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Hi! My name is Angela and I'm a 4th year Economics and History double major.

Technologies and topics I'm interested in are microfinance, mobile phone applications, mobilization of labor (as listed on the main page). It's extremely idealistic to want to eradicate poverty in every developing country but providing loans could at least improve the economic situation of small businesses/sole proprietorships which helps everyone else if you believe Adam Smith. The already existing technology is far from flawless, still has the potential to be more mainstream and ultimately, I'd like to see become viable alternative investment option someday. I lent money on Kiva for fun after class because their stories are really interesting, but I think it'd be more successful maybe if they charged interest on the loan like Prosper.com does. Since there isn't an international FTC/Fair Credit Reporting Act/credit bureaus, it would be riskier but plenty of risky investments are undertaken everyday in stocks/hedge funds, other investments and the market would lend itself a greater return for greater risk anyway as it always does. I'm interested in all regions, anywhere with an environment that would allow small businesses to thrive--Nigeria, India, a lot of Asia and Africa, etc. Since it already exists in many mediums, I don't know if it would be considered a 'developing technology' though.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/banking/Micro-Finance/2913.html
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Microfinance_business_to_touch_2_bn_by_09/articleshow/2735958.cms

I wish I had engineering, programming or bio skills to contribute but I really don't and I really wonder if economic theory has really ever helped anyone haha. I suppose it's useful in public policy and stuff or I'd be happy to help and be the 'diversity' factor. =)