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Nuclear’s 21st Century Challenge: The Paradox of Averting a Catastrophe and Powering our Clean Energy Future

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:21:50 GMT

Just the first word elicits all sorts of reactions.

A person in the street may recall the Hollywood movie Oppenheimer featuring the "father of the atomic bomb" for his role developing the first nuclear weapons.

Some people will be reminded of the dread and anxiety of the Cold War, and call into question the illusion of calm and comfort today from the existing geopolitical fires lighting up everywhere.

Others may think about the status of Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Treaties, the approximately $20 billion the U.S. Department of Energy spends annually on nuclear stockpile stewardship and modernization[1], and or the risks posed by the more than 12,000 nuclear warheads that exist globally[2].

Occasionally, someone may hesitate.

Perhaps he came across the recent news about Microsoft 's Three Mile Island deal in Pennsylvania[3], Google 's Power Purchase Agreements with Kairos Power [4], or Amazon 's investment in X-energy [5]. He thinks nuclear fission. Maybe words like Vogtle and SMRs sound familiar. In 2023, the share of U.S. electricity production from nuclear stood at 18% representing 775 TWh. The global share of electricity generation from nuclear was over 9%, measuring 2,686 TWh[6].

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[1] U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) , energy.gov/nnsa .

[2] Our World in Data, “ Nuclear Weapons ”, February 2024.

[3] Zeitlin, Matthew. “ Microsoft’s Megal Deal is a Massive Victory for Nuclear Power ”, Heatmap, September 20, 2024.

[4] Kairos Power, “ Google and Kairos Power Partner to Deploy 500 MW of Clean Electricity Generation ”, October 14, 2024.

[5] X-Energy, “ Amazon Invests in X-energy to Support Advanced Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and Expand Carbon-Free Power ”, October 16, 2024.

[6] Our World in Data, “ Nuclear Energy ”, April 2024.

Fusion Energy has Never Been Closer to Appearing on the Electrical Grid

Mon, 13 May 2024 16:51:27 GMT

A commercial fusion energy source has never been closer to appearing on the electrical grid. Amazing, major breakthroughs in fusion science and technology are accelerating the potential for fusion energy to transform the global energy market and catalyze an equitable transition to a clean economy. Alongside overcoming significant remaining technical challenges, learning about the massive scale of investment, innovation, and excitement for fusion energy was inspiring. Here are a few of my takeaways from participating in Fusion Energy Week – U.S. Fusion Energy last week:

How Fusion Works

Fusion is not fission. Fusion binds. Fission divides. Fusion could provide abundant, safe, reliable, zero-carbon energy – 4x greater than fission. Fission faces many challenges, amongst them its destructive potential, global security proliferation risks and oversight, radiation, and nuclear waste.

Yes, they share some science and technical (S&T) fundamentals and the word “nuclear”, yet the difference between fusion and fission is not just a linguistic nuance. It is not like thinking of soccer in the US and football non-US. It appears to me it is more like understanding the key differences and distinctions across cue sports: billiards, pool, and snooker.

Fusion replicates a natural process that powers the sun and stars. For almost a century, scientists have been trying to replicate this on our planet earth. To do so, scientists bring together two atoms of Hydrogen (H), the lightest element of the periodic table, to create a heavier atom, essentially isotopes of H, deuterium and tritium. Various devices and methods including magnets and lasers are being developed for fusion. The leading concept is the Tokamak , which uses electromagnetic forces to confine very hot (+100MM degrees Celsius), charged, magnetic plasma in a vessel in the shape of a donut. This plasma produces heat which is then run through a turbine and a generator to convert the thermal energy into electricity.

Should you want to dive deeper in the science behind fusion, suggest checking out the resources available at the US Fusion Energy website, the Office of Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy, and Dr. Anne White's, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explanation of fusion in 5 levels of difficulty published in Wired (magazine). Hats off to anyone who gets their kids to sing along this song – “not an illusion, if we get it just right”.

Accelerating Systems Change

Systems change in the financing and deploying of clean energy that address climate change and environmental, equitable justice, require a wide range of actors collaborating across their value chains and potentially beyond their interest. More often than not in non-traditional ways.

I am excited and interested to see how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) federal and state, tax credits and electrification rebates, as well as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) $27 billion, are executed to accelerate energy independence, resiliency, and contribute to a fossil fuel-free world. The fight against climate change demands it is done ensuring fairness and equity, building a diverse and inclusive workforce, and fostering environmental stewardship.

However, the fact is that the marginal value one heat pump, one solar roof installation, one induction stove, one electric vehicle or powered two-wheeler, one Energy Savings Agreement, one battery recycling solution, is small relative to its contribution to helping transform the energy transition. It is also very hard to measure. We need to speed up the pace of change. We also need scale. Fusion promises it.

Mobilize & Leverage Private Capital from Public Funding

The fusion energy market is already seeing a significant amount of investment into private fusion energy companies. According to Global Corporate Venturing and Pitchbook there are now over 40 venture-backed companies developing fusion technology. According to reports from the Fusion Industry Association , over the last decade, more than $4.7 billion of private capital has entered the space. Already the three-year and five-year moving averages of private funding exceed the available public funding sources.

Fig. 1 - Private and Public Funding vs. Year. Hsu, S. U.S. Fusion Energy Development via Public-Private Partnerships. J Fusion Energ 42, 12 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-023-00357-9

Grow & Strengthen Public Private Partnerships

The Bringing Fusion to the U.S. Grid report combined with the White House’s vision to accelerate commercial fusion energy (read press release here ) offer a shared vision, a strategic moonshot, to align public and private R&D activities with a milestone-based development program.

As a result, ambitious partnerships amongst universities, national laboratories, governments, community partners, and private companies are expected to grow and strengthen. Energy justice and equity should underpin these conversations. Teams of scientists will need to demonstrate the technological feasibility of fusion energy overcoming existing S&T challenges. This collective effort will also help drive the ecosystem towards alignment on proper regulation and safety protocols, resilient supply chains, and public education about the economic opportunity of fusion for the various stakeholders in local communities across the country.

Fusion Energy & Artificial Intelligence (AI)

A fantastic panel hosted by Dr. Cyd Cowley and featuring experts in the field including Dr. Pierre-Clément (PC) Simon , Dr. Aaron Ho , Dr. Chris Hansen , Prof. Egemen Kolemen , and Dr. Sebastian De Pascuale , dove into the impact of AI on fusion energy. Beyond the potential for AI to assist teams of scientists in managing, curating, and formatting the various data sets, AI could possibly help to identify constraints and manage sources of uncertainties in the models.

