In a city where convenience reigns, cooking at home is usually given short shrift in New York – let alone finding the time to source local ingredients. Local Roots NYC is trying to break that pattern with its subscription service, connecting city dwellers with local farmers and their producers.

Social activism around the world is big business. But in Australia, demonstrators are distilling worthy causes at large down to a local level. Why? Because people are engaged more if they can see the direct impact of their actions, especially in a hyperconnected world thanks to social media.

As societal and environmental ills mount, Aussies are demanding that brands and the government take more responsibility for the impact their decisions have on everyday life. What issues are most pressing for people Down Under and how are their ethical expectations being met?

Startup Streethubs is wanting to improve community relations in Australia by creating a digital hub for locals to communicate through. While the use of tech for social purposes is nothing new, people now want platforms to be more hyper-local and function as a conduit for interactions, IRL.