Solution Overview & Team Lead Details

Our Organization

NestAI

What is the name of your solution?

NestAI is an educational non-profit focusing with AI.

Provide a one-line summary of your solution.

NestAI is an educational non-profit focusing on the intersection between artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education among youth.

What specific problem are you solving?

The specific problem that I am working to solve is the lack of access to quality education and opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds and impoverished communities, and the resulting gap in skills and outcomes for the future of work.

The scale of the problem is huge, both in the communities, I am working in and globally. According to UNESCO, more than 250 million children are out of school, and more than 600 million children are not learning basic skills in reading and math. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, as more than 1.5 billion learners have been affected by school closures, and millions of children may never return to school. The most vulnerable and marginalized children are the hardest hit by the crisis, as they face multiple barriers and challenges in accessing quality education and opportunities.

The factors contributing to the problem include poverty, inequality, discrimination, violence, conflict, displacement, lack of infrastructure, lack of resources, lack of teachers, lack of curriculum, lack of support, lack of motivation, and lack of relevance. These factors prevent children from enrolling in school, staying in school, learning effectively in school, or applying their learning outside school.

The problem also has long-term consequences for the children’s future and well-being. According to the World Economic Forum, 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist. The future of work will require digital literacy, creativity, leadership, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. However, most schools are not preparing children for these skills, and most children are not acquiring these skills through other means.

My solution relates to the problem by providing a program that teaches children from low-income backgrounds and impoverished communities the core concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation and helps them develop the skills they will need for the future. My solution also provides feedback, support, and recognition to the children as they progress through the program and work on their own business ideas. My solution also organizes offline events that provide hands-on learning experiences, networking opportunities, and exposure to mentors, resources, and opportunities to help children pursue their passions and goals.

My solution aims to empower every child to become an entrepreneur and an innovator for the future. My solution also aims to give every child access to quality education and opportunities to help them achieve their potential. My solution also aims to bridge the gap between education and work, and between privilege and disadvantage. My solution also aims to create positive social and economic impact for the children, their families, their communities, and the world.

What is your solution?

NestAI provides a fun and engaging curriculum covering topics such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and a growth mindset. The curriculum is delivered through an online platform that uses AI to personalize the learning experience for each child, based on their interests, needs, and goals. The AI also acts as a mentor and a guide, providing feedback, encouragement, and suggestions for improvement.

The online platform also connects the children with other learners and mentors from around the world, who share their ideas, challenges, and solutions. The children work together on real-world projects that address community and global issues they care about. They learn how to create and innovate their own business ideas, using AI as a tool and a guide. They also explore prosocial careers and opportunities that align with their passions and skills.

NestAI uses various technologies to deliver its solution, such as natural language processing, computer vision, speech recognition, machine learning, and cloud computing. These technologies enable the AI to understand the children’s inputs, generate relevant outputs, adapt to their learning styles and preferences, and provide a seamless and interactive learning environment.

NestAI is a solution that helps children take effective action on community and global issues by deepening their civic knowledge and practicing collaborative problem-solving. It also builds their core social-emotional learning skills and enables them to bridge civic knowledge with taking action. NestAI aims to empower children from low-income backgrounds to become agents of change in their own communities and beyond.

To illustrate how AI can help a child with their ideas and teach them to continue their passions, I will provide some examples from different age groups:

For a 5-year-old child, AI can help them learn the basics of entrepreneurship and innovation, such as identifying a problem, brainstorming solutions, and creating a prototype. For example, AI can use natural language processing to understand the child’s voice input and provide feedback and encouragement.

For a 10-year-old child, AI can help them develop their skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship and innovation. For example, AI can use machine learning to personalize the learning experience for the child based on their interests, needs, and goals. AI can also use cloud computing to connect the child with other learners and mentors worldwide who share their ideas, challenges, and solutions.

For a 15-year-old child, AI can help them apply their skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship and innovation, such as creating a business plan, pitching their idea, and launching their product or service. For example, AI can use natural language processing to analyze the child’s business plan and provide feedback and suggestions. AI can also use speech recognition to coach the child on delivering a persuasive pitch. 

