Impact Stories from Economic Impact Policy Area
Fellow(s): (fellows) Aliaa Ahmed, Ainura Sagyn, Binta Moustapha, Ouafa Belgacem, Sabina Nforba, and Tofara Chekera, and (mentors) Katie Penn and Queen Denchukwu
Country: Cameroon, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Tunisia, United States, Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2014, 2017, 2020-2021, 2022, 2023
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellows & Mentors play key roles in opening weeks of 79th UN General Assembly
Fellows Aliaa Ahmed (Egypt, 2022), Ainura Sagyn (Kyrgyzstan, 2017), Binta Moustapha (Nigeria, 2014), Ouafa Belgacem (Tunisia, 2023), Sabina Nforba (Cameroon, 2020-2021) and Tofara Chekera (Zimbabwe, 2022), and Mentors Katie Penn and Queen Denchukwu reportedly participated in various capacities at the opening weeks of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.
Several Fellows took on leadership and speaking roles. At the UN Summit of the Future, Tofara, Founder of Tofara Online Trust, took the stage to deliver a speech on “how embracing the digital world unlocks a future filled with endless opportunities.” Similarly, Aliaa, Director of Foreign Relations and Policy Affairs at the Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), participated in an open dialogue on transforming global governance and promoting the implementation of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development at the Summit of the Future. There, she underscored the EFB’s efforts to empower youth through development initiatives aimed at tackling food security challenges. Binta, Founder of youth training initiative Cabinet Hub Zinder and STEM education program Elmira Schools, was invited to speak at the Intergenerational Partnerships for Just Climate Transition and Digital Futures workshop, a part of the UN Summit of the Future organized by UN University-IIGH at Columbia University.
Meanwhile, Sabina hosted and launched a groundbreaking policy brief on Artificial Intelligence for Youth Sustainable Development in Africa, which she called her “legacy as the Digital Innovation Lead at the African Union.” This brief, developed by the Office of the AU Chairperson’s Youth Envoy in collaboration with the UN Global Compact & African Export-Import Bank, shares lessons Sabina learned through the Make Africa Digital initiative which she coordinated and led for the past two years.
Report Date...: 09/30/2024
Fellow(s): Reshma Singh
Country:
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Mentor Leads Cradle to Commerce 2024 Summit at LBNL
Mentor Reshma Singh, Program Director of Cradle to Commerce (C2C), recently led the C2C 2024 Summit at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).
C2C is a partnership of four national labs and three private incubators. Reshma delivered opening addresses and closing remarks for this invite-only two-day event that convened experts and thought leaders in the fields of nuclear energy, renewables, grid modernization and energy storage. Spotlighting C2C’s startups, National Lab experts, and industry partners, the summit amplified pioneering solutions in climate technology through key note addresses, panel discussions, live pitches, a startup showcase, tours of LBNL facilities and meaningful networking opportunities.
Report Date...: 09/30/2024
Fellow(s): Natalya Klimenko
Country: Uzbekistan
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow Launches StartCamp for Women Entrepreneurs
Fellow Natalya Klimenko (Uzbekistan, 2018), founder of the online learning platform Stemio, has co-launched StartCamp, a transformative program designed to accelerate the growth of women-led businesses. After three months of preparation, StartCamp recently held its Orientation Day in Tashkent, officially welcoming 19 remarkable women entrepreneurs. Over the next eight weeks, these businesses will undergo intensive training focused on sales, marketing, and achieving measurable results.
The program includes twice-weekly mentorship sessions and workshops, along with traction meetings to track progress. Participants will have access to valuable networking opportunities with industry experts and potential investors, helping them refine their strategies and build effective sales funnels. With guidance from StartCamp’s expert team, the goal is to help these startups secure their first sales, grow their client base, and prepare for future investment opportunities.
Klimenko emphasized the excitement surrounding the program’s potential, writing “I’m very proud of everyone and looking forward to what’s ahead. The best part? We’re just getting started!”
