Ep. 68 | Using Tech to Drive Change: Google.org and Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink

How often do you use Google's services? If you're like me, it's many times per hour. So you may think you know all about Google.com. But how much do you know about Google.org?

In short, Google.org is the company's foundation that gives away $200M a year in grants both to social enterprise startups and to nonprofit organizations seeking to use technology to advance their missions. For all you startup founders out there, note that these are dilution-free non-equity grants, or essentially free money as opposed to investments, so listen up.

And in this episode, we've got Google.org's director of product impact, Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink. In it, she tells us about what kinds of companies and charities they support and why, and she discusses what kinds of grant applications she wishes they saw more of.

For example, we hear about Google.org's work to collect emissions data and make it public, to put up eco-acoustic sensors in rainforests to help catch those who are poaching or deforesting, and even just to give money to those in developing countries who need it the most.

So take a listen and just maybe you'll be working with Brigitte and Google.org yourself in the near future.

Discussed in this episode

• WattTime: Tech solutions to automate emissions reduction.
• Carbon Tracker: Aligning markets to shift investment away from fossil fuels.
• Climate Trace: Publicizing the sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Rainforest Connection: Using eco-acoustics to prevent poaching and deforestation.
• Give Directly: Giving money directly to those who need it.
• Brigitte recommends reading both Just Mercy and Chasing the Flame.
• Google.org's climate podcast, which you can find here.

More about Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink

Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink is Head of Product Impact at Google.org, where she leads initiatives that leverage emerging technologies and Google's expertise to address global challenges. She is currently focused on how AI can be used for social impact through efforts like the $25M Google AI Impact Challenge.

She previously led programs focused on how technology can improve global education, innovation for people with disabilities, and crisis response.

Prior to Google.org, Brigitte was a strategy consultant for nonprofits and foundations at The Bridgespan Group and worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development and International Relief and Development, focusing on innovative approaches in post-conflict transitions. She has an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.