YC
3D Home Printing for the Developing World – Alexandria Lafci and Brett Hagler of New Story Charity
@ Y Combinator
04/05/18
Takeaways
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We're a nonprofit that builds houses and communities in the developing world, focusing on Haiti and Latin America.
BH
Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
Land ownership is crucial for families as it provides a path out of poverty, allowing them to own both their homes and the land they sit on.
BH
Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
After witnessing the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, I was shocked by the number of people still living in tents years later, highlighting the urgent need for shelter.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We realized that many nonprofits lack transparency and accountability, leading to skepticism about where donations actually go.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We launched a crowdfunding platform where donors can see the families they are helping, ensuring transparency and accountability in our operations.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
Our goal is to create a better experience for both donors and the families we serve, ensuring that 100% of donations go directly to building homes.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
During our time at Y Combinator, we set an ambitious goal to fund 100 homes in 100 days, which we achieved in 92 days through effective planning and execution.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
3D home printing emerged as a potential solution to build homes faster and at a lower cost without compromising quality, addressing the global housing crisis.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
3D printing allows us to create homes using cement, which is a common and durable material, enabling us to build structures that are both strong and cost-effective. With 3D home printing, we believe we can reduce the cost of building a home from $6,500 to about $3,000 over time.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We partnered with ICON, a robotic construction startup, to develop a 3D home printing machine, which is currently the largest in the country.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
Our first 3D printed house passed the strict Austin City housing code and demonstrated compression strength three times greater than traditional cinderblock homes.
BH
Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
Currently, it takes about 15 days to build a house, but with 3D printing, we aim to reduce that to under 24 hours, with a goal of under 12 hours.
BH
Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We can actually increase the quality of the homes we build, making them stronger, more durable, and zero waste.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
The homes we build will be customized for local contexts and communities, rather than just copy-pasting designs.
BH
Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
In Haiti, we intentionally use lightweight roofing materials to ensure safety, as many people are concerned about heavy roofs due to past earthquakes.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
The 3D printer we use can print both interior and exterior layers of cement, with built-in spaces for wiring and plumbing.
BH
Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We can offer families different templates and help customize homes based on their needs, thanks to the flexibility of our technology.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We are focused on creating homes that meet the needs of individual families, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We are excited to bring 3D printing technology to El Salvador, where we plan to print a community of homes this year.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We want to bring emerging technology to emerging markets, as this is where it can truly change lives and communities.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We aim to democratize technology by sharing our innovations with other organizations to tackle various global issues.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
The partnership with ICON allows us to apply promising construction technology to areas that need it most, making it actionable rather than experimental.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We are committed to proving the effectiveness of our 3D printing technology before scaling it to other regions.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
Our team values the importance of having the right people with the right expertise to innovate and solve problems effectively.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
Building strong relationships and communities around our mission is key to our success and impact.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We prioritize building a strong co-founder relationship, as it sets the foundation for our team's culture and success.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We believe that having a supportive community of peers and mentors is crucial for navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.
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Brett Hagler
04/05/18
@ Y Combinator
We believe that bold ideas attract bold people, which is essential for achieving spectacular results.