For instance, one of the challenges of dealing with very hot plasma particles in a magnetized, confined structure like the Tokamak (mentioned above), is to control the boundaries of the reaction and effectively deal with turbulence and the limits. AI could help rule out (via negativa style) the features, the instability, and the noise that interfere with and hide the important levers required for fast analysis (the unknowns unknowns of science discovery). Lastly, experts spoke about how the accessibility of open-source data-driven models can help attract and train a diverse, inclusive workforce into the fusion ecosystem.

Making Fusion Real

The Fusion Energy Week – U.S. Fusion Energy confirmed that we have never been closer to having a fusion energy source be part of our electrical grid mix. Fusion energy could complement renewables well, addressing its intermittency problem, offering grid stability, and helping us move quicker to carbon neutral targets. Despite both S&T and non-technical challenges that must be overcome so we can accelerate deployment, it is increasingly expected that the fusion ecosystem will demonstrate net electricity generation in a fusion power pilot facility before 2035.

I planned to culminate the week with a special Fusion Energy Week Tour at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory . Unfortunately, it got canceled. It would have been the “icing on the cake” on this very exciting and interesting week. Thank you to the organizers of Fusion Energy Week, including Dr. Arturo Dominguez and Dr. Tammy Ma for an inspiring, fun Fusion 101 session.

P.S.

Sixteen years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Colombia’s only nuclear reactor, a "non-power" reactor used for research, training, and development purposes. Dusting off this old blog post in case is of interest - Nuclear Reactions -> Entrepreneurship + Clean Energy Technologies (available in Spanish).

Photo Source Below: McDonnell, Patrick. Mutts. April 22, 2010. https://mutts.com

"DIY Bike Overhaul A La Carte" Pre Gran Fondo Maryland 2022

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:52:36 GMT

Life, like fixing your own bike, should encourage our tinkering. Tinker, and after trial and error, we may discover new things = new skills. Then, the ultimate test. Not written or proctored. Doing it. Living it. A maximum effort on climbs cat 2/3/4 and on the downhill at the U.S. Gran Fondo National Series !

Some of the best names in cycling support the U.S. Gran Fondo National Series , the largest and most competitive series of gran fondo cycling events in the United States, including amongst the series supporters and partners, Suarez (Title Sponsor), Wahoo Fitness (Results Partner), UNDRBDR (Official Anti-Chafe Product), Industry Nine (Road Wheels Partner), Shimano (Neutral Support Partner), USA Cycling (US Governing Body) , CTS (Coaching and Training Partner), Ride With GPS (Route Planning & Navigation Partner) and Hammer Nutrition (Sports Nutrition Partner).

Make sure to mark your 2023 calendars! It is an amazing riding and racing, experience and organization!

“DIY Overhaul A La Carte” Pre Gran Fondo Maryland 2022

Remove/Clean/Install EXISTING Cassette

Remove/Clean/Install EXISTING Crankset

Remove/Clean/Install EXISTING Pedals

Remove/Clean/Install EXISTING Bottom Bracket

Remove/Clean/Install EXISTING Headset & Fork

Thoroughly Wash/Clean Bike Frame

True Wheels (Lateral)

Remove/Install NEW Front & Rear Derailleurs/Mechs

Remove/Install NEW Chain

Remove/Install NEW Handlebars Tape

Remove/Install/Adjust/Index NEW Break and Derailleur Cables & Housing

Remove/Install NEW Tires

Photo Above - First Place Photo, Gran Fondo National Series, https://firstplacephoto.shotsee.com/gallery/granfondomaryland2022

Prowess Global Group S.A.S. Announces Termination of Agreement with Torrot Electric Europa, S.A.

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:56:53 GMT

Prowess Global Group S.A.S. informa a la opinión pública que hemos puesto fin a nuestra alianza con Torrot Electric Europa, S.A.

Todas las compañías evolucionan y se transforman con el paso del tiempo, y nosotros no somos la excepción. Creemos que el liderazgo en el mundo de las motocicletas eléctricas off-road para niños y niñas comienza con la próxima generación, y por ello estamos contribuyendo a la iniciación y capacitación de más niños y niñas en el motociclismo.

Bogotá, D.C. y Colombia, hoy cuentan con la flota más grande de motos eléctricas de Latinoamérica para la formación y entrenamiento integral de niñas y niños en el Motocross y Trial! Cuatro excelentes pistas y escuelas de formación de jóvenes pilotos en el motociclismo, ahora disponen de motocicletas eléctricas para sus clases, cursos y entrenamientos. ¡Contáctalos y visítalos!

Agradecemos muy especialmente a nuestros clientes, aliados, concesionarios y equipos comerciales, pistas e instructores, y autoridades distritales, departamentales, y nacionales del motociclismo en Colombia, por haber confiado en nosotros. Con hechos, no palabras, estamos apoyando semilleros y construyendo el futuro de nuestro país , ofreciéndole a los más pequeños, las más amigables, divertidas y seguras experiencias en el mundo de las motos.

¡Mucha suerte y éxitos rodando nuevas aventuras!

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Prowess Global Group S.A.S. today announced that it has terminated its exclusive importer and distributor agreement with Torrot Electric Europa, S.A., to distribute Torrot KIDS electric motorcycles in Colombia.

All companies evolve and transform over time, and we are no exception. We believe that leadership in the world of electric motorcycles for kids begins with the next generation, and that is why we are contributing to the initiation and training of more children into the world of motorcycling.

Bogotá, D.C. and Colombia, have the largest fleet of electric motorcycles in Latin America designed for the introduction and development of young Motocross and Trial riders! Four excellent racetracks and motorcycling training schools now have world-class electric motorcycles available for their classes, courses, and training sessions. Make sure to contact and visit them!

We are very thankful to our customers, partners, dealers and sales teams, racetracks and instructors, and Colombia´s national, regional, and local motorcycling authorities, for trusting us. Through actions, not words, we are building and supporting the future of our country , offering kids the best, safest and most fun initiation into the two-wheel electric vehicles space!

Best of luck and many successful new riding adventures!

Evaluación Oficial y Prueba Cronometrada Torrot Motocross Two - Andino MX Colombia

Wed, 04 May 2022 15:13:59 GMT

El pasado Domingo 24 de Abril de 2022, en el marco de prácticas clasificatorias de la I Válida del Campeonato Andino de Motocross, se realizó una Evaluación Oficial y Prueba Cronometrada de la motocicleta eléctrica Torrot Motocross Two con el gran Campeón Latinoamericano y Nacional 2021 categoría 50cc, Martín Ospina Cuello, joven piloto en formación en la Pista La Laguna .

Nuestras felicitaciones a los organizadores, la Liga de Motociclismo de Bogotá, la Liga de Motociclismo de Cundinamarca y la Pista la Laguna. Gran organización y asistencia!

