Jump to:   Basics  |  Team  |  Venture  |  Milestones

Basics

Describe yourself briefly.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to lead for-profit and non-profit organizations in Asia dedicated to solving seemingly intractable social and environmental problems.

Prior to joining WorldHaus, I led the South China offices of BSR, where I worked with my team to train over 5,000 factory managers to reduce their pollution and energy consumption and improve the working conditions of their employees.

After 5 years of working in Asia, I have learned how to find local solutions for local problems. That is why we are proud to have developed and designed WorldHaus in consultation with over 100 families in South Asia who will be living in and purchasing them.

Describe your Unreasonable Venture in 100 words or less.

Through its unique design, WorldHaus represents a modular housing cost breakthrough that represents an order of magnitude decrease in the cost of housing. WorldHaus radically drives down the cost of housing by maximizing local labor and minimizing the use of costly building materials. This allows WorldHaus to feature a home with a solar electric lighting system, integrated wiring, ventilation, and a cook stove to customers for less than $1,000.

We are working with rural banks, micro-finance institutions, and local governments in India to provide financing and loan guarantees to make WorldHaus accessible to families at or below the poverty line. At $20 per month, WorldHaus represents a real chance for families to move into a house that can radically improve their lives.

Back to top ↑

Team

Describe your relevant experience (especially entrepreneurial).

I have been blessed with the opportunity to lead for-profit and non-profit organizations in Asia dedicated to solving seemingly intractable social and environmental problems.

Prior to joining WorldHaus, I led the South China offices of BSR, where I worked with my team to train over 5,000 factory managers to reduce their pollution and energy consumption and improve the working conditions of their employees.

After 5 years of working in Asia, I have learned how to find local solutions for local problems. That is why we are proud to have developed and designed WorldHaus in consultation with over 100 families in South Asia who will be living in and purchasing them.

Why is your team uniquely qualified to run this venture?

The WorldHaus team is a group of entrepreneurs and engineers who can build innovative, low-cost structures and have the experience in developing countries to create successful, sustainable businesses.

WorldHaus engineers have utilized their experience at NASA and a number of leading aerospace and solar energy companies to create a breakthrough, life-changing product at a breakthrough price.

Our team of entrepreneurs in India and the US brings over 15 years of combined experience finding solutions to Asia's energy and environmental problems. This means that WorldHaus can build the relationships and networks on the ground to get its homes to the people who want and need them.

Back to top ↑

Venture

What is the urgent social or environmental need you're addressing?

The current lack of affordable housing for over 1.5 billion people in the developing world represents one of our largest global social problems. The housing deficit in India alone is 24.7 million homes. This number not only includes millions of families living on less than $2 a day, but also millions of households making between $160-$450 a month with poor access to credit.

This housing need is not currently being addressed by private or public low-income housing developers, whose products are out of the financial range of the majority of the population. WorldHaus is designed to benefit these families that are unserved by current market offerings and are priced out of safe, reliable shelter with no access to electricity or sanitation.

What is your solution to this need? Describe your business strategy.

Through its unique design, WorldHaus represents a modular housing cost breakthrough that represents an order of magnitude decrease in the cost of housing. WorldHaus radically drives down the cost of housing by maximizing local labor and minimizing the use of costly building materials. This allows WorldHaus to feature a home with a solar electric lighting system, integrated wiring, ventilation, and a cook stove to customers for less than $1,000.

We are working with rural banks, micro-finance institutions, and local governments in India to provide financing and loan guarantees to make WorldHaus accessible to families at or below the poverty line. At $20 per month, WorldHaus represents a real chance for families to move into a house that can radically improve their lives.

Back to top ↑

Milestones

Convince us it will work. What milestones have you achieved?

The WorldHaus team has taken dozens of product orders and is currently working with state and local governments in India to build its first pilot homes. WorldHaus engineers have prototyped one model home at $2,500 and are working on new designs to bring the cost down even lower to make it accessible to more families who need it.

The idea, design, and implementation plan for WorldHaus was conceived after discussions with over 100 rural families in 5 Indian states. Interviews revealed an intense desire among the population for access to increased personal space, clean water, and light to help children study at night at a price point at or below $2,500.

Back to top ↑