last year at a village called kanji in Burma now Myanmar there was a storm now
Burma now Myanmar there was a storm now
Burma now Myanmar there was a storm now Myanmar is no stranger to extreme
Myanmar is no stranger to extreme
Myanmar is no stranger to extreme weather droughts floods cyclones this
weather droughts floods cyclones this
weather droughts floods cyclones this country gets it all but even by me on my
country gets it all but even by me on my
country gets it all but even by me on my standards this storm was pretty crazy
standards this storm was pretty crazy
standards this storm was pretty crazy massive hail stones came pelting down at
massive hail stones came pelting down at
massive hail stones came pelting down at the end of it the village was a mess
the end of it the village was a mess
the end of it the village was a mess almost every roof had been ripped off or
almost every roof had been ripped off or
almost every roof had been ripped off or damaged even some goats had been killed
damaged even some goats had been killed
damaged even some goats had been killed after it was over the villagers took a
after it was over the villagers took a
after it was over the villagers took a deep breath began figuring out how to
deep breath began figuring out how to
deep breath began figuring out how to get some help but then suddenly within
get some help but then suddenly within
get some help but then suddenly within one hour help arrives and it keeps
one hour help arrives and it keeps
one hour help arrives and it keeps coming over the next few days more than
coming over the next few days more than
coming over the next few days more than 100 groups show up with rice and money
100 groups show up with rice and money
100 groups show up with rice and money even this guy a famous movie star comes
even this guy a famous movie star comes
even this guy a famous movie star comes to help how did this happen well after
to help how did this happen well after
to help how did this happen well after the storm few of the young kids in the
the storm few of the young kids in the
the storm few of the young kids in the village uploaded pictures to facebook
village uploaded pictures to facebook
village uploaded pictures to facebook the pictures went viral and people
the pictures went viral and people
the pictures went viral and people around the country sprang into action
around the country sprang into action
around the country sprang into action now in many ways this is a cool story
now in many ways this is a cool story
now in many ways this is a cool story a classic TED story but on the other
a classic TED story but on the other
a classic TED story but on the other hand really
hand really
hand really here we are living in a world where
here we are living in a world where
here we are living in a world where extreme weather events like this already
extreme weather events like this already
extreme weather events like this already happen all the time
happen all the time
happen all the time and they’re going to happen even more
and they’re going to happen even more
and they’re going to happen even more and the best tech tool we have is
and the best tech tool we have is
and the best tech tool we have is Facebook we live in a world full of
Facebook we live in a world full of
Facebook we live in a world full of really serious problems and what are our
really serious problems and what are our
really serious problems and what are our best minds in technology working on apps
best minds in technology working on apps
best minds in technology working on apps with funny filters subscription
with funny filters subscription
with funny filters subscription toothbrushes $400 machines that squeeze
toothbrushes $400 machines that squeeze
toothbrushes $400 machines that squeeze packets of juice slower than you can
packets of juice slower than you can
packets of juice slower than you can with your own hands for many years we’ve
with your own hands for many years we’ve
with your own hands for many years we’ve talked about the potential of technology
talked about the potential of technology
talked about the potential of technology to improve the lives of people around
to improve the lives of people around
to improve the lives of people around the world now obviously technology is
the world now obviously technology is
the world now obviously technology is not a panacea but it is true the
not a panacea but it is true the
not a panacea but it is true the potential is enormous especially today
potential is enormous especially today
potential is enormous especially today technology has never been faster never
technology has never been faster never
technology has never been faster never been smarter and never been cheaper and
been smarter and never been cheaper and
been smarter and never been cheaper and yet we’ve failed
yet we’ve failed
yet we’ve failed to come up with solutions for even a
to come up with solutions for even a
to come up with solutions for even a fraction of the challenges we face
fraction of the challenges we face
fraction of the challenges we face there’s a few good examples but nowhere
there’s a few good examples but nowhere
there’s a few good examples but nowhere near what we need the reasons for this
near what we need the reasons for this
near what we need the reasons for this are pretty well known the things that
