On May 1st, Global Impact Innovators (GII) was honored to participate in the 2025 Dempsey Startup Investment Round, held at the Seattle Convention Center. The event brought together 40 student-led ventures from across the Pacific Northwest. Each was selected from a competitive pool of over 170 startup ideas. It was a day of purpose-driven innovation, filled with strategic insights and inspiring conversations.
Representing GII at this prestigious event was a meaningful milestone in our journey.
🌍 Advancing a Mission of Inclusive Innovation
At GII, we believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Our mission is to unlock digital and entrepreneurial potential in underserved communities across Africa by equipping youth and women with the tools, skills, and networks they need to thrive.
The Dempsey event gave us a powerful platform to share this mission with leaders in tech, education, and entrepreneurship. We also explored how the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) can accelerate community growth and promote sustainable development across the regions we serve.
We showcased how GII is bridging the digital divide through community-based tech hubs, offline-accessible digital learning, and entrepreneurship training tailored to low-connectivity environments. The response from judges and attendees reaffirmed not only the urgency of our mission—but also the relevance of our approach in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape.
💬 Strategic Conversations and Thoughtful Feedback
Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to engage with seasoned professionals who generously offered their insights and encouragement. A few highlights include:
- Karon Weber, former Director of Education Experiences at Microsoft, who shared her experience leading user-centered, scalable digital learning platforms—perfectly aligned with GII’s goals for accessible tech education.
- Howard Lakougna, Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, whose development perspective helped us think strategically about scaling through systems alignment and institutional partnerships.
- Jay Schreiber, product strategist and growth advisor, who challenged us to refine our go-to-market strategy and strengthen user engagement in a way that drives lasting impact.
🙏 Mentorship That Fuels Momentum
We are deeply grateful to Christy Johnson and Karon Weber for their mentorship and strategic support. Their clarity, insight, and belief in GII’s mission have played an instrumental role in helping us refine our strategy and prepare for opportunities like Dempsey. Their encouragement continues to shape our growth.
🎓 Gratitude to Our Foster Community
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our friends and fellow MBA candidates from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business who supported us throughout the Dempsey journey. Their camaraderie, thoughtful feedback, and behind-the-scenes help made this experience even more meaningful.
A special thanks to:
These outstanding peers will be graduating alongside me this June, and I could not be prouder to learn and grow beside them. Their support reminds me that innovation is not only about ideas—but about community.
🚀 Looking to the Future
Participating in the Dempsey Startup Competition was more than a one-day event. It powerfully affirmed that GII’s mission resonates with changemakers and decision-makers alike. We left energized, inspired, and more committed than ever to advancing our work.
As we look ahead, we carry with us the relationships, feedback, and momentum sparked in that room. From Nairobi to Abidjan to Mathare to rural South Africa, our journey to democratize opportunity continues—with renewed purpose and powerful partners at our side.
We are building more than a program. We are building a movement.
Read more about how we support youth and women in Africa through our entrepreneurship training programs.
