Over the past five years, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to and documenting the stories of builders using AWS technologies to solve tough human problems for my Now Go Build series. Whether it’s giving identity to previously unbanked rice farmers in Indonesia, using computer vision and machine learning to responsibly farm fish in Norway, or finding ways to pair cloud technology with human intuition to reforest parts of Hawaii, innovative people around the world are showing that not everyone wants to be the next unicorn and prove that it is possible to do good and run a profitable business.
However, realizing the full potential that technology offers to address these pressing issues, such as disaster relief and climate change, requires more than financial investment. It requires a specialized focus on nurturing and developing the technical expertise and innovation capabilities of leaders in these areas. That’s why I announced the Now Go Build CTO Fellowship at VivaTech earlier this year in collaboration with AI for Changemakers, led by Tech To The Rescue.
This scholarship is tailored for emerging technology leaders in nonprofit and social impact organizations. It provides fellows with training, mentorship, and access to AWS experts to accelerate their growth and development of technology solutions that can make a difference in areas such as disaster management, climate, health, and more.
Today I’d like to announce the first two cohorts of the Now Go Build CTO Fellowship: Disaster Management and Climate Resilience. These individuals and their organizations are taking on some of humanity’s toughest problems—and I’d like to introduce them to you (in their own words).
Aleksandra (Ola) Bilicka, Help.NGO
Based in: Poznań, Poland
From a young age, I recognized the significant potential of technology to do good, from flying ultralight aircraft to witnessing drones identify endangered penguin colonies. Hybrid edge computing and its ability to solve some of the world’s most challenging humanitarian and development problems has been a driving force for me. In my current role, I am fortunate to be able to utilize these technologies as our team responds to crises and complex emergencies, from hurricanes in Mexico and tornadoes in Kentucky to earthquakes in Turkey and conflicts in Ukraine. Our team leverages open source AWS workloads to enable multinational organizations, local leaders, and first responders to understand challenges on the ground, visualize data, make informed decisions, and communicate on the go. I hope the Fellowship will equip me with leadership skills and provide a deeper understanding of emerging technologies and their applications in emergency settings.
Based in: Saint Paul, MN, USA
Mercy Corps is a global organization serving communities in more than 40 countries, helping them recover from disasters, break the cycle of poverty, and pave the way for prosperity in the face of injustice, instability, and climate change. We use digital technologies, remote sensing, AI and cloud computing to develop and scale innovative solutions that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian aid. As Chief Technology Officer for Development, I lead efforts to identify new technology and data applications, develop strategies for technology integration, and build internal technical capabilities. The CTO Fellowship is an extraordinary opportunity to learn from one of the world’s most innovative leaders and elevate our ability to use technology for social good.
Based in: Pittsburgh, PA
With two decades of technology experience in various industries including gaming, finance and now food recovery, I have served as the head of engineering at 412 Food Rescue/Food Rescue Hero for the past five years. During this time, I helped grow the Food Rescue Hero (FRH) platform to engage more than 50,000 volunteers in 20 regions across North America. The FRH platform offers Food Recovery Organizations a comprehensive solution for the effective operation and management of volunteers to streamline the food recovery process and make it as intuitive, fair and accessible as possible for all stakeholders. This fellowship represents a unique opportunity to gain insight into the challenges faced by other innovative organizations in our field. Additionally, it will expand our national reach and set the stage for our global expansion efforts.
Based in: Heredia, Costa Rica
I am deeply passionate about using innovative technologies, remote sensing, image processing and data to create positive impact. As CTO of qAIRa in Lima, Peru and CEO of Green Xpo Lab in San José, Costa Rica, I lead teams that use remote sensing technology, data analytics and artificial intelligence models to develop solutions that enable our clients to make informed decisions. . We are focused on creating the ideal platform for presenting these results, which will provide our clients with not only access to the data they need, but also valuable insights that will lead to the continuous improvement of our offering. The Fellowship represents an exciting opportunity for me to chart a clear path to becoming an exceptional project and product manager as well as a more effective technology leader. As I strive to lead my teams to success, I am eager to acquire the tools and strategies necessary to direct our efforts and more effectively achieve our ambitious goals.
Based in: Ubungo, Tanzania
As CTO at Code for Africa, I lead teams that build civic technology solutions that empower communities and drive social change across the continent through data-driven initiatives. My passion lies in using technology to solve social problems with a focus on developing accessible tools for citizen engagement, data analysis and public service delivery. As an open-source advocate and seasoned tech leader, I’m committed to creating technology that serves those who need it most.
Based in: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Growing up in Latin America, I witnessed the challenges our region faces. This experience fueled my desire to make a difference and led me to a career in public affairs where I honed my skills in driving impactful change. However, I was looking for a way to apply these skills with greater precision and scope – as a surgeon, one needs a scalpel, not just a hammer. This pursuit led me to CRIES, where we use AI and OSINT to address critical issues such as arms trafficking, protecting the rights of indigenous communities, countering disinformation, and preventing climate conflicts. I believe the Now Go Build Fellowship will help us increase our impact and develop an ambitious early warning system for the region.
Based in: Bangladesh and Nepal
With almost a decade of experience managing innovation in the humanitarian and development sectors, I focus on supporting open source innovation and community-wide approaches to increase resilience in resource-constrained environments. My expertise lies in using social innovation, human-centered design and judicious use of frontier technologies to solve the problems we face during humanitarian crises. As Chair of the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub Advisory Group and a member of the Ethereum Foundation, I bring a diverse perspective to the field. I currently lead research, strategy development and rapid experimentation efforts with generative AI at ACAPS and BRAC.
Based in: Bristol, United Kingdom
I’m Petya Kangalova, Head of Technology Partnerships and Engagement at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). At HOT, we provide mapping data that is revolutionizing disaster management, mitigating risk and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We are developing an open source toolkit for collaborative mapping and geospatial data collection, including an AI-enabled mapping service that increases the effectiveness of humanitarian mappers.
As an open technology enthusiast, community builder, innovator, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, this scholarship will allow me to strengthen my leadership skills and accelerate innovation in open mapping and geospatial. It will also facilitate connections and collaborations with other leaders in the technology and humanitarian sectors, enabling us to improve our technologies and create more sustainable impact in addressing today’s most pressing challenges.
Based in: Pune, India
At WOTR, I lead initiatives that use technology to increase rural resilience and empowerment, address challenges in sustainable agriculture, food security, drought resilience and climate adaptation. By integrating artificial intelligence, satellite imagery and mobile tools, we enable communities to make data-driven decisions and improve operational efficiency. The CTO Fellowship offers invaluable insights and connections to help us expand our impact on rural livelihoods and environmental protection.
A challenge to future colleagues
While our inaugural members have been selected, we are still accepting members focusing on these critical areas:
- Health
- Education
- Economic development
Visit Tech to the Rescue to learn more about the Now Go Build CTO Fellowship and to apply.
Now go build!
