In cities where the tech industry booms, homelessness and under-housing also tend to increase. Homelessness is already an issue that affects an estimated 235,000 Canadians each year. But according to three nonprofits, the same industry that’s contributing to these existing issues holds promise as an innovative way to build, design, and scale new solutions.
At True North Waterloo, top leaders at the crossroads of tech and social impact came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges in the field.
In 2013, Pathways to Education became the first charity in Canada to accept bitcoin donations. Fast forward to 2019, and giving platform CHIMP has processed over $2.5 million in cryptocurrency donations. Cryptocurrency has clearly already met the world of impact — but the arrival of Libra is about to make that relationship far more complicated.
The tech sector has been called out for being a danger to our democracy, our children, and ourselves. Leaders see a need for change and the tech sector is in the midst of a reckoning. How we move forward will have a lasting impact in our digital-first society.
Platforms monitoring data streams and providing digital resources are trying to address the early warning signs of mental health disorders. Models like these may be the key to staying one step ahead, and addressing problems proactively before they turn into more serious crises.
The AI train isn’t stopping. For social impact, and other sectors, the talent mix of the near future will be human intelligence mixed with machine intelligence. Impact-focused leaders need to think about how they are teaming to make use of—and push back on—an internet economy powered by algorithms.