StartCamp is supported by a range of partners, including UNDP Uzbekistan, U-ENTER Innovation Center, Uzum, Dodo Pizza, and weproject.media C-space, all dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial success in the region.
Report Date...: 09/23/2024
Fellow(s): Ichraf Jarray
Country: Tunisia
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow Joins Blackbox Elevate Experience in Brussels
Fellow Ichraf Jarray (Tunisia, 2022), founder of Hive 12 incubator, recently participated in the Blackbox Elevate program in Brussels, Belgium. Held this September, the event convened 20 MENA region directors and more than 15 speakers for a series of discussions centered around collaboration, innovation, and ecosystem growth.
Established in Palo Alto, California in 2011, Blackbox is a platform dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs globally. The Blackbox Elevate initiative, funded by the European Commission with collaboration from nongovernmental organization SPARK, is an exclusive, invitation-only program for leaders of startup organizations. This year’s program welcomed participants from accelerators, incubators, co-working spaces, and universities in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Tunisia, providing access to expert knowledge and insight from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry specialists.
“The energy and relationships formed during these four days will have a long-lasting effect on our work moving forward,” Ichraf reflected.
Report Date...: 09/23/2024
Fellow(s): Tofara Lindsay Chokera
Country: Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow appointed to board for COMESA women in business
Fellow Tofara Lindsay Chokera (Zimbabwe, 2022), CEO and Founder of Tofara Online Trust, has been appointed a board member for the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Zimbabwe Chapter.
Tofara’s role involves supporting women entrepreneurs and SMEs in adopting digital marketing and tech-driven solutions for business growth. In her capacity as a board member, Tofara aims to encourage the use of technology to unlock new opportunities and drive business efficiency.
COMFWB acts as a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences among women entrepreneurs across the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) region.
“Let’s continue to empower, inspire, and transform the business landscape for women in Zimbabwe,” Tofara shared in a recent post.
Report Date...: 09/09/2024
Fellow(s): Kseniia Tsyganova
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development
Fellow delivers masterclass to women with disabilities
Fellow Kseniia Tsyganova (Kyrgyzstan, 2022) recently delivered a masterclass on essential professional soft skills for Nazyk Kyz, an organization that supports women and girls with disabilities. Aiming to help participants tap into the workforce, Kseniia’s talk focused on teamwork, problem-solving and other nuanced essentials for career success.
“I hope this event is just the first of many to help build a society that is more accepting and accessible with many work opportunities!” Kseniia shared in a recent post.
Kseniia is director of talent operations at Raised, a marketplace of senior business professionals who guide startups in growth, valuation, sales and more. She is an ardent tech community organizer, serving as a Women TechMakers lead, Technovation mentor and regular event speaker for tech hubs and initiatives.
Report Date...: 08/19/2024
Fellow(s): Solange Kalema
Country: Rwanda
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow moderates Center for a Re-imagined Africa’s Public Sector Symposium with African Leadership University
Fellow Solange Kalema (Rwanda, 2017) recently moderated the Public Sector Symposium, organized by The African Leadership University through the Center for a Re-imagined Africa. Held on July 25, 2024 with the theme “Government Entrepreneurship: Building Africa’s Most Important Products”, the Public Sector Symposium convened industry stakeholders and experts to share insights, best practices and case studies on leveraging leadership, digital technology, and public trust to deliver products that improve the lives of African citizens through government services.
“My key takeaway was the concept of the trust economy and the realization that Africa must move beyond reliance on natural resources,” Solange shared in a recent post. “Instead, we need to focus on building capacities, investing in human capital, especially in developing advanced technology skills, and embracing innovation to strengthen our economies.”
Solange is a business analyst for the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) who specializes in data analytics, agile planning and software development, scrum, requirement engineering, and product and service development. She was recently admitted into the entrepreneurship and product innovation program at One League, a global education institution that seeks to equip high-potential changemakers from across the world with an affordable or free ivy league-based curriculum.