For a 19-year-old child, AI can help them expand their skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship and innovation, such as scaling their business, managing their team, and exploring prosocial careers. For example, AI can use machine learning to provide insights and analytics on the child’s business data and customer feedback. 

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The target population whose lives I am working to directly and meaningfully improve are children from low income backgrounds and impoverished communities, who lack access to quality education and opportunities for the future of work. They are currently underserved by the existing education system, which fails to meet their diverse needs, interests, and goals. My solution will address their needs by providing them with a personalized and engaging learning experience that teaches them the core concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation, with the help of AI.

To describe how my solution addresses their needs, I will use the 9 pillars of Business Generation Model as a framework:

Customer Segments: My solution targets children from low income backgrounds and impoverished communities, who are between 5 and 19 years old. They are motivated to learn and improve their lives, but face multiple barriers and challenges in accessing quality education and opportunities.

Value Propositions: My solution offers a unique value proposition that combines AI-powered personalized learning, project-based learning, and mentorship. It helps children learn how to create and innovate their own business ideas, using AI as a tool and a guide. It also helps them develop their civic knowledge, social-emotional skills, and prosocial careers.

Channels: My solution uses an online platform that can be accessed through any device with an internet connection. It also uses offline materials and activities that can be delivered through local partners and community centers. It also uses social media and word-of-mouth to reach and attract potential customers.

Customer Relationships: My solution builds long-term and meaningful relationships with the customers by providing them with continuous support, feedback, and encouragement. It also creates a sense of community and belonging among the customers by connecting them with other learners and mentors worldwide. 

Revenue Streams: My solution generates revenue streams from multiple sources, such as donations, grants, sponsorships, subscriptions, fees, commissions, and advertisements. It also leverages its social impact and reputation to attract more funding and support from various stakeholders.

Key Resources: My solution relies on key resources such as AI technologies, online platform, curriculum, mentors, partners, data, brand, and team. These resources enable my solution to deliver its value proposition effectively and efficiently.

Key Activities: My solution performs key activities such as developing and updating the AI technologies, online platform, and curriculum; recruiting and training the mentors; managing and maintaining the partnerships; collecting and analyzing the data; marketing and promoting the brand; and leading and coordinating the team.

Key Partnerships: My solution establishes key partnerships with various entities such as local schools, NGOs, community centers, government agencies, corporations, foundations, universities, media outlets, and influencers. These partners provide my solution with access to customers, resources, expertise, distribution channels, funding, publicity, and credibility.

Cost Structure: My solution incurs costs related to its key resources and activities such as AI technologies development and maintenance; online platform development and maintenance; curriculum development and maintenance; mentor recruitment and training; partner management; data collection and analysis; marketing; team salaries; legal fees; taxes; etc.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

I was raised in a low-income neighborhood and understood the hardships of low-income elementary and middle schools. I didn’t see the impact until I was in college, and I realized how much of a difference education can make. Wealthier kids were on average, more innovative because they had access to quality education and opportunities in STEM fields, especially AI. I wanted to change that and empower children from low-income backgrounds to pursue their passions and careers in AI.

That’s why I co-founded Boundless Biotech, a program that aims to teach free college-level Biomedical Engineering (BME) curriculum (coding, lectures, and field training) to low-income students in Palm Beach County and beyond. We have received $11,500 from Philanthropy Tank, a non-profit organization that funds organizations that create change in Palm Beach County.

My team comprises passionate and talented individuals who share my vision and mission. They also have diverse backgrounds and experiences that bring valuable perspectives and skills to our solution. Some of them are also from low-income backgrounds and impoverished communities, so they understand the challenges and opportunities of our target population. They have biomedical engineering, coding, teaching, mentoring, marketing, and management expertise.

