International Women's Day is a time to commemorate the remarkable achievements of women and to recognize the essential role they play in driving progress and innovation. It's a day to honor the countless women who have broken barriers, shattered glass ceilings, and paved the way for future generations to succeed.
At Singularity Group, we believe that diversity is essential for creating a world of abundance, and we are proud to highlight the stories of seven incredible women who are making a significant impact in the world. These women are using technology, innovation, and exponential thinking to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, from improving access to healthcare for women to advancing AI ethics and sustainability.
Their work is an inspiration to us all, reminding us that nothing is impossible when we work together and harness our collective ingenuity and creativity. They are proof that women have the power to transform the world and that we must continue to lift each other up, support one another, and advocate for gender equality in all aspects of life.
Co-Founder and COO of Fora Therapy
Singularity Executive Program Alumni
Nikita, a Singularity Executive Program ‘22 Alumni Scholarship recipient, has a passion for the convergence of technology and disability. Nikita's passion for accessibility is reflected in her use of the term "human variability." She encourages people to consider disabilities as a natural aspect of human variability, and not something to be feared or seen as "other.” By looking at humans as having different abilities, desires, and dreams, the world can become more accessible for everyone.
“The disability sector and technology are converging every day. And I think that's something that a lot of people maybe don't realize. There are so many projects and so many products and services that people without disabilities use every single day that were actually invented because of a person with disability. Take an electric toothbrush, for example, that was initially invented for people who did not have the strength, mobility and control to brush their teeth. And now, many people would say that it is the superior product. This happens all the time in clothing, in neuro headsets. Brain computer interface that helps us with speech recognition and voice to text. It's things that are around us that have bred this creativity because of the diverse needs of a person with disability. I really believe that putting ourselves in the mindset of a person with a disability and in fact not just putting ourselves in the mindset but inviting them into the conversations. Putting people with disabilities in positions of power will breed innovation naturally, because all of a sudden we are thinking of how to make things easier, how to make things more efficient, more accessible, not just for people with disability, but everyone.”
Her work at Fora falls under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9). Her passion for the convergence of technology and disability reminds us of the importance of considering diverse perspectives when designing and developing innovative solutions and we know we will continue to see great things from her in the future!
Singularity GSP Alumni
Constanze Gomes-Mont, founder of C-Minds, is making a significant impact on the world of technology, ethics and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her organization, which she embedded with a social focus after her GSP experience, has become a pioneering action tank in Latin America, with a strong focus on AI, metaverse and other emerging technologies. C-Minds partners with influential companies and multilateral organizations to advance policies, ethics and pioneering pilots for the region.
Since establishing the AI for Climate Initiative three years ago, which was recognized by the Paris Forum as one of the top ten promising initiatives in 2021, Constanze's organization has developed a Latin American case study for the intersection of AI and nature-based solutions through their use of AI in jaguar conservation efforts in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Constanze's global roles have been significant in advancing AI ethics and climate change agendas. She was the chair of the AI for Humanity for the World Economic Forum for two years and still holds a seat on the council this year, while also supporting work on new technologies and climate change. Additionally, Constanze was the representative of Latin America for the development of UNESCO's global instrument of AI ethics, signed by all country members.
Constanze's work is aligned with multiple SDGs, including gender equality (SDG 5), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9) and life on land (SDG 15). While her work focuses mainly on Latin America, its global implications make it a compelling story for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, ethics and sustainability.
Co-founder, QVIN (formerly Quarasense)
Singularity GSP Program Alumni
Meet Sara Naseri, co-founder of QVIN, a women-health startup leveraging exponential technology to revolutionize women's healthcare. QVIN emerged from the Singularity’s Global Solutions Program with a bold vision: to use menstrual pads as a diagnostic tool to monitor women's health. After years of relentless work, Qurasense has just received FDA approval for their menstrual blood diagnostic device in Thailand, paving the way for a brighter future for women's healthcare.
QVIN's breakthrough technology is a powerful testament to the ingenuity and determination of women entrepreneurs who are harnessing exponential technologies to make a big impact on the world. By creating a simple and non-invasive way to monitor women's health, Qurasense is empowering women with knowledge and control over their own bodies, and breaking down the barriers that have long prevented women from receiving the care and attention they deserve. As we celebrate their groundbreaking achievement, we look forward to a future where women's health is a top priority, and where women entrepreneurs continue to lead the charge in creating a more equitable and sustainable world.
Primary SingularityU Warsaw Chapter Ambassador
Additional SingularityU Global Ambassadors: Magdalena Marchwicka, Izabela Bartnicka, Jowita Michalska, Elżbieta Wojciechowska, Irmina Rozmus, Agnieszka Osińska, Aneta Urbanczyk, Joanna Szopinska, Natalia Podsiadla, Blanka Cichaczewska, Agnieska Nowak, Malgorzata Widera
Our Warsaw Chapter is making great strides in the fight against climate change, driven by a team of female founders and leaders. This all-women team led by primary Ambassador, Anna Woźnica in 2022, set an ambitious goal of educating 500 teachers and 10,000 children through their Be.Eco program, which covers topics such as climate, biodiversity, waste and segregation and the circular economy.
Their efforts have already made a significant impact, with over 40 workshops delivered to over 2,000 teachers across Poland, and a survey conducted to measure the implementation of knowledge in schools last year. Additionally, they launched an online knowledge test in which 6,258 students participated, highlighting the importance of education in achieving their goals.