Evaluación Oficial y Prueba Cronometrada Torrot Motocross Two - Nacional MX Colombia

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 15:05:18 GMT

El pasado Sábado 26 de Marzo de 2022, en el marco de prácticas libres de la II Válida del Campeonato Nacional de Motocross Colombia 2022, se realizó una Evaluación Oficial y Prueba Cronometrada de la motocicleta eléctrica Torrot Motocross Two con el gran Campeón Latinoamericano y Nacional 2021 categoría 50cc, Martín Ospina Cuello, joven piloto en formación en la Pista La Laguna .

Extendemos un especial y sincero agradecimiento a la Liga de Motociclismo de Bogotá, la Federacion Colombiana de Motociclismo , y la Comisión Nacional de Motocross, por su excelente tarea y gentil invitación para ser parte de esta gran fiesta del Motocross Colombiano.

A nivel mundial y en Colombia, cada vez más jóvenes pilotos están considerando motocicletas eléctricas como una alternativa de vehículo para desarrollar su destreza y técnicas de conducción. Ha sido demostrado que las motos eléctricas son una excelente alternativa y complemento para contribuir y acelerar la iniciación y capacitación de más niños y niñas en el motociclismo deportivo, Motocross, Enduro, Trial y Supermotard, de una manera segura, divertida y pedagógica.

Éxito Total - "Mi Primera Vez en una Moto"

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 15:58:33 GMT

El pasado Sábado 5 de Febrero de 2022, 15 niñas y niños que nunca antes se habían montado en una moto, vivieron la mejor, más divertida y segura, y eléctrica iniciación en el mundo de las motos en Colombia!

La gran experiencia " Mi Primera Vez en una Moto ”, permitió que niñ@s conocieran los fundamentos técnicos de dos modalidades del motociclismo: Motocross y Trial. La combinación y práctica de estas modalidades es la base sólida de los grandes pilotos.

Con el equipo de protección puesto, que incluía casco, uniforme, guantes y botas, los niñ@s recibieron una excelente instrucción y clase personalizada. Conocieron sobre el funcionamiento y correcto uso de la motocicleta y vivieron sus primeras sensaciones en el mundo de las motos con Torrot KIDS, la #1 moto eléctrica a nivel mundial.

Los jóvenes pilotos rodaron durante 40 minutos tanto en el óvalo de Motocross Enduro como en la pista de Trial. Mientras tanto, los padres y madres aprendieron sobre la teconología de punta Europea detrás de estos vehículos eléctricos, la cual está marcando la pauta para el sector de movilidad eléctrica. Tal es caso de especificaciones técnicas de las motocicletas, como la Aplicación Móvil APP de Control Parental, el Sistema de Gestión de Batería de Litio 48V Extraíble, y la Personalización de la potencia, velocidad, acelerador y freno regenerativo de la moto según las destrezas del niño o niña.

Síguenos y conoce más en nuestras redes sociales, Instagram , Twitter y YouTube .

Experiencia “Mi Primera Vez en una Moto”

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:44:00 GMT

Empezamos el 2022 a lo grande con una invitación a vivir la gran experiencia “Mi Primera Vez en una Moto”. La cita es el próximo Sábado 5 de Febrero en la Pista OffRoad ubicada en el KM 25, Autopista Norte, La Vereda Yerbabuena, Chía, Cundinamarca (ver ubicación aquí )

Torrot KIDS es la moto líder a nivel mundial para los más pequeños. Su proyecto de ingeniería, diseño, alta calidad de componentes, tecnología de punta Europea y versatilidad de manejo, permite que niños rueden y desarrollen su pasión por las motos. Para uso recreativo, estilo de vida, o competencia del más alto nivel.

En la Pista Offroad tendremos un excelente espacio, instrucción y clase personalizada, para que tus hijos o hijas puedan vivir su primera experiencia y sentir sus primeras sensaciones en el mundo de las motos de una manera divertida en un espacio seguro y profesional.

En “Mi Primera Vez en una Moto” los niñ@s podrán experimentar dos modalidades del motociclismo: Motocross y Trial. Mientras los niños ruedan en el óvalo de Motocross Enduro o sobrepasan obstáculos en la pista de Trial, los padres y madres podrán conocer y apreciar el App de Control Parental, el Sistema de Gestión de Batería de Litio 48V Extraíble, y la Personalización de la potencia, velocidad, acelerador y freno regenerativo de la moto según las destrezas de sus hijo o hija.

Reserva to cupo ahora para compartir de un tiempo de aprendizaje, nuevos amigos y mucha diversión al lado de las motocicletas eléctricas Torrot KIDS, la #1 moto eléctrica infantil. ¡Te esperamos!

Descripción :

Experiencia : “Mi Primera Vez en una Moto”
Fecha : Sábado 5 de Febrero 2022
Lugar : Pista Offroad (ver ubicación aquí )
Hora : 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Reservaciones : Cupos cada 40 mins. Cambio de moto (Motocross Two y Trial Two) a la mitad del turno.
Precio por Niñ@ : $50.000 COP. Incluye instructor y clase personalizada, uso exclusivo de motos eléctricas Torrot KIDS Motocross Two y Trial Two, equipo de protección y derecho de pista.

Requisitos :

Niñas y niños entre 6 y 11 años.
Básico saber montar en bicicleta y tener sentido de equilibrio.
Asistir con documento de identidad original.
Diligenciar documento de exoneración de responsabilidad (en el día).
Favor presentarse 25 minutos antes de la hora de la reserva.

Torrot Brilló en la 2da Válida Distrital de Motocross

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:16:14 GMT

El pasado 16 y 17 de Octubre de 2021, se realizó la 2nd VALIDA DISTRITAL DE MOTOCROSS en la ciudad de Bogotá, D.C., Colombia organizada por la Liga de Motociclismo de Bogotá y la Federación Colombiana de Motociclismo . Muchas gracias a los organizadores por invitarnos a vincularnos y patrocinar este evento. Agradecemos y valoramos la gran dedicación y trabajo del equipo organizador.

Estamos comprometidos a apoyar y contribuir a la capacitación de los más pequeños y darles mayor visibilidad a los procesos de semilleros del país. Desde los más pequeños que aprenden por primera vez a conducir una moto, pasando por niños y niñas que se divierten con la moto de manera recreativa en las fincas, casas de campo, clubes campestres, trochas, etc., hasta los jóvenes pilotos que desarrollan y afinan sus destrezas y técnica de conducción para competencias a nivel distrital, nacional e internacional, Torrot KIDS es la moto líder a nivel mundial para niños y niñas de 3 a 12 años.

Cada día, más y más niñas y niños están apreciando y gozando de la calidad y las ventajas de las motocicletas eléctricas Torrot KIDS. Desde sus componentes, la aplicación tecnológica móvil, hasta las sensaciones y la versatilidad que las motos ofrecen a los pilotos jóvenes en el desarrollo de sus destrezas y técnicas de conducción y manejo.

¡Muchas felicitaciones a los más de 40 participantes y los jóvenes pilotos campeones en las categorías Pitbike Infantil, 50cc Mini, 50cc, 65cc Novatos, 65cc y 85cc!