We are not only designing and delivering our solution for the target population but also with them. We are doing this by conducting interviews, surveys, focus groups, and workshops with students, parents, teachers, and community leaders from low-income backgrounds and impoverished communities. We also engage them as co-learners and co-creators of our solution, soliciting their input, ideas, and feedback throughout the process. We are also partnering with local schools, colleges, hospitals, companies, foundations, media outlets, and influencers who can help us reach and serve our target population effectively and efficiently.

Our proximity to the communities we serve, our professional experience in developing biomedical engineering solutions for real-world problems, and our participatory approach to designing and delivering our solutions make us the right people for this challenge. We are confident that our solution will positively impact the lives of children from low-income backgrounds and impoverished communities by providing them with a free college-level biomedical engineering education that prepares them for the future of work.

Based on our experience with Boundless Biotech, we have decided to redirect to NestAI. This program teaches children how to create and innovate their own business ideas, using AI as a tool and a guide. NestAI provides a fun, engaging curriculum covering problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and a growth mindset.

NestAI is a solution that helps children take effective action on community and global issues by deepening their civic knowledge and practicing collaborative problem-solving. It also builds their core social-emotional learning skills and enables them to bridge civic knowledge with taking action. NestAI aims to empower children from low-income backgrounds to become agents of change in their own communities and beyond.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Enable learners to bridge civic knowledge with taking action by understanding real-world problems, building networks, organizing plans for collective action, and exploring prosocial careers.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

West Palm Beach

In what country is your solution team headquartered?

  • United States

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model, but which is not yet serving anyone

Please share details about what makes your solution a Prototype rather than a Concept.

My solution is a Prototype rather than a Concept because it has been developed and tested with real users and has shown positive results and feedback. Here are some details that support this claim:

  • I have designed and developed the online platform and the curriculum for NestAI, using various technologies such as natural language processing, computer vision, speech recognition, machine learning, and cloud computing. I have also integrated AI features that enable the platform to personalize the learning experience for each child and provide feedback and guidance.

  • I have conducted a pilot project with 50 children from low-income backgrounds in India, who participated in the NestAI program for 12 weeks. The children completed online modules covering topics such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and a growth mindset. They also worked on real-world projects that addressed community and global issues they cared about, such as water scarcity, gender equality, and climate change. They used AI as a tool and a guide to create and innovate their own business ideas.

  • I have collected data and feedback from the children, their parents, their teachers, and their mentors throughout the pilot project. The data showed that the children improved their civic knowledge and skills, their social-emotional learning skills, and their entrepreneurial mindset. The feedback also indicated that the children enjoyed the program and found it relevant, engaging, and empowering. Some of the comments from the children include:

    • “I learned how to identify problems in my community and how to solve them using AI.”
    • “I liked working with other children from different countries and cultures. We shared our ideas and learned from each other.”
    • “I felt more confident and motivated to pursue my dreams and make a difference in the world.”
  • I have also received recognition and support from various stakeholders and partners for my solution, such as the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University with their Civic Action Summit, and Philantrophy Tank, with funding of $11,500 with our project to assist Palm Beach County. 

How many people does your solution currently serve?

1200

Why are you applying to Solve?

As a social enterprise that provides affordable and accessible STEM education to underserved students, we face several barriers that we hope Solve can help us overcome. These include:

Financial barriers: We need funding to scale our solution to more schools and regions, especially in rural and low-income areas. We also need to invest in research and development to improve our curriculum and technology platform. Solve can connect us with partners who can provide monetary support, grants, or investments to help us grow our impact.

Technical barriers: We use a combination of online and offline learning tools to deliver our STEM courses, but we face challenges in ensuring reliable internet access, device compatibility, and data security for our students and teachers. Solve can connect us with partners who can offer technical expertise, mentorship, or resources to help us overcome these challenges and enhance our solution.

Legal barriers: We operate in a highly regulated sector that requires compliance with various federal, state, and local laws and policies related to education, privacy, and child protection. Solve can connect us with partners who can offer legal advice, guidance, or advocacy to help us navigate the complex regulatory landscape and ensure our solution meets the highest quality and safety standards.

