When it comes to addressing societal challenges, social innovation enterprises have emerged as catalysts for this new wave of change. They are creative enough to have carved impactful solutions to help society experience positive changes. In terms of contributing to long-term social progress, 1GEN has topped our list of influential businesses and become our cover star for this exclusive edition.
Under the tutelage of its CEO, Paul Singh Oberoi, the company has generated ripples in digital transformations. We couldn’t help but feature 1GEN as a trailblazer in the social innovation drive. Let’s find out some lesser-known facts about the company and how its services make a difference in people’s lives:
The corporate profile
1GEN is focused on catering innovative solutions to several societal issues. Since its inception, they have created a huge impact on the ground level, utilising technology and data to help social enterprises and many other non-profit and mission-driven organisations.
As per the organisation’s mission, impact organisations need to have robust and innovative technology solutions that can also be affordable at the same time. This is the niche the company operates in and has been filling the gap as a digital partner to many organisations that are committed to inducing a positive impact.
1GEN has a comprehensive portfolio that is broadly classified into four main areas:
• INCUBATOR: At 1GEN Hope Labs, the focus is on supporting and encouraging innovative ideas to execute the plan till impact. They invest in ventures that pose to be social change makers and partner with the owners to bring the idea into real life. Here, they provide essential digital services to young and dynamic entrepreneurs, such as website creation, branding, social media management, marketing campaigns, technology roadmaps, donation strategies, and fundraising campaigns. All of these services are under 1GEN’s incubator offerings, which are customisable according to their partners’ needs.
• INNOVATION: Social Innovation Labs by 1GEN is about curating compelling digital experiences via user-friendly websites and applications. The aim is to amplify an organisation’s purpose with the power of SEOoptimised websites and authentic, connection-based communities. They are bridging stories with a touch of action. Here, the offerings include end-to-end platform development where both front-end and back-end are covered. Data analytics, cloud infrastructure, and day-to-day application management are some add-ons to this business offering. This allows startups to focus more on mission and operational needs and reach the markets at a faster pace.
- ADVISORY: 1GEN X advisors are the ultimate guides for startups’ digital transformation journeys, where refining processes and improving customer experiences are done. They know how to establish positive cultures while aligning with internal evolutions of dynamic business and market demands. Eventually, they have a proven track record of delivering exponential results while transforming business performances. What makes them stand out is the sheer involvement of high-level thinking and thought leadership in this business transformation journey. Here, implementable recommendations can take up the roles of CIO or CTO in emerging businesses.
- AI FORWARD: Modern-day technology has the power to connect, inspire, and drive positive change in society. 1GEN’s futuristic AI-based model can unlock boundless possibilities. This is basically to catalyse the idea to impact the journey for all their social impact clientele. Here, heavy investment is made in R&D in various areas such as data-driven design, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Their AI labs are capable of creating cutting-edge solutions to make waves in this space. At present, the organisation is active in improving its cloud and mobile app solutions.
Business values
We asked Paul about the values that set them apart from others in this industry, and he responded that 1GEN was founded on the principle that numerous individuals and organisations worldwide are striving to do good work and solve complex societal problems.“ The UN SDG map, with its 17 sustainable development goals, has a blueprint for making the world a better place within a limited timeframe.
Known as the 2030 charter, it inspired us to start 1GEN with the mission of supporting those pioneers aiming to create positive change in the world by leveraging digital tools and technologies. In a nutshell, stimulating a positive impact with a collaborative spirit is where their values stem from. After realising the power of forming meaningful partnerships in this space to deal with the most pressing issues, they brought a new-age mindset for implementing solutions.
Innovative implementations Paul mentioned, “Innovation is an outcome, not just a claim.” He added that true innovation always comes from deliberate actions. He is not content with just simply saying that innovation is in their DNA. He emphasised that innovation is the result of a systematic orchestration of ‘logic and magic.’ It is all about implementing collective intelligence and diverse skill sets to resolve a problem. Along with innovation, their core values create a fertile environment for innovative ideas to flow.
“Mistakes are a natural part of innovation. I firmly believe that you can’t innovate without making mistakes. A rigid culture that discourages experimentation will stifle innovation. 1GEN embraces a learning mindset. We recognise that experiments may not always yield the desired results, but they invariably lead to valuable lessons and insights,” asserted Paul, explaining how they turn innovative ideas into transformative solutions.
Leadership values that drive growth
When Paul is asked to share his leadership style with us, he simply says, “I consider myself a lifelong student at the University of Leadership. One of the key aspects of my leadership style is viewing team members not as resources but as valuable contributors. I consider our work a team sport where everyone’s input is equally important.
This perspective fosters different behaviours and guidelines that enhance collaboration and innovation.” For him, leadership is a continuous journey of learning and evolving, as his approach is rooted in the principles of servant leadership. He believes that his role is more as a coach and mentor rather than a director or manager at 1GEN. This is what has majorly contributed to the evolution and success of 1GEN in the past few years. In this journey, they have successfully established a nurturing environment for building new leaders within the company.
Standing out in the market
At 1GEN, the company views its primary competition as itself from the last year. All the time, they keep previous achievements as the pole star to create more marvels. 1GEN is never worried about its peers or any kind of competition, as it is all about changing lives at the end of the day. Every year, the team sets a higher goal that they achieve with strategic partnerships and an innovative outlook.
