"ideas worth spreading"

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to attend an event known as TEDxUNC. I didn't really have any expectations, which is (for me) sometimes the best way to approach a new experience. For anyone new to the term TEDx, or TED, this is a nonprofit that is dedicated to "Ideas Worth Spreading". Essentially I signed up for afternoon to watch and hear inspiring people from around the globe. I have to say that I left feeling inspired, not sure for what, but inspired nonetheless :)

One of the most fascinating speakers for me was Kavita Shukla, here is a copy of her bio from the TEDxUNC website:

Kavita is the Founder & CEO of Fenugreen, a social enterprise taking on the massive global challenge of food waste with a simple innovation, FreshPaper. Kavita holds four patents, and has received several international honors as an inventor, designer, and entrepreneur, including the INDEX: Design to Improve Life Award – the world’s largest prize for design. Her work has been featured by CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, Oprah Magazine, Glamour, and The Today Show. Kavita was also recently featured as one of the “7 Entrepreneurs Changing the World” by Fast Company and on the Forbes “30 under 30” list.

Pretty impressive for under 30 right? What's more impressive is the message she shared. She encouraged people, young girls in particular, to honor their inquisitiveness and to have confidence to keep pursuing an interest or solution for a problem. Before I give more detail about what she developed, I think it will be more fun to give a quick synopsis of how she did it. 

Kavita visited her grandmother, I believe in India. She had been repeatedly warned not to drink the water, but her junior high brain forgot and she gulped a glass after brushing her teeth. She instantly remembered the advice and then began to worry about getting sick. Kavita's grandmother created a concoction of spices and herbs and told her to drink it. Magically, Kavita didn't get sick. This baffled and fascinated Kavita, so at the ripe old age of 12 she began to experiment with rotting food and spices in her garage back in the States. If I remember correctly, one of her high school science teachers told her she was really on to something and encouraged her to get a patent. Longer story short, after some entertaining attempts during and shortly after college to get her product out there, she, her co-collaborator and an intern landed an interview with Whole Foods. Now you can buy their product on the shelves. Pretty neat to think a garage science experiment is now a product that could have great impact in the world.

So what exactly did Kavita develop? FreshPaper. This product is literally a sheet of paper infused with organic spices that can keep fruit and vegetables fresh longer. If you can preserve fruit and veggies from harvest to kitchen, that might afford people an opportunity to actually consume more healthy foods. She feels this product can chip away at global hunger by decreasing food waste. We (the world) produces a lot of food, yet much of it never makes it in to people's mouths. Click here for this eye-opening infographic on food waste. 

I have yet to try out the product but plan to do so, because purchasing for my own benefit can actually help benefit those who need it most. If you give it a try, let me know what you think. 

I tell you this not to pawn a product but instead because 1. this little invention may help you eat more healthy foods, 2. this little invention could help others eat more healthy foods, and 3. the next great thing can literally come from your own backyard. 

I'm taking this as an inspiration to aim to keep solutions simple. I think this will be particularly important for my career path and personal life. Perhaps it might be helpful for you too.

Until next time :)