The social entrepreneurs behind the Embrace Infant Warmer have the bold goal to help millions of babies in the majority world whose parents can't afford traditional hospital care, such as infant incubation. Each year, 20 million babies are born prematurely, and each hour, 450 of them die.
The co-founders of the Embrace Infant Warmer, Jane Chen, Linus Liang, Dr. Rahul Panicker and Naganand Murty, hope to change those stats. The one-minute video they created above -- which won first prize for the McKinsey on Society video contest -- describes how the low-cost warming device works.
Their mission is simple: "To empower the disadvantaged to improve their lives through disruptive technologies."
High tech incubators can cost up $20,000, but the Embrace Infant Warmer is available for less than 1% of that. Its design is simple, looking much like a sleeping bag in which a heat pouch is inserted, it remains at 37 degrees for up to six hours, it doesn't require electricity, and it's portable.
"Embrace is currently in the final stages of product development for the Transport Infant Warmer," the Embrace site explains. "We plan to pilot the product and business concepts in India, and then roll out to the rest of the developing world."
Contact Information
Embrace Infant Warmer website
Embrace Infant Warmer on Facebook
Embrace Infant Warmer on Twitter
Life-Saving Baby Bags
The Embrace Infant Warmer Costs Less than 1% of Regular Incubators
Trend Themes
1. Affordable Healthcare - The Embrace Infant Warmer provides a low-cost solution for infant incubation, opening up opportunities for affordable healthcare innovations.
2. Portable Medical Devices - The portable design of the Embrace Infant Warmer highlights the trend towards more easily transportable medical devices for remote and underprivileged areas.
3. Disruptive Technologies - Embrace's mission to empower the disadvantaged through disruptive technologies showcases the growing trend of using innovative solutions to address social issues.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Technology - The Embrace Infant Warmer has the potential to disrupt the medical technology industry by providing a low-cost alternative to traditional incubators.
2. Social Entrepreneurship - The Embrace Infant Warmer exemplifies the social entrepreneurship trend by creating a product that addresses a specific social need.
3. Emerging Markets - The Embrace Infant Warmer's focus on developing countries highlights the potential for innovation and growth in emerging markets.