are pretty well known the things that
are pretty well known the things that are problems in Silicon Valley and other
are problems in Silicon Valley and other
are problems in Silicon Valley and other big tech centers aren’t the same
big tech centers aren’t the same
big tech centers aren’t the same problems that people face in the poorest
problems that people face in the poorest
problems that people face in the poorest parts of the world the real problem is
parts of the world the real problem is
parts of the world the real problem is that the smartest minds in technology
that the smartest minds in technology
that the smartest minds in technology are not working on the most important
are not working on the most important
are not working on the most important problems but here’s the thing in
problems but here’s the thing in
problems but here’s the thing in developing countries technology could be
developing countries technology could be
developing countries technology could be transformative in ways that it almost
transformative in ways that it almost
transformative in ways that it almost never ears in developed countries it’s
never ears in developed countries it’s
never ears in developed countries it’s nice
nice
nice to get your taxi 5 minutes faster
to get your taxi 5 minutes faster
to get your taxi 5 minutes faster especially when it’s raining outside but
especially when it’s raining outside but
especially when it’s raining outside but imagine you’re a poor farmer struggling
imagine you’re a poor farmer struggling
imagine you’re a poor farmer struggling to feed your family and that tropical
to feed your family and that tropical
to feed your family and that tropical rain is washing away all your crops your
rain is washing away all your crops your
rain is washing away all your crops your entire livelihood it could change your
entire livelihood it could change your
entire livelihood it could change your life if you could use your smartphone to
life if you could use your smartphone to
life if you could use your smartphone to buy micro insurance Silicon Valley’s
buy micro insurance Silicon Valley’s
buy micro insurance Silicon Valley’s problem problem isn’t just a problem
problem problem isn’t just a problem
problem problem isn’t just a problem it’s a massive missed opportunity as
it’s a massive missed opportunity as
it’s a massive missed opportunity as many shampoo companies and microfinance
many shampoo companies and microfinance
many shampoo companies and microfinance organizations have already shown there’s
organizations have already shown there’s
organizations have already shown there’s great business to be done meeting the
great business to be done meeting the
great business to be done meeting the needs of people who live outside the
needs of people who live outside the
needs of people who live outside the rich world in many ways technology
rich world in many ways technology
rich world in many ways technology companies are even better positioned to
companies are even better positioned to
companies are even better positioned to tap tap into this fortune at the bottom
tap tap into this fortune at the bottom
tap tap into this fortune at the bottom of the pyramid digital products like
of the pyramid digital products like
of the pyramid digital products like mobile money don’t care about rough
mobile money don’t care about rough
mobile money don’t care about rough roads and bad weather so this is an
roads and bad weather so this is an
roads and bad weather so this is an exciting opportunity technology could be
exciting opportunity technology could be
exciting opportunity technology could be used to really improve people’s lives
used to really improve people’s lives
used to really improve people’s lives and to build successful businesses the
and to build successful businesses the
and to build successful businesses the question is how would you seize this
question is how would you seize this
question is how would you seize this opportunity now that’s a big question
opportunity now that’s a big question
opportunity now that’s a big question but I think the part of the answer is to
but I think the part of the answer is to
but I think the part of the answer is to really get out into these places
really get out into these places
really get out into these places wouldn’t it be great to really spend
wouldn’t it be great to really spend
wouldn’t it be great to really spend time understanding what the serious
time understanding what the serious
time understanding what the serious problems are facing the next billion and
problems are facing the next billion and
problems are facing the next billion and then build solutions to those problems
so what if you’re serious about this
so what if you’re serious about this where would you start
where would you start
where would you start ideally you’d want to go somewhere where
ideally you’d want to go somewhere where
ideally you’d want to go somewhere where not only could technology have a big
not only could technology have a big
not only could technology have a big impact but where what have you develop
impact but where what have you develop
impact but where what have you develop could potentially be used elsewhere
well what about that place that used
well what about that place that used Facebook as a disaster response system
Facebook as a disaster response system
