Linkintern

Recruiting is broken!

As unemployment among immigrant and graduates increases,
businesses are faced with sky high costs to recruit and onboard entry-level employees.

We believe we can use civic education as the first move for immigrants to quickly transition into jobs.

“Africa is the only continent where the youth population will almost triple by 2100.” Source: Africa Ahead: The Next 50 Years, 2013 Ibrahim Forum Facts & Figure

Only 83.7% of tertiary education graduates in the EU are employed. Source: EuroStat, 2020

To fix the problem, we need a global solution

Our solution is best described as a "new application of an existing technology."

Linkintern vision is to create a portfolia based civic education and career platform for easy hiring of interns and grads from across all roles, levels and geographies.

While the technology we use, including digital video production, AI-based recommendation systems, and a web and mobile platform, are not new in themselves, the way we apply these technologies to address the issue of civic education for immigrants is innovative.

We're harnessing these technologies to create a platform that delivers comprehensive, multilingual civic education content in an accessible and engaging format. This is a unique application that has the potential to revolutionize the way immigrants are onboarded into their new societies, promoting social integration and inclusivity.

Thus, while our technologies are existing, the way we're applying them is novel and transformative.

We are using storytelling and short videos to educate immigrants and women from diverse backgrounds on civic education whilst preparing them for jobs in new country.

As a woman from a diverse background myself, the challenges I have experienced in my career path motivated me to develop the Linkintern platform that can better serve and bring meaningful career growth to Women in today's digital age industry.

While many companies are attempting to solve the lack of diversity in their workforces, many are failing. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for a successful diversity and inclusion (DE&I) strategy, but there are best practices that can ensure you have the appropriate resources in place to attract and hire diverse talent, and to support, engage and retain the talent, too.

Many organizations often fall flat on inclusion once diverse candidates are brought on board.

In the Nordics, companies spend 6 to 9 months onboarding IT candidates at high cost.

It cost a minimum of 150,000 kr to onboard an IT employee.

88 % of men were employed as ICT specialists in the Nordics against 12% of women.

Female immigrants usually have a different experience in the employment processes concerning user involvement within the Nordic STEM field. Women from diverse background are reported receiving little information or guidance from the Labour and Welfare Services on career frameworks. Highly skilled and educated women from immigrant background spend a considerable amount of time trying to find opportunities in what they experienced as a complex and unclear activation field, and only by coincidence, encountered services such as INNO-SCI that could help them become more employable and obtain relevant employment in skilled roles like Tech by giving them the necessary civic education to enable them better integrate into society. Highly educated women immigrants spend 2- 4 years looking for jobs as a result of lack of necessary civic education and information. Female applicants who applied for jobs are often rejected and usually offered services by the Welfare Office’s like, e.g. skills training courses or work placements, and when they attend these services, they do not find them to be individually tailored or based on their long-term career plans. Female immigrants experienced having little influence regarding which type, level and/or content of services they received, and these did not reflect what they considered that they actually needed to cease being unemployed or underemployed. These group of women have highlighted the importance of civic education training, upskilling, mentoring and coaching to facilitated individual, personalized and tailor-made mentoring services to enable them better integrate into labour markets.

I believe that women, and especially women from diverse backgrounds in the Nordics can make a greater impact in Tech, if given the right support in the early stages through access to civic education platforms like ours to allow them to launch a new career. At Inno-Sci we make a greater effort to source candidates from non-traditional backgrounds as well as emphasizing reskilling and upskilling for women with Tech backgrounds.

My team and I am a strong advocates for Women in STEM and Tech related industries.

I am an Economist, with a background in Value Chain Management. I am the Founder and CEO of INNO-SCI. 

We are passionate about science, technology and unlocking the cross-functional benefits of diversity, equity, Inclusion and belonging to better support women. My team comes with a background Design, Data Science, Business management and Value chain.

Key Achievements in 2022 - 2023:

We already have the first 100 from diverse women in Training in tech certified, graduated Cloud engineers and Cyber Security program in Norway.

-             Won the Nordic Women in Tech Awards “Initiative Award”

-            Won the Microsoft Cybersecurity Award for training Women in Norway

-            Won the Social Impact challenge award Norway.

-            Nominated for Tech Nordic Advocate, Denmark International Accelerator for High-Growth (Potential) Tech Companies Led by Women.

-            Nominated for Tech Nordic Advocate, Helsinki Female Tech Founder Frontrunner Cohort 2.

-             Nominated as finalist for the Women in Tech Awards “Initiative Award”

By working with people from diverse background we have gained valuable experience and collaboration over the years, as well as equally engaged how are our target groups of women, people from diverse backgrounds and industry in developing our solution.

