Entrepreneur, inventor, and author, Mick Ebeling, is on a mission to empower people to solve their own problems. In a recent interview with Richard Schelp, co-founder of Executive Speakers Bureau, Mick shared his ideas on how a mindset shift and accessible technology can change the world for the better.

Mick is the founder of Not Impossible Labs, a company that focuses on using technology for social good. The company's past projects range from creating a low-cost prosthetic arm to helping deaf children hear music for the first time—everything and anything involving technology for the sake of humanity.

In our latest #ESBOutspoken 32 episode, Mick discusses some of the current projects that Not Impossible Labs is working on. One of their pandemic responses was to deploy a food insecurity platform that transformed how people suffering from hunger in this country were being helped.

Project Bento: Feeding the Hungry with Dignity

Conventionally, people in need of food assistance had to go to soup kitchens or food pantries to get their food. Mick’s solution, Bento, created a convenient and dignified new method for supporting those going hungry.

Now, through simple text messaging, they are able to go into grocery stores or restaurants and claim meals that were paid for by organizations on the back end. This innovative approach allowed people to walk into a place that was close to them — often in their neighborhood — so they didn't have to travel across town to wait in line for hours to get a meal. The system has provided 320,000 meals for those in need in a simple, efficient way that allows people to maintain their dignity.

The food insecurity platform went viral, and Not Impossible Labs received numerous accolades for their efforts. This platform was named a Fast Company world-changing idea and Fortune called them an Impact 20 company. It also garnered Not Impossible Labs its second Time Magazine Top 50 Invention.

As the world slowly starts to come back together after the pandemic, Not Impossible Labs is working on projects in the Alzheimer's and cognitive decline space. Mick's personal connection to the topic is one of the reasons he is invested in finding innovative solutions.

Project Landmine Obsolescence: Preventing Limb Loss

He also recently visited Ukraine, where he was invited to sit on the board of an incredible group called Superhumans. They are looking at limb loss and how to create a center of excellence and a new way of thinking about prosthetics.

Mick's work on prosthetics led him to identify one of the biggest causes of limb loss (especially within the civilian population) in Ukraine: landmines. Not Impossible Labs is now working on a project they’re temporarily calling Operation Landmine Obsolescence. They are mobilizing NGOs, the government, and the defense industry to unify their knowledge base to look at new ways to identify landmines and deactivate them. They hope to be operating by the end of this year, implementing the brain trust's incredible ideas.

Mick's dedication to improving the world through innovative technology is inspiring. He believes that anything is possible and has proven that time and time again with his work at Not Impossible Labs. By committing first and figuring it out later, he has been able to assemble a team of talented individuals who are dedicated to changing the world for the better.

Not Impossible Labs' work on the food insecurity platform and Operation Landmine Obsolescence demonstrates the power of technology to solve complex problems. Through simple text messaging, people can claim meals that they need, and with innovative approaches, landmines can be identified and deactivated to prevent limb loss.

Project Music: Not Impossible

This is a project Mick and Not Impossible Labs have been tinkering with for years, and it’s now ready to share with the world. Inspired by the absurdity that deaf people can’t experience music, the team set out to change music, our perceptions, and the world. After realizing that deaf people reach for speakers, take off their shoes, and search for musical vibrations in a myriad of ways, they came up with the idea of hearing music through your skin.

They created a technology that divides music into separate channels and then projects each musical channel into wristbands, ankle bands and vests so each channel is felt through a different part of the skin. The product was launched at SXSW and was immediately loved by the deaf community.

However, when they ran out of deaf people to share it with, they tried it on hearing people in Los Angeles, some of whom are pretty well-known in the music industry. After testing out the wearable music device, Mick said Pharell’s response was astounding — “It’s the future of music. Everyone will experience music like this in the future.” While this product began as a quest to create equality in music, it’s now changing the way everyone experiences music.

Not Impossible Labs' work is a testament to the idea that nothing is impossible if you commit to it and are willing to figure it out along the way. Mick's ideas are inspiring and thought-provoking. He challenges us to think differently about how we approach problems and encourages us to take action to create positive change in the world.

His work with Not Impossible Labs shows that technology can be used for more than just entertainment and convenience. When used for social good, technology has the power to change the world. Mick’s speaking has led to many partnerships that get his clients involved in projects that impact the world.

Bring Mick Ebeling to your next event for a heavy dose of inspiration mixed with creative problem-solving.