Courtesy of SmileyGo
The movement towards social entrepreneurship is attracting more and more followers today. Youths much like ourselves are no longer satisfied with the mere notion of profitability – we seek ventures, causes, and companies that reflect our inherent need to make an impact.
Sometimes entrepreneurship may even come from those studying among us. Pedro Espinoza, a former UR student, now at UC Berkeley, has created a business solely dedicated to creating and fostering a socially uplifting environment. “SmileyGo” is a tech platform dedicated to strategically facilitating relationships between corporates and not-for-profits in order to direct corporate social responsibility. The platform aims to aid in directing funding and volunteering efforts of companies towards tangible needs for non-profits in order to create the most optimal solution for both parties.
While the mission may have sounded far reaching initially, the company has taken off in phenomenal ways, thanks to the involvement of university students worldwide, including a chapter here at UR. In a mere span of five months, SmileyGo has expanded to 32 different counties across six different continents and involves over 300 volunteers, most of whom are college students.
SmileyGo essentially plays the role of matchmaker, connecting the resources businesses have with non-profit organizations. By keeping a database of non-profits, SmileyGo is able to direct corporations looking to fulfill their philanthropy requirements to Non-Government Organizations which relate their mission statement. Most of the non-profits in the SmileyGo database are dedicated to helping underserved communities in Latin America, but others focus on technology, education, women’s rights, and sustainability, among other areas.
“Our main objective is to educate by creating educated environments,” Espinoza said to the Stanford Daily. And that is precisely what SmileyGo has done in the past few months through his and his team’s efforts.
As CEO, Espinoza gives his time at Rochester a lot of credit for his success, specifically his relationship with Professor Moore in the History Department.
“I remember Professor Moore always encouraged me by referring me to other faculty that were into business, community development, and international economics,” Espinoza said. “The fact that since week two at Rochester I fostered a solid relationship with [Moore] really motivated me to pursue my dream with high-class mentorship.”
Rochester students who knew Pedro remember him for his outgoing nature and ability to always be in the best of spirits.
“Pedro is undoubtedly one of the most friendly and personable people I’ve ever met,” junior Brendan Coli, a Rochester student who knew Pedro well, said. “His success in starting SmileyGo is driven by his acute empathy and compassion for others along with a talent for socializing and networking.”
SmileyGo currently works with organizations such as the Wealthing Institute, Motorola Solutions, PressNeige, and the Edgewood Center at UC Berkeley, among many others. The organization is continuously striving to expand its reach into new locales, and has recently launched an Indiegogo campaign as well.
“I envision SmileyGo to be the global platform that not only closes the gap between the private and nonprofit sector, but also gives Business Awards for the top 500 most socially-aware companies in the world, something similar to Fortune 500 but for socially responsible firms on our planet,” Espinoza said.
The CEO has big ideas for his new non-profit, but that has not stopped him this far. With an international team ready to work, it is not hard to imagine SmileyGo becoming a fixture in the collegiate non-profit world.
More information about SmileyGo can be found at the website www.smileygo.org. For information on the Rochester chapter and becoming involved, e-mail Hayden Freedman at hfreedma@u.rochester.edu.
Freedman is a member of the class of 2016.
Vernkatesh is a member of the class of 2016.
