This year's PYM Belgium Impact Day challenged us to reflect on the ethical use of technology and to imagine a world where our digital presence is truly ours. It encouraged us to consider the potential of technology to deliver personalised solutions on a global scale and unlock untapped opportunities for positive change. The event showcased inspiring examples of how technology can create sustainable jobs and make life-enhancing solutions accessible around the world.
We are very grateful for the positive feedback on the networking opportunities and engaging discussions during the breaks, roundtables and dinner. Our speakers also helped to inspire everyone's curiosity and solutions for how technology can be used for good. That's exactly why we host these events.
For those who were unable to attend, we've prepared a summary of the powerful remarks made by our speakers.
Amit Prahdan
Amit Prahdan spoke about the potential of exponential technologies such as AI, blockchain, and quantum. He highlighted how these technologies can create new opportunities for access, inclusion and economic benefits by tackling the toughest planet-facing problems.
Monique Meulemans | Pymwymic
Pymwymic focuses its agrifood investments on the McKinsey and WEF-identified Transformative Twelve technologies. These technologies contribute to a food system that is both fair for farmers and produces healthy, nature-positive food.
Monique highlighted the examples of Biome Makers, a soil analysis system that improves soil health; Vivent Biosignals, which captures information about plant growth information; and One Third, which predicts the shelflife of fresh produce to optimize supply chains.
Ali Najafbagy | 4Impact
Technology can play a crucial role in driving necessary transitions and creating a world that benefits both the planet and its people. 4Impact invests in technologies with an edge, many of which incorporate AI, to offer universal and traceable solutions.
Ali mentioned examples such as: Sataligence, which uses satellite imagery and data to track raw material production or, for example, deforestation; Infotiles, a smart water and wastewater management solution; and Envision, which provides visual information to the blind via glasses to increase societal participation.
Rakan Dayani | Goodwell Investments
Radical changes can be made in Africa by ensuring that basic goods and services are accessible, affordable, and of good quality. This can be achieved through the smart use of technology and by supporting local innovators and creators.
The technologies brought to market in the countries Goodwell is active in usually unlock time or money savings that are crucial for individual households. Rakan highlighted Max.ng, an electric vehicle service in Nigeria that provides jobs for drivers and in the production of electric vehicles, and Onafriq, a mobile wallet network that reaches across the African continent.
Paul Buysens | Incofin
Paul addressed that for Incofin, technology is an enabler that powers change in frontier markets. Using software solutions to unlock larger parts of the world to previously unconnected individuals is more cost-effective and can be done at scale. Internet penetration (mainly via Mobile) continues to grow yearly, and the potential to reach individuals even in very rural areas is unparalleled.
Paul shared examples of companies making a difference in India, Uganda, and Rwanda. He touched upon Arthan Finance, an AI-based digital loan company for small businesses; SuperZop, which connects mom-and-pop shops directly to farmers for sourcing raw materials; and hardware clean water solution Spouts of Water.
Dr. Melody Lang | MPA Capital
Melody emphasized the role of technology in enabling quality education to reach more people faster and increase inclusivity. Her MPA Capital fund builds on research showing that students who receive more tailored or tutored education can absorb more knowledge and perform better.
She shared more about two companies using software to deliver knowledge in many personal ways: Ubimaster, an online personal children tutoring chat aiming for adaption in company employee benefits across industries and company size; and TEO, a platform retraining technical staff adapting to greener technologies.
Michiel Lenstra | Wire Group
As a fund-of-fund, the Wire group takes a very holistic view of how technology can contribute to human or ecosystem healing. The team looks at private market funds that contribute to the restoration of planetary balance in different places in the world. Their investments are geographically spread out and include a number of sectors. Michiel highlighted examples where tech solutions have made a significant local impact.
He showcased India-based Red Health (part of the HealthQuad fund), which provides fast ambulance services and a software platform to support emergency staff onsite; UK-based mOm Incubators (part of the Cross-Border Venture fund), a lightweight and portable incubator for neonatal care; and India-based Qure AI (also part of the Health Quad fund), AI-driven software for early detection of lung cancer, tuberculosis, and strokes.
If you’d like to learn more about using tech for good, take a look at these resources.
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