francisco
• Critical questions to consider for people nearing retirement that want to start a business
• How recycling is an answer but not the answer
• Why Paul is envious of the millennial mindset
• How rejecting plastic can make a difference
• What Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is and how EPR regulations could impact society
• Paul’s new tech-based recycling business

Get shownotes for this an every episode at innovationforallcast.com or find us on Twitter @inforallpodcast.

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Jimmy Chen is the Founder and CEO of Propel, a software company that aims to fight poverty through technology. They are the creators of the Fresh EBT mobile app, which enables EBT cardholders to manage their benefits, save money through grocery coupons, and find jobs. Fresh EBT is used by over 2 million low-income Americans across the country. In this episode of Innovation For All Podcast, Sheana learns why Jimmy decided to start Propel and use the tools of Silicon Valley to address social issues around poverty.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why Jimmy Chen decided to focus on building tech for low income families
• What is Propel and Fresh EBT
• Why start with the food stamp program to battle poverty
• How does Propel get the experience and empathy to solve problems they might not understand
• What is the process for getting usable information from users
• What are the logistical and general obstacles faced by Propel and how are they overcome
• What are some misconceptions about the food stamp program
• Where else can the private sector make a difference and what are the challenges

Get show notes for this an every episode at innovationforallcast.com or find us on Twitter @inforallpodcast.

Original air date: 8/21/19

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/innovation-for-all/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/innovation-for-all/support