This conversation combines the thoughts gathered after three separate events. The first an interactive back and forth with a supercomputer, the second a conference discussing the launch of an innovative finance platform powered by AI and backed by data and a piece someone shared about the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund. My interest is in identifying patterns and trends in our days that signal great change and making sure you and i both are not left on the wrong side of history.

This Program delivers a groundbreaking solution to address

modern-day challenges, diversify the economy, and establish high-

tech, high-value-added, high-income, and truly green businesses

and projects. The RISE platform enables financial institutions to create

demand for sustainable finance by turning key societal, economic

and environmental challenges into transformational business

opportunities.

This approach enables financial institutions deploy their loans,

advances and investment portfolio through exploiting science and

technology, revolutionizing business models, fueling innovation in

the economy and igniting corporate and start-up entrepreneurship

to fast-track socio-economic transformation that is environmentally

and climate friendly.

The RISE Platform equips the authorised financial institution with proprietary

tools to genuinely green its portfolio.

The platform is equipped with the following key elements:

Rise for Sustainability Challenge

The Proprietary Challenger Application, where anyone

can come forward and post a Challenge that needs to be addressed in the

local communities, in the country or even globally. The digital and technol-

ogy-savvy new generation of technopreneurs and all those who are ready to

push boundaries are invited to accept the challenges. Entrepreneurs with

the best solutions are connected for funding and support with the aim to

make them the global pioneers in their fields.

Rise for Sustainability Challenge

Through a proprietary Tech Profile Creator, tech solution providers publish

their breakthrough features based on established sustainability criteria. It

closes the knowledge gap around “sustainability technology,” enables effec-

tive screening, encourages socially, economically, and ecologically sustain-

able innovation, and qualifies providers offering ground breaking high-tech

solutions for industry and society. Through this component, RISE aims to

reduce the cost of emerging green technologies, one of the main barriers

to industrial modernisation and sustainable economic development.

3Rise for Sustainable Energy Ecosystem Development (SEED)

Proprietary SEED Application is dedicated to one

specific area needing urgent attention, i.e., sustainable energy solutions.

SEED also envisages localization of the energy supply

chains and thereby create new, green and good jobs in the country while

hedging against the global disruptions.

Rise for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Ecosystem (SAFE)

It brings together all key stakeholders,

including public bodies, established and emerging players in the agricul-

tural and food value chain, reputable technology companies, tech startups,

scientists, engineering community and others under one Platform, to turn

the agrifood sector into high- tech, high-yield, resource-efficient and hu-

man and environmentally friendly industry. The aim here goes beyond food

security to healthy food security through healthy earth.

PCC Profile Creator for Engineering, Procurement, Construction,

and Commissioning (EPCC)

Companies This component brings the national engineering community on

board with the aim to create domestic consortiums to cut the cost of pro-

jects requiring EPCCs. It also aims to pre-qualify engineering consortiums

and companies, among others, based on their sustainability credentials. The

pre-qualified EPCCs provide engineering services to the funded projects.

4RISE for Government Agencies and Public Institutions

This component has the purpose of onboarding the government bodies

and provide them with a unique opportunity to transform, modernize and

technologize economic development, provide highly targeted science,

technology and innovation interventions to create a new sustainable econ-

omy. This program component aims to make government organizations a

close partner of financial institutions in enabling large scale investments in

selected industry sectors/subsectors and economic activities.

The month of February is upon us. We are easing into the year by further developing some of the projects we began at the end of last year. Our piece on time travel and investment is concluded in this issue with the author Brad Slingerlend giving us a list of films that help us understand what we can learn from Hollywood’s take on time travel. In the light of a rather eventful start of the year (news wise). We are also putting together some thoughts on why politics and governance matter so much in the present age and how you can effectively navigate your space in business and life in general going forward. The purpose of this section is simply to excite you into thinking critically and engaging with your community. The supplement…really ad piece from our partner Founders Freedom is also highlighted. We are thrilled to learn from Founder’s Freedom especially because of their drive to help leaders, organizations, businesses and teams think and plan long term to see more successful transitions and business and organizational succession. Another part we began last month is concluded in this month except this time we are focusing on Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the young people that this group partnered with and worked with to help develop their businesses and strengthen their capacity. In the world of investment, one of the most risky responsibilities is that of first investor. You take on a new company, you work with fresh teams if there are any at all, brush up business plans, strategies look at financials and submit your first cheque. Later on, others that invest when success is more or less guaranteed can benefit but only after you have done the dirty work. I see this section as handling the first part. JICA has done all that is necessary to sift through the companies and individuals training them and equipping them and investing in them. Now the rest of us especially those interested in investing in any of these companies can have an easier time coming in other investment rounds.In light of what some see as a bleak future, the long walk might be a good watch to see what this film maker predicts in the future of an alternative America. We review the film in the “On the Reel” section. Finally in the Q and A, I have a conversation with a fictional governance AI bot…really AI system of leadership and management built for the world. While there are some countries that are already experimenting with this, the possibilities are endless and the potential great. Inoue Yoichi Shigefumi Okumura Pearl D. Gakazi Akihiro M. Katsuki Cirus Sumika Ai Yoshitani Emmanuel T. Brian Bigirwa Sachin H. Isaac Kiwanda Shigeru Handa Franc Kamugyisha Innocent Menyo Josephine Lunkuse @Toru Akahori Racheal Nantaba Namuyiga sekitoleko George@UJ-Connect Kolaborate Uganda Summic ICT Solutions Freud Gizmo Everlend Agritech Brentec Agrosahas International Easy Ride Ecoplastile M-Scan Nippon Signal