>>from around the globe. It's the Q with digital coverage of AWS Public sector online brought to you by Amazon Web services. Welcome back to the cubes. Virtual coverage of AWS Amazon Web services published. Public Sector Summit Online I'm John for your host with a great Gas Cube alumni Kate Goodall, Healthy in co founder and CEO, also known as the Halsey in house in the D C area. Kate, great to see you. Thanks for coming on. Virtually >>you, too. Thanks for having me, John. >>We can't be there in person. Normally, we're in person by rain going to these events. We can't do it this year because of Cove in the Pandemic. But this topic that I'm proud to talk to you about is Bahrain Women intensive program and just diversity in the global tech scene in general. So first tell us what's going on with the 2021 by Rain. Women's initiative Intensive initiative. >>Yeah, absolutely. As you know, Housing Incubator has been running for about seven years now. We've welcomed during that time over 150 entrepreneurs through a full time fellowship program which you were there, John, you saw, you know It is a really unique program that includes residents in a ah house in Georgetown s O that people really get to sort of former community. But the full time residential program isn't the right fit preneurs. So we also offer these intensive housing incubator programs for early stage social entrepreneurs from different parts of the world in different industries and sectors. Um, a W s been an amazing partner both for the full time fellowship program on for many of these intensive, including one that was focused earlier this year on entrepreneurs, an opportunity zones in our very own city. Um, but this new intensive partnership is designed specifically to support tech oriented social enterprise startups that are founded by women and based in Bahrain s. So it's It's really nicely at this intersection of calcium goal off supporting entrepreneurs who are often underserved or underrepresented. And AWS is very clearly stated goal of diversifying leadership in tech. >>I was there last year in person Bahrain, and, uh, I went to the women's diversity um, breakfast and I'm like, This is exciting and I had to give up my seat. There was so many people, there was high demand eso I >>wanna >>ask you what >>is >>this program hoping to achieve the intensive initiative? >>Yeah. I mean, there's certain things that we're always seeking to achieve in supporting and serving sort of the brightest minds and the best ideas in social enterprise. On in many ways, this one is no different. Um, but we're really looking Thio Thio, find some incredible startups in Bahrain. Um, applications for the program start today. Andi will be measuring. You know, the success of the program on a number of factors, Aziz, we always do. You know, ultimately, it's the number of jobs that get created theme the quality and quantity of the impact of the startups Onda And ultimately, you know, revenue and dollars raised all of the things that you would measure a successful business by, um uh, s so we're just really excited to find some incredible ventures that fit really well in this in the selection criteria. Andi, we'll be looking thio. Everyone's help spread the word about this great opportunity. >>Congratulations on your new program. I wanna ask you specifically, if you could give some examples of the kinds of startups you're hoping to attract, so as you look at the candidates. What's gonna be the criteria you mentioned is a criteria What jumps off the page in your mind. >>Yeah. So we want people that really understand that. Why, you know, why are they starting that business on bond? Ideally, people that have a really good idea for a rapidly scaling tech startup that also has a double bottom line attached to it. So something whereby the business models succeeds and scales and achieves eso to with the impact that is inherent in that in that model, you know, some some examples from just passed cohorts at healthy. And, you know, we've had most recently, um, incredible entrepreneur that came out off the US prison system and was really interested in reducing recidivism and worked on a tech startup that allows families to communicate with incarcerated loved ones where through a tech platform where you can convert your text to a loved one into a postcard that then could be sent into the system because obviously people aren't allowed to communicate through cell phones when they're incarcerated s Oh, that's a good example of something where you know the profit and impact really scale themselves. Um, you know, similarly from just this. You know, recent cohorts, we had a, uh, founder who herself suffered from pulmonary pulmonary hypertension. And she created a really great wearable device that can attach to your ear. Looks just like an earring. It's quite fashionable, actually. I want one. And, um, it lets you know how your oxygen level is because she just didn't have access to something that was that easy and wearable, but needed to monitor her oxygen level. Turns out, that's actually really, ah, useful piece of technology during covert. So, you know, we're looking for people that are thinking about healthcare, thinking about the environment, thinking about education on decree, ating a sustainable business model that that will help them to scale that idea. >>I wanna get into the whole social entrepreneurship conversation. It's really great when I wanna unpack that, But let's stay on this program. Um, it's super exciting. How do people get involved? It's open, but there's some criteria. Um, you mentioned