Y grandes noticias nos esperan… muy pronto tendremos a Torrot KIDS Motocross ONE y Torrot KIDS Motocross TWO participando y compitiendo! Síguenos y no te pierdas estas noticias.

Motos Eléctricas Presentes en la 5ta Válida del Campeonato Nacional de Motocross Colombia

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 13:53:14 GMT

El pasado 9 y 10 de Octubre, se realizó la 5ta VALIDA NACIONAL DEL CAMPEONATO DE MOTOCROSS COLOMBIA en la ciudad de Manizales, Caldas, organizada por la Liga Caldense de Motociclismo y la Federación Colombiana de Motociclismo .

Torrot Electric Europa y Prowess Global Group, representante exclusivo de Torrot KIDS para Colombia, agradecemos muy especialmente a los organizadores la oportunidad de poder vincularnos y patrocinar la realización de esta válida. Casi 50 niños y niñas orgullosamente representaron a la Liga Antioqueña de Motociclismo , Liga Valle de Motociclismo , Liga de Motociclismo de Bogotá , Liga de Motociclismo del Tolima , Liga de Motociclismo de César , Liga de Motociclismo de Cundinamarca , Liga de Motociclismo del Huila , Liga de Motociclismo de Nariño y Liga Santandereana de Motociclismo .

Nuestros sinceros agradecimientos a todos los niños y niñas que disfrutaron de las pruebas de manejo. Desde los chicos y chicas que nunca se habían montado en una moto, hasta los experimentados jóvenes pilotos actualmente triunfando a nivel Nacional y Latinoamericano, todos se gozaron las motocicletas eléctricas Torrot KIDS con excelentes comentarios.

Su versatilidad de manejo, mayor torque y potencia (además programable), menos peso (hasta 50% más ligeras), y tecnología de punta Europea, entre otros factores, hacen que Torrot KIDS sea la moto eléctrica líder a nivel mundial para los pilotos entre 3 y 12 años.

Hoy, quisiéramos rendirles un pequeño homenaje a todos ellos. Muchas gracias por confiar en nosotros. Con ustedes, estamos convencidos de que el futuro del motocross Colombiano está en excelentes manos.

¡Muchos éxitos y siempre adelante!

Síguenos y conoce más en Instagram @prowessglobalgroup y Twitter @Prowess_Global.

7 Ventajas de Motos Eléctricas sobre Motos de Gasolina

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 13:36:16 GMT

¿Cuáles son las ventajas de las motocicletas eléctricas sobre las motos de gasolina para niños y niñas?

Hace unos años este debate no existía. Hoy las motocicletas eléctricas están empezando a superar a las de motor de combustión no solamente por los beneficios para el medio ambiente, sino también en términos de potencia, aspecto y tecnología.

A nivel mundial y en Colombia, cada vez más jóvenes pilotos están considerando motocicletas eléctricas como una alternativa y complemento de vehículo para desarrollar su destreza y técnicas de conducción. Está comprobado que las motocicletas eléctricas están contribuyendo a la iniciación y capacitación de más niños y niñas en el motociclismo de una manera segura, divertida y pedagógica.

Aquí están 7 razones por las cuales recomendamos 100% elegir una moto eléctrica para tu jóven piloto, sin importar si está empezando a montar en moto o entrenando para la próxima válida nacional e internacional.

MAYOR APRENDIZAJE . Además de poder tener mayor flexibilidad de tiempo para aprender con tu instructor, la ausencia del embrague facilita el aprendizaje. No hay que meter cambios.

MAYOR TORQUE Y POTENCIA . Además de poder graduar y personalizar la potencia, las motos eléctricas alcanzan más rápido el pico de potencia y ofrecen instantáneamente el máximo torque.

MENOS PESADAS . Las motos eléctricas pesan hasta 50% menos. Son más ágiles, fáciles de conducir, y maniobrar, especialmente enfrentando obstáculos o situaciones complicadas. Desde la primera vez en una moto, los niños y las niñas pueden levantar solos la moto con facilidad.

MENOS COSTOS DE MANTENIMIENTO . Las motos eléctricas no requieren gasolina, cambios de embrague, válvulas, filtros u otras piezas y partes que te cuestan dinero y tiempo. Dependiendo la frecuencia con la que ruedas, te puedes estar ahorrando hasta más de $1.000.000 de pesos mensuales.

NO SE CALIENTAN . Con las motos eléctricas no hay riesgo de que tu niño o niña se queme con el mofle, exosto, tubo de escape o motor.

SILENCIOSAS . Las motos eléctricas son silenciosas. Menos ruido. No generan el ruido de las motos de motor de gasolina, el cual usualmente genera rechazo inicial para muchos niños y niñas.

CERO EMISIONES . Las motos eléctricas no tienen exosto. Son sostenibles y más seguras con el medio ambiente y la salud de las personas. Estás fomentando un mundo más limpio y mejor!

Prowess Global Group Inks Deal As Exclusive Importer & Distributor of Torrot Kids for Colombia

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 17:42:33 GMT

¡Prowess Global Group se complace en anunciar que somos el importador y distribuidor exclusivo de la familia de motocicletas eléctricas Torrot KIDS para Colombia! www.torrot-colombia.com

La gama de motocicletas eléctricas Torrot KIDS para pilotos jóvenes es la mejor en el mercado. Estas motocicletas son líderes mundiales en la iniciación de niños y niñas en técnicas básicas de conducción, aplicable en carretera, circuitos controlados sin asfaltar o en campo, y en la práctica del Trial o Enduro - Supermotard en pistas con secciones todoterreno. Las motos cuentan con altos estándares de seguridad pasiva a través de su sistema de Control Parental, que permite a los padres y madres tener la certeza que los pequeños estén seguros, se diviertan, y combinen valores pedagógicos como equilibrio, concentración, responsabilidad, y espíritu competitivo individual y en equipo. Además, las motos son limpias, ofrecen seguridad, excelentes resultados, y son respetuosas con el medio ambiente.

Muchos entusiastas pilotos al motociclismo en Colombia, en las diversas modalidades, particularmente enduro/motocross, trial y supermotard, estarán encantados de contar con esta maravillosa opción de motocicletas eléctricas en el mercado, que contribuya a la capacitación de niños y niñas para la recreación y promoción del deporte y su cultura en Colombia.

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Prowess Global Group is excited to announce that we have just become the exclusive importer and distributor of Torrot KIDS bikes for Colombia! www.torrot-colombia.com

Torrot's KIDS series for young riders is best in class. A world leading electric motorcycle, ideal for the initiation of boys and girls to on-road riding and the practice of offroad Trial or Enduro – Supermotard on onroad tracks. They boast extremely high passive safety standards through their Parental Control system, which allows for parents to ensure that rides are safe, fun, and combined with pedagogical values of equilibrium, concentration, and responsibility. Plus, they are clean, reliable, and environmentally friendly.