Facebook as a disaster response system Myanmar super interesting country after
Myanmar super interesting country after
Myanmar super interesting country after five decades of military rule it’s
five decades of military rule it’s
five decades of military rule it’s finally opening up Myanmar has a lot in
finally opening up Myanmar has a lot in
finally opening up Myanmar has a lot in common with other countries where
common with other countries where
common with other countries where technology could potentially be
technology could potentially be
technology could potentially be transformative conflicts and lack of
transformative conflicts and lack of
transformative conflicts and lack of democracy of held the country back
democracy of held the country back
democracy of held the country back decades of underinvestment mean that
decades of underinvestment mean that
decades of underinvestment mean that infrastructure and health and education
infrastructure and health and education
infrastructure and health and education systems need a ton of work there’s been
systems need a ton of work there’s been
systems need a ton of work there’s been an over reliance on natural resources
an over reliance on natural resources
an over reliance on natural resources and the economy is still largely
and the economy is still largely
and the economy is still largely agriculture based but there’s one way in
agriculture based but there’s one way in
agriculture based but there’s one way in which this country differs from these
which this country differs from these
which this country differs from these other countries Myanmar is in the midst
other countries Myanmar is in the midst
other countries Myanmar is in the midst of a connectivity revolution for a long
of a connectivity revolution for a long
of a connectivity revolution for a long time the country used to have rates of
time the country used to have rates of
time the country used to have rates of mobile and Internet penetration lower
mobile and Internet penetration lower
mobile and Internet penetration lower than even North Korea it’s no mystery
than even North Korea it’s no mystery
than even North Korea it’s no mystery why when I moved to Myanmar five years
why when I moved to Myanmar five years
why when I moved to Myanmar five years ago my sim card cost two hundred and
ago my sim card cost two hundred and
ago my sim card cost two hundred and fifty dollars but then the country
fifty dollars but then the country
fifty dollars but then the country opened up its telecommunications market
opened up its telecommunications market
opened up its telecommunications market suddenly SIM cards were just a dollar
suddenly SIM cards were just a dollar
suddenly SIM cards were just a dollar fifty and almost overnight
fifty and almost overnight
fifty and almost overnight Myanmar came online indeed no other
Myanmar came online indeed no other
Myanmar came online indeed no other country in history has gone so quickly
country in history has gone so quickly
country in history has gone so quickly from being almost completely
from being almost completely
from being almost completely disconnected to almost completely
disconnected to almost completely
disconnected to almost completely connected and it’s not just any form of
connected and it’s not just any form of
connected and it’s not just any form of connectivity Myanmar has leapfrogged
connectivity Myanmar has leapfrogged
connectivity Myanmar has leapfrogged straight to smartphones and data there’s
straight to smartphones and data there’s
straight to smartphones and data there’s now more active SIM cards than people in
now more active SIM cards than people in
now more active SIM cards than people in Myanmar
Myanmar
Myanmar most of those SIM cards are in
most of those SIM cards are in
most of those SIM cards are in smartphones because smart phones are
smartphones because smart phones are
smartphones because smart phones are dirt cheap I bought this one just the
dirt cheap I bought this one just the
dirt cheap I bought this one just the other day for twenty three dollars the
other day for twenty three dollars the
other day for twenty three dollars the speed of adoption is breathtaking
speed of adoption is breathtaking
speed of adoption is breathtaking the messaging app viber already has 37
the messaging app viber already has 37
the messaging app viber already has 37 million registered users Facebook 15
million registered users Facebook 15
million registered users Facebook 15 million video streaming services like
million video streaming services like
million video streaming services like Netflix and iflix are in country so to a
Netflix and iflix are in country so to a
Netflix and iflix are in country so to a ride-hailing giants like uber and grab
ride-hailing giants like uber and grab
ride-hailing giants like uber and grab taxi Myanmar may have been late to the
taxi Myanmar may have been late to the
taxi Myanmar may have been late to the internet party but it’s tearing up the
internet party but it’s tearing up the
internet party but it’s tearing up the dance floor now now Myanmar is obviously
dance floor now now Myanmar is obviously
dance floor now now Myanmar is obviously not the first developing country to
not the first developing country to
not the first developing country to discover mobile phones why does this