startups. You're looking for changing world double Bottom line. How do people get involved? >>Really excited. You asked that because I you know, I have some people that are watching can help us um certainly, uh, going to the home page of our website housing house dot or GTA. If anyone knows any great social entrepreneurs in Bahrain, please let them know and help us spread the word. Really happy to be working with AWS and startup Borane to do so. But we we want to, you know, make it as far and wide as possible. So both for people that are interested in applying to the program and also people that are interested in helping because we always pull together a vast network of mentors and advisors and investors to really make the programmers robustas possible, they should I would encourage everyone to reach out and get in touch either through the website or, uh at housing inspires on Social Media said that our team can get back to you >>for the question is how, um What? How will the selection process work and when will they be >>partnering with AWS and start up by rain? Thio select the best start up ventures. They'll be notified in December on by The program will begin virtually in January. >>And what are the winners get? They get money. Do they get mentoring? What can you talk >>about package, so every in computer program is a little bit different. But generally they all get, uh, some serious training and assigned mentor a specific skill. Siri's that's bespoke to that intensive, and those founders needs. But more than likely, this one will include, as as they all do, you know ways to plan Thio, acquire customers ways to improve your business model and make good projections ways to think about investment and how to understand. Um, investment bond, get investment should you need thio eso. It'll have all of that along with marketing and branding and how to measure impact. But then also some bespoke things. You know, once we know exactly what the founders needs are on but then very bespoke advisors and mentors in accordance with those needs >>and really nurturing that start up in that project to getting some traction, then hopefully track into some funding vehicles. I imagine right? >>Absolutely, absolutely, and access to D. C. S. You know, great landscape when it comes to this kind of thing, both in terms of sort of three institutions that air here and the investment that is here on do all of them will also, of course, receive a ws cloud computing credits and technical support, which we found to be profoundly helpful for all of our, um, tech startups or tech enabled startups. >>Yeah, I think that's one of the things that people don't realize that some free credits out there as well take advantage of those That's awesome. And I love how this ecosystem nurturing here. When I was in Bahrain, I noticed that very young demographics changing demographics. Diversity is huge. But like here in North America and all around the world, the lack of diversity in the tech sector has been a big conversation is always happening. Thes, impact driven businesses actually consult two things you're doing. A program that impacts the diversity as well as solves the problem for diversity. Talking about double Bottom line. Can you talk about this diversity? >>Yeah, absolutely. I mean, e think you know, it's interesting because we all know that diverse teams out perform. We all understand the imperative to do that, but you're right, it's it's not just a US problem or Bahrain problem. It's a global problem, you know. And I think one of the ways to solve it is to go early because we know that women founders and founders of color and other marginalized founders, you know, start businesses roughly at the same rate. But they generally don't grow as big, and they don't, um, uh often get us much investment. In fact, the investment numbers are quite stark. In terms of who receives venture capital eso. We know that there's a lot left to disrupt, but we also know that if we're going to solve the problems that we all face right now that we need the whole population involved in solving it. So we're really interested in in in creating a much better ecosystem everywhere for for women. Founders on DWI know that that requires the support of everyone, regardless of gender and background and lived experience. Eso it is it is an imperative. But it's also a tremendous opportunity, you know, to get more people involved on Bahrain's got some incredible women and some great, uh, resource is and pieces of the ecosystem already in place. Thio, I think really be a leader in this area. >>Yes. Start up our rain to you mentioned that they have a great program. They're they're really there to help the entrepreneur, and I think the key here and I want to get your reaction to this is that not only is that important to get off the ground and having someone to be around and being a community that fosters the kind of innovation, thinking and getting started, great. But you've had a very successful program. The Halsey in house housing house dot org's as you mentioned, the u R L. You've had success, but you've been physically in D. C. What have you learned from the house? Your house success that you're applying that could be applied for others? Toe learn. >>Yeah, there's there's a lot to unpack there. I mean, we've had a Zai mentioned about 150 you know, Fellows come through our doors and they've gone on to create over 1800 jobs around the world. Received $150 million in funding, which for early stage social social ventures is a really good mark of success. Andi have gone on to impact the lives of