Innovating for Social Impact with Rumee Singh

Not everyone has that pivotal moment where they realise what they want to do with their life, and that's okay. The important thing is to be open to ideas and opportunities even if they may take you a different direction.

Rumee Singh is the CEO and co-founder of Rahat and a Tech Entrepreneur. Join us as Rumee shares the full-circle journey that brought her home, and building solutions that make an impact in her community.

About Rumee Singh 

Rumee Singh, CEO of a UNICEF Innovation Fund portfolio startup, leads Rahat, a financial access platform addressing climate impact and fostering inclusion for the most vulnerable. Rumee started her entrepreneurial journey after moving back to Nepal in 2018. With over 20 years of global leadership, Rumee Singh is celebrated among Nepal's leading women in tech; a 2023 MIT Solver and is featured in the Women for Change 2024 global campaign.

Rumee's work through Rahat has positively impacted 20,000+ beneficiaries. As a GSMA Innovation Fund grantee, her team is currently working to streamline efforts for timely humanitarian responses for vulnerable households in flood-prone regions. Rumee also founded a non-profit addressing the stress of blood management in Nepal, and her initiative has saved over 23,000 lives.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:03] Following the familial STEM path.

[00:03:12] The concern that it felt 'wrong' to not know your direction in life.

[00:03:57] The pivot to journalism and communications.

[00:05:12] The journey home and connecting with community.

[00:07:14] So, what now? Deciding what comes next.

[00:07:51] A reminder of what has always been important to her.

[00:08:44] Hamro Lifebank and the digital transformation of blood management.

[00:14:11] Rumsan, and leveraging technology for social impact.

[00:15:15] Exploring blockchain as a tool.

[00:15:40] Rahat, to support transparency in tracking humanitarian aid and reaching the underbanked.

[00:17:08] The challenges of pioneering with new technology and the value of industry support.

[00:18:30] Anticipatory Action (AA) in disaster response.

[00:19:33] Direct financial access support and building community resilience.

[00:20:06] Supporting digital and financial literacy in underserved populations to reduce the digital divide.

[00:21:18] Technology is just a tool. The end-user doesn't and shouldn't have to know how their problem is solved.

[00:23:08] Technological leapfrogging and the challenges with all forms of literacy.

[00:24:26] You will always need people in the field, but tech can shoulder some of the load.

[00:27:27] The challenge of balancing expanding support opportunities and scope creep.

[00:31:36] Societal and humanitarian issues are multifaceted.

[00:33:52] The challenges of making impact sustainable.

Connect with STEAM Powered

Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon

Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935"...