Many motorcycling, motocross, enduro, and trial Colombian enthusiasts and fans, will be delighted as this opportunity is going to help motivate and empower kids into the culture, recreation, and sport in Colombia.

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#enduro kids #motocrosskids #mxkids #trialkids #endurocolombia #trialcolombia #colombiaenduro #colombiatrial #supermotard #enduro #trial #motocross #mobility #electricmobility #electromovilidad #movilidadelectrica #ebike #educacion2ruedas #education2wheels #motosparaniños #motoscolombia #prowessglobalgroup #prowess_global

#ColombiaTierraDeAtletas #Colombia

All photos are exclusive property and copyrighted material of Torrot .

Cycling & Bicycles - Next Wave of Growth in the United States

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 21:20:26 GMT

Driving innovation, value, and systems change in cycling and bicycles

In 2020, the bicycle industry, including makers, shops, parts, components, and equipment manufacturers, experienced a momentous year due to COVID-19. After an initial period of uncertainty, newcomers and existing cyclists turned to the sport for health, fitness, recreation, or as an alternative mode of transport. People of all ages and cycling abilities started spending money on new road, mountain, gravel, hybrid/city, electric bikes, repairs, and equipment, as well as upgrading their existing ones. This led to a short supply of bikes and +10-day service times. While things appear now to have stabilized at a higher point than pre-2020, challenges like low or pre-sold stock, higher RRPs, and 15-month purchasing orders, among others, are expected to remain [1].

At the same time, the pace of transformation in various areas of the bicycling ecosystem accelerated, including elements such as:

Direct to consumer & online fitness models are achieving scale (bikes, platforms, and service) [2][3]
Online cycling is being recognized by professional teams, governing bodies, and millions of fans [4][5]
Payments & ownership options for high-priced items now include alternative financing packag es
Mid-high level, regular riders are increasingly inquiring for certified bike mechanics and fitters
Corporate fitness benefits are being updated to reflect changes in the future of work
Advancements in lithium batteries are driving innovations on pricing, range, and versatility of e-bikes
Cycling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is emerging to empower minorities and women [6][7]
Business of cycling and pro racing needs to build a better economic model for all stakeholders [8][9]
Cycling city infrastructure and bike-sharing schemes are offering a safe transportation alternative
Mission-driven, new funding models for talent identification and youth development are forming [10]

These sources of disruption could lead to a restart of an innovation cycle. It seems like an exciting opportunity for bicycle manufacturers. importers, and distributors, to grow and expand its market and further to develop its road, gravel, mountain, hybrid/city, and e-bikes product portfolio. We are enthusiastic about driving innovation, value, and systems change in bikes, cycling, and concepts of future mobility.

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[1] Bicycle Retailer, “ A Prediction on 2021 Bike Supply ”, 17 DEC 2020.

[2] Financial Times, “ GBL joins global cycling boom in €800m Canyon Bicycles deal ”, 15 DEC 2020.

[3] Zwift, “ Zwift raises $450 million investment in series C round ”, 16 SEP 2020.

[4] UCI, “ First Zwift UCI Cycling Esports World Championships ”, 7 DEC 2020.

[5] VeloNews, “ Team Movistar e-racing outfit to host talent ID camp on Zwift ”, 25 JAN 2021.

[6] VeloNews, “ Zwift launches year-long Black Celebration Series ”, 27 JAN 2021.

[7] Cycling Industries Europe, “ Women in Cycling ", 25 JAN 2021, , Accessed 27 JAN 2021.

[8] Cycling Tips, “ Tour de France broadcaster NBC sports will shut down by the end of the year ”, 23 JAN 2021.

[9] VeloNews, “ Seeking a better financial model for pro women’s cycling ”, 24 JUN 2019.

[10] USA Cycling, Olympic Development Academy .

The Plague (La Peste)

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:32:25 GMT

More than 70 years later, Albert Camus' message rings truer than ever

After having it on my reading list since March, I finally picked up The Plague (La Peste), Albert Camus' classic novel published in 1947. More than 70 years later, I think its message rings truer than ever, especially around three issues we are all facing during these parlous times.

First, our response, as individuals and as members of a collective, to disease, pain, suffering, and death. Nobody is indifferent, whether they show it or not. We are not alone. However, as the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted to us, we have fallen short as a society in addressing “day-to-day” plagues such as racism, oppression of minorities and immigrants, systemic injustices, deepening wealth disparities, environmental destruction, increasing inequities in our K-12 system, debt-burdened higher education graduates, inefficient and insufficient career pathways for future of work and workforce development, etc.

Second, our heroes are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Not out of valiant heroism or calculated reasoning, but out of vocation, decency, and commitment to an ethical and moral compass. The many pleas, pledges, and roundtables emerging from sectors like technology, asset management, venture capital & private equity, and impact investing, amongst others, show how hard it is to capture and replicate the essence of the Hippocratic Oath taken by health care professionals.

Third, our craving, particularly in the western world, for certainty in the face of the unknown. We can choose our attitudes and responses to any given set of circumstances, yet we are powerless with regards to how the consequences and future will unfold. Life demands from us to be humble to accept and thrive from the roles fate, chance, volatility, and optionality play in our lives. Humility as a strength. Not to be confused with weakness.

Such is the case in the education sector, where concerns are growing over the safety of schools, colleges, and universities reopening for in-person instruction. Earlier this week, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s decided to revert back to online classes after clusters of Covid-19 infections surfaced, only one week after reopening in person (see here ). At the other end of the spectrum, all eyes are on K-12 school systems, notably New York City and Los Angeles as the two largest in the country, as they face pressures to clarify their positions for the coming back-to-school Autumn/Fall season.

Finally, Albert Camus leaves us with a call for necessary optimism yet with a precautionary tale (see quotes below). Just like the characters in The Plague saw their traditional beliefs and paradigms challenged, we are called to dive deeper into our human nature and use our imagination and creativity to handle the unknown and re-imagine our future.

Hope you are safe and healthy. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, hope you are getting the chance to enjoy a bit of summer.

---

Both quotes from Albert Camus, The Plague, Vintage International 1991 Edition, Pg. 308

“…and to state quite simply what we learn in time of pestilence: that there are more things to admire in men (and women) than to despise.”

"And, indeed, as he listened to the cries of joy rising from the town, Rieux, remembered that such joy is always imperiled. He knew what those jubilant crowds did not know but could have learned from books: that the plague bacillus never dies or disappears for good: that it can lie dormant for years and years in furniture and linen-chests; that it bides its time in bedrooms, cellars, trunks, and bookshelves; and that perhaps the day would come when, for the bane and the enlightening of men, it would rouse up its rats again and send them forth to die in a happy city"

Measuring and Managing Financial & Impact Performance of Income Share Agreements (ISAs)

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 17:48:01 GMT

A comprehensive ISAs dashboard to match financial metrics and impact
This article was first published 13 December, 2019 on LinkedIn.