more than 2.5 million people around the world, so I hope that this program is that you know will be able to help empower these founders, um, in Bahrain to do exactly those things and to be able to scale the adventures to create that impact. You know, we've learned a lot about you know what these startups need. Um, you know, that goes beyond just sort of the the office space and sort of traditional incubator offerings that they need a really strong community around them to celebrate their successes and also to help them with their lows. Entrepreneurship is a very rocky journey, and so that community becomes really, really important. Eso we know a lot about building, you know, supportive, nurturing community. We also know that you know, women when they go to get investment, are going to receive 70% mawr prevention questions. And this is even from women venture capitalists, right? They just venture capitalists are creatures of habit, and they generally will just look at the patterns, successes and trends that they've had and repeat those. So they're going to be looking for the same types of people. Are they funded in the past, which are traditionally young white males and eso? We know that just by virtue of the system that we all live in on DWhite. It's implanted in all of us that women are going to receive more questions about the risk of their business many, many more than they will about the opportunity. So how do we train women for that landscape? You know, how do we train them to answer the questions about the risk realistically and fairly but pivot so that they get the same opportunities as a male entrepreneur, perhaps to answer questions about the ceiling as well as the floor. >>Yeah, and addresses trade up and understand the criteria and having that confidence. And I think that the great news is that we're all changing and we're all open to it. And there's more funds now like this and your >>leadership. E love that point, John. I think, you know, I think that everyone's eyes are open right, and I can say that sort of it with a really strong sense of conviction. That, like 2020 is is a great year for acknowledging this problem and for I think a lot of joint motivation to really properly address it. So I'm actually feeling really optimistic about it, >>and we're at a cultural crossroads. Everyone kind of knows that you're seeing it play out on the big stage of the world on again. Your leadership has been doing this, and I want to get your thoughts on this because you mentioned entrepreneurship, the ups and downs. Some call it a rollercoaster highs and lows. You have great days, and you have really, really bad days. And it's even compounded when you're not in the pattern matching world of what people are seeing. If you're a woman or under verse, a minority or group, I gotta ask you the question around mental health because one of the things, especially with co vid, is having that community. Because the ups and downs swings are important that people maintain their confidence, and mentors and community add value there. Can you talk about that important piece of the equation because it's it plays a big role, often not talked about much? Um, it is tough now more than ever than ever before, but still not enough. This community there, it's >>having support. We can, you know, we talk about it a lot of healthy and what people need to prioritize their mental health as they grow a business. And ultimately, if you're not doing a good job of that. Your business will not succeed because your team would be healthy and you're just it compounds. Um, so it's really imperative. And it does take a toll on founders on entrepreneurs, I think in in higher degrees. And it does in the general population because a small crack can become a chasm if people are not careful. Andi, everyone knows even if you're super passionate about something, putting in 20 hours a day, every day continuously is eventually going to catch up with you, right? So you have to create healthy habits from the beginning for you and your team on board. And certainly during covert we've seen some of those things exacerbated due to isolation. So that community peace becomes really, really important. I don't think she would mind me saying so. I'm going Thio mention that one of our previous entrepreneurs and Yang brilliant, brilliant woman actually did a great piece. Uh, you can just google and Yang entrepreneur depression, mental health and and it will come up for you, but just a really candid expose on what it is like. Thio be an entrepreneur that perhaps struggles with with mental health >>Yeah, it's super important. And I gotta say, I really love your work. I've always been an admirer of the Halsey in Mission and the people behind it, the halcyon house. And now you're taking it to buy rain under with an intensive kind of program. It's a global landscape. Final word, Kate. What should people know about this program? Summarize it real quick. >>We're just super happy to be reaching out and supporting a greater number off talented founders from the Middle East with Although Bahrain on our partners started, Borane and AWS have to offer. You know, we we love to expand our work to serve more and more entrepreneurs. And we couldn't be more excited to support these women. >>We're an upward better time now than ever. It's gonna be a big change happening. Big cultural change. Your part of it. Thank you for joining me. >>Thank you, John. >>Great to see you >>really appreciate it. >>Thank you. I'm John for your here. The cube. Virtual covering A W s public sector online. Thanks for watching