discover mobile phones why does this
discover mobile phones why does this leapfrog to smartphones and data matter
leapfrog to smartphones and data matter
leapfrog to smartphones and data matter well there’s a massive difference
well there’s a massive difference
well there’s a massive difference between smart phones and those
between smart phones and those
between smart phones and those old-school Mobile’s these things are
old-school Mobile’s these things are
old-school Mobile’s these things are powerful really powerful even this $23
powerful really powerful even this $23
powerful really powerful even this $23 smartphone has more power than the
smartphone has more power than the
smartphone has more power than the computer that put the first man on the
computer that put the first man on the
computer that put the first man on the moon so imagine that you wanted to
moon so imagine that you wanted to
moon so imagine that you wanted to figure out how to use smart phones to
figure out how to use smart phones to
figure out how to use smart phones to help people when the health system is
help people when the health system is
help people when the health system is really weak or how you could use mobile
really weak or how you could use mobile
really weak or how you could use mobile data to improve kids educational
data to improve kids educational
data to improve kids educational experiences well maybe how government
experiences well maybe how government
experiences well maybe how government could use smart phones to better service
could use smart phones to better service
could use smart phones to better service people the ability of smart phones in
people the ability of smart phones in
people the ability of smart phones in Myanmar makes it a great place to test
Myanmar makes it a great place to test
Myanmar makes it a great place to test these ideas and here’s the big thing
these ideas and here’s the big thing
these ideas and here’s the big thing tech products that solve big problems in
tech products that solve big problems in
tech products that solve big problems in Myanmar could potentially be used to
Myanmar could potentially be used to
Myanmar could potentially be used to solve similar problems in other
solve similar problems in other
solve similar problems in other developing countries Myanmar may well be
developing countries Myanmar may well be
developing countries Myanmar may well be the best test market in the world for
the best test market in the world for
the best test market in the world for bottom of the pyramid tech solutions now
bottom of the pyramid tech solutions now
bottom of the pyramid tech solutions now this might seem counterintuitive
this might seem counterintuitive
this might seem counterintuitive normally with Myanmar people look from
normally with Myanmar people look from
normally with Myanmar people look from the outside in oh me I’m not sure do
the outside in oh me I’m not sure do
the outside in oh me I’m not sure do what this country did Oh
what this country did Oh
what this country did Oh Myanmar should learn from this country
Myanmar should learn from this country
Myanmar should learn from this country but this is one way in which Myanmar is
but this is one way in which Myanmar is
but this is one way in which Myanmar is ahead of every single other developing
ahead of every single other developing
ahead of every single other developing country
look at this chart this chart compares
look at this chart this chart compares countries smartphone penetration rates
countries smartphone penetration rates
countries smartphone penetration rates based on the purchasing powers of the
based on the purchasing powers of the
based on the purchasing powers of the citizens the percentage of phones in
citizens the percentage of phones in
citizens the percentage of phones in Myanmar the smartphone’s is way way
Myanmar the smartphone’s is way way
Myanmar the smartphone’s is way way higher than any other developing country
higher than any other developing country
higher than any other developing country where people have similar purchasing
where people have similar purchasing
where people have similar purchasing powers and it’s even ahead of countries
powers and it’s even ahead of countries
powers and it’s even ahead of countries that are much much richer like Thailand
that are much much richer like Thailand
that are much much richer like Thailand and China Myanmar is ideally placed to
and China Myanmar is ideally placed to
and China Myanmar is ideally placed to do a digital leapfrog it could use
do a digital leapfrog it could use
do a digital leapfrog it could use technology to jump ahead to accelerate
technology to jump ahead to accelerate
technology to jump ahead to accelerate growth and development and what’s
growth and development and what’s
growth and development and what’s exciting for the rest of the world is
exciting for the rest of the world is
exciting for the rest of the world is that smart simple low-cost tech products
that smart simple low-cost tech products
that smart simple low-cost tech products that are tested and succeed here could
that are tested and succeed here could
that are tested and succeed here could potentially be used by these other
potentially be used by these other
potentially be used by these other countries when they catch up with
countries when they catch up with
