Business Assistance Fiji (BAF) partnered with VentureWell and Global Innovation Through Science and Technology (GIST) to host a three-day Investor Readiness Startup Training & Investor Follow-On Training program.
The event took place from August 5-7 at the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa in Nadi, attracting participants from various organizations across Fiji, Tuvalu, Australia, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea, according to a statement from BAF.
The GIST Startup training was designed to empower young innovators and entrepreneurs in the fields of science and technology through hands-on training and mentorship from experts based in the United States.
US Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Nauru, and Tuvalu, Marie C. Damour, who was the chief guest at the event, highlighted the importance of strengthening connections between Pacific startups and investors. She emphasized the significant potential of green entrepreneurship and impact investing while addressing the challenges of climate change faced by Pacific economies.
“Through GIST, we aim to support Pacific-led innovations that tackle these regional challenges, particularly in the areas of sustainability and equitable development,” she stated.
Dr. Rumman Chowdhary, a data scientist with experience in American politics and economics, discussed the importance of responsible AI development to ensure technology serves all users effectively. She noted, “Having worked at Accenture and Twitter, I’ve observed the critical need to address biases and scale AI solutions responsibly. AI must be informed by diverse global perspectives since current models often reflect a limited, Western-centric view.”
Dr. Chowdhary also underscored the importance of establishing robust testing and evaluation mechanisms while creating inclusive solutions to combat issues like gender-based violence and cultural biases in AI.