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At the 2025 Inclusion conference, tech pioneers from emerging markets shared the insights to the power of AI-driven entrepreneurship.

Launched by Ant Group in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion is a global, non-profit learning platform dedicated to empowering the next generation of digital economy leaders. Built on the three key pillars of Learn, Connect, Inspire, the initiative equips entrepreneurs with the skills, networks, and insights needed to create sustainable, tech-driven solutions for inclusion.

"AI can be transformative, but it continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace and nobody has all the answers - organizations are simultaneously experimenting and learning. For startups, it becomes even more crucial that they look beyond their borders to learn from the best practices globally and apply that to address their unique local needs," said Di XU, product leader of sustainability initiatives at Ant International. "International exchanges for startups are not just about growth, they are key to sustainable and inclusive development. The 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion platform facilitates the global exchange of ideas and empowers emerging leaders to transform global insights into locally relevant solutions, driving truly sustainable and inclusive growth."

Bridging Borders, Building Futures

The panel discussion, "AI-Powered Entrepreneurship: Catalyzing Local Impact in Emerging Markets", brought together founders from Asia, Africa, and beyond. Their stories underscored 10x1000's mission: to transform a global learning community into a springboard for innovation, collaboration, and scalable impact. Key takeaways from their sharing include:

-- Innovation empowers equitable growth for SMEs: Khang Wei Wong, founder of Singapore and Malaysia's Fulhive & Smart Tradehub, shared how exposure to cutting-edge retail technology and global leaders is fuelling innovation and driving equitable growth for small and medium enterprises.

-- Technology can uplift every child, regardless of background: Dr. Low Hui Min, founder of Malaysian EdTech company LEMON©, said AI is pioneering new ways to detect learning difficulties in children, demonstrating technology's power to uplift every child-regardless of background.

-- Adaptability is Key to Tech-driven Market expansion: Sida Zheng, co-founder of global business platform Rosen, shared how an AI-powered credit assessment model could enable flexible workers in Latin America to access working capital, breaking traditional barriers faced by the unbanked populations in the region.

-- Global Collaboration Drives Expansion Strategy: Fifamè Ogou of Benin-based UrgenceCare demonstrated how adaptive AI routing systems could reduce emergency response times by learning from infrastructure limitations, significantly improving medical outcomes in resource-constrained environments.

-- AI is reshaping affordable healthcare for all: Dr. Ikpeme Neto, founder of Nigerian healthtech startup WellaHealth, highlighted that he was inspired by how an intelligent family doctor AI agent powered by natural language processing has served patients in remote areas, making quality healthcare guidance accessible even in regions with limited internet connectivity.

As demonstrated at the Inclusion Conference, by connecting emerging market entrepreneurs with global insights and resources, 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion is fostering a new generation of leaders who are redefining what it means to build inclusive, sustainable solutions.

"At 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion, we believe that true innovation thrives when knowledge crosses borders. When a Nigerian healthtech founder advises a Malaysian EdTech startup through our platform, that's how we build inclusive innovation ecosystems. We are not just facilitating a conversation, but laying the groundwork for tomorrow's innovations. Today's stage appearances are just the beginning of their global impact. What begins as knowledge exchange will soon become a powerful global network driving sustainable development for decades to come," added Di Xu.

About 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion

10x1000 Tech for Inclusion is an open and global fintech learning platform dedicated to empowering learners to become drivers of digital economic growth. Its mission is to nurture and inspire at least 1,000 emerging talents and tech leaders each year for ten years. 10x1000 is a non-profit program launched jointly by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Ant Group in 2018.

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Contact

Media ContactMail: [email protected] Learn more: 10x1000.org

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