AI for Good to introduce its first pitch series with AI startups

In 2015 the United Nations identified 17 goals for sustainable development for the world to reach by 2030. Unbeknownst to many, AI-based technologies are already proving critical to achieving a number of these targets.

The impact on just a handful of these fields, including health and climate, has the potential to positively transform global society, and can remind us why the inevitable disruptions are as much a reason for optimism as they are for anxiety.

AI for Good’s Innovation Factory looks to better highlight this positive impact, and this May 15th is hosting a pitch series with six leading AI startups.

The series will be held at 4pm-5:15pm CET (7:30pm-8:45pm Mumbai), and will include discussions with mentors on topics related to social impact entrepreneurship, followed by live pitching.

Mentors at the Friday session include Stephen Ibaraki, a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, futurist and speaker. He’s also a founding member of the UN ITU AI for Good Global Summit, founding chair of the Financial Services Roundtable Tech Advisory Council, and founding chair of the International Federation for Information Processing Global Industry Council.

Vera Futorjanski, a Board Member and a Senior Advisor for LEAD Ventures, the office of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, will also be a mentor, in addition to Sasha Cahill, serial technology entrepreneur, speaker, and startup mentor.

Sasha is focused on bringing AI-enabled technology to the healthcare market.

Neil Sahota, another mentor, works to inspire clients and business partners to foster innovation and develop next generation products/solutions powered by AI.

Zhi Zhen Qin, who works in the interface between digital health innovations and public health, particularly in the context of human tuberculosis, will also help mentor the startups. Qin is trained in epidemiology and biostatistics and is fluent in R & Python.

AI for Good is an initiative from the ITU, an agency from the United Nations, whose global membership includes 193 Member States as well as some 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.

One of ITU’s aims is to connect all the world’s people, wherever they live and whatever their means.