As members of the technological community, how do we make sure that we are not leaving behind low-income communities who would benefit most from technological advances? The value of new and existing inventions is so often diminished because of the inability to connect the right essential products with people who need them. In light of these challenges, AshokaTech has been established to identify and fund people like you with groundbreaking ideas and a passion for using technology for social change.

AshokaTech, in partnership with the Lemelson Foundation, is committed to finding and supporting a cohort of innovative social entrepreneurs around the world who have a passion for using their expertise to:

• Invent or adapt a technology for use as a tool for social change
• Inspire, teach, and grow new problem-solvers
• Develop new economic models and marketing strategies for disseminating technologies and socially useful products to overlooked customers
• Create an enabling environment for invention through field-level reforms

AshokaTech fellow Mathias Craig, for example, has revolutionized energy production in marginalized Nicaraguan communities along the Caribbean Coast with his community-based clean energy model that relies on the local manufacture and maintenance of a hybrid wind/solar energy system. Farmers across rural India are benefitting from Amol Goje's inventions, including an Interactive Voice Response System, Smart Card for rural producers, and Village Information Kiosks that utilize Wireless Local Loop (WLL) technology. Visit our Fellows roster to learn more about Matthias, Amol and their colleagues all over the world.

You too could qualify to become a member of the AshokaTech community and receive funding and support for your innovative project. Be sure to look carefully at our selection criteria. If you think that you might be a good fit, nominate yourself or a friend!

This guest post is from Ryan Richards, a Summer Associate at Ashoka.