It is as important as ever to match financial metrics to impact and build a consensus around a set of shared fundamentals. Below, I introduce a comprehensive ISAs dashboard for investors, schools, and operators to consider when investing, launching and servicing programs, and evaluating the financial and impact performance of ISAs.

Enthusiasts praise ISAs as the most exciting innovation in higher education finance. Lawmakers, schools, policy advisors, and investors, compliment ISAs for being a much-needed alternative to private student and Federal Direct PLUS loans. They welcome the proposed pending legislation in Congress - the ISA Student Protection Act . They recognize that ISAs, when done right, could help tackle issues of affordability, quality, and student outcomes, as well as create pathways for good jobs that address labor shortage and future of work needs.

Today, ISAs are making inroads in traditional four-year colleges and becoming the preferred funding method in vocational, job-focused training programs, primarily coding bootcamps, though also among flight training, software-sales, commercial driver’s license, nursing, and life sciences programs. At large, ISAs appear to have the potential to play a key role in building a more effective, efficient, and equitable educational system.

As a result, many actors in the ISA ecosystem say they try to “do well by doing good”. Many of them really do and are working hard to scale ISAs with integrity. They are bringing greater transparency, legitimacy, and discipline to the ISA space. They are better aligning schools’ incentives with students’ needs and interests. They are offering investors an opportunity to support specific student outcomes and achieve financial returns alongside impact. At the same time, when getting past the headlines, others seem to be just jumping on the bandwagon of “impact washing”– using marketing jargon to entice and engage students, schools, and investors without delivering real impact or providing sufficient depth and details of how impact will be met.

Need for Shared Fundamentals

I am mindful that arguments over how to make, measure, and manage the biggest impact with ISAs can be as passionate as the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Nevertheless, it seems to me that it is as important as ever to match impact to financial metrics data so that the various actors in the space can evaluate whether ISAs are meeting their objectives or not, and ensure that in fact ISAs have the potential to build a more sustainable higher education financial system.

Let’s take, for instance, one of the biggest challenges that schools and operators face in order to accelerate adoption of ISA programs: securing flexible and diverse funding for ISAs at scale. Investors from across retail, HNWI, family offices, hedge funds, foundations, schools, pension funds, endowments, philanthropists, and wealth managers, are watching the space considering how their different risk-adjusted financial targets can be met. Not surprisingly, amongst the questions potential investors raise, they highlight ISAs limited track record, illiquidity and perception of additional risk. They also question the strength of ISAs in the wake of an economic slowdown and/or low-interest rate world (read more here ). More sophisticated investors, particularly investment committees of professional and institutional investors, are strongly debating the intentionality and signals from ISA players.

At large, potential investors want to measure and compare their investment in the ISA space through a common set of financial and impact performance accounts. Whilst there is clearly no need to create a different set of performance and impact metrics for the various investors sitting across the return spectrum, why are existent investor materials and capital calls for investing into a “diversified, higher-yielding, less correlated pool of assets and cash flow streams” not accompanied by rigorous targets and practices for managing and measuring impact?

ISAs Financial and Impact Dashboard

To start the conversation about how we talk about financial and impact performance of ISAs, below are three dimensions of an ISA dashboard for investors, operators, and schools to consider.

First, from an investment viewpoint, a detailed overview of the ISA portfolio and financial performance data from all underlying income share agreements, as per the respective Risk Management & Collection policies in place.

Second, from a student position, and reported anonymously on an aggregate basis, a demographic and household characteristic profile upon ISA application, combined with survey information that sheds light into students’ attitudes towards debt, financial acumen, and employment desires and expectations. Subsequently, during studies and post-graduation, an overview of the impact of ISAs on the student cohort with regards to student success, employment and future of work, economic mobility, and financial and medical health.

Third, from an academic institution perspective, a profile of each school with itemized tuition and financial aid figures, overview of income share agreement program, eligibility criteria, and key terms.

Investment (as per risk management, servicing & collection policies)

Portfolio Overview (e.g. total ISAs originated to date (USD), total number of disbursed ISAs, total number of disbursed ISAs students (by city, state, country), total number of schools & departments & majors offering ISAs (by city, state, country), etc.)

Financial Performance Data

Parameters (e.g. weighted average income share (percentage of income), weighted average contractual duration (number of consecutive monthly payments required), weighted average remaining duration (number of consecutive monthly payments to fulfill contract), etc.)

Status (e.g. total ISAs funded amount disbursed (USD) by repayment status, total ISAs outstanding balance amount (USD) by repayment status, percentage of late/overdue ISAs by stage, estimated illustrative yield based on ISAs funded amount disbursed, expected yield based on ISAs outstanding balance amount (USD) in performance book, ISA administration and servicing fees, etc.)

Students

Profiles (upon ISA application)

Demographics (e.g. percentage of ISA students by gender, ethnicity, race, veteran status, who are disabled, who are the first generation of their family to attend college, who are DACA students, who are international students, who depend on an ISA to fund their degree, etc.)

Debt Aversion (e.g. attitudes towards borrowing money, taking loans, use of credit cards, etc.)

Financial Literacy (e.g. financial know-how to make informed and effective decisions)

Employment Preferences and/or Experience (e.g. for undergraduate, percentage of ISA students working during the semester, avg. salary per month during the term or summer (by city, state, country), post-graduation employment industry preference, etc. For graduate students, avg. pre-study annual salary (by city, state, country), employment by industry, post-graduation employment industry preference, etc.)

Household Characteristics (e.g. percentage of ISA students who have dependents (children/spouses), percentage of ISA students who support their family beyond direct dependents, parent's willingness to potentially take on debt incurred by the student, etc.)

Community Outputs (during studies and post-graduation)

Study Success (e.g. percentage of ISA students who graduate, percentage of ISA students who graduate on time as per admission date, etc.)

Employment / Future of Work (e.g. avg. and median gross base starting salary by major and graduation year, percentage year-on-year salary increase by major and graduation year, percentage of ISA students who believe their vocational/college/graduate degree has significantly increased their ability to obtain and retain a job, employer profile by company size (e.g. start-up, SMEs, large corporate or <50 FTE, 50-500 FTE, >500 FTE), etc.)

Economic Mobility (e.g. percentage of ISA students who return to their home city, state, country post-graduation, who have lived in more than one U.S. domestic location post-graduation, who have lived in more than one international location post-graduation, etc.)

Financial Health (e.g. percentage of ISA students who could not have financed their education without an ISA, who had a poor or no credit score at the time the ISA was approved, who attained good or prime credit score after X year(s) of ISA on-time payments, etc.)

