Annie Dieselberg

Delivering Hope & Opportunity in Bangkok | Annie Dieselberg, Nightlight International

In this interview of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Annie Dieselberg, founder of Nightlight International in Bangkok, about her work to build an organization that has helped more than 150 women leave Bangkok's sex trade through job training, counseling, and empowerment programs.

Through this discussion, we speak a lot about complexity of the challenges that she must address as part of this process, how that shapes her organization, and the importance of having a strong leadership team that can help deliver on the vision.

About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Annie:
Annie Dieselberg is the CEO and co-founder of NightLight International. Annie has a passion to see women and children freed from the sexual exploitation of prostitution and trafficking, and to see the global church and community working together to free, heal, and restore all who have been broken and wounded through the sex trade. Spending her formative years growing up in Congo, Belgium, Thailand, and India, Annie developed a heart for the marginalized and a passion against injustice.

Annie and her husband Jeff, were sent by International Ministries to Bangkok in 1994 where Annie assisted the director of a local Compassion International project doing visitations in slum communities and volunteered at Rahab Ministry doing bar outreach among women in prostitution.

NightLight was founded in 2005 with the purpose of providing holistic alternative employment to women at risk or escaping sexual exploitation. NightLight Design, the jewelry business has employed over 160 Thai women since 2005. NightLight Foundation works to prevent, intervene, rescue, and rehabilitate women and children from sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Annie is a love revolutionary determined to see the dark places where sexual exploitation takes women and children captive, transformed into places of hope, freedom, and opportunity.

Follow :
NightLight Foundation: https://www.nightlightinternational.com
Personal Website: https://anniedieselberg.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annie4nl

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Maarten Ter Keurst

Investing & Incubating in Water Startups | Maarten Ter Keurst, Pureterra Ventures

With fewer issues more important in the area of sustainability than water, on this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good I sat down with Maarten Ter Keurst from Pureterra Ventures in Shanghai to talk about the work of his fund to identify and incubate water startups.

Identifying, and executing investments aside, where I think this interview will be of particular interest to entrepreneurs is the work that that they do to help entrepreneurs commercialize their idea through supporting the development of leadership and business skills. A challenge he says "entrepreneurs" face as the move from the lab to the market.

 

About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About: Maarten
Maarten has consulted foreign SMEs in the water sector on market entry strategy in China for 5 years and has worked for CHC’s investment arm since 2015. He is an expert in deal structuring, managing Chinese networks, partner selection and has an intimate knowledge of the Chinese water technology sector. He holds a MSc in Economics from Tilburg University

Follow :
PureTerra Ventures: https://pureterra.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartenterkeurst/

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Tong Horsuwan

Hydroponic Rooftop Farming in Bangkok | Tong Horsuwan, Bangsai Agricultural

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Tong Horsuwan about his work to build, and operate, more than 20 rooftop farms in Bangkok.

Easily one of the most exciting conversations I have had to date, this 25 millennial has not only set up more than 20 rooftop farms, he has also built an APP that monitors his farms, but also begun the process of building robots that will help harvest the crops!

It has been a process of trial and error, but where he has not only found a business model, and strong customer base, but where he is now developing process and technologies that will help him take the business to the next level.

About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Tong:

Tong trained in urban farming under his father, Makavan Horsuwan, a well-known innovator in the development of hydroponic growth tables and trays, a technology which allows for simple modular expansion per space available.

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Eric Swinton

Keeping a Positive Mindset | Eric Swinton, V Cycle

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Eric Swinton, founder of V Cycle, about building V Cycle, an organization whose mission is to rid the world of plastic and the progress he has made over the last year with the launch of his 10 ton challenge.

A challenge that is engaging a number of communities on the issues of plastic waste, while at the same time, bringing additional income for a number of elderly recylcers.

While fulfilling, the progress hasn't come easy, and in this interview we not only talk about the challenges of building V Cycle, but how he is able to maintain his emotional balance through the ups and downs.

About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Eric:

Eric is the founder of V Cycle, a social enterprise that is tackling Hong Kong’s environmental issues on both an ecological and human level. V cycle provides environmental education to schools, businesses, and the general public on plastic reduction and responsible recycling. At the same time, V Cycle collects different types of plastic waste in Hong Kong and repurpose them into high- value products, while creating job opportunities and caring for elderly waste pickers and adults with special needs.

