today more than 50% of the human population lives in cities and that
population lives in cities and that
population lives in cities and that proportion is only increasing
urbanization is an irreversible
urbanization is an irreversible phenomenon but are the world cities
phenomenon but are the world cities
phenomenon but are the world cities prepared for this influx do we have the
prepared for this influx do we have the
prepared for this influx do we have the capacity and infrastructure to provide
capacity and infrastructure to provide
capacity and infrastructure to provide the housing the sanitation the education
the housing the sanitation the education
the housing the sanitation the education and the healthcare services to all these
and the healthcare services to all these
and the healthcare services to all these people moving to cities
Mumbai’s population is racing to 34
Mumbai’s population is racing to 34 million by 2025 45% of whom will live in
million by 2025 45% of whom will live in
million by 2025 45% of whom will live in slums the affordable housing challenge
slums the affordable housing challenge
slums the affordable housing challenge is not just in India but its global
is not just in India but its global
is not just in India but its global today 330 million people suffer from
today 330 million people suffer from
today 330 million people suffer from housing poverty and given the current
housing poverty and given the current
housing poverty and given the current trends in supply that will increase to
trends in supply that will increase to
trends in supply that will increase to 440 million households by 2025 which
440 million households by 2025 which
440 million households by 2025 which means in less than 10 years 1.6 billion
means in less than 10 years 1.6 billion
means in less than 10 years 1.6 billion people or one third of the world’s urban
people or one third of the world’s urban
people or one third of the world’s urban population will suffer from some kind of
population will suffer from some kind of
population will suffer from some kind of housing poverty successive governments
housing poverty successive governments
housing poverty successive governments have continued to prioritize
have continued to prioritize
have continued to prioritize homeownership they’re providing tax
homeownership they’re providing tax
homeownership they’re providing tax incentives to developers they’re
incentives to developers they’re
incentives to developers they’re reducing the home loan rates for buyers
reducing the home loan rates for buyers
reducing the home loan rates for buyers and while this is all a step in the
and while this is all a step in the
and while this is all a step in the right direction the supply is nowhere at
right direction the supply is nowhere at
right direction the supply is nowhere at the scale that we need supply push
the scale that we need supply push
the scale that we need supply push factors are not lowering house prices
factors are not lowering house prices
factors are not lowering house prices and home ownership still remains elusive
and home ownership still remains elusive
and home ownership still remains elusive for the masses particularly amongst
for the masses particularly amongst
for the masses particularly amongst younger people if we have to overcome
younger people if we have to overcome
younger people if we have to overcome this unprecedented housing challenge
this unprecedented housing challenge
this unprecedented housing challenge radical innovation in housing is
radical innovation in housing is
radical innovation in housing is desperately needed recently though I
desperately needed recently though I
desperately needed recently though I have come across some interesting
have come across some interesting
have come across some interesting solutions that have been scaled up
solutions that have been scaled up
solutions that have been scaled up across the globe there’s a huge rise in
across the globe there’s a huge rise in
across the globe there’s a huge rise in coal living spaces where many different
coal living spaces where many different
coal living spaces where many different tenants they come together and
tenants they come together and
tenants they come together and share the same common areas like the
share the same common areas like the
share the same common areas like the kitchen or the laundry or the living
kitchen or the laundry or the living
kitchen or the laundry or the living room which reduces the cost of housing
room which reduces the cost of housing
room which reduces the cost of housing substantially and also increases
substantially and also increases
substantially and also increases community engagement to a great extent
community engagement to a great extent
community engagement to a great extent I’ve also noticed that more and more
I’ve also noticed that more and more
I’ve also noticed that more and more companies are recognizing flexible
companies are recognizing flexible
companies are recognizing flexible living and they’re offering tenants
living and they’re offering tenants
living and they’re offering tenants monthly instead of annual leases which
monthly instead of annual leases which
monthly instead of annual leases which makes housing accessible even to the
makes housing accessible even to the
makes housing accessible even to the urban poor I think people’s perception
urban poor I think people’s perception
urban poor I think people’s perception of housing is changing they’re no longer
of housing is changing they’re no longer
of housing is changing they’re no longer possessive about the concept of home
possessive about the concept of home
possessive about the concept of home ownership
ownership
ownership you know the sizes of houses are
you know the sizes of houses are
you know the sizes of houses are drastically decreasing micro homes
drastically decreasing micro homes
drastically decreasing micro homes well-designed compact spaces are
well-designed compact spaces are
well-designed compact spaces are becoming more popular amongst the next
becoming more popular amongst the next
becoming more popular amongst the next generation of homebuyers recently I
generation of homebuyers recently I
generation of homebuyers recently I spent a night in one of these pod or
spent a night in one of these pod or
spent a night in one of these pod or capsule hotels and it was very
capsule hotels and it was very
capsule hotels and it was very comfortable and honestly a very
comfortable and honestly a very
comfortable and honestly a very efficient use of space so my solution to
efficient use of space so my solution to
