Using technology to solve social problems is my passion!
Hi, I'm Aneri. I'm a first generation American currently living in Oakland with my husband, baby, and dog. I grew up in Raleigh, NC and received my Bachelors at the University Of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in International Studies and received my Masters from the London School of Economics in Environment and Development. My favorite activities include walking through forests, scoping out the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants, and reading non-fiction.
MY EXPERTISE
I'm a serial social entrepreneur with prior experience living in 6 different countries. My expertise is on market-led development and innovation for sustainable impact technologies, and marketing the same technologies for rural last-mile communities. The technologies I have worked on include off-grid renewable energy, improved cookstoves, fuel briquettes, water filtration, WiFi deployments, wearables, and low-bandwidth mobile applications in over 15 countries in Africa and Asia. I'm most passionate about climate technologies, but am also excited to support any innovation that can demonstrably reduce poverty and protect the environment. Other areas of expertise include:
- Technology adoption among marginalized populations - if we build it, will they come?
- Business and Skills Training for low-income populations
- Enabling women leaders
- Business Development & Partnerships
- Clean Energy Technology and Sector Wide Networks
- Facilitating and hosting thematic workshops, seminars, and ideation sessions
- Overall program and project management
Entrepreneur
I am the Founder of ENVenture, acquired by New Energy Nexus, a social enterprise that seeks to equip rural communities with the business tools needed to sell clean energy technologies. The lack of electricity and modern fuels for cooking, as well as clean water are the biggest infrastructure challenges existing in the developing world. Enabling local communities to problem solve and leapfrog to modern technologies increases the penetration of these essential technologies in remote areas. ENVenture seed invests and builds capacity in rural entrepreneurs on their clean energy businesses.
I also started EcoLife, a business now incorporated by the Auroville Village Action Group in Tamil Nadu, India which sells solar lanterns, chulhas, and water filtration products through Self Help Groups. The business was launched in 2009 and continues to this day.
Tech for Good Innovator
Through ENVenture, my team has built a mobile application called ENVision mobile for inventory tracking, sales, and distribution for the informal sector. I believe unlocking critical tools for the semi- literate in the palms of their hands is the next wave of opportunity for Android applications in frontier markets. I spent one year conducting user experience research in San Francisco, Uganda, and India to gain insights in how micro-entrepreneurs bookkeep, built a prototype, and have launched a new product called ENVision mobile, available now in Google Play.
Consultant
I have also supported several organizations and companies below and have deep connections in the impact world. I am available for consulting opportunities; please contact me for more information!
- Serve as a judge for new innovations in distribution for solar, cooking, and water technologies to reach underserved communities
New Energy Nexus
- Appointed as Board Director since November 2019
- Contracted by the California Clean Energy Fund to support the Accelerate Energy Summit in Los Angeles, a workshop to support global energy incubators and accelerators.
East Africa Center of Excellence on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREE)
- Contracted by Sustainable Energy Solutions LLC to conduct interviews on gender and energy entrepreneurship in East Africa.
Facebook:
- I led a study on the relationship of energy access and connectivity in India for the Sustainability team. I also shaped the formation of the company's energy access strategy.
- I supported Connectivity Lab in the ideation of rapid prototyping new digital innovations for emerging markets. I operated as the Chief of Staff for Professor Ramesh Raskar from MIT Media Lab on the Emerging Worlds program at Facebook.
- As an employee of the Foundation, I developed the Africa strategy for the Climate & Energy team. I recruited approximately 500 organizations and companies to join the Energy Access Practitioner Network to forge connections and partnerships with the UN's Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, doubling it's membership in its first year.
- I developed and led grassroots stakeholder consultations in partnership with World Wildlife Fund in Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania. The UN called my consultations the "gold standard" for bottom-up feedback.
- I developed the framework of the Energy for Health program, launching a study of the health sector and its power needs in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Uganda, and Ghana.
- I worked in Uganda to create their country office and run operations on cookstove production and distribution.
- I developed last mile distributor relationships to move volume from Kampala, as well as advised cookstove, briquette, and water companies on production and carbon credits. Through strategic partnerships developed, sales increased 300%.
World Wide Fund for Nature - Uganda Country Office:
- I developed a training called "How to Create a Retail Outlet for Clean Energy Products - a guide for Civil Society Groups" and delivered a training for 20 civil society groups in Kasese District, Uganda.
Alliance for Rural Electrification:
- I worked in Belgium to publish a report on Best Practices from Alliance members and researched bank-ability efforts for energy access companies.
