David del Ser

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2009

David del Ser

Frogtek

New York, New York, United States

Community Improvement & Economic Development

The Bold Idea:

The Bold Idea: Boost the productivity and income of small shopkeepers in the developing world with affordable business tools that can be run on mobile phones.

Small shop owners are the last vital link in the supply chain that brings food and other essential products to the millions of people living at the base of the pyramid. In Colombia alone, there are 500,000 small shops that represent the main source of income for more than 2 million people, make up 50 percent of microfinance clients and sell 60 percent of all consumer goods. However, these microentrepreneurs lack the business skills and systems that could enable them to efficiently manage and grow their businesses, pay off high interest loans and lift their families out of poverty.

Frogtek develops simple business tools using touchscreens and barcode readers that uneducated microentrepreneurs can use. The organization partners with local community organizations, microfinance institutions, and mobile carriers to distribute the tools. Frogtek provides ongoing training and support to their community partners and shop owners through interactive learning tools delivered on the phones themselves.

David Del Ser pitching at Echoing Green Selection Weekend (May 2, 2009)

Biography:

David del Ser Bartolomé founded Frogtek to leverage the mobile phone revolution and bring the IT productivity boom to small businesses in the developing world. After spending five years building applications for Vodafone R&D, he studied at Columbia University to understand how inclusive business can foster economic development. While in school he founded Microlumbia, a nonprofit fund focused on investments and consulting for microfinance institutions. He earned an MBA in 2008, receiving the Nathan Gantcher Award in Social Enterprise.

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
While in business school a couple of years ago I launched Microlumbia with some fellow students, a student-run investment fund focused on microfinance. The experience was so rewarding that I wanted to apply my background in technology to create new tools for the poor.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social and difficult problems? (Such as experiences, skills, events, etc.)
Business school was very formative for me beyond the academic component. Over the summer, I interned with Donors Choose, a fantastic social enterprise in New York City, and a small start-up in Johannesburg, South Africa. Seeing the two organizations from within and experiencing the magic emanating from such devoted teams makes you believe anything is possible!

New and Untested: What's innovative about your new idea for social change?
We are using advanced mobile phones to turn a traditional shopkeeper in the developing world into the last and fundamental link of a twenty-first century supply chain.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
To be completely honest, I'm not sure. If somebody finds out, please tell me so I can start training!

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?
I've always liked electronic music in all its varieties, from techno-house to downtempo. Recently I discovered an amazing music teacher in a NYC public school that has his kids sing like a professional choir. It reminds me of why we work hard to make a better world.

What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?
This year I loved Kapuscinki's book on Africa, The Shadow of the Sun and Coetzee's Waiting for the Barbarians. Work related, I can't still believe my luck by stumbling upon The Four Steps to Epiphany, which I recommend to anyone developing a new product.

Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?
I spend way too much time on Google Reader catching up with too many blogs, but my all time favorite is Wikipedia.

What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader?
I like to remember the words of a shopkeeper from Bogota. Talking about her business, she very proudly said, "We opened ten years ago and this shop paid for my two children to go to university". That's exactly what we want to do at Frogtek: help put more money into the shopkeepers' pockets so their children can escape poverty for good by getting a degree.