efficient use of space so my solution to the housing crisis is through your
the housing crisis is through your
the housing crisis is through your hotels last year I found a hotel with
hotels last year I found a hotel with
hotels last year I found a hotel with the vision to help end homelessness but
the vision to help end homelessness but
the vision to help end homelessness but delivering a product that can change the
delivering a product that can change the
delivering a product that can change the way the world houses its people I have a
way the world houses its people I have a
way the world houses its people I have a small advantage because they come from a
small advantage because they come from a
small advantage because they come from a line of social entrepreneurs my
line of social entrepreneurs my
line of social entrepreneurs my granduncle started one of india’s first
granduncle started one of india’s first
granduncle started one of india’s first cooperative banks in 1963 to cater to
cooperative banks in 1963 to cater to
cooperative banks in 1963 to cater to the financial needs of the poor and my
the financial needs of the poor and my
the financial needs of the poor and my father pioneered affordable housing in
father pioneered affordable housing in
father pioneered affordable housing in India so it wasn’t uncommon for us to
India so it wasn’t uncommon for us to
India so it wasn’t uncommon for us to discuss business on the dining table and
discuss business on the dining table and
discuss business on the dining table and as role models they showed me the power
as role models they showed me the power
as role models they showed me the power of business to address very large social
of business to address very large social
of business to address very large social issues and they gave me the courage to
issues and they gave me the courage to
issues and they gave me the courage to start my own social business sojiro Dell
start my own social business sojiro Dell
start my own social business sojiro Dell coming from the words
coming from the words
coming from the words chotto meaning small and hotel provides
chotto meaning small and hotel provides
chotto meaning small and hotel provides accomodation at $2 a night our rooms are
accomodation at $2 a night our rooms are
accomodation at $2 a night our rooms are 280 square feet and they come fully
280 square feet and they come fully
280 square feet and they come fully equipped with a kitchenette a study or a
equipped with a kitchenette a study or a
equipped with a kitchenette a study or a dining table a bathroom a television two
dining table a bathroom a television two
dining table a bathroom a television two double beds and common balcony
double beds and common balcony
double beds and common balcony each project also has a daycare a
each project also has a daycare a
each project also has a daycare a community kitchen and informally an
community kitchen and informally an
community kitchen and informally an ample garden and playing area so a $2.00
ample garden and playing area so a $2.00
ample garden and playing area so a $2.00 room shared by up to four people
room shared by up to four people
room shared by up to four people essentially people are paying 50 cents
essentially people are paying 50 cents
essentially people are paying 50 cents for very hygienic and dignified
for very hygienic and dignified
for very hygienic and dignified accommodation how do we do this
accommodation how do we do this
accommodation how do we do this technology plays a very very important
technology plays a very very important
technology plays a very very important part on how we can deliver this from our
part on how we can deliver this from our
part on how we can deliver this from our construction methods to our information
construction methods to our information
construction methods to our information flow we use technology at every level we
flow we use technology at every level we
flow we use technology at every level we use technology to build cheaper greener
use technology to build cheaper greener
use technology to build cheaper greener and quicker and billion time frames as
and quicker and billion time frames as
and quicker and billion time frames as low as a hundred days we have a
low as a hundred days we have a
low as a hundred days we have a completely off-grid utility system that
completely off-grid utility system that
completely off-grid utility system that generates electricity drinking water and
generates electricity drinking water and
generates electricity drinking water and cooking gas and provides access to
cooking gas and provides access to
cooking gas and provides access to sanitation services this entire system
sanitation services this entire system
sanitation services this entire system is powered by technology that allows our
is powered by technology that allows our
is powered by technology that allows our guests to pay for utilities on a
guests to pay for utilities on a
guests to pay for utilities on a consumption basis so that prevents
consumption basis so that prevents
consumption basis so that prevents wastage and also reduces utility costs
wastage and also reduces utility costs
wastage and also reduces utility costs payment for these rooms and utilities is
payment for these rooms and utilities is
payment for these rooms and utilities is done through mobile technology which
done through mobile technology which
done through mobile technology which allows the hotel to be unmanned and
allows the hotel to be unmanned and
allows the hotel to be unmanned and keeps her operating costs very low we
keeps her operating costs very low we
keeps her operating costs very low we also use financial technology to make
also use financial technology to make
also use financial technology to make sure that information is available and
sure that information is available and
sure that information is available and money is moving in real time from a
money is moving in real time from a
money is moving in real time from a guest to our investors anywhere in the
guest to our investors anywhere in the
guest to our investors anywhere in the world but most importantly we use this
world but most importantly we use this
world but most importantly we use this technology to measure and report impact
technology to measure and report impact
technology to measure and report impact on both environmental and social data
on both environmental and social data
on both environmental and social data points people often ask me the
points people often ask me the
points people often ask me the challenges I face with your hotel and we