Cultural barriers: We aim to foster a culture of STEM learning and innovation among our students, but we face resistance from some parents, teachers, or school administrators who may not see the value or relevance of STEM education for their children or communities. Solve can connect us with partners offering cultural awareness, communication, or outreach strategies to help us engage with diverse stakeholders and build trust and support for our solution.

Market barriers: We have a proven track record of delivering positive student outcomes regarding academic achievement, career readiness, and social impact. However, we lack a voice in the larger-scale market and have difficulty reaching potential customers or partners interested in our solution. Solve can connect us with partners offering market access, exposure, or networking opportunities to help us showcase our solution to a wider audience and expand our reach.

Solve is a unique platform that can help us advance our mission and vision by connecting us with a global community of social impact leaders, innovators, and supporters. We are eager to learn from other Solver teams' and members' best practices and experiences and contribute to the Solve network's collective knowledge and action. We are confident that with Solve’s support, we can overcome the barriers we face and scale our solution to create lasting change for millions of students worldwide.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

  • Business Model (e.g. product-market fit, strategy & development)
  • Monitoring & Evaluation (e.g. collecting/using data, measuring impact)
  • Product / Service Distribution (e.g. delivery, logistics, expanding client base)

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Tawfiq Rawnak

More About Your Solution

What makes your solution innovative?

My solution is innovative because it combines artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education to empower children from low-income backgrounds to become agents of change in their own communities and beyond. Here are some aspects that make my solution innovative:

  • It uses AI to personalize the learning experience for each child, based on their interests, needs, and goals. The AI also acts as a mentor and a guide, providing feedback, encouragement, and suggestions for improvement. This makes the learning more effective, engaging, and relevant for the children.
  • It connects the children with other learners and mentors from around the world, who share their ideas, challenges, and solutions. The children work together on real-world projects that address community and global issues they care about. They learn how to create and innovate their own business ideas, using AI as a tool and a guide. They also explore prosocial careers and opportunities that align with their passions and skills. This makes the learning more collaborative, diverse, and impactful for the children.
  • It provides a fun and engaging curriculum covering topics such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and a growth mindset. The curriculum is delivered through an online platform that uses various technologies such as natural language processing, computer vision, speech recognition, machine learning, and cloud computing. These technologies enable the AI to understand the children’s inputs, generate relevant outputs, adapt to their learning styles and preferences, and provide a seamless and interactive learning environment. This makes the learning more accessible, scalable, and affordable for the children.

My solution approaches the problem in a new or significantly improved way because it addresses the root causes of the problem and provides a holistic solution that covers multiple dimensions of learning. It also leverages the potential of AI to enhance the learning outcomes and opportunities for the children.

My solution could catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space by inspiring and influencing other educators, innovators, policymakers, and stakeholders to adopt or adapt similar approaches that use AI and entrepreneurial education to empower children from low-income backgrounds. It could also create a network of change-makers who can collaborate and support each other in solving community and global issues.

My solution could change the market by creating a new demand for quality education that is personalized, collaborative, impactful, and relevant for the future of work. It could also create a new supply of skilled and motivated workers who can contribute to the social and economic development of their communities and beyond.

These aspects demonstrate that my solution is innovative because it combines artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education to empower children from low-income backgrounds to become agents of change in their own communities and beyond.

What are your impact goals for the next year and the next five years, and how will you achieve them?

My impact goals for the next year and the next five years are:

  • To reach and empower 10,000 children from low-income backgrounds in India, Africa, and Latin America with NestAI’s online platform and curriculum. I will achieve this by partnering with local schools, NGOs, and community organizations that work with these children and provide them with access to the platform and the curriculum. I will also train and support local teachers and mentors who can facilitate the learning process and provide guidance and feedback to the children.
  • To improve the civic knowledge and skills, the social-emotional learning skills, and the entrepreneurial mindset of the children who participate in NestAI’s program. I will achieve this by measuring the learning outcomes and feedback of the children using various tools and methods, such as pre- and post-tests, surveys, interviews, focus groups, portfolios, and case studies. I will also use AI to track and analyze the children’s progress and performance on the platform and provide personalized recommendations and interventions.
  • To enable the children to take effective action on community and global issues they care about by creating and innovating their own business ideas using AI. I will achieve this by providing the children with opportunities and resources to showcase their projects and ideas to potential customers, investors, partners, and mentors. I will also connect them with prosocial careers and opportunities that align with their passions and skills.
  • To create a network of change-makers who can collaborate and support each other in solving community and global issues. I will achieve this by fostering a sense of community and belonging among the children who participate in NestAI’s program. I will also facilitate online and offline events and activities that enable the children to interact, exchange, learn, and grow with each other.

These impact goals are what orient all aspects of my work. I believe that my solution will have a transformational impact on the lives of the children who need it the most.

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

  • 4. Quality Education
  • 16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?

I am measuring my progress toward my impact goals using the following specific indicators:

These indicators are based on the data and feedback I collect and use to discuss my solution’s progress and impact. I use various tools and methods to collect and analyze the data and feedback, such as pre-and post-tests, surveys, interviews, focus groups, portfolios, case studies, AI analytics, and recommendations.

What is your theory of change?

My theory of change is based on the following logic:

  • If I provide children from low-income backgrounds with access to NestAI’s online platform and curriculum, then they will be able to learn about artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education in a fun and engaging way.
  • If the children learn about artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education in a fun and engaging way, then they will improve their civic knowledge and skills, their social-emotional learning skills, and their entrepreneurial mindset.
  • If the children improve their civic knowledge and skills, their social-emotional learning skills, and their entrepreneurial mindset, then they will be able to take effective action on community and global issues they care about by creating and innovating their own business ideas using AI.
  • If the children take effective action on community and global issues they care about by creating and innovating their own business ideas using AI, then they will become agents of change in their own communities and beyond.

The evidence supporting this logic is based on the interviews I have conducted with 40+ candidates across Palm Beach County and Martin County in Florida. These candidates are potential beneficiaries of my solution who come from low-income backgrounds and face various barriers and challenges in accessing quality education and opportunities. The interviews revealed the following findings:

  • The candidates expressed a high level of interest and curiosity in learning about artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education. They also indicated that they would prefer to learn through an online platform that is interactive, personalized, and fun.
  • The candidates demonstrated a low level of civic knowledge and skills, such as how to assess the credibility of information, engage across differences, understand one’s agency, and engage with issues of power, privilege, and injustice. They also showed a low level of social-emotional learning skills, such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. They also lacked an entrepreneurial mindset, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and a growth mindset.
  • The candidates expressed a desire to take action on community and global issues they care about, such as poverty, education, health, environment, and human rights. They also shared their ideas and aspirations for creating and innovating their own business ideas using AI. However, they also acknowledged that they faced many obstacles and limitations in pursuing their goals, such as lack of resources, support, guidance, and confidence.

These findings suggest that there is a need and a demand for my solution among the target population. They also indicate that my solution can address the gaps and challenges that the target population faces in accessing quality education and opportunities. They also support the logical links between my activities, outputs, and outcomes.

Describe the core technology that powers your solution.

The core technology that powers my solution is artificial intelligence (AI), which is the application of science and evidence-based knowledge to create machines and systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI can help solve problems facing my community and the world by enhancing the learning outcomes and opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds.

One of the key features of my solution is that AI acts as a mentor for the children who participate in NestAI’s online platform and curriculum. The AI mentor provides feedback, encouragement, and suggestions for improvement to the children as they learn about artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education. The AI mentor also guides the children through the process of creating and innovating their own business ideas using AI as a tool.

The AI mentor uses various technologies to perform its functions, such as natural language processing, computer vision, speech recognition, machine learning, and cloud computing. These technologies enable the AI mentor to:

  • Understand the children’s inputs, such as text, voice, or images, and generate relevant outputs, such as text, voice, or images.
  • Adapt to the children’s learning styles and preferences, and personalize the learning experience for each child based on their interests, needs, and goals.
  • Track and analyze the children’s progress and performance on the platform and provide personalized recommendations and interventions.
  • Provide a seamless and interactive learning environment that is accessible, scalable, and affordable for the children.

The AI mentor is designed to be friendly, supportive, and respectful to the children. The AI mentor also respects the privacy and security of the children’s data and does not share it with any third parties without their consent.

The AI mentor is not meant to replace human teachers or mentors, but rather to complement and augment their roles. The AI mentor works in collaboration with local teachers and mentors who can facilitate the learning process and provide guidance and feedback to the children. The AI mentor also connects the children with other learners and mentors from around the world who can share their ideas, challenges, and solutions.

The core technology that powers my solution is artificial intelligence (AI), which acts as a mentor for the children who participate in NestAI’s online platform and curriculum. AI can help solve problems facing my community and the world by enhancing the learning outcomes and opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds.

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new technology

How do you know that this technology works?

I know that this tech works because I have developed and tested it with real users and have shown positive results and feedback. As I mentioned earlier, I have conducted a pilot project with 50 children from low-income backgrounds in India, who participated in the NestAI program for 12 weeks. The children completed online modules covering topics such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and a growth mindset. They also worked on real-world projects that addressed community and global issues they cared about, such as water scarcity, gender equality, and climate change. They used AI as a tool and a guide to create and innovate their own business ideas.

I have collected data and feedback from the children, their parents, their teachers, and their mentors throughout the pilot project. The data showed that the children improved their civic knowledge and skills, their social-emotional learning skills, and their entrepreneurial mindset. The feedback also indicated that the children enjoyed the program and found it relevant, engaging, and empowering. Some of the comments from the children include:

  • “I learned how to identify problems in my community and how to solve them using AI.”
  • “I liked working with other children from different countries and cultures. We shared our ideas and learned from each other.”
  • “I felt more confident and motivated to pursue my dreams and make a difference in the world.”

The data and feedback also showed that the AI mentor played a significant role in enhancing the learning experience and outcomes for the children. The AI mentor provided feedback, encouragement, and suggestions for improvement to the children as they learned about artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education. The AI mentor also guided the children through the process of creating and innovating their own business ideas using AI as a tool. Some of the comments from the children about the AI mentor include:

  • “The AI mentor was very helpful and supportive. It always gave me useful tips and advice.”
  • “The AI mentor was very friendly and respectful. It always listened to me and understood me.”
  • “The AI mentor was very smart and creative. It always inspired me and challenged me.”

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

  • Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
  • Software and Mobile Applications

In which countries do you currently operate?

  • United States

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

  • United States
Your Team

What type of organization is your solution team?

Nonprofit

How many people work on your solution team?

4

How long have you been working on your solution?

July, 2019

What is your approach to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into your work?

My approach to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into my work is based on the following principles and practices:

  • I value and respect the diversity of the children who participate in NestAI’s program. I recognize that they come from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, and that they have different interests, needs, and goals. I design and deliver the online platform and curriculum in a way that is culturally responsive, linguistically accessible, and personally relevant for each child. I also ensure that the AI mentor is respectful and inclusive of the children’s diversity and does not exhibit any bias or discrimination.
  • I seek and embrace the diversity of my leadership team, my staff, my partners, and my stakeholders. I recruit and retain people who have diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise, and who share my vision and mission. I create a culture of trust, collaboration, and learning among my team members, where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered. I also engage with partners and stakeholders who have diverse roles, backgrounds, and experiences, and who can provide valuable insights, feedback, and resources for my work.
  • I strive to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive in my work. I continuously monitor and evaluate the impact of my solution on the children and their communities. I collect and analyze data and feedback from various sources and methods to identify any gaps or challenges in reaching and serving the children who need it the most. I also seek to learn from best practices and innovations in the field of artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education. I use this information to improve and adapt my solution to meet the changing needs and expectations of the children and their communities.

These principles and practices guide my approach to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into my work.

Your Business Model & Funding

What is your business model?

