YGL Innovators: Funding start-ups, Leveraging Web3, and Advancing Nuclear Fusion Technology

Hello! I am Wadia Ait Hamza , Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

Welcome to The YGL Newsletter, where we bring you the best of what our dynamic community of Young Global Leaders has to offer. Twice a month, we share uplifting stories of our members making a difference, valuable insights on driving lasting change, and all the latest on leadership.

In this issue, we're covering YGLs who are bridging venture capital access to Africa, leveraging the power of Web3, and advancing nuclear fusion technology.

Please share our newsletter and help us inspire others!

?? Meet YGL Fatoumata Ba

She’s the latest recipient of the Gender Lead Award

Fatoumata received the Gender Lead Award in recognition for bridging access to venture capitalist funding in Africa through her firm Janngo.africa . Fatoumata believes that there is a strong business case for investing in women entrepreneurs in Africa, considering that achieving gender equality could help us unlock 10% more GDP in Africa by 2025. As an entrepreneur herself, Fatoumata?believes that elevating technology has the power to improve lives and livelihoods on the continent.??

?? Here's more from Fatoumata on how her love for technology and business have made her one of the most innovative leaders in Africa

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?? YGL Chuy Cepeda is leveraging the power of Web3

And he’s using it to build better public sector experiences in Latin America (and beyond)

Since 2017, Chuy has been implementing innovative blockchain-based projects to explore the transformative potential of decentralization and address risks to personal privacy and democratic processes. In the wake of the pandemic, heshifted his focus to the powerful capabilities of web3 digital identities and GovTech. By combining these technologies, he’s aiming to pave the way for a foundational gateway to digital trust, economic growth, and strengthened democracies.

?? Here's more from Jesus on Web3 in Latin America

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?? YGL Darby Dunn used to build rockets at SpaceX

Now she’s working on nuclear fusion?

While building rockets was an exciting pursuit for her, in January 2019, Darby joined Commonwealth Fusion Systems - a startup that aims to make nuclear fusion a viable energy source. She hopes to see the impact of her efforts in her lifetime. Fusion is the way the sun and the stars generate energy, and if it can be replicated on Earth, it would provide virtually limitless clean energy. As the Vice-President of Operations, Darby uses her aerospace experience to lead her team in developing manufacturing processes that can eventually scale to an automotive assembly line. Despite the promises of fusion energy, Darby believes that it should not be the sole solution. She's advocating for the deployment of other forms of renewable energy like solar power and wind, and she's leading an exciting and impactful movement towards a cleaner, brighter future.

?? Here's more on how Darby unofficially became the “Mother of Dragons”

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Best,

Wadia

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