Platforms for a better world
how platforms are tackling the world’s most serious problems
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Global warming, wars, rising inequality, poverty, … the list goes on and on. The human race is facing massive challenges and needs to work together to win the fight. Platforms are a perfect way to orchestrate ecosystems to leverage collective intelligence and resources based on a shared purpose. In our article we share some great examples of platforms fighting against some of the top 10 biggest problems of the world.
What are the biggest problems today?
As you know, we are strongly linked to the World Economic Forum being part of the Executive Working Group for Digital Platforms and Ecosystems. One of the major reports of the World Economic Forum is the annual “Global Shapers” survey. The survey highlights the most important global challenges of our time based on the answers of young people — millennials.
You can find the survey from 2017 here:
http://shaperssurvey2017.org/static/data/WEF_GSC_Annual_Survey_2017.pdf
Close to 24,000 people answered the survey, which showed that climate change is the top concern.
Indeed, as Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, correctly says: “
By definition these issues cannot be tackled by any stakeholder acting alone, they must be addressed by several stakeholders working together and, increasingly, working beyond national borders.”
And exactly this is what platforms stand for — orchestrating different stakeholders to find each other and co-create. Already we see over hundreds of smaller platform projects out there who try to tackle those challenges by activating local or global communities.
We are also involved in several projects e.g. together with the United Nations to build platforms supporting their Sustainable Development Program.
Below you will find some examples on how platforms can be used. We recommend that you visit the specific websites to learn more about them. If you have any questions or you plan to launch your own platform, just reach out and we will find a way to support you.
PlanA
The first data-driven crowdfunding platform in the fight against climate change. Uses data to predict where and how climate change will hit the hardest. Using these insights about vulnerable locations and their respective issues, PlanA connect with environmental innovators to provide them with a channel to funding from individuals and businesses for the solutions they bring.
Link:https://plana.earth/about
FairBnB
Vacation rental platform which gives back 50% of its revenues to support local community projects of the customer’s choice. Prioritizes people over profit.
Link:https://fairbnb.coop
XNet
Mailbox for reporting corruption — those with relevant information regarding a corruption matter can use the XnetLeaks anonymous mailbox to send it anonymously.
Link:https://xnet-x.net/en/xnetleaks/
ShareTheMeal
The world’s first app against global hunger and initiative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Users of the app can donate money to feed children around the world in a country of their choice. Users can give US$ 0.50 (or more) with a tap in the app, feeding one hungry child for a day.
Link:https://sharethemeal.org/de/faq.html
Peer2Peer University
Peer-to-Peer platform linking those who want to learn with those who can provide educational resources. The goal is to share information through an open source software tool as part of a community and teach each other.
Takeaways & Summary
There is no plan B for our planet and we have to hurry to save our world for our kids and their kids. Millenials expressed their biggest concers and it is our responsibility to take that serious. But the challenges ahead are massive and require that we stand together. Platforms are a perfect way to orchestrate multiple stakeholders under one common purpose. And the positive thing is, that there are already some very good platform projects out there utilizing network effects and digital tools to make our world a better place. We have to continue to walk this path and support those projects. Every user counts.
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