Singlebrook TechSpring Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Singlebrook Technology and Unreasonable Institute Announce Alissa Johnson, CalSolAgua as TechSpring Winner
Donated marketing and technology services support CalSolAgua in their effort to scale to positively impact one million people, reducing household energy bills and carbon emissions in the developing world.
BOULDER, Colorado. – (July 27, 2011). Singlebrook Technology and the Unreasonable Institute today announced Alissa Johnson, CalSolAgua as the winner of their joint TechSpring project, an innovative program designed to provide a free package of marketing and technology services worth almost $20,000 to the budding social entrepreneur. Singlebrook TechSpring is the latest effort in the company’s Technology for Change (T4C) campaign, designed to spotlight standout social entrepreneurs who are using groundbreaking technology to effect positive social and environmental change. This latest collaboration with the Unreasonable Institute accelerates a social venture – CalSolAgua -- by providing them with services that can help them amplify their impact. Previous T4C projects included initiatives such as the Sustainable iPhone App Contest and sponsorship of the Green Jobs Award.
The Unreasonable Institute has selected CalSolAgua to receive the donated web, marketing, public relations and social media consulting. The CalSolAgua team has developed a clean and inexpensive solar water heating system capable of addressing the hot water needs for bathing and laundry; one of highest energy needs facing global households. Through detailed design work and three generations of prototyping, this solar water heater retails for one quarter of the price of competing water tank heaters, when mass manufactured. Retailing at only $150, it will reduce household energy costs and provide health benefits to those households currently relying on fossil fuel generation.
“We believe in the power of collaboration and imagination to change the world,” said Teju Ravilochan, Co-founder of the Unreasonable Institute. “The Singlebrook TechSpring program is a perfect example of how technology and creativity can be harnessed to assist social entrepreneurs like Alissa Johnson in their effort to reduce household energy bills and carbon emissions in the developing world. We are grateful to Singlebrook and to all of the service partners for their assistance.”
In expressing her gratitude for the opportunity this award means to CalSolAgua’s future, Ms. Johnson explained, “Access to these resources will help us communicate our message to partners and customers as we develop a viable business and make solar water heating accessible to households throughout the developing world.”
Singlebrook CEO, Elisa Miller-Out stated, “We’re pleased to be spearheading this project and grateful to a terrific group of marketing and technology partners.” She continued, “Our core mission is to leverage technology to help create positive change in the world. By partnering the TechSpring initiative with CalSolAgua, we have a beautiful example of how tech firms and social entrepreneurs can come together and make a real difference. The confluence of web, social media, public relations and marketing, in support of reducing household energy bills and carbon emissions in the developing world, will help accelerate their success and impact.”
Video from the TechSpring winner’s announcement held at the Unreasonable Institute will be available soon at www.singlebrook.com, and will include highlights from the award presentation and an interview with CalSolAgua.
Participating TechSpring Service Partners
CoLab Coop - Will provide consulting and design services to the winning social innovator. CoLab Coop’s mission is to help you help others online. They often collaborate as part of multi-disciplinary ‘do good’ teams that make the world better. Their specialty is in designing and programming technology solutions that meet socially conscious business objectives. www.colab.coop
Communications4Good - Will provide public relations and positioning consultation. Communications4Good is a sustainability communications agency creating insight-driven strategies for clients addressing environmental, social and economic challenges. Working with early-stage and established companies, NGOs, non-profits and governments, Communications4Good devises brand promises that are authentic, transparent and compelling. Services include strategic direction, go-to-market communications plans, launches, category creation, brand positioning, messaging, social media, media relations, partnership programs, and employee engagement. An experienced and creative staff of strategists, media relations experts, writers, social media specialists, designers and marketers manage a roster of client activity in one of five practice areas: Consumer, Sustainability, Social Innovation, Food/Ag, and Cleantech. Located in Santa Cruz, CA, the agency’s goal is to tell strategic stories that create connections and inspire goodness in a sustainable world. http://www.communications4good.com/
CSRwire - Will provide a free profile membership, one free standard press release distribution, plus a featured press release upgrade for a Singlebrook TechSpring announcement. CSRwire is the leading global source of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability news. Founded in 1999 to advance the movement towards a more economically-just and environmentally-sustainable society and away from single bottom line capitalism, CSRwire has paved the way for new standards of corporate citizenship, earning the international respect of thought leaders, business leaders, academics, philanthropists, activists and the media community. CSRwire's press releases, events, books, and reports reach a broad and highly-engaged audience in the international CSR market through syndication partners, members, subscribers, visitors, mobile technology, databases, newsrooms, social media networks, search engines, financial portals, websites and online communities. http://www.csrwire.com/
iContact - Will provide free email marketing and social media consulting services, plus free email marketing for one year for up to 10,000 subscribers. iContact is an email marketing firm and certified B Corp whose purpose is to help companies and causes succeed online. http://www.icontact.com/
Provoc - Will provide the winner with the choice of one of the following options: user experience & wireframes for five templates (including homepage) and branding & strategy consulting; OR an info-graphic on their business model; OR a homepage design for their website. Provoc uses technology and design to drive social change and innovation. We strategize the creation and promotion of brands with graphic design, print media, state-of-the-art web technologies, illustration, copywriting and more. http://www.provoc.me/
See3 Communications - Will provide consulting to the winner on how to incorporate video into a marketing campaign. See3 Communications is the leading provider of new media services to the nonprofit sector. Founder of the DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards with YouTube, See3 creates and consults about new media to activate people and advance social causes. See3 CEO Michael Hoffman (@michael_hoffman) is a thought leader in how change agents can find opportunities in our new world of converging media technologies. http://www.see3.net/
Think Topography - Will provide social media consultation and support including a comprehensive social media plan, profile setup and optimization, initial support in developing a targeted following for 3 months, and monthly support, consultation, and training for six months. Think Topography is a new media marketing firm based in Ithaca, New York. They help businesses and organizations that are making a difference in the world convey their message and engage their markets through the authentic use of digital and social media. Think Topography guides their clients through strategic planning, empowers them through training, and supports them with ongoing consulting and maintenance. http://thinktopography.com/
About Singlebrook Technology, Inc.
Singlebrook Technology will provide web programming services for the winner, including implementation of a content management system (CMS). Singlebrook Technology is an innovative web and mobile development firm located in Ithaca, NY with over 10 years of experience in the relentless pursuit of programming excellence. Singlebrook uses technology to empower its clients to make a difference. The company is a certified B Corporation, emphasizing the triple bottom line of social responsibility, sustainability and profitability (people, planet, profit). www.singlebrook.com
About the Unreasonable Institute
Located in Boulder Colorado, The Unreasonable Institute is dedicated to giving high-impact entrepreneurs wings. Each year up to 25 high-impact entrepreneurs come together for a 6-week Summer Institute to accelerate their ventures with rigorous skill training, involved guidance from 60 world-class mentors, legal advice, and expert consulting. They are also given the opportunity to build relationships with and pitch top impact investors and funders in San Francisco and Boulder. Their global network of Unreasonable Mentors, Fellows, investors, and consulting organizations provide high-impact entrepreneurs every skill, connection and resource required to create ventures that can effectively address social or environmental needs, are financially self-sustaining, and can scale globally to at least one million beneficiaries. www.unreasonableinstitute.org
NOTE: Photos of the winner receiving the TechSpring Project Award with representatives from the Unreasonable Institute and Singlebrook are available upon request.
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