True North

We’ve now reached the feel good part of the story. The dragons have been slayed, and peace has returned to the world. Ok, that’s not true, but there is good news.

There are engineers and entrepreneurs who are using their fancy credentials, big brains and creative energy to, you know, help people. Solve some important problems. Stop needless suffering. Maybe there were enough people working on tracking everything you do online so someone can sell you more stuff. Anyway, there are people who saw some real human problems and said, ‘Somebody should do something about that.’ Then they got to work. These are their stories.

10:45 - Carol Leaman: Welcome

10:50 - Mallory Greene: T-Minus 5
T MINUS-5 is a concise, powerful crystallization of one of the themes of True North 2018 from an individual at the leading edge of the discussion

10:55 - Loren Padelford: How Technology is making entrepreneurship accessible to everyone
Entrepreneurs are the engine that drives our economy and our society. But for the past 10 years entrepreneurship has been in decline. Today, technology is leading a resurgence in entrepreneurship by levelling the playing field, providing everyone the tools, access and economics once reserved only for the largest companies in the world.  For anyone who thought they couldn’t start their own business,  Shopify is bending the learning and cost curve down, making it easier than ever to start and grow you a business. From helping to source products, to setting up an online store to sell them, Shopify and technology has made the complex simple and cost effective.

11:15 - Anne Connelly and Sonny Kohli: Abundance for All: When and How? - Moderated by Krista Pawley 
Tech is changing every aspect of society, including how we tackle some of our most persistent problems: food security, water, shelter, access to energy, education, healthcare. How can we recognize the practical possibilities for revolutionary technologies to drive meaningful impacts for billions of people around the world?

Blockchain consultant Anne Connelly and Dr. Sonny Kohli, physician and founder of medtech innovator, Cloud DX, will explore the ways that transformational technologies can be used to tackle the world's biggest challenges today, and create abundance for all in the future. This inspiring discussion will be moderated by Krista Pawley from SingularityU.

11:45 - Richard Yim: The Battle of Tech for Social Good
When Demine Robotics CEO Richard Yim ventured into the world of landmine clearance, he met with some resistance to his tech solution for this global social problem. NGOs and governments are the main players in this space, and investment in technology is not their traditional choice for solving long-term core issues. Sometimes, donors also place restrictions on the use of their contributions, preferring solutions that produce quick, clear results.

Today, Demine Robotics is officially endorsed and supported by the governments of Cambodia and Canada as well as a number of landmine clearance NGOs. Richard will share his journey to change the hearts and minds of leaders in the NGO and government world.

12:00 - Closing Remarks