challenges I face with your hotel and we
challenges I face with your hotel and we have honestly had a fair share of
have honestly had a fair share of
have honestly had a fair share of problems but for me the biggest
problems but for me the biggest
problems but for me the biggest challenge is how to make sure I tell a
challenge is how to make sure I tell a
challenge is how to make sure I tell a social business scalable
social business scalable
social business scalable it’s quite rare to see a large global
it’s quite rare to see a large global
it’s quite rare to see a large global social business in fact most of us would
social business in fact most of us would
social business in fact most of us would find it quite difficult to name the
find it quite difficult to name the
find it quite difficult to name the Amazon or Facebook or Disney equivalent
Amazon or Facebook or Disney equivalent
Amazon or Facebook or Disney equivalent of the social enterprise sector now I
of the social enterprise sector now I
of the social enterprise sector now I believe the problem lies in the way
believe the problem lies in the way
believe the problem lies in the way social enterprises are perceived not
social enterprises are perceived not
social enterprises are perceived not just in the market but best social
just in the market but best social
just in the market but best social entrepreneurs themselves it is this idea
entrepreneurs themselves it is this idea
entrepreneurs themselves it is this idea that doing good and fundamentally
that doing good and fundamentally
that doing good and fundamentally seeking large profits are incompatible
seeking large profits are incompatible
seeking large profits are incompatible there is the sense that scale and profit
there is the sense that scale and profit
there is the sense that scale and profit are out of sync with the essence of a
are out of sync with the essence of a
are out of sync with the essence of a good social business and that they
good social business and that they
good social business and that they should be kept modest and local
should be kept modest and local
should be kept modest and local ultimately though scalability lies in
ultimately though scalability lies in
ultimately though scalability lies in profit within the housing sector to
profit within the housing sector to
profit within the housing sector to raise the kind of capital I need it’s
raise the kind of capital I need it’s
raise the kind of capital I need it’s enormous because for most part it’s an
enormous because for most part it’s an
enormous because for most part it’s an asset heavy business so therefore we can
asset heavy business so therefore we can
asset heavy business so therefore we can only limit ourselves to impact or social
only limit ourselves to impact or social
only limit ourselves to impact or social investors we have to be able to compete
investors we have to be able to compete
investors we have to be able to compete with all kinds of businesses to access
with all kinds of businesses to access
with all kinds of businesses to access commercial capital so social businesses
commercial capital so social businesses
commercial capital so social businesses had a model that could generate profits
had a model that could generate profits
had a model that could generate profits in an environment without government or
in an environment without government or
in an environment without government or donor support without tax or subsidies
donor support without tax or subsidies
donor support without tax or subsidies or tax benefits then it opens them up to
or tax benefits then it opens them up to
or tax benefits then it opens them up to a whole new world of Commerce and puts
a whole new world of Commerce and puts
a whole new world of Commerce and puts weight to the word business in a social
weight to the word business in a social
weight to the word business in a social business and that’s why it’s important
business and that’s why it’s important
business and that’s why it’s important for a social business to be profitable
for a social business to be profitable
for a social business to be profitable to be driven by technology to respond to
to be driven by technology to respond to
to be driven by technology to respond to market demand and supply and to be
market demand and supply and to be
market demand and supply and to be adaptable to market structures across
adaptable to market structures across
adaptable to market structures across the world and I think that’s what we’ve
the world and I think that’s what we’ve
the world and I think that’s what we’ve done with your hotels we’ve created a
done with your hotels we’ve created a
done with your hotels we’ve created a social business there is potential for
social business there is potential for
social business there is potential for enormous scale our first pilot project
enormous scale our first pilot project
enormous scale our first pilot project opens later this year and is 50
opens later this year and is 50
opens later this year and is 50 kilometres from Mumbai it’s a 240 room
kilometres from Mumbai it’s a 240 room
kilometres from Mumbai it’s a 240 room hotel at the centre of a vibrant
hotel at the centre of a vibrant
hotel at the centre of a vibrant industrial area there are
industrial area there are
industrial area there are over 50,000 casual workers within a 20
over 50,000 casual workers within a 20
over 50,000 casual workers within a 20 kilometer radius doing unskilled factory
kilometer radius doing unskilled factory
kilometer radius doing unskilled factory work where they average Leon about $5 a
work where they average Leon about $5 a
work where they average Leon about $5 a day they do not appear on payrolls and
day they do not appear on payrolls and
day they do not appear on payrolls and they’re not entitled to any benefits so
they’re not entitled to any benefits so
they’re not entitled to any benefits so please join me on my journey to change
please join me on my journey to change
please join me on my journey to change the way the world houses its people our
the way the world houses its people our
the way the world houses its people our aim is to replicate this model across
aim is to replicate this model across
aim is to replicate this model across large cities of the world and hopefully
large cities of the world and hopefully
large cities of the world and hopefully make a real dent in addressing housing
make a real dent in addressing housing
make a real dent in addressing housing poverty thank you
poverty thank you
poverty thank you [Applause]
”
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