A socialtech – startup with a social focus – is named as one of the ten most creative and innovative solutions in the world in the area of daily charitable donations by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . This is the Brasilia-based Ribon , a platform that emerged to promote the culture of donation in Brazil, making the experience of donating simpler, fun and accessible. In its four years of operation, the startup has helped more than 180,000 people and received investment from Redpoint eventures .
In addition to the entity led by the creator of Microsoft and his wife, the ranking was curated by IDEO , one of the largest design studios in the world. The list was published on the OpenIDEO , a global community dedicated to finding and disseminating solutions to the most diverse social problems through innovative designs, as part of the “Reimagine Charitable Giving Challange”. ).
In total, 363 projects applied for analysis by the challenge evaluators. Ribon was the only non-English solution to appear on the list of the top ten in the world. The other members of the Top 10 are the English HasanaH, the Canadians Give and Give Magic, and the North American Duet, Coin Up, Giving Multiplier, Golden Volunteer, Civic Champs and Pinkaloo. They will all receive US$10,000, refinement support from IDEO designers and will have the right to participate in the invitation-only Greater Giving Summit
According to OpenIDEO and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, solutions were prioritized for philanthropic activities that were digital , user-centered, innovative and that had a great impact wherever they operate. “Working as a startup that works with philanthropy in a country that is still in its infancy in the culture of individual donations to causes is a challenge. However, having this recognition that indicates us as an example of the future for global philanthropy is a sign that we are on the right path”, says Rafael Rodeiro , co-founder and CEO of the Brasilia-based startup.
Ribon developed a gamification to engage millennials and generation Z in the culture of giving. Within an application available for Android, iPhone and desktop, users can collect their “ribons” (virtual currency used in donations) and donate them free of charge to any of the causes registered on the platform. Donations are paid by companies, foundations and philanthropists who place their social projects on Ribon with two objectives: to bring more donors to engage with their projects through free donations and to increase the amount allocated to these projects through paid donations.
The result is a community of thousands of people developing a culture of donation, which is extremely necessary for a country like Brazil, a country that occupies 74th place in the World Giving Index , a position that does not match the power economic situation of the country, and much less with its demand for resources for social development.
One example is the Movimento Bem Maior which, in 2020, led the biggest impact donation ever made on the platform. The social organization founded by businessmen Elie Horn , Rubens Menin and Eugênio Mattar – made a large donation of food through Ribon to the NGO Ação da Cidadania , which at that time was working with families in situations of social vulnerability due to the coronavirus pandemic. In five months, 45,523 new donors got involved with the Citizenship Action cause through the Ribon platform, an involvement that increased the initial donation made by Movimento Bem Maior 68.3% In real impact, users donated 42,078 meals to the NGO during the period it was on the platform. The startup has also leveraged donations from companies such as Tetra Pak , Cielo , Klabin and Centauro . In total, more than 180,000 people have already been impacted by donations made within the platform.
This article was originally published on the Forbes magazine website .
