Psyched!
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Changeshop: Psyched!.
Psyched! is a website that works as a digital tool for encouraging environmental actions on a macro level.
About You
Background Information
First Name
Hoa
Last Name
Ly
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
The competition is only open to people between 18-34 years-old and resident in UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark or the Netherlands. Does this apply to you
Yes.
Country of residence of entrepreneur
Sweden
Tell us about your personal background. Why are you passionate about this issue? Making an idea a reality takes innovation, dedication and strong leadership. Do you have the necessary entrepreneurial skills to realize your vision?
I am passionate about the idea that science and technology can help us live better lives. To pursue my vision I have co-founded two companies. Hoa's Tool Shop, a health tech company that has been listed as one of the hottest startups in Europe by Wired Magazine and Psykologifabriken, an innovative consulting company using psychology and technology to help people and companies develop themselves.
Also, I'm a researcher in clincal psychology at Linköping University, doing the first scientific study with a smartphone application to treat depression. Last but not least I have co-founded Psyched! to further use my psychological and technological knowledge to make an impact on people's environmental actions on a macro level.
Together with Swedish celebrities like Noomi Rapace, Swedish House Mafia and Joel Kinnaman, I was named one of Sweden's up and coming stars 2011 by career magazine Shortcut.
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Psyched
Organization Website
Organization Country
Sweden, ST, Stockholm
Country where this project is creating social impact
Sweden, ST, Stockholm
Is your organization a
Not registered
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Innovation
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
In a near future, humanity will most likely face enormous challenges when it comes to taking the necessary measures to save the enviroment. Macro-level behavior changes will at some point be crucial to break the vicious cycle of overconsumtion. However, society is currently lacking efficient tools to make this possible.
Quite often, the terms we use when discussing environmental issues are abstract and hard to grasp. What does it mean to be ”climate smart” or ”green”? Looking at scientific psychology, these fuzzy statements are a safe way NOT to achieve change.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
We can start by establishing that more information or increased awareness not necessarily lead to action. What does, on the contrary, is helping people specify exact actions based on environmental values. Going from abstract to concrete terms will help people see how we can incorporate environmental action into daily life. By specifying scientifically approved behaviors, we can show that taking the first step toward a more sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard. In addition, starting to live more in line with your values will carry a considerable gain for your mental and global wellbeing.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
To put this idea into practice, we have constructed a web-based tool that not only helps people specify ideas, but that also includes the powerful feature of different reinforcement schedules. In behavior research, it is well established that positive consequences for good actions is much more efficient than punishing bad behavior. Therefore, the users of the Psyched! web tool will have the chance to gain privileges and benefits of different sorts, sponsored by our partner organizations.
From the user’s point of view, you can conveniently skip most of the hassle of registering and simply log on with his or her Facebook account. The primary activity is to register the concrete set of behaviors conducted since the last visit. A central aspect of the web tool is each user’s personal interactive or tamagoshi-like garden. The more behaviors registered, the more viable this garden becomes – filling up the user’s screen with colourful flowers, trees and different animals.
The user can also add behaviors of his or her own, by typing them into the ”suggestions” section. These suggested behaviors are scrutinized to ensure their environmental efficiency, and those that pass are added to the behavior database. This way, the users can contribute to the database and thereby inspire each other.
From our parners’ point of view, Psyched! presents a unique way of promoting action in line with the organization’s values, and additionally to gain goodwill and visibility. By sponsoring specific behaviors characteristic of the organization, our partners can move from a passive to an active communication strategy. Furthermore, they can easily get in association with other organizations with similar values, fostering synergy and collaboration. Those who wish to promote products can sponsor with rewards for diligent users.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
As far as we know, the crossover between scientific psychology and environmental action is a completely new niche, meaning that direct competitors are scarce. However, in a broader perspective, one could say that we will compete with a lot of other social networks, and also other NGO’s depending external funds. Nevertheless, we consider these organizations partners rather than competitors, able to complement and enrich Psyched!. Our concept conveniently works as a bridge between the organizations and individuals – the organizations have the specific expertise in each environmental field, Psyched! provides the measures to transform a passive member into an active user.
Select the stage that best applies to your business
Operating for less than a year
This Entry is about (Issues)
Social Impact
What is the social impact you have had to date and how you measure it?
Even though the site isn't launched yet - only a closed beta has been tried out - the project has already attracted some great partners. Sweden's biggest music festival, Peace & Love (www.peaceandlove.se/english/festival/) is supporting Psyched! with 160 programming hours, 70 designing hours and 210 development hours.
Also, one of Sweden's biggest NGO's for ecological lifestyle, KRAV (www.krav.se/System/Spraklankar/In-English/KRAV-/), has expressed great interest in Psyched!
Sustainability
How does your model address financial, social, and environmental sustainability?
Financial sustainability is secured through our initially low expenditures, which allows us to grow at a moderate pace. As the number of users increases, so will the number of organizations who are willing to join as partners , sponsoring behaviors and rewards.
At the same time, we will secure social sustainability by scrutinizing each prospective organization thoroughly. To become a Psyched! partner will demand an active strategy for corporate social and environmental responsibility.
Awareness & learning
How do you see social entrepreneurship contributing to the improvement of developing countries?
With the help of digital technology, the power of knowledge and social networks will travel faster than ever before, also through the developing world. This means that the people of developing countries will have a unique opportunity to make their own entrepreneurial ideas come true, as long as we provide the platforms for it. Psyched! can be one such platform, for sharing social information and knowledge about environmental action.
What aspects of your stay in Uganda as part of the competition do you think you will find most challenging and rewarding?
One of the most challenging experiences will, no doubt, be the blunt awareness of the fact that not everyone gets the same opportunities in life. However, we believe that the rewarding aspects will prevail. Hopefully, we will be able to perceive a great number of opportunities and ideas for the future, about how new technology and psychology can help this country lift itself from poverty and sociopolitical problems.
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