Home > About Us

About Us

Mobile Movement is a social enterprise that provides integrated and interactive technology - enabled solutions in economic development. Our signature mobile/web technology platform connects young entrepreneurs around the world to grants, finance, business development services, mentoring, and new markets both local and international.

We are dedicated to supporting those who are most economically disadvantaged around the world - the poor, women and young people. Our innovative digital media and professional filmmaking capabilities capture innovations in economic development globally. Equally important, we facilitate the youth we work with to be their own storytellers and provide a platform to amplify their voices.

We are a creative hot spot of social entrepreneurs, economic development experts, mobile-web technologists, interactive designers and filmmakers. Through our combined strengths, efforts and passion, our innovative solutions co-created with those in need remove obstacles and create opportunities. We facilitate direct connections between youth entrepreneurs and investors, non-governmental organizations, foundations and agencies alike.

We value progressive ideas that create significant movement and make courage contagious. Are we together!?

Mobile Movement Pilot Project

Our pilot project in Nairobi, Kenya, was a partnership between UN-HABITAT (a UN agency), the Environmental Youth Alliance (a Canadian non-profit organization), and Microsoft Research India. As you can see, we are working with 15 youth groups from the slums and low-income neighborhoods. These groups are part of UN-HABITAT's "Urban Entrepreneurship Program" which trains young people and encourages the development of socially responsible small businesses.

Our signature technology platform facilitates communication between youth and donors in innovative ways. By enabling direct communication through mobile devices, we are able to give voice to young people around the world and also to overcome many barriers that prevent people from investing internationally:

  • Transparency. 90% of proceeds go directly to fund the youth's projects. At the very outset you get to see the young people you're investing in and communicate with the young people if you so desire. Over time, once the funds are raised to start the business, you get to ask questions, watch the business grow, and see the young people realize their dreams and flourish.
  • Authenticity. You are given the opportunity to communicate with project leaders and form relationship with the group you are investing in. There are no clever fundraising strategies like pooling of financing. The group you invest in is the group that receives your money.
  • We believe that trust is earned by demonstrating value-add and impact, no matter who you are in this unique community - young person, investor, advice giver, goods purchaser, active philanthropist or simply a friend of Mobile Movement. We are eager to hear you, learn from you, and walk this journey together.

Moving Forward

Mobile Movement is moving into its second phase of development and currently has an "engine room" of 60 India-based mobile phone programmers and engineers through our programming and capacity building arm.

We are also collaborating in the co-creation of a solar light and mobile power charging solution that enables our mobile phone enabled interventions to push beyond traditional urban areas to reach those whom are off the power grid.

Currently, we are expanding to other regions in the world and welcome your inquiries, comments and ideas. Please contact us at team@mobilemovement.tv

Founders

Pawan Patil - President
Dr. Pawan G. Patil is a social entrepreneur turned intrepreneur during his decade long tenure creating a large scale portfolio of cutting edge economic development programs at The World Bank. Patil works on the frontier of economic development through innovative trilateral public-private-civil society partnerships that he has had a hand in co-creating. In January 2010, Patil was selected by the Davos-based World Economic Forum as a 2010 Young Global Leader after his nomination by former Finnish President and 2008 Nobel Peace Prize recipient His Excellency Martti Ahtisaari.

Leba Haber Rubinoff - Creative Director
Leba is an award-winning filmmaker and interaction designer. She received a Masters degree at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, and has produced two Webby-winning interactive films. Leba has worked with the Sundance Channel and was the Digital Artist in Residence at the Black Filmmaker Foundation for five years. Leba also co-founded an arts organization who have won numerous contagious media awards for their humorous and political viral campaigns.

Jess Fraser - CEO
An experienced creative producer and strategic communications professional, Jess has produced features and documentaries that have competed at festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Sundance and Toronto and have sold around the world. Jess is committed to creating and eliciting stories of innovation and impact that ensure the voices of marginalized people are heard throughout the world.
Jess@mobilemovement.tv

Digital Partner

Marc Clapham - Director of Digital Media
Co-founder of Kounterattack Design, Marc runs the award-winning interactive design agency based in New York City. His agency connects clients to their target audience through effective and innovative use of digital media.

The project has four goals:

  • To support young social entrepreneurs with the professional advice they request and provide micro-financing for their businesses to grow.
  • To encourage a new generation of philanthropists and activists.
  • To use mobile technology to allow more direct communication and bridge the gap between the rich and poor.
  • To create a movement where philanthropy feels accessible, powerful and personally meaningful.

We are calling this emergent model "Active Philanthropy". It starts in Kenya and expands to the rest of the world.