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On the second day of the recent Davos World Economic Forum Bill Gates called on corporate executives to pair two seemingly incompatible forces. A company’s need to earn revenue with an individual’s interest in the welfare of others. He acknowledged this idea would likely be received with skepticism at first but would eventually be accepted as people become more aware of successful projects with these two aims. Prior to his complete departure from the Microsoft giant that has earned him billions he announced a new venture with Dell computers to join Bono’s Product Red campaign. Certain Dell computers with Window’s Vista pre-installed will result in $60-80 being donated to help fight AIDS in Africa and has resulted in over 2 million people receiving AIDS drugs.

Many times he referenced how important it was to extend low-cost wireless networks into developing countries. He sees these efforts as being capable of being the impetus to vast economic and social changes. “There are billions of people who need the great inventions of the computer age,” he asserted. “Breakthroughs change lives only where people can afford to buy them.” Despite these assertions, Microsoft currently has no announced plans for any type of fee-reduced versions of its software and remains a target of many advocating for changes in software pricing structures. High prices result in the 3rd world being priced out of the market for software and leads to rampant piracy in many countries.
His assertion that “Once you get a country bootstrapped, it’s amazing what happens” can be seen in microcosm through the effects of microlending’s proliferation. Through the expansion of low-cost high speed internet connections and the booming internet cafe business in once remote villages has brought millions of new users into interaction with each other. Technology’s ability to easily and cheaply connect people from such great distances has contributed to the growing social venture movement across the world. It has enabled computer users to learn about people they would otherwise never be able to meet, empathize with their disparate situation, and motivated them to take action to reach out.

Although Bill Gates is not presenting a new bold idea that was previously unknown, his endorsement brings with it welcome recognition to the many who have been laboring with the same visions. Nicholas Negroponte’s attempt at provide one laptop per child, the Muhammed Yunas venture into cell phones for poor rural villagers, and the Tata Group’s new $2500 USD car are all success stories that Bill Gates is calling on CEO’s to wake up and take notice of. They show that a company earning money need not preclude its ability to radically change peoples’ lives for the better.

Do you know of examples of companies doing this in China, if so please write a comment

N.B. It doesn’t matter which country the company HQ is in.
More on Davos 2008 here