Komunidad has taken its innovative solutions to the international stage as it joined the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, and the 4YFN Global Startup Event held from February 27 to March 1.
Co-Founder and COO Allister Ayque, together with Philippines Country Manager Jong Lequiron, represented Komunidad at MWC Barcelona, which brought together technology enthusiasts from various backgrounds, including senior executives, governments, innovators, and consumers. The summit highlighted five key themes this year: 5G Acceleration, Reality+, OpenNet, Digital Everything, and FinTech.
Allister Ayque spoke at the “Mobile for Development Seminar: A Better Climate Future – Opportunities for Innovation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience,” where innovation in strengthening climate adaptation and resilience took center stage.
The event recognizes that “low- and middle-income countries are under enormous pressure to adapt and build their resilience to climate change,” it said on its website. But it highlighted that technology, complemented by policies and cross-sector partnerships, can help these economies cope with and recover from disasters due to climate change.
Joining Ayque on stage are Max Cuvellier, head of Mobile for Development, GSMA; Akanksha Sharma, head of ClimateTech and Digital Utilities, GSMA; Aya Tarek Helmy, co-founder and managing director, BENAA Foundation; Susan Njihia, Innovation and CX Lead, Hello Tractor; Chris Edwards, Technology and Innovation Adviser, FCDO and Nadja Dolata, Policy Specialist Digital for Development, Swedish International Development Agency.
Ayque and Lequiron also joined the GSMA Startup Portfolio Showcase.
In 2022, Komunidad inked a partnership with the GSMA Innovation Fund, where the latter will help 11 startups across the globe develop and scale digital solutions to empower vulnerable communities against the impact of climate change.
Komunidad, being among the Top 5 Finalists for the EAE Business School Impact Awards 2023, had the opportunity to present on stage, along with other impact start-ups that are working towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The top-5 finalists are Barcelona-based BCOME, a platform for fashion sustainability management; India’s Janajal, which pioneered IoT-based vehicles that deliver clean drinking water; Hello Tractor, an agricultural technology from Kenya and Nigeria; and ColorSensing, also from Barcelona, which helps reduce food waste.
BCOME was awarded the top prize.
Ayque said that he is “thankful and happy” for the opportunity to bring Komunidad’s work and story onto the global stage, as their visibility as a startup company in the international congress has a significant impact on Komunidad’s goals and objectives.
Ayque added that their experience at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain “enables our solutions to have further opportunities to scale and provide more impact to communities globally.”
“This sets the tone that a global reach is possible as a startup, and the problem that we are solving has global urgency,” he said.