The team plans to expand their program to businesses and schools across the country, with a continued focus on SDG #4: Quality Education and SDG #12: Responsible Consumption and Production. By placing education at the forefront of their mission, they aim to empower future generations to make positive changes and preserve the environment.
It's inspiring to see a team of female leaders take action and make a real impact in the fight against climate change. Their dedication and commitment to education as a means of achieving positive change is truly commendable.
General Partner at IOVC, Faculty at UC Berkeley
Singularity Expert
Shuo Chen, a renowned figure in venture capitalism and representation, is currently serving as a General Partner at IOVC, specializing in early-stage venture investments in Silicon Valley, particularly in the enterprise/SaaS and future of work sectors. Additionally, she is a faculty member at both UC Berkeley and Singularity University. Notably, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Shuo as one of the 13 voting members of California's Mental Health Commission, where she oversees an annual state budget of approximately $2.6 billion and provides advice on mental health policies to the Governor and Legislature.
Shuo's entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish a company that served large universities and a banking institute. She later joined IOVC after working as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, where she advised clients like Alibaba and Tencent and represented the firm on the Board of Women in Finance. Shuo was involved in Google's acquisition of Motorola and LinkedIn's acquisition of SlideShare during her time at PwC. However, she missed working with startups and founders, which led her to return to venture capitalism. She invested in several startups that were acquired by major corporations such as Goldman Sachs, Ford, Caterpillar, Binance and Dialpad. Shuo also helped over 60 seed startups focused on the future of work, including unicorns like Boom, Checkr, Grubmarket, Instacart and Rescale. Her expertise enabled portfolio companies to secure deals with companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Mercedes-Benz and NASA, and expand their operations into Europe and Asia.
As a Singularity expert on entrepreneurship and blockchain she covers topics ranging from the future of work to the future of finance: AI & blockchain. She also co-authored a leading book on financial regulations published by Cambridge University Press in 2019 and serves on the Advisory Board of Forbes China, providing guidance on content and awards for Asian Americans in North America. Shuo is committed to representation and emphasizes its importance in the VC industry. She is proud of being a fourth-generation Chinese American and has become a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.
Head of Community and Impact, Singularity
As Singularity's Vice President of Community and Impact, Darlene Damm has dedicated nearly two decades to tackling our world's toughest social problems through “moonshot” ideas and impact initiatives. Her focus is on raising awareness of how exponential technologies are creating abundance in key focus areas, such as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, she prepares people for new social challenges arising from these technologies, including technological unemployment, inequality and ethical concerns. Recognizing that many in the humanitarian sector viewed technology as a threat, Darlene also bridged the gap between the tech and humanitarian worlds. She ensures that those most invested in solving social problems are not only aware of advanced technologies but are also the ones building them and their applications.
Darlene started her career in social impact in remote parts of the world where she witnessed capable people facing challenges due to a lack of opportunity. They observed a prevailing mindset in the field of international development that people in such conditions were not capable of working with advanced technologies. However, Darlene, with Singularity, challenged this notion and welcomed people from all over the world to work on huge problems or "moonshots." Because of this, today, Singularity's alumni have founded over 200 startups that are pioneering new industries in various countries, including those with social and economic challenges. Darlene’s success is due to both the belief in exponential technologies and a mindset that believes anyone can solve a global problem. As a result, the process of how and who gets to solve social problems is changing.
Darlene's unwavering commitment to integrating advanced technologies into the humanitarian field has yielded promising results and serves as a reminder that no area should be left untouched. Her dedication to making a positive impact and being a force for good extends far beyond Singularity and encompasses every corner of the globe.
Singularity Community Member
Sofia Sanchez's journey into the Singularity community began at the onset of the pandemic. Seeking a platform to explore and expand her knowledge on future technologies, she set out to become a bioengineer with a moonshot vision of creating a 10x healthier and more sustainable world for everyone through (bio)tech.
At only 19, Sofia's growth and pursuit of her dreams have been nothing short of phenomenal. She is currently working on bioengineering avocados in Mexico and is set to make her debut on the SXSW stage on March 13th, where she will present on Global Advancements in Cellular Agriculture: From Lab-Grown Meat to Lab-Grown Wheat!
With an unrelenting commitment to delivering innovative, impactful, and visually appealing biotech products to consumers, Sofia has been an exceptional leader. She has led an international iGEM team, interned at Grow Your Own Cloud (a DNA data storage startup) and worked on over four biotech research projects throughout high school. She also collaborated with different researchers, including research groups at Tecnológico de Monterrey.
In addition to her work thus far, Sofia is a graduate of The Knowledge Society and BioDojo, two global communities that empower young people to leverage science and technology to make a positive impact on the world. To stay connected with Sofia or keep up with her latest endeavors, you can find her on LinkedIn or Substack.
As we honor International Women's Day and Women's History Month, let's take a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements of women and female-identifying individuals across the globe. The theme for International Women's Day 2023, #EmbraceEquity, is a powerful call to action for all of us to come together and strive for gender equity in every aspect of life, particularly in STEM, leadership and entrepreneurship.
With over 300,000 members in our community, there are countless women whose stories deserve to be shared and celebrated. Let us not only celebrate but become champions of equity in our spaces, driving progress towards an exponentially better future.