Uncharted Play

THINK OUT OF BOUNDS

Friday 30 May 2014, by Victoria Victorenko

1 inspired

A. The main facts about the activities of the company.

Uncharted Play was founded in May of 2011 as a new kind of social enterprise grounded in play and the happiness of life, that would show the world how play could be a tangible tool for inspiring social invention.
The Uncharted Play dream began in 2008 when Jessica O. Matthews and Julia Silverman met during their junior year at Harvard University. Both studying to be social scientists with no experience in engineering, they nonetheless worked together on a class project to invent the SOCCKET, an energy-harnessing soccer ball. Through this experience, both women realized that the world of play was truly uncharted territory when it came to tangibly addressing real issues facing society. Though the future was uncertain, they knew that an enterprise grounded in sustainable, realistic solutions for happiness had an undeniable value.

Finding she had an undeniable passion for social entrepreneurship, Matthews continued on with the mission after graduation from college. Setting up shop in New York City. Matthews built an enthusiastic team to further develop the dream of creating an organization that would prove that doing good and doing well need not be mutually exclusive. Today, you can find the Uncharted Play family in the Soho neighborhood of NYC, still striving towards this dream and incredibly grateful for all the support they have received along the way!

B. The Ethical challenges this company is addressing.

THEIR IMPACT MODEL
At Uncharted Play, they aim to provide:

- Joyful, renewable sources of power for resource-poor communities
- Tangible, fun tools for STEM education globally
- A platform to motivate organic physical activity
- An inspirational product to inspire social invention

To achieve this, they distribute the SOCCKET through schools and community education centers around the world with the help of established NGOs on the ground.
Soccket, the flagship product of New York City-based startup Uncharted Play, harnesses the energy of play to literally light the path of a child’s education in the developing world. In fact, 30 minutes of play translates into three hours of light from the Soccket’s companion LED light.

C. What makes you believe this company is really ethical and why you trust it?

First of all, Uncharted Play provide education and light in a original way to those who don’t have it yet. Playing 30 minutes with soccket provides 3 hours of kinetic electricity( the most modern of production of electricity) and it is not dangerous, not dirty and it is portable.

They also have different training programs to bring the social inventor out of us.
1. -The Warm-UP program is for anyone looking to think our of bounds at work or in life. Their program explores social invention, builds creative confidence, teaches limited-resource design techniques, and provides innovative skills to give people the tools necessary to make positive, long-lasting change in their lives, workplaces and communities.

2. -The Think Out of Bounds Curriculum for the classroom is a training program for educators interested in bringing social invention to their students. They provide their proprietary curriculum, their energy generating products to use as tools, and one-on-one guidance in how to unlock the potential inventor in your students.
Uncharted Play doesn’t believe technology and social good should exist in separate silos. Their products combine cutting-edge technology with the grounded principles and benefits of play to spark the creation of a better world. Every purchase gives one child access to their energy-generating products and social invention curriculum.

Uncharted Play works with established non-profit organizations around the world, using play as a tool to address global issues and inspire social invention. Their play products—like the SOCCKET and the PULSE—provide immediate fun to those living in situations where there is often little to smile about. By providing off-grid power, their products address the short-term need for electricity that can be at the root of many global ills.

D.The possible challenges facing the company in the future and how you think this company may improve.

Location: New York (USA)

Sector: Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

Official website: http://www.unchartedplay.com/

Key figures:

Number of employees: 10-50
Country of operation: Africa
Date of First Sale: June 28, 2013
Total Amount Sold: 5,000
Types of Securities Issued: Debt, Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Another Security, Security to be Acquired Upon Exercise of Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Security
Total number of investors: 11

Nbr. visits: 463

Nbr. inspires: 1