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Comment by prayag | Hacker News Reader

I think it's important for start-up to understand that generating wealth is utmost important, a lot of fun and of course a legal fiduciary duty of the founders. However, it is possible to both make a lot of money and make a positive impact in the world.

For many start-ups today the motto isn't just 'Do not evil', it's actually 'Do good in the world.'. I know our motto is definitely that, so I believe is for companies like SwipeGood and the ones on this list. I hope to see more start-ups with a similar double bottom line.

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Make less money and do more good.

They are not inversely related.

Prove it.

Bill gates made billions and he's donating lots of it to the third-world.

I'm sceptical about what he's doing:

a) He's immunising people to stop suffering yet increasing population due to this causes more resource issues. They magically forget that side issue... [1]

b) He's shifting Monsanto GM crops to Africa[2] - not a good thing. That's vendor lock in for food which is incredibly dangerous.

Philanthropy my arse. The guy has spent years making questionable decisions and causing absolute HAVOC around the world, yet the collective ignorance springs into action when people see him "giving money away" which he's not doing.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpopulation

[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters...

You are sceptical that what he is doing good because it leads to overpopulation ? I think you went a little too far in trying to prove your point. I understand that any of the startups in the OP's list are not paradigm changing. And I also admit that I too would have greater appreciation for someone who would 'dig a well' - that is get dirty at the grass root level of any social movement. But this response to Bill Gate's immunization drive is either racist or social darwinism or both and I think thats wrong. Every single child born should be immunized - we as a people have solved a very basic problem of human survival and no one should be denied that. And if you are really skeptical about overpopulation how about we selectively immunize children all over the world from a lottery system ?

No I'm not saying "don't immunise". I am only concerned about the fact that the overpopulation and the associated suffering side effects are not considered.

Just the happy joy joy marketing stories and statistics matter to them.

I refuse to get into any more debate with you because seeing your comment about over-population, I am compelled to believe that you are just a troll.

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