Tag Archives: platforms

HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS HELP IN TRACKING IMPACT MEASUREMENT FOR IMPACT INVESTMENTS

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Technology platforms have become invaluable tools for impact investors to effectively measure and track the social and environmental impact of their investments. With the proper utilization of technology, impact investors can now collect comprehensive and credible impact data, analyze results over time, and make more informed investment decisions.

Some of the key ways that technology platforms are helping streamline impact measurement include:

Data collection: Technology allows impact investors to collect large volumes of both qualitative and quantitative impact data directly from investees in real-time. Platforms provide standardized templates and dashboards for investees to regularly report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the intended impacts. This can include metrics like number of people served, carbon emissions reduced, jobs created, etc. Online surveys and apps also make it easier for investees to gather feedback directly from beneficiaries.

Data organization: The volume of impact data collected needs to be properly organized and stored for analysis. Technology platforms utilize robust databases that can house years of impact performance data for multiple investees and investment portfolios. The data is tagged and structured to be easily searchable, sortable, and filterable based on different criteria like investment theme, geography, timescale etc. This centralized data warehouse approach prevents data from getting lost or disorganized over time.

Data analysis: With impact data securely organized on a centralized platform, powerful data analytics tools can be applied. Features like dashboards, dynamic reports, and data visualization help illuminate trends, highlight correlations and critical insights. For example, analytics can track how impacted populations change over time or how strong the linkage is between financial performance and social impact achievement. Machine learning is also being used to detect anomalies and predict future performance.

Benchmarking: Technology aids the comparison of portfolio and investee impact performance against benchmarks and across time periods. Platforms can analyze proprietary datasets as well as curated public datasets to identify high-performing peers, set performance thresholds, and detect under-achievement early. Benchmarking also supports ongoing impact target-setting and strategy refinement at both investor and investee levels.

Reporting: Sophisticated impact reports demonstrating accountability and transparency can now be generated through technology. Platforms autonomously produce formatted reports aligned to industry standards like IRIS+, GIIRS, or SDG metrics. Reports are also customizable for different stakeholder needs, from fund limited partners to investees to public disclosure. Automated reporting saves significant time and resources compared to manual compilation.

Stakeholder engagement: Technology engages various stakeholders in impact measurement. Online dashboards power interactive sessions for investees to discuss performance. Surveys collect real-time beneficiary feedback. Social media integrations spread impact stories and results. These tools deepen stakeholder participation in the measurement process and impact achievement overall.

Decision making: With robust impact analytics and benchmarking available, technology acts as a decision support system for investors. Features like predictive analytics and portfolio optimization tools help them make go/no-go decisions on potential deals, rebalance allocations, and refine selection criteria over time based on impact performance trends. Technology essentially transforms impact data into actionable business intelligence.

Technology platforms have become indispensable infrastructure supporting credible and efficient impact measurement practices across the impact investing industry. By standardizing data collection, organizing disparate datasets, powering advanced analytics, generating accountability reports, and enhancing stakeholder engagement – technology is fundamentally enhancing how impact investors are now able to understand, strengthen, and communicate their social and environmental impacts at scale. As data-driven impact performance management becomes further ingrained in investment processes, technology will continue playing an instrumental role in impact measurement and the growth of impact investing overall.

HOW DOES TELEGRAM’S MONETIZATION STRATEGY COMPARE TO OTHER MESSAGING PLATFORMS

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Telegram has taken a unique approach to monetization compared to other popular messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and LINE. While many messaging apps have adopted paid subscription models or in-app advertising and promotions, Telegram has so far avoided these monetization tactics in favor of other innovative strategies.

Telegram is considered a “freemium” service as users can enjoy the basic features for free, but paid subscriptions are available to unlock additional premium features. Unlike other messaging platforms, Telegram does not place ads or in-app promotions and has stated they never will due to concerns over how ads could impact user privacy and experience. Instead, Telegram relies mainly on optional donations from its large existing user base to fund ongoing development and server costs. Telegram is able to offer these services without ads currently because founder Pavel Durov has pledged around $200 million from his personal fortune to support the app.

Telegram launched “Telegram Premium” in June 2022, introducing a paid subscription for the first time. Premium subscribers can receive a larger maximum number of contacts, folders, pins, and more. Premium also increases file upload limits and introduces exclusive animated emoji and reactions. Telegram Premium costs $4.99 per month but the company claims this optional subscription will be enough for Telegram to fully support itself without any future need for alternative monetization methods like ads.

In contrast, WhatsApp employs no monetization at all presently since it is owned by Facebook parent company Meta. WhatsApp did have plans to introduce optional business-focused paid services and in-app purchases, but that was delayed indefinitely after a user backlash over privacy concerns. WhatsApp has over 2 billion users but generates no direct revenue, relying solely on Meta’s other business revenues to fund development.