Medical Health (e.g. percentage of ISA students who have received information from their school about health topics, who are seeking or had sought counseling, who respond when asked to rate their overall health, etc.)

Academic Institutions (Four-year Colleges & Vocational Schools)

Overview (e.g. total number of undergraduate and graduate students (by in-state, out-of-state, and international), average standardized test scores (i.e. SAT, ACT, GMAT, GMAC by majors), admission application stages and timelines, total cost of attendance, including tuition, student fees, estimated room & board and personal expenses, available scholarships and announcement timeline, etc.)

Eligibility Criteria (e.g. list of majors with start, end, and graduation date, years of study (i.e. freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate), average age at admission by year of study and majors, expected class size by year of study and majors, historic graduation rates by year of study and majors, historic employment rates by year of study and majors, etc.)

Key Terms (e.g. total ISA amount available, tuition plus living expenses (by majors, year of study), total ISA tuition only amount available (by majors, year of study), total ISA living expenses amount available (by majors, year of study), income share (percentage of income), duration (number of consecutive monthly payments required), extension (number of months if income below minimum annual income threshold), grace period (study period plus up to X months post-graduation), minimum annual income threshold (USD), payment cap (number of times of total amount financed a student would pay), etc.)

Shifting to Action

Let’s not wait for ISAs to grow to size and scale (or fail to do so) and claim impact through the rear-view mirror. The industry has moved on from thinking that just because a product or service operates in the education space, it naturally has impact. It is time to walk the walk. The opportunity is ripe for ISAs to pioneer and leap over student loans as the financing tool that can generate the most positive, measurable social impact alongside a financial return (on a per dollar basis).

Is College Worth It?

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 19:02:12 GMT

Tensions continue to heighten for students and parents around what to do about college and how to finance their education.

This article was first published 06 September, 2019 on LinkedIn.

Tensions continue to heighten for students and parents around what to do about college and how to finance their education. Once a secured differential, today the college worth and lifetime wage premium is under threat and is impacted by the way that students finance their education. For some students, Income Share Agreements (ISAs) have the potential to convert college, graduate and vocational education, into a higher yielding financial and life investment than if funded via traditional student loans.

Since the end of World War II, most Americans have believed that college is a key catalyst to fulfilling their American dream. At large, college education became a desired pathway associated to improvements in quality of life, income levels, and contribution to society. As a result, during the last seven decades, college enrollment has expanded from an exclusive “happy few” to the mass market.

Today, students and parents are increasingly questioning whether the costs and sacrifices to become a college graduate are worth it. This conversation holds true at dinner tables, regardless of individual and families’ socioeconomic class or cultural background, educational, professional, and personal aspirations, and immigration status or race. This tension between moral duty and financial reality, which is well described in this New York Times article, intensifies when mixed with students’ aspirations and potential.

Factors driving this conversation include, but are not limited to:

Escalating and high college costs . Forbes America’s Top Colleges 2019 suggests the average total annual cost in one of the top 650 US educational institutions is $45,000.

Low completion and graduation rates . Close to 45% of students enrolled in college fail to graduate within 6 years [1].

Alarming student debt figures . Total student debt outstanding reached $1.6 trillion in the 4th quarter of 2018 with a 10-year CAGR of over 9% – 2.2x the rate of auto loans growth [2].

College Value Premium

Using available College Board data, I analyzed median earnings by education level and gender [3]. Overall, college graduates earn close to $20,000 more than those with some or no college, or associate degree. The results also show a wage gender gap between median salaries of men and women, regardless of their educational level. It also hints that women see larger benefits in increases in median earnings from a college education than men.

It Matters How You Get There

So, is college worth it?

Forbes emphatically says yes. Liberty Street Economics , a blog featuring insights and analysis from the New York Fed also says yes, though suggests that for some students the costs outweigh the benefits. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics , which compiles weekly earnings of wage and salary workers, implies a yes - full-time workers age 25 and over holding at least a bachelor’s degree report median weekly earnings of $1,357 compared to high school graduates (no college) of $751.

More and more people are on the “it depends”, “for some”, camp. Ryan Craig, Co-Founder and Managing Director of University Ventures , suggests in his book, " A New U - Faster + Cheaper Alternatives to College ” a 2x2 school matrix with a selective or nonselective X axis and an affordable or not affordable Y axis. It forces students and parents to discuss education outcomes like student debt, post-graduation median salaries, and underemployment. Alternatives to College such as vocational, skills training organizations, paired with preparation and placement with employers, are creating pathways for job opportunities that are in demand and unmet today – according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were 7.3 million job openings as of the end of June 2019 [4].

I am part of the second group, but most importantly, as each student considers whether college is still worth it or not, I believe they should have access to transparent, comparable information with regards to the types of aid and available financing tools to fund college education.

Introducing ISAs into the discussion of the once stable, secured college worth and lifetime wage premium, invigorates the conversation. In a research paper published last year, the Jain Family Institute delves into the returns profile of a college education based on the financing instruments used. One of their key findings is that for the average American student, who requests approximately $30,000 for his or her college education, the lifetime college value and wage premium is reduced by 11% with an ISA compared to 25% with a student loan.

More data and research around these types of discounts would shed further light on the impact that student loans and ISAs have on the value of college for students. It seems to me, that one way for ISAs to earn their stripes is for them to generate robust evidence that when structured properly, they have the potential to make college, graduate and vocational skills-based education, a higher yielding life and financial investment than if funded via traditional student loans.

---

Update on 29th October, 2019

Click here to see CNBC's video clip on this same question, "Is College Worth It", featuring Sheila Blair, Former Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation Hope .

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[1] Christensen Institute, “Unlocking the potential of ISAs to tackle the student debt crisis”, Aug 2019.

[2] U.S. Federal Reserve, G19, April 2019. Own Analysis.

[3] The College Board, Education Pays 2016, Data for Median Earnings (in 2015 Dollars) of Full-Time Year-Round Workers Age 25 to 34, by Gender and Education Level, 1975 to 2015. Own analysis.

[4] Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economic New Release, Aug 6th, 2019.

Future of Income Share Agreements (ISAs) in a Low Interest Rate World

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 00:40:58 GMT

Alternative education finance to expand access to university and vocational courses

This article was first published 02 August, 2019 on LinkedIn.

ISAs market and business models are poised to evolve and adjust over the coming months considering the recent introduction of the ISA Student Protection Act and the Federal Reserve rate cut. ISAs can thrive in a low interest world by sharpening their value proposition to students, schools, and investors.

