Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
A Kenyan startup is showing global businesses how to talk to their customers
A florist chain in Argentina, a food delivery service in Hong Kong, and a Singaporean travel agency—these are a few of the companies relying on a Kenyan startup to help them talk to their customers on WhatsApp, WeChat, and other messaging apps. Ongair, a Nairobi-based startup, says instant Read More...
A running shoe inspired by, made in, and to support Kenya
Kenya’s has the best runners of the world and a lot of research has been conducted into the secret of their success. Nike sells a shoe that’s inspired by the efficient barefoot style of the Kenyan runners that sells for $100. However, the runners and the broader economy of Kenya don’t benefit Read More...
These 10 startups are leading innovation in Africa
In many minds, Africa is still a lost continent. That’s not an accurate assessment. Some African economies are among the fastest growing countries in the world. Here is a list of the ten finalists for Innovation Prize for Africa. The finalists include peer-to-peer learning platform Tuteria, a Read More...
A very smart shower that cuts water and energy usage by 70 percent
Ever thought lives could be saved by engineering a new type of shower? Peter Brewin and Nick Christy probably didn’t think so either, but it appears to be a nice side effect of their water and energy efficient shower design. How? Well, it turns out many casualties in the U.S. Army are soldiers Read More...
Finland’s postal workers now offer a weekly lawn mowing service
With more and more communication happening online, postal services face a challenge: How to keep up their countrywide services with ever less business? Finland’s mail service Posti has found a creative solution. During the summer on the typical slow Tuesdays, Posti’s employees will offer a lawn Read More...
Ford plans to make car parts out of CO2 pollution
Ford is planning to make car parts from a new kind of plastic polymer made from emissions. For the last four years, the U.S. carmaker has been working with a manufacturer to develop a CO2-based foam, and soon a plastic, that can eventually replace parts made from petroleum. The shift could reduce Read More...
Google-owned Waze is testing its own Uber-like carpooling feature
Google-owned maps app Waze is testing a new carpooling service in California's Bay Area that will let users from certain companies hitch rides to work together. Waze Carpool is currently invite-only for people who work at a handful of companies including Adobe and, unsurprisingly, Google, and Read More...
Prisons could be unlikely source of tomorrow's entrepreneurs
Britain’s prisons are a massive, untapped source of entrepreneurial potential, according to a new report, and the Government is wasting billions by failing to harness this talent. The Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE), the think tank, has claimed that the UK could save up to £1.4bn Read More...
Make everything fair trade by nature, not just by name
World Fair Trade Day took place over the weekend on May 14. This day is set aside to raise awareness of environmental and social sustainability issues associated with trade and business, and to push for more equitable and fair practices globally. This is an increasingly salient topic for businesses Read More...
$1 billion Apple sharing economy investment in Chinese Uber rival Didi Chuxing
Apple has invested $1 billion in Didi Chuxing, the car-hailing app that has a greater market share than U.S. rival Uber in China. Didi Chuxing provides more than 11 million rides a day and claims to have 87 percent of the Chinese market share. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, said that the move would help Read More...