Meta’s other messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct have prominent in-app advertising including product and service recommendations. Businesses can promote their Messenger profiles, chats, stories, and online stores through ads. Messenger also offers subscription plans for businesses’ customer service capabilities through tools like Messenger API bots.

WeChat in China has become a powerful super app with a wide array of services completely integrated within the messaging experience. WeChat monetizes through digital payments services, gaming integrations, and a thriving mini program ecosystem similar to mobile apps where businesses can promote and sell digital goods/services. WeChat takes a cut of revenues from these integrations that has made it immensely profitable for parent company Tencent without any ads within the core chat functions.

Japanese messaging platform LINE also emphasizes services beyond communication including games, commerce, and digital content integrated directly into the app experience. LINE generates major revenues through its games including Puzzle & Dragons, sales of LINE-based stickers and digital goods, advertising, and a payments platform called LINE Pay similar to WeChat Pay. LINE has also explored optional premium LINE TV and phone plan subscriptions.

Korean messaging giant Kakao follows a South Korean model emphasizing built-in mini games accessible via chat profiles which generate abundant in-game purchases. KakaoTalk also earns income from a music streaming service, loyalty points program, commerce platform, and its digital wallet service Kakao Pay.

In summary – while most messaging platforms depend heavily on in-app ads, e-commerce integrations or paid subscriptions – Telegram has resisted this approach so far through Pavel Durov’s initial funding and the recent premium subscription option. WeChat, LINE, Kakao and Messenger align more with the super app model fully integrating overlays services alongside communication. But Telegram seeks to keep a tighter separation of chat functionality from additional monetized overlays and services. Only time will tell if Telegram Premium generates enough ongoing revenue or if alternative strategies may eventually be explored.

CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY RESOURCES OR PLATFORMS FOR FINDING INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE FOR CAPSTONE PROJECTS

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LinkedIn is a great resource for connecting with professionals in your intended field and getting ideas for real-world projects they are currently working on or have completed in the past. You can search hashtags on LinkedIn related to your major or career interests and see what types of capstone projects others have done. You can also join groups in your specific field to ask professionals about potential project ideas. LinkedIn allows you to message people directly so you can inquire further about project details.

Some professors and departments at universities maintain websites that provide examples of past successful student capstone projects in different majors. Browsing through project titles, descriptions, and sometimes even full papers of projects done by previous graduating classes can spark new ideas or provide templates you can draw from. Many capstone projects are also archived in university libraries electronically so you can access them for research purposes.

Industry organizations and professional associations in your field of study are good contacts to make. They may have information on trends, upcoming initiatives, or ongoing research that could translate into suitable capstone project topics. Reaching out to these groups to learn if they would support or partner on a student project related to their mission is a strategic move that puts you ahead of just coming up with ideas in a vacuum.

Conferences and events in your area of focus present opportunities to not only network but also learn about promising new work being done. You may pick up on projects presented that you could potentially replicate or build upon through your capstone. Do some digging to see if there will be any relevant conferences scheduled before your capstone is due that you could attend for this purpose.

Sites like GitHub and other online code/project repositories allow you to browse examples of work completed by other students worldwide. Their open source nature means the code is there for you to be inspired by, learn from, and potentially develop further for your own capstone. Make use of search engines to explore sample projects already put out online through portals like these.

Speaking to current students further along in your program is handy for finding out what projects recent graduates in your department have taken on and accomplished. Upperclassmen can provide invaluable advice on navigating requirements, faculty research interests, and industry needs to identify ripe capstone topics. Joining a student group or organization in your major can help facilitate these connections with more experienced peers.

Following thought leaders and researchers in your specialized field on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram helps keep you informed of advances and ongoing discussions, which could ignite proposal-worthy ideas. Trending topics, shared project updates, and promoted conferences are all discoverable through watchful virtual networking like this.

Tapping professional mentors you may have from internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work or other experiences you bring to your studies could also potentially lead to project suggestions tailored to their organization or your shared interests. Personal referrals have more weight than random ideas and offer buy-in from real partners invested in your success.

Universities may hold designated events where industry representatives come to specifically discuss capstone project ideas with students. Career services offices can advise if any of these brainstorming sessions will be scheduled. They are productive for networking and finding people enthusiastic about guiding potential collaborations.

Conducting thorough literature reviews within your discipline goes a long way in identifying gaps, debates or undertheorized areas open to new contributions or examinations within a capstone’s scope. Speak to faculty about current research trends and where student work could advance understanding to narrow your focus. Research is the backbone of good proposals.

The key through all these avenues is actively engaging experts, professionals and resources rather than passively waiting for inspiration to strike. Being proactive opens up a wealth of viable options to consider as starting points for thoughtful capstone planning and proposal development grounded in real needs and opportunities.