Why We Need to Support Makers with Innovative Solutions to Global Challenges

I know first-hand the positive impact that a supportive environment, a little encouragement, and access to new resources can have to evolve a concept--and go from working prototype to actual product. That is why I decided to volunteer to be a judge in this year's Infy Maker Awards. I want to help those next generation Makers evolve their ideas further to make and invent and help our world become a better place. 

In January 2010, immediately following the devastating earthquakes in Haiti, my then-classmate and now business partner Anna Stork and I came up with an idea to make a portable solar light that packed flat for efficient distribution in post-disaster settings. We wanted to invent something that would provide a non-flammable and sustainable alternative to the kerosene lanterns and candles that were commonly used for lighting in the dense temporary settlements that had come about because of the earthquake. After coming up with the initial concept, we got to work prototyping and making the first versions of our LuminAID solar lights. Given we were students with very little funding or resources, we used anything and everything we could find to make our prototypes: recycled materials, handheld heat sealers, and basic circuit components.  

When we came up with the idea for LuminAID lights, we had no sense of how impactful or helpful it could be in post-disaster situations. It was only through initial prototyping and further iteration that we could test our idea and gain feedback from users in the field that would advance our project from initial idea to viable aid product.  

To keep advancing our idea as students and startup founders, we relied upon grant competitions like the Infy Maker Awards to secure critical funding. Without such funding, we would have had a difficult time producing initial prototypes and scaling up through larger-scale manufacturing. 

It is exciting to know this year’s Infy Maker winners will be one step closer to taking their prototypes and turning them into solutions that could positively impact people in their communities and around the world. You can check out and vote for this year’s amazing finalists here.