UNLEASHING THE BOTTOM UP
This means; The new generation has economic, political, cultural and societal voices and the capability to implement them By the billions will have access to the world with virtually all of human knowledge at their finger tips essentially for free Will share ideas, collaborate with a true sense of empowerment when we see people like us succeeds which means we can succeed
This means an ability to problem solve bottom up by those with the very greatest stake in solving them “Top down institutions -- big corporations, governments -- think of people as problems to be solved. With new technology we unleash problem solving bottom up, by the very people with the greatest stake to solve these problems. In this world, people aren't problems -- they are assets to be unleashed.”
THE REAL LESSON OF ALI BABA
And we are in this phenomena's infancy Newest technologies -- blockchain, AI, VR, genomics while software once developed in the West, now accessible anywhere Unprecedented ability to "leap frog" infrastructure challenges, anywhere Massive rising middle, consuming classes in rising markets means unique solutions for those markets that can expand in a “new global” And unleashing of world class talent as the next billion become digital everywhere …
There is no precedence for this in history. And yet . . . And all I described viewed as trivial and one-sided My travels in the Middle East It’s a tough neighborhood — but that is all we hear about in the West
Tell that to women who historically/culturally have had limited opportunities
Tell that to a child in a classroom of 70+ students, drilled in wrote learning barely able to keep up, graduation barely literate
The real lesson of souq.com
The real lesson of Careem
BTW, over 25% of startups in the region are run by women (much higher than Silicon Valley!)
A n d , o f c o u r s e , t h i s i s h a p p e n i n g e v e r y w h e r e . W h a t i s t h e l a r g e s t m o b i l e p a y m e n t c o u n t r y i n a g g r e g a t e d o l l a r s ?
Which country is this? Near every 3G/4G were Computer Everyone government skipped as programming under 21 gets interaction is the country is required in a tablet or digital went to LTE schools smart phone
This is, of course, happening here in South East Asia, Latin American, Eastern Europe And there is no going back. It is the greatest opportunity for rising societies in history.
The naysayers in government and politics Think this is a side show to the major, 20 th century machinations of geopolitics Miss the speed of it Miss that we are in the infancy of new technologies Miss, in fact, that EVERY company today is a software company Miss that EVERY problem has a software application to remedy/disrupt Miss that we are forced to see ourselves and the world as open opportunity We no longer need wait for a generation to change anything We can act now
And it compels us -- government and individuals alike – – to ask central new questions: What lives can be saved with instant How will the next and affordable genetic diagnosis of disease; cancer treatments that will decade be different make chemo therapy seem to our What can happen when we than the last? kids what blood-letting seem to us? all can easily connect with each other and collaborate? What is a world where everyone What human expression may can transact value safely, be opened up anywhere in the transparently, instantly, no world when people do not middlemen, billions of whom are have to labor impossible hours often unconnected and unbanked for impossible wages? today?
What IS “innovation”? The bright shiny new thing, for sure But putting a smart device in an individual’s hands for the first time also
The irony of the naysayers Where are Governments in particular held accountable to the point of existentialism? To solve issues of health, education, job creation, safety Track record is, shall we say, lagging with traditional tools But what happens when they embrace and unleash entrepreneurs? The real lesson of Nafham
The play book is NOT creating the “Silicon Valley” of anything Every great country and people will unleash their own talent in their own way In the short run, the opening of rule of law is easy and immediate to facilitate the free movement of people, goods, services, ideas and capital securely allows this phenomena to take off In the medium term, assuring access to technology and education not only skills but in critical thinking are all foundational Privacy, security are all serious issues and will need local ways to address it
The opportunity is here – But so is the warning – For nation's that ignore it, with the speed of change, they risk not only missing this opportunity, but being in a position to never catch up
It’s not that simple — the risks are real and must be engaged “Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there's a man who sits behind a counter and says, Alright, you can have a telephone, but you lose privacy and the charm of distance. Mister, you may conquer the air, but the birds will lose their wonder and the clouds will smell of gasoline.”
Christopher M. Schroeder Co-Founder, Next Billion Ventures @cmschroed
Recommend
More recommend
