Sadaf (Safi) Lakhani is the Cofounder & CEO of Cognitiks a mission driven social enterprise. That works with organizations in emerging and high-risk markets to optimize social & environmental risk management and maximize social impact. Safi has 18+ years of experience working at the nexus of ESG, development and conflict for private firms and development agencies in countries around the world. Safi is a published thought leader and practitioner on social risk. She contributed to the World Development Report 2014 on Risk and Opportunity and World Bank flagship on Inclusion and Shared Prosperity and writes a regular blog for the Institute for Economics and Peace. She has worked for extractives, technology, coffee and consumer goods companies globally, managing social risk and community outreach as well as for the United Nations, World Bank, United States Institute of Peace and European Commission managing programs and policy on fragile and conflict contexts.

How Data Analytics Can Accelerate Development in Frontier Markets

We deliver independent emerging market focused technology, digital and innovation insights and analysis.

Every quarter we produce a community activation mini-series diving deep into the most pertinent issues, headlines, and conversations in the global startup movement.

We produce podcasts, virtual activations, live events, and bespoke market insight content with a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of the stakeholders within the global tech and innovation landscape.

The show is executive produced by presented by entrepreneur, Andrew Berkowitz.

Technology

Tech News

Podcasting

Gadgets

Software How-To

Business

Investing

Careers

Management & Marketing

Business News

Shopping

Ecosystem Arabia - Episode 6 of 6 - In the sixth and final episode of our 6 week community activation, host Andrew Berkowitz dives into how ecosystem builders in the region can better engage their diaspora and incentivize talented expats to move to the region to start and invest in startups.
This community activation is an interactive digital gathering of the Middle East and North African startup ecosystems it consists of a 6 episode podcast mini-series and a 6 week live-streamed startup pitch competition, which will both culminate in an interactive virtual summit on February 16th.
Register for the virtual summit at https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit (https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit)
Interact with the podcast and pitch competition by registering your email https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv/ (https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv)
A special thanks to our presenting partner https://www.exim.gov/mena (The Export-Import Bank of the United States). As the global middle class grows and technology makes the world smaller, opportunities have never been greater for American businesses to reach customers beyond U.S. border. EXIM provides federal resources to access capital and mitigate foreign risk. And no business is too small. Let EXIM help you export fearlessly to the MENA region and beyond. Visit exim.gov/mena to learn more.

Reversing the MENA brain drain

Ecosystem Arabia - Episode 5 of 6 - In the fifth episode of our 6 week community activation, host Andrew Berkowitz dives into the different types of capital available to entrepreneurs in the MENA region.
This community activation is an interactive digital gathering of the Middle East and North African startup ecosystems it consists of a 6 episode podcast mini-series and a 6 week live-streamed startup pitch competition, which will both culminate in an interactive virtual summit on February 16th.
Register for the virtual summit at https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit (https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit)
Interact with the podcast and pitch competition by registering your email https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv/ (https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv)
A special thanks to our presenting partner https://www.exim.gov/mena (The Export-Import Bank of the United States). As the global middle class grows and technology makes the world smaller, opportunities have never been greater for American businesses to reach customers beyond U.S. border. EXIM provides federal resources to access capital and mitigate foreign risk. And no business is too small. Let EXIM help you export fearlessly to the MENA region and beyond. Visit exim.gov/mena to learn more.

Increasing access to capital for MENA startups

Ecosystem Arabia - Episode 4 of 6 - In the fourth episode of our 6 week community activation, host Andrew Berkowitz dives into the Israel and UAE economic normalization, what it means for the country's startup ecosystems, and how tech can be a force for connection between Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, and Jews.
This community activation is an interactive digital gathering of the Middle East and North African startup ecosystems it consists of a 6 episode podcast mini-series and a 6 week live-streamed startup pitch competition, which will both culminate in an interactive virtual summit on February 16th.
Register for the virtual summit at https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit (https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit)
Interact with the podcast and pitch competition by registering your email https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv (https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv)
A special thanks to our presenting partner https://www.exim.gov/mena (The Export-Import Bank of the United States). As the global middle class grows and technology makes the world smaller, opportunities have never been greater for American businesses to reach customers beyond U.S. border. EXIM provides federal resources to access capital and mitigate foreign risk. And no business is too small. Let EXIM help you export fearlessly to the MENA region and beyond. Visit exim.gov/mena to learn more.

Startups as a force for Israeli economic normalization

Ecosystem Arabia - Episode 3 of 6 - In the third episode of our 6 week community activation, host Andrew Berkowitz hands the mic over to Joy Ajlouny, the Cofounder of Fetchr in Dubai and Viola Llewelyn, the Cofounder of Ovamba Solutions in Cameroon for a candid discussion on what it's like being a woman leader building a tech scaleup in the Gulf region and in Africa.
This community activation is an interactive digital gathering of the Middle East and North African startup ecosystems it consists of a 6 episode podcast mini-series and a 6 week live-streamed startup pitch competition, which will both culminate in an interactive virtual summit on February 16th.
Register for the virtual summit at https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit (https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit)
Interact with the podcast and pitch competition by registering your email https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv (https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv)
A special thanks to our presenting partner https://www.exim.gov/mena (The Export-Import Bank of the United States). As the global middle class grows and technology makes the world smaller, opportunities have never been greater for American businesses to reach customers beyond U.S. border. EXIM provides federal resources to access capital and mitigate foreign risk. And no business is too small. Let EXIM help you export fearlessly to the MENA region and beyond. Visit exim.gov/mena to learn more.

Female leadership in the Middle Eastern and African tech industries

Ecosystem Arabia - Episode 2 of 6 - In the second episode of our 6 week community activation, we tell the inside stories of the entrepreneurs laying down the foundation for the payments, logistics, and artificial intelligence industries in the region.
This community activation is an interactive digital gathering of the Middle East and North African startup ecosystems it consists of a 6 episode podcast mini-series and a 6 week live-streamed startup pitch competition, which will both culminate in an interactive virtual summit on February 16th.
Register for the virtual summit at https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit (https://hopin.com/events/ecosystem-arabia-virtual-summit)
Interact with the podcast and pitch competition by registering your email https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv (https://www.ecosystemarabia.tv)
A special thanks to our presenting partner https://www.exim.gov/mena (The Export-Import Bank of the United States). As the global middle class grows and technology makes the world smaller, opportunities have never been greater for American businesses to reach customers beyond U.S. border. EXIM provides federal resources to access capital and mitigate foreign risk. And no business is too small. Let EXIM help you export fearlessly to the MENA region and beyond. Visit exim.gov/mena to learn more.

How Data Analytics Can Accelerate Development in Frontier Markets

Download our free app to listen on your phone