Technological advances are reshaping the way the world works and a new accelerator is supporting the development of platforms focussed on ending conflict and promoting sustainable peace.
Launched by the PeaceTech Lab and C5 Accelerate, with support from Amazon Web Services (AWS), the initiative – which labels itself as the ‘first cloud innovation centre’ – provides startups with eight weeks of financial and professional backing, along with access to international decision makers.
The full programme takes place in Washington and is open to startups anywhere in the world that are “designing, developing and using new and innovative technologies to help to bring about the end of violent conflict and promote sustainable peace.”
An AWS blog explains: “The PeaceTech Accelerator provides the mentorship and training needed to scale both for-profit and not-for-profit peacetech initiatives rapidly, securely, and cost-effectively to produce technology that can be used as platforms for peace.
“From Kenya to Colombia, Afghanistan to Indonesia, media and technology is being used in innovative ways to counter age-old drivers of conflict, ranging from election violence and inter-ethnic tension, to resource shortages and gender violence. The spread of technology is producing a transformation in conflict management and peacebuilding.”
The Peacetech accelerator is working with its first cohort but startups can apply now to join the next instalments.
