Meet the start-ups vying to catch WFP’s eye
New blockchain and artificial intelligence solutions take center stage at the latest WFP Innovation Bootcamp in Munich, Germany.
This week, ten teams from across the world are meeting at the World Food Programme (WFP)’s dedicated Innovation Accelerator to design, test and grow the latest solutions to help achieve Zero Hunger.
Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence once again take center stage, with teams aiming to find solutions to humanitarian supply chain challenges or speed up data processing in the wake of disasters. Just as they did at the last Bootcamp in March 2018, start-ups and tech-minded WFP staff will be able to call upon the support and guidance of the Google Developers Launchpad. Google’s flagship acceleration programme will help start-ups and teams by matching them with the best of Google — its people, network and technologies.
During the five-day Bootcamp, participating teams will have access to a range of tutorials and training, with experts from across the world (many of whom are volunteering their time) delivering seminars on topics such as product/market fit, user experience (UX), design and marketing.
Teams are hoping that their innovations will catch the eye of the Accelerator during the Bootcamp week and at Pitch Night, where they will present their solutions to an audience of investors, partners and the Accelerator at Google’s Munich office. If successful, they will stand a chance of receiving funding, hands-on support and access to a global humanitarian network to bring their concept to life.
Pitch night is on Thursday 7 June. To secure a seat at the event, register here. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis!
Meet the participating teams
WFP innovation teams
AI & Remote Sensing
WFP staff are teaming up with Google’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) team and remote sensing experts to develop new automatization tools for humanitarian emergency relief operations.
Blocks for Transport
Blocks for Transport aims to create a faster, more cost-effective supply chain through the implementation of blockchain technology. Blocks for Transport provides full workflow visibility where paperwork, financial payment and physical goods intersect.
Logistics Cluster Preparedness
Using AI, satellite data, remote sensing, semantic engines and automated user-machine communication interfaces, WFP’s Logistics Cluster has developed an Emergency Preparedness platform that uses primary, secondary and crowd-sourced data to help overall emergency support.
MEZA
MEZA is a new tool to quickly collect nutrition and related health data from remote, low-resource clinics. It helps WFP and governments access the information they need to provide high-quality, context-specific and timely nutrition support.
The Migration Pulse
The Migration Pulse uses state-of-the-art data collection tools to track, analyse and understand migration and forced displacement. The Migration Pulse gives a voice to the displaced and their host communities, while helping humanitarians deliver better assistance.
VAMPIRE — Tracking the impact of major climate events
Together with local partners and other UN agencies, WFP Indonesia built a dashboard to track the impact of drought and floods on food security. VAMPIRE brings different data streams into a single interactive map, showing the extent of drought affected areas, the impacts on markets, and the coping strategies and resilience of affected populations.
Rwanda Supply Chain
WFP Rwanda aims to improve the capacity of its supply chain to reduce stunting and malnutrition in the communities it supports. The team is testing technologies such as automation, image scanning, IoT and blockchain.
External Start-Ups
Cloud to Street
Cloud to Street is a remote sensing platform that maps floods in near real-time and delivers dynamic risk information in a web dashboard at a fraction of the cost of traditional flood modelling.
Learn more here: http://www.cloudtostreet.info/about.html
Emictric
EMICTRIC offers a new solution for rapid community engagement and needs assessment by gathering data and resources from within the affected community — all you need is an app and a WiFi connection.
Learn more here: https://www.emictric.org/our-vision/
Famoco
Famoco uses new digital mobile solutions, such as near-field communication (NFC) wearables, to track the attendance of children in WFP’s school meals programme. Appropriate, secure and non-intrusive NFC wearables could be integrated with existing WFP data and databases.
Learn more about Famoco here: https://www.famoco.com
The WFP Innovation Accelerator sources, supports and scales high-potential solutions to end hunger worldwide. We provide WFP staff, entrepreneurs, start-ups, companies and non-governmental organizations with access to funding, mentorship, hands-on support and WFP operations.
Find out more about us: http://innovation.wfp.org
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