Follow :

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Dennis Harte

Manufacturing Electric Vehicles in Bangkok | Dennis Harte, Tuk Tuk Factory

There are few things more iconic to Bangkok than the Tuk Tuk.

They are loud, fast, and belch some of the most toxic two cycle fumes imaginable, but as a primary means of transportation for many, they are essential part of getting around Bangkok.

For Dennis Harte, he has spent the last 10 years building his company, the Tuk Tuk Factory, on out outskirts of Bangkok with the hopes to deliver electric Tuk Tuks to the market, and through this episdoe of Entrepreneurs For Good,I learn about his commitment to delivering on that vision.

About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Dennis:
Dennis Harte is co-founder and Chief Operations Officer Thailand, of the Tuk Tuk Factory.

Established in 2011, Tuk Tuk Factory has been producing its e-tuks with cargo, limousine and vending versions of the vehicle available to consumers.

Dennis Harte was the winner of the Expat Entrepeneur Award: Manufacturing in 2014.

Follow Dennis:
http://www.tuktukfactory.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TukTukFactory

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Grace Han

Converting China to a Plant Based Vegan Diet | Grace Han, Plant Based News

If you are wondering why, and why the growth rates are likely to only continue to grow, then you should want my recent interview of Grace Han where we speak about her own transition to veganism, her work as an advocate for veganism, and why she thinks firms like Beyond and Memphis Meats are game changers.

Based in London, Grace regularly travels to China as part of her passion to support the vegan movement, and the organizations that are advocating for it.

A former meat eater herself, she provides a lot of interesting insights into the motivations for why the vegan lifestyle, and in this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, we talk through our shared belief that the new generation of plant based proteins are going to prove to bring a massive shift in the adoption of veganism.

About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About: Grace
Grace Han is a Senior UX Designer, she is also the co-founder and Managing Director of UK charity Towards a Compassionate Nation (TACN.ORG). She has been helping Animal Equality, Veganuary, Viva!, Mercy for Animals and many other non-profit organisations promote their campaigns in China. Throughout the years Grace has built a wide network of contacts in Beijing, including local NGOs, vegan businesses, vegan individuals and skilled volunteers, along with the team at TACN they have organised many vegan outreach and educational social events in Beijing.

Follow :
Plant Based News: https://www.plantbasednews.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veganhumangrace/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/g_han
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_han

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Jeff Rotmeyer

Overcoming Limitations to Achieve Massive Social Impact | Jeff Rotmeyer, ImpactHK

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good,, I speak with ImpactHK Founder Jeff Rotmeyer to talk about the work that he is doing with some of Hong Kong's most vulnerable populations.

It is an inspiring 20 minutes, with a lot of great insights into how Jeff started building a community of individuals who were taking simply actions to increase awareness and bring a little joy, to going where other organizations would not to bring "massive impact" and change lives.

It is a fun interview, and I'm happy to note that since the filming of this interview, he successfully raised a substantial amount of funding and is now taking ImpactHK to a whole different level.

About Entrepreneurs For Good Series:

Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Jeff:
Two years ago he started writing a blog which slowly turned into a humanitarian movement.

Jeff started a group called impactHK which relies on the power of numbers to do great things for the less fortunate in Hong Kong. ImpactHK has raised tens of thousands of dollars for those living in caged homes, raised money to pay for a young girl’s cleft lip operation and donated to the homeless once a month for 20 straight months. Starting with only a few friends, impactHK now regularly moblizes 30-40 volunteers for each project and event.

ImpactHK is not only a beautiful thing for the relief that its provides to the less fortunate. It also brings an awareness to the general public and provides them with an opportunity to make real change.

Jeff also started a society called Love 21 Foundation, which is dedicated to bettering the lives of those living with Down syndrome and autism in Hong Kong, a community he has passionately worked with for over eight years.

Follow :
ImpactHK: http://www.impacthk.org
Love 21 Foundation: http://www.love21foundation.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-rotmeyer-55258748/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.rotmeyer

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]