countries when they catch up with Myanmar Myanmar used to be the rice bowl
Myanmar Myanmar used to be the rice bowl
Myanmar Myanmar used to be the rice bowl of Asia but what if the new Myanmar was
of Asia but what if the new Myanmar was
of Asia but what if the new Myanmar was serving up more than just rice one of
serving up more than just rice one of
serving up more than just rice one of the new Myanmar was cooking up cool tech
the new Myanmar was cooking up cool tech
the new Myanmar was cooking up cool tech solutions for other developing countries
solutions for other developing countries
solutions for other developing countries Myanmar could be the tech test kitchen
Myanmar could be the tech test kitchen
Myanmar could be the tech test kitchen for the next billion right now it’s
for the next billion right now it’s
for the next billion right now it’s early days in the world’s best bottom of
early days in the world’s best bottom of
early days in the world’s best bottom of the pyramid tech test market but already
the pyramid tech test market but already
the pyramid tech test market but already we can catch a glimpse of the potential
we can catch a glimpse of the potential
we can catch a glimpse of the potential there’s a fin tech company that’s
there’s a fin tech company that’s
there’s a fin tech company that’s leveraging smartphones to provide
leveraging smartphones to provide
leveraging smartphones to provide protection some Yama’s most vulnerable
protection some Yama’s most vulnerable
protection some Yama’s most vulnerable people from the many shocks they face
people from the many shocks they face
people from the many shocks they face like that crazy hailstorm back in congee
like that crazy hailstorm back in congee
like that crazy hailstorm back in congee there’s an EdTech project that’s using
there’s an EdTech project that’s using
there’s an EdTech project that’s using the mobile network infrastructure to
the mobile network infrastructure to
the mobile network infrastructure to live broadcasts high quality teaching to
live broadcasts high quality teaching to
live broadcasts high quality teaching to schools that serve underprivileged
schools that serve underprivileged
schools that serve underprivileged children in the most remote parts of the
children in the most remote parts of the
children in the most remote parts of the country hundreds of thousand
country hundreds of thousand
country hundreds of thousand of people used a civic tech app to get
of people used a civic tech app to get
of people used a civic tech app to get critical information to participate in
critical information to participate in
critical information to participate in the country’s historic elections in 2015
the country’s historic elections in 2015
the country’s historic elections in 2015 but my favorite example is a maternal
but my favorite example is a maternal
but my favorite example is a maternal and child health app called may mean
and child health app called may mean
and child health app called may mean mums and young kids face tough odds in
mums and young kids face tough odds in
mums and young kids face tough odds in Myanmar the country has the worst
Myanmar the country has the worst
Myanmar the country has the worst maternal mortality rate and the worst
maternal mortality rate and the worst
maternal mortality rate and the worst under-five mortality rate of any country
under-five mortality rate of any country
under-five mortality rate of any country in Southeast Asia now trying to use
in Southeast Asia now trying to use
in Southeast Asia now trying to use mobile phones to help pregnant women is
mobile phones to help pregnant women is
mobile phones to help pregnant women is not new but there’s a massive difference
not new but there’s a massive difference
not new but there’s a massive difference between what you can do with a
between what you can do with a
between what you can do with a smartphone and those old-school mobiles
watching a video engaging with
watching a video engaging with interactive content on the touchscreen
interactive content on the touchscreen
interactive content on the touchscreen chatting with other pregnant women using
chatting with other pregnant women using
chatting with other pregnant women using location services to get emergency help
location services to get emergency help
location services to get emergency help these are much richer more powerful
these are much richer more powerful
these are much richer more powerful experiences than just getting a text
experiences than just getting a text
experiences than just getting a text message or voice recorded message all of
message or voice recorded message all of
message or voice recorded message all of these products are tackling problems
these products are tackling problems
these products are tackling problems that exist not just in Myanmar if these
that exist not just in Myanmar if these
that exist not just in Myanmar if these products can be effective here then
products can be effective here then
products can be effective here then there’s potential to take them or at the
there’s potential to take them or at the
there’s potential to take them or at the very least the learnings from them to
very least the learnings from them to
very least the learnings from them to other places where they could have a big
other places where they could have a big
