Sam Saili is a tech entrepreneur from Samoa. He has seen first-hand the impacts the of climate crisis in the Pacific. He wants to see more Pacific solutions by Pacific people in tackling the challenges. Makkiya Jawed and Sehat Kahani connect women doctors to the patients in underserved communities in rural Pakistan through tele-health solutions. Sehat Kahani was founded to address the complex “Doctor Bride” phenomenon and It is an audacious goal, given the many social and cultural barriers that exist for women and the disparities between urban and rural communities.

Despite their different upbringings, Mike Lwin and Dr Yar Zar Minn Htoo have a shared passion for improving the lives of people in Myanmar through their software company Koe Koe Tech.  Growing up in the suburban US, Mike’s life was easy. He feels very motivated to use his knowledge of technology and business to make a difference. Growing up in Myanmar, Yar Zar worked his way out of poverty to become a doctor and software engineer. Sehat Kahani founders share their personal experiences with gender inequality and explain how this has motivated them to try and bring about a change for the next generation of female doctors.

Sam meets up with some of his partners in Samoa and  continues to gain insights from various partners and industry experts in the hopes of expanding his business to Tonga. Expanding a business from one end of the Pacific to the other is not easy.  Mike and Yar Zar need to make a critical decision for the next stage of their business. Do they add an extra product to their already wide portfolio? Have they taken on too much? How do they measure the impact of their business and know if what they do actually works? Makkiya and Sehat Kahani sit down to determine what is needed to open their new clinic. 

Sam and his brother, Co-Founder of SkyEye, travel to Australia where they meet with the leading drone expert Dr. Catherine Ball. Sam is invited to present at the World of Drones Congress. Sam and the Pacific are on the global stage alongside drone industry thought-leaders.  Makkiya travels to the rural city of Larkana to open the new Sehat Kahani clinic and all is ready to welcome new patients. But an emergency threatens to stop the launch from happening.

Walking through the streets of downtown Yangon, Mike and Yar Zar come to a conclusion that they have an exciting stage ahead. Mike sees that his primary focus will always be the community, with Yar Zar reflecting on just how much social entrepreneurship has given him and his family.  Makkiya and the Sehat Kahani team finally roll out the new clinic. First patients come in and receive consultations with qualified doctors without a need to travel to far away cities.  And Sam begins SkyEye operations in Tonga, launching his first drone flight over the island – a symbol of everything that is to come. 

Being a female entrepreneur is not always easy. Makkiya Jawed, Director of Sehat Kahani, talks about inequality she sees and how women’s empowerment is at the center of what she does.

Koe Koe Tech team is rather busy this month. Heymar Win, Program Manager, talks about a long list of projects the team is working on – a justice to access app, a breastfeeding campaign and more.

Sehat Kahani have a new office, are opening new clinics and starting a number of new projects. In the midst of it all, Makkyia is travelling to a conference in Seoul and planning her wedding. But she has realised how important it is to smile and appreciate beauty, especially when life is busy.

Mike and Yar Zar need to make a critical decision for the next stage of their business. Do they add an extra product to their already wide portfolio? Have they taken on too much? How do they measure the impact of their business and know if what they do actually works?

Sam Saili, CEO and Co-Founder of SkyEye, and his brother Unaso Nome Saili, Co-Founder, are at the World Drone Congress in Australia. Sam will talk about drones in humanitarian crises. They are learning and meeting new partners.

Meet some of the amazing Sehat Kahani team. They are passionate about what they do and make things happen.

Hear Koe Koe Tech team members talk about how they work as a team and collaborate to overcome challenges and find new solutions.

Makkyia is in China and climbs up the Great Wall. It is exhausting but you can bet she will make the journey and enjoy the beauty of it.

Mike talks about his personal drive to be a social entrepreneur. Mike and  Zaid Moosa, Business Development Director, talk about when is the right time for an investment and the importance of finding the right investor for their social enterprise.

Myanadi Kyaw, Ethnographer, talks about extensive user testing her team does to ensure Koe Koe Tech’s apps and software are made for their users.

What has Mike been up to? He travelled to the US to some of the top universities to look for interns and fellows to join his team. Back in Yangon, he gave a TedX Yangon talk about the incredible tech talent and opportunities in Myanmar.

Co-Founders Mike Lwin and Dr Yar Zar Minn Htoo and their team talk about the impact they are achieving and would like to achieve. They are passionate about what they do and are not afraid to be out of their comfort zone to learn and achieve greater change in Myanmar.