We have already built a Prototype platform, it is a preliminary version of the solution built to test and validate the idea. It may not have all the features or functionalities of the final product, but it serves as a working model that can be built upon and used for user testing, feedback, and iterative development. 

Our solution is considered a Prototype because we have moved beyond the ideation phase and have developed a functional version of our  platform  . We are yet to create the preliminary video content and build a basic version of our civic education web and mobile platform. We will also implement an AI-based recommendation system, although it is still in its early stages and requires further refinement. 

In summary, our solution is a Prototype because it has been partially built and is currently undergoing testing and refinement. This stage of development allows us to validate our idea and make evidence-based decisions as we work towards the final product.

Coming from an immigrant background and living in a predominantly European country, it can be extremely difficult to find Partners that can support our journey.

Being black and a woman  in most cases or spaces I am the only Black person from a minority background on the other side of the table. I believe Solve will immensely impact our solution in the following ways: 

Network and Collaboration:  Being a part of this network can provide us with partners, opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, that can advance our solution.

Technical Expertise: We can benefit from the technical expertise within the Solve community. Given the crucial role of technology in our solution, having access to advice and support from tech experts can help us improve and scale our platform.

Capacity Building: Solve offers capacity-building support to Solver teams. This could help us strengthen our operational capacity and effectiveness, whether it's in project management, impact measurement, or fundraising.

Visibility: Being a Solver team can significantly increase our visibility, helping us attract more users, partners, and funders.

In Kind Support: While not our primary aim, the opportunities available through Solve can provide valuable resources for further development and scaling of our solution.

In terms of the specific barriers we hope Solve can help us overcome:

Technical Barrier: Although we have a working prototype, we still face technical challenges in refining our AI-based recommendation system and optimizing our platform for large-scale use. Solve's technical expertise and resources can help us overcome these challenges.

Market Barrier: As a new entrant in the civic education field, we need to establish our credibility and reach out to our target users effectively. Solve's network and visibility can help us overcome this barrier.

Cultural Barrier: Our solution aims to serve immigrants from diverse cultural backgrounds in different parts of the world. Creating culturally responsive content is a significant challenge that requires deep understanding and sensitivity. We believe that the diverse, global community at Solve can provide valuable insights and support in this area.

Financial Barrier: While we have some revenue streams in place, securing sustained funding for our work remains a challenge. Solve can connect us with potential funders and provide support in developing our fundraising strategy.

By applying to Solve, we hope to leverage these opportunities and supports to overcome our barriers and accelerate the impact of our solution.

Most immigrants find it diffult to integrate quickly into their new country and we beleieve we can make a difference. Especially for immigrant women traditionally, assimilation into a new society is a daunting process, often involving complex legal procedures, cultural shocks, language barriers, and a lack of understanding of civic responsibilities. The primary methods used to address these issues have been formal education programs or written resources, which can be difficult to navigate, time-consuming, and unengaging. These are some of the challenges that i have faced and would like to contribute in solving.

Creating a digital platform focused on civic education videos for immigrants represents a bold and innovative step forward in promoting social integration and understanding. This approach adopts a combination of cutting-edge technology and tailor-made content to empower immigrants, offering them an accessible, engaging, and rapid onboarding process to their new society.

This solution revolutionizes the approach to civic education by leveraging the power of digital media and the ubiquity of mobile devices. By converting dense, text-heavy information into easily digestible video content, this platform makes information more accessible and engaging. It has the potential to reach audiences on a scale and at a speed that traditional methods simply cannot match. The use of video also allows for the incorporation of visual aids, subtitles in multiple languages, and real-world examples that make complex concepts more understandable.

Beyond the immediate value for immigrants, the broader impacts of such a platform could be transformative for society as a whole. An informed and civically engaged immigrant population contributes to a diverse and vibrant community, fostering a sense of unity and shared identity. This platform could also serve as a model for other social sectors, inspiring similar initiatives for various marginalized or underserved groups.

Moreover, by bridging the gap between immigrants and their new society, this platform can spark increased collaboration and innovation. 

This innovative solution has the potential to significantly shift the market dynamics. As it gains traction, other educational platforms may begin to recognize the value of creating content for specific demographics or groups, leading to a rise in personalized learning solutions. The success of this platform could incentivize tech companies, educational institutions, and non-profits to invest in similar initiatives, spurring competition and innovation in the market.

Furthermore, the creation of such a platform would increase demand for multicultural and multilingual content creators, opening up new job opportunities and fostering a diverse creative industry. It could also encourage more research into culturally responsive pedagogy and digital learning strategies, enriching the field of educational technology.

In conclusion, the proposed platform embodies innovation by transforming the way civic education is delivered to immigrants. Its potential for large-scale, positive societal change is immense, as it can spark a shift towards more accessible, engaging, and personalized educational resources. This solution is not only poised to reshape the market but also to catalyze a broader movement towards inclusive digital education.