Read More »Report Date...: 08/12/2024
Mentor(s): Katie Penn
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Professional Development
Mentor shares insights on AI and cryptocurrency responsibility at Crypto Content Creator Campus in Dubai
Mentor Katie Penn, former Global Head of Marketing for X and Twitch, recently spoke at the Crypto Content Creator Campus (CCCC) in Dubai, sharing insights on how creators can adapt as artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency reshape the digital landscape. Drawing from her decade of experience, Katie highlighted the need to build portable communities that transcend platforms, prioritize authentic human connections in an AI-driven world and understand the immense responsibility creators have, especially in crypto, where a single media post can influence markets.
In addition to her involvement at CCCC, Katie recently shared her perspective on women in tech leadership during an interview with Byteline. The conversation explored the gender gap in the blockchain space, where women currently account for less than 5% of crypto entrepreneurs. Despite these statistics, Penn remains optimistic about the role women can play in the sector’s growth, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and collaboration.
“Mentorship within companies, especially women mentoring women, has been highly effective,” she shared in a recent post. “It’s about lifting women up wherever you go—seeing them as peers, not competition.” Through her leadership, Katie continues to empower women to thrive in the evolving tech and crypto spaces.
Report Date...: 01/13/2025
Fellow announces pre-seed funding round for pwron.ai
Fellow(s): Tatyana Plotnikova
Country: Kazakhstan
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow announces pre-seed funding round for pwron.ai
Fellow Tatyana Plotnikova (Kazakhstan, 2019) recently announced a pre-seed funding round for pwron.ai, an AI-driven market research startup that she co-founded just 6 months ago.
Offering automated insights, expert support, and data visualization, pwron.ai has made significant strides in its first year. The company pivoted in August, launched its minimum viable product in October, and secured its first U.S. sale in January. Based in Delaware and supported by Astana Hub and Silkroad Innovation Hub, pwron.ai has participated in accelerator programs including Draper University’s Hero Training and BetterFuture AI by DOMiNO Ventures. The team is now preparing pilot projects in multiple countries and seeking long-term investors and partners.
In addition to prwon.ai, Tatyana is the founder of PowerOn.space, for marketing and IT professionals.
Report Date...: 01/13/2025
Fellow-mentored Technovation Girls Kenya team is spotlighted in WEF Global Shapers video for app that battles FGM
Fellow(s): Dorcas Owinoh, Asha Panyako (2022, 2023)
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2022, 2023
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Entrepreneurship
Technovation Girls Team Almasi from Samburu, Kenya, mentored by Fellow Dorcas Owinoh (Kenya, 2023), have recently been spotlighted by the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Global Shapers for the development of their mobile application, End Cut, which simultaneously educates girls on the dangers of female genital mutilation (FGM) while also providing them a global platform for economic empowerment through artisanal sales. App co-creator Rosilla shares her story of being rescued from child marriage at age nine by a doctor from the Samburu Girls Foundation who enrolled her in school. This journey led her to Technovation Girls Team Almasi and the creation of End Cut. This application teaches Samburu girls the health dangers of FGM, which is practiced in part to increase the dowry price of a bride at the negotiation of marriage. The app also provides a global marketplace for the sale of the Samburu’s highly-skilled bead work jewelry, which offers an opportunity to supplement the potential household income losses incurred when sending a girl to school instead of marriage. Dorcas is an eight-year mentor and a regional ambassador for Technovation Girls, a global network of chapters and clubs that unite girls with mentors and ambassadors to solve community problems through technology. Fellow Asha Panyako (Kenya, 2022) also serves as a Technovation Girls mentor and has been key in the development of the Technovation Girls presence in Kenya and Samburu, leveraging funding and support from Global Shapers as a member and past curator of its Nairobi Hub. Global Shapers is a constituent community of the WEF composed of globally-funded networks of young people driving community change through over 500 local hubs worldwide. TechWomen Mentor and Strategic Partnerships Advisor Anar Simpson is Technovation Girls Global Ambassador.
Read More »Report Date...: 08/05/2024