Two weeks ago, a bipartisan coalition of US Senators introduced the ISA Student Protection Act (the Act), designed to provide a legal and regulatory framework for Income Share Agreements (ISAs) - Acuerdo de Ingreso Compartido (AIC) in Spanish - an alternative higher education financing tool where students receive funding in exchange for a percentage of the student’s income post-graduation for a fixed period of time.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced a quarter-point rate cut against a background of trade uncertainty, low inflation, and weakened global growth. How would Income Share Agreements continue gaining popularity in a low interest rate environment? How does this impact, if at all, the value proposition of ISAs versus comparable private and Federal Direct PLUS loans (if eligible) targeting how students’ most common use of ISAs to date – in colleges, students filling a gap after maxing out federal loans, and in coding bootcamps, students doing full-tuition ISAs? How could colleges and coding bootcamps innovate, diversify, and secure scalable ISA funding with the added risk of weak economic and employment growth?

ISA Student Protection Act

It is a welcomed proposal. Existing ISAs have no federal oversight and guardrails. The Act should help protect consumers and inspire confidence among investors. It brings ISAs under federal consumer protection laws and gives the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau oversight authority.

Below some areas from the Act for ISA operators, investors, schools, and enthusiasts to consider.

First, ISAs are not taxable. The Act excludes from all student’s gross income in tax calculations (a) the original amount financed and (b) the potential difference arising when total payments are less than the original amount financed.

Second, maximum percentage of income share set at 20%. There are a few existing ISA providers asking for 17% but I am not aware of any asking for more than 20%.

Third, maximum duration is 30 years. Calling long-term capital providers such as institutional and impact investors, foundations, philanthropists, and endowments to keep ISAs on your radar.

Fourth, income floor below which students are not required to pay is set at equal or greater than 200% of the federal poverty line. This is the equivalent of $24,980 in 2019 or more at the option of the funder. Currently, some ISA providers more than double this amount.

Fifth, unlike student loans, ISAs would be dischargeable under bankruptcy law. This is another reason why ISAs enable students’ freedom and range more than student loans.

Sixth, ISAs would not be controlled or precluded by state law with respect to (a) usury, and (b) ISA licensing or registration, unless such state enacts law specifically intended for ISAs.

Seventh, nothing would prevent ISAs from being securitized and repackaged into marketable financial instruments. ISAs could well join student loans into becoming a new stand-alone asset class.

Eighth, consumer credit reports may include information on student’s ISAs. Equifax, Experian, and Transunion beware.

How ISAs can thrive in a low interest world

With the Federal Reserve move to cut interest rates for the first time since 2008, ISAs’ challenge now appears to establish itself and grow to size and scale in a low interest rate world. What impact, if any, would this have on the ISA emerging ecosystem?

Here are some themes for ISA operators, investors, schools, and enthusiasts to ponder.

First, ISA providers should consider revisiting their competitive fit against comparable private and Federal Direct PLUS loans (if eligible) which may lower rates and APRs. Note that, with the rate cut, if you have student loans with a variable rate tied to a benchmark (only offered by private student lenders), you could now pay less interest. If you have federal loans, all of which have fixed interest rates (see Federal Student Aid ), you could consider refinancing. It is likely that only a very small percentage of the outstanding $1.6 trillion student debt will be eligible for it, and as Nerd Wallet says, it is a decision not be taking lightly.

Second, schools, students, and investors need to remain laser-focused on alignment of interests and risk. ISAs are poised to do this. They signal value to students as institutions shift focus to outcomes, have Skin In The Game , and differentiate themselves from their peers. They serve as an insurance policy for students who do not know whether their education may or may not pay back. Whether ISAs are being used to cover a gap in student’s cost of attendance after maxing out federal loans, or selectively being deployed to help with temporary hardship, drive enrollment (ISAs do not require collateral or co-signer), or address needs of first-generation, low-income, or minority students, a stronger emphasis on ISAs value-add and benefits is recommended. For coding bootcamps, ISAs are a bit more straightforward as they are now the funding methods of choice after cash up front.

Third, schools could consider launching ISAs with a variable specified percentage of the future income of an individual. As far as I am aware, all ISAs so far have a fixed specified income share for the duration of the contract. As it is in the schools’ and investors’ best interest for students to get and stay in good jobs, perhaps there could be milestones along the life of the agreement that trigger a revision of the income-share percentage. For instance, perhaps gamification elements could be introduced in year XY of the ISA. These can be supported by employers and aimed at creating opportunities for students to advance their careers, with employers benefiting from engaging better with and improving the financial health of their team members.

Fourth, ISA ecosystem should consider introducing a scalable product for impact investors to complement institutional money, lower cost of capital, and legitimize ISAs in the face of the public with a strong “investors care” market signal. Mission-aligned institutional, professional, and retail investors, including UHNWIs, family offices, foundations, schools, pension funds, endowments, philanthropists, and wealth managers, could take this opportunity to promote and accelerate a shift in the culture of education finance, and drive long-term, ethical behavior aligned to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals .

Fifth, leverage anchored education institutions to unleash ISA funding. Increase capital flows via tailored, strategic capital raising bringing key investors and organizations to invest alongside flagship schools. Perhaps there is even a performance boost to be explored on target returns due to tax benefits derived from students residing in or attending schools located in a qualified New Markets Tax Credit or Opportunity Zones .

Sixth, ISAs should also consider fundraising outside the US. Non-US-based investors are keen on USD-denominates assets. Despite the trade disputes and “mid-cycle adjustment”, we still live in an increasingly globalized world. Some central banks already have interest rates of less than one percent or negative. Wealthy consumers are having to pay banks for having their cash accumulate dust (see UBS plans negative interest rate for rich clients ).

Accelerating Momentum

This low interest rate environment is as likely to continue as it is to reverse. Regardless of the direction, I believe ISA operators, investors, schools, and enthusiasts should continue in stealth mode, engaging with students, improving the product, building a track record, diversifying and scaling funding, etc. The ISA market and business models are poised to evolve and adjust over the coming months. Aside from monetary policy, the keys signals to watch for are the impact of low interest rates in economic activity, student’s willingness to advance or upskill their education, employer’s ability to fill and deliver good jobs, and investor’s attitudes towards a new alternative investment that delivers financial and social return.

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The Plague (La Peste)

More than 70 years later, Albert Camus' message rings truer than ever

Measuring and Managing Financial & Impact Performance of Income Share Agreements (ISAs)

A comprehensive ISAs dashboard to match financial metrics and impact This article was first published 13 December, 2019 on LinkedIn.

Is College Worth It?

Tensions continue to heighten for students and parents around what to do about college and how to finance their education.

This article was first published 06 September, 2019 on LinkedIn.

Future of Income Share Agreements (ISAs) in a Low Interest Rate World

Alternative education finance to expand access to university and vocational courses This article was first published 02 August, 2019 on LinkedIn.

A comprehensive ISAs dashboard to match financial metrics and impact
This article was first published 13 December, 2019 on LinkedIn.

Alternative education finance to expand access to university and vocational courses

This article was first published 02 August, 2019 on LinkedIn.