other places where they could have a big impact as I said it’s early days in the
impact as I said it’s early days in the
impact as I said it’s early days in the world’s best tech test market the golden
world’s best tech test market the golden
world’s best tech test market the golden land is not the silicon pagoda just yet
land is not the silicon pagoda just yet
land is not the silicon pagoda just yet but already there’s some insights to be
but already there’s some insights to be
but already there’s some insights to be gleaned so what can we learn firstly we
gleaned so what can we learn firstly we
gleaned so what can we learn firstly we should focus on big important problems
should focus on big important problems
should focus on big important problems every day around the world 830 women die
every day around the world 830 women die
every day around the world 830 women die during childbirth or from complications
during childbirth or from complications
during childbirth or from complications with their pregnancy if technology could
with their pregnancy if technology could
with their pregnancy if technology could be used to drive down these numbers that
be used to drive down these numbers that
be used to drive down these numbers that would genuinely make the world a better
would genuinely make the world a better
would genuinely make the world a better place
place
place secondly we can see the value of
secondly we can see the value of
secondly we can see the value of developing solutions
developing solutions
developing solutions uses the latest version of maymay is
uses the latest version of maymay is
uses the latest version of maymay is almost completely different to the
almost completely different to the
almost completely different to the version that launched in 2015 the
version that launched in 2015 the
version that launched in 2015 the improvements are the results of
improvements are the results of
improvements are the results of literally thousands of interviews that
literally thousands of interviews that
literally thousands of interviews that the company which is based in Yangon not
the company which is based in Yangon not
the company which is based in Yangon not Silicon Valley has conducted with mums
Silicon Valley has conducted with mums
Silicon Valley has conducted with mums thirdly partnerships really help the
thirdly partnerships really help the
thirdly partnerships really help the only reason that election app got so
only reason that election app got so
only reason that election app got so many users in less than one month was it
many users in less than one month was it
many users in less than one month was it hundreds of civic education volunteers
hundreds of civic education volunteers
hundreds of civic education volunteers were running around the country sharing
were running around the country sharing
were running around the country sharing it with voters
it with voters
it with voters finally we always need to remember it’s
finally we always need to remember it’s
finally we always need to remember it’s not about the tech many people think all
not about the tech many people think all
not about the tech many people think all you need to do is just build an app
you need to do is just build an app
you need to do is just build an app that’s probably the easiest part in
that’s probably the easiest part in
that’s probably the easiest part in developing markets it’s especially
developing markets it’s especially
developing markets it’s especially important to think through all the
important to think through all the
important to think through all the challenges distribution updates payments
challenges distribution updates payments
challenges distribution updates payments getting quality feedback from your users
getting quality feedback from your users
getting quality feedback from your users no doubt there will be many more
no doubt there will be many more
no doubt there will be many more insights to be learned from Myanmar in
insights to be learned from Myanmar in
insights to be learned from Myanmar in the coming years but already we can see
the coming years but already we can see
the coming years but already we can see how important this work could be and how
how important this work could be and how
how important this work could be and how much could be learned in this market so
much could be learned in this market so
much could be learned in this market so think about it if you want to do really
think about it if you want to do really
think about it if you want to do really cool things with technology or have a
cool things with technology or have a
cool things with technology or have a big impact on the world or ideally both
big impact on the world or ideally both
big impact on the world or ideally both dream big use your skills to build
dream big use your skills to build
dream big use your skills to build technology products that solve the
technology products that solve the
technology products that solve the world’s most pressing problems and when
world’s most pressing problems and when
world’s most pressing problems and when you do start in the world’s best tech
you do start in the world’s best tech
you do start in the world’s best tech test market Miyama
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
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