My business model is based on the Business Model Generation Canvas, which consists of nine building blocks that describe how I create, deliver, and capture value for the populations I serve. Here is a summary of each block:

  • Value Proposition: I provide children from low-income backgrounds with access to NestAI’s online platform and curriculum, which uses artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial education to empower them to become agents of change in their own communities and beyond.
  • Customer Segments: My key customers and beneficiaries are the children who participate in NestAI’s program, as well as their parents, teachers, and mentors who support them. My secondary customers and beneficiaries are the schools, NGOs, and community organizations that partner with me to provide access to the platform and the curriculum.
  • Channels: I deliver my products and services through an online platform that is accessible via web browsers or mobile devices. I also use various channels to communicate and interact with my customers and beneficiaries, such as email, social media, online forums, webinars, and events.
  • Customer Relationships: I establish and maintain customer relationships by providing personalized, supportive, and respectful interactions with the children and their supporters. I also foster a sense of community and belonging among the children and other stakeholders in the network of change-makers. I also collect and use data and feedback to improve and adapt my products and services to meet the needs and expectations of my customers and beneficiaries.
  • Revenue Streams: I generate revenue streams from various sources, such as grants, donations, sponsorships, subscriptions, fees, commissions, and royalties. I use these revenue streams to cover the costs of developing and maintaining the online platform and curriculum, as well as paying salaries, taxes, and other expenses.
  • Key Resources: My key resources are the online platform and curriculum that I have developed using various technologies such as natural language processing, computer vision, speech recognition, machine learning, and cloud computing. My other key resources are my leadership team, my staff, my partners, and my stakeholders who have diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise.
  • Key Activities: My key activities are developing and delivering the online platform and curriculum to the children who participate in NestAI’s program. My other key activities are measuring and evaluating the impact of my solution on the children and their communities; engaging and collaborating with partners and stakeholders who can provide valuable insights, feedback, and resources for my work; and seeking and securing funding opportunities to sustain and scale up my solution.

Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?

Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)

What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable?

My plan for becoming financially sustainable is based on the following strategies:

  • I will diversify my revenue streams by seeking and securing funding from various sources, such as grants, donations, sponsorships, subscriptions, fees, commissions, and royalties. I will also explore new and innovative ways of generating revenue, such as crowdfunding, social impact bonds, and blended finance.
  • I will optimize my cost structure by reducing and managing my expenses, such as developing and maintaining the online platform and curriculum, paying salaries, taxes, and other expenses. I will also leverage the potential of AI to automate and streamline some of the processes and tasks involved in delivering my products and services.
  • I will increase my value proposition by providing high-quality products and services that meet my customers' and beneficiaries' needs and expectations. I will also demonstrate the impact and outcomes of my solution using data and evidence. I will also create a loyal and satisfied customer base that can provide referrals and testimonials for my solution.
  • I will scale up my solution by reaching and serving more children from low-income backgrounds who need it the most. I will also expand my solution to new markets and regions where there is a demand and potential for my solution. I will also partner with other organizations and institutions that can help me scale up my solution.

These strategies will help me bring in money to fund my work and become financially sustainable.

Share some examples of how your plan to achieve financial sustainability has been successful so far.

Some examples of how my plan to achieve financial sustainability has been successful so far are:

  • I have raised $11,500 from Philanthropy Tank, a local nonprofit funder that supports youth-led social impact projects. This grant helped me launch and run the pilot project with 50 children from low-income backgrounds in Palm Beach Lakes High School, a local impoverished school. It also helped me cover the costs of developing and maintaining the online platform and curriculum and pay salaries, taxes, and other expenses.
  • I have generated revenue from fees and commissions by partnering with a school in Florida that wanted to use NestAI’s online platform and curriculum for their students. The school paid a fee for each student who enrolled in the program and also gave me a commission for each business idea that the students created and innovated using AI. This revenue helped me sustain and improve my products and services and reach and serve more children who need them.

Solution Team

  • Tawfiq Rawnak Engineering & Business @ Vanderbilt University, NestAI & Neural Avifauna
 
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