The team is committed to learning from the evolving technology and business landscapes and using these insights to refine their practices. Even in moments of success, the company conducts retrospectives to identify areas for growth and improvement. This mindset of constant evolution and forward-thinking has been crucial for 1GEN’s ongoing growth and long-term success.
Insights on the technology
1GEN always advocates that AI is a transformative tool that will impact all aspects of life, including business growth. It views AI as a means to enhance human potential, not replace it, and has integrated it into various operations, from automating tasks to generating new ideas. “I believe AI is a powerful tool that is here to stay and will impact every aspect of our lives, including business growth,” mentioned Paul.
This approach aligns with their mission of amplifying creativity and improving product quality through advanced algorithms. Their immediate focus is on encouraging their team to view AI as a tool for boosting creativity while also providing their partners with strategic insights on AI adoption, ensuring they remain leaders in the evolving tech landscape.
Building trust in the advisory world
1GEN’s advisory services are built on the core values of credibility, trust, and authenticity. Recognising that trust is the foundation of any advisory relationship, 1GEN has established itself as a reliable partner through a proven track record and strong client relationships. Over the past six years, the high client retention rate speaks to the trust they’ve built. This trust isn’t the result of one individual but the collective effort of the entire advisory team, which upholds integrity and a genuine approach in every interaction.
Despite many team members not having prior advisory experience, 1GEN has quickly gained credibility due to its authentic and client-centric approach. Their value proposition is based on measurable business outcomes over the implementation of technology, ensuring that every technological solution aligns with core business needs. By addressing complex business challenges with tailored technological solutions, 1GEN consistently delivers sustainable value, translating intricate technical concepts into practical business language that clients can easily understand and act upon.
Inducing the transformative impact
Concerning the impact generated by 1GEN, Paul said transforming an idea into impactful results is a marathon that requires discipline, a methodical approach, and continuous fine-tuning. The real value of an idea lies not in its concept but in its execution and measurable outcomes. Unlike traditional IT services or consulting firms, 1GEN operates on an impact-driven business model where project compensation is tied to delivering results. This approach places the execution and financial risks on 1GEN, reflecting their confidence in their methodologies.
With a success rate of over 90%, 1GEN demonstrates a strong track record of delivering on its promises, which has helped establish trust with clients and partners. Its mission is rooted in creating a better world within one generation (1GEN), focusing on delivering value and impact before seeking profitability. This unique model has proven to be both sustainable and effective, showing that positive change and profitability can coexist. 1GEN emphasises the creation of long-term value rather than just capturing short-term gains.
Future roadmap to success
Paul reflects on the adventurous journey of the past 6 years. He specified that five years ago, they could not have foreseen the achievements 1GEN has reached today. These past six years have surpassed their expectations through their adherence to a meaningful mission. Instead of making predictions, Paul believes in letting actions and results speak for themselves. Diving into the next 5 years for 1GEN, he wishes for continued growth and expansion, envisioning a larger company with a strong, collaborative culture.
His futuristic plans include expanding their presence beyond the U.S., Germany, and India, growing the team while preserving a family-like environment. The ultimate goal is to undertake purpose-driven projects and remain the first choice for partners, collaborators, and clients while staying true to the core values that define the company.
Achievements that speak volumes
Paul describes the proudest accomplishments of his venture in two divisions:
• Business Achievements: At the beginning of 1GEN, people were very doubtful of the viability of its business model, suggesting they were simply a nonprofit in disguise. The leadership of the company believed that solving systemic and complex problems required applying business principles, management best practices, and cuttingedge technology.
But with time, they demonstrated that it’s possible to make a positive social impact along with creating business value. Their results reflect this belief—they are in a phase of hyper-growth, with revenue, and mission intact, an expanding project portfolio, and a growing team. The incubator services are expanding and creating ripples. These metrics showcase the success of a profitable global business.
- Cultural and Organisational Integrity: Apart from the business model, another key element of the accomplishment is 1GEN’s ability to maintain core values and unique culture in its exponential growth. Staying true to their values since 2018 has helped them preserve their collaborative and open environment as transition from a small to a midsized entity. This perfect balance between growth and maintaining value for clients is a significant achievement in itself, displaying a commitment to not only business success but also to a people-centric philosophy.
A shot of wisdom by the dynamic leader
“Knowing your purpose! My message to readers is to always be clear about your “why.” As an entrepreneur, understanding your purpose and reason for starting your business is crucial. This clarity will guide you through the inevitable ups and downs you’ll face. Finding a point where what the world needs intersects with what you excel at and can make a living from is a rare and fortunate opportunity.
At 1GEN, we are dedicated to solving significant global challenges while leveraging our strengths. This alignment of purpose and mission transforms work from just a job into a calling.
When you pursue something driven by passion and a higher purpose rather than out of fear, success follows naturally. Combining awesome work with the ability to make a living is an ideal situation. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a team at 1GEN that embodies this philosophy.
“Our work is not just about business results but about creating awesome stories and making a meaningful impact, and I encourage others to seek out and embrace such opportunities in their own lives and careers. We believe in the power of making awesome happen, and I encourage others to seek out and embrace such opportunities in their own lives and careers. Remember, when you’re clear about your purpose and passionate about your work, you too can make awesome happen.”
WE MAKE AWESOME HAPPEN