Over the next year and five years, our impact goals will focus on creating a transformational change in the lives of immigrants through our innovative digital platform for civic education. We aim to help immigrants gain a better understanding of their new society, resulting in improved integration, increased civic participation, and a more inclusive community.

One-Year Impact Goals:

1. Content Development: By the end of the first year, our goal is to have a comprehensive library of high-quality, multilingual civic education videos. We will achieve this by hiring a diverse team of content creators and subject matter experts. We will also form partnerships with civic organizations and educational institutions to ensure the content's accuracy and relevance.

2. User Engagement: We aim to reach at least 10,000 active users by the end of the first year. We will employ a multi-pronged marketing strategy, leveraging social media, community outreach, and partnerships with immigrant support organizations. We will also implement a user-friendly interface and interactive features to promote engagement on the platform.

3. Feedback and Improvement: Our goal is to establish a robust system for collecting user feedback and making data-driven improvements to the platform. We will conduct regular surveys, user testing, and data analysis to identify areas for enhancement.

Five-Year Impact Goals:

1. Increased Reach: We currently operate in Norway, we intend  and expand in Norway and to Sweden in the next year. By the end of five years, we aim to have at least 500,000 active users. We will achieve this by continuously improving the platform based on user feedback, expanding the range of languages and topics covered, and intensifying our marketing efforts.

2. Positive Social Impact: Our goal is to see measurable improvements in immigrants' civic participation rates and social integration. We will partner with research institutions to conduct studies on the platform's impact, using indicators such as voter registration rates, community involvement, and self-reported measures of social belonging.

3. Policy Influence: We aim to influence policy by advocating for the importance of digital civic education for immigrants. By showcasing the success of our platform, we hope to encourage governments and educational institutions to invest more in this area.

4. Market Transformation: Our goal is to catalyze a broader shift towards personalized, inclusive digital education. We will achieve this by sharing our insights and best practices with the edtech community, participating in industry events, and fostering collaborations with other organizations.

To achieve these ambitious goals, we will need to invest in our team's capacity, build strong partnerships, and stay committed to our mission of empowering immigrants through accessible, engaging civic education. We will also need to maintain a culture of learning and adaptability, continuously refining our approach based on the evolving needs of our users and the broader societal context.

Measuring progress towards our impact goals is crucial to ensure we stay on track and make necessary adjustments to our strategies. We will use a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators that align with our objectives and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically relating to Quality Education (SDG 4) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).

Indicators for One-Year Impact Goals:

1. Content Development: We will track the number of videos produced, the range of topics covered, and the languages available. We will also monitor user feedback scores on content quality and relevance.

2. User Engagement: Key performance indicators (KPIs) will include the number of active users, average session duration, and user retention rate. We will also measure the engagement rate with each video (views, likes, comments, shares).

3. Feedback and Improvement: We will measure the response rate to our user surveys and the percentage of user suggestions that are implemented. We will also track improvements in user satisfaction scores over time.

Indicators for Five-Year Impact Goals:

1. Increased Reach: Apart from tracking the total number of active users, we will monitor the geographic distribution of users to ensure we are reaching diverse immigrant communities. We will also track the number of partnerships with immigrant support organizations, as these can help us reach a larger audience.

2. Positive Social Impact: Indicators will include changes in civic participation rates among our users (voter registration, attendance at community meetings, etc.), and self-reported measures of social integration (sense of belonging, cultural understanding, etc.). We will also track success stories or case studies that illustrate the platform's impact on individuals' lives.

3. Policy Influence: We will track the number of policy discussions or forums where our platform is mentioned, as well as any concrete policy changes that we have contributed to.

4. Market Transformation: Indicators will include the number of collaborations with other organizations, presentations at industry events, and instances where our practices have been adopted by other platforms.

In addition to these indicators, we will conduct regular internal reviews to assess our progress and adjust our strategies as needed. We will also seek external evaluations from reputable organizations to provide an objective assessment of our impact. With these measures in place, we will ensure that our platform continues to evolve and expand its positive impact on immigrants and society at large.

Our theory of change is grounded in the belief that accessible, engaging, and culturally responsive civic education is a powerful tool for promoting social integration and empowerment among immigrants. We are positive that by providing immigrants with a digital platform that delivers comprehensive civic education through video content, we can facilitate their understanding of societal norms, laws, and civic duties, leading to improved social integration, increased civic participation, and ultimately, more inclusive communities.

Here is the logical framework of our theory of change:

Activities: Development and dissemination of multilingual civic education videos through our digital platform. Collaborations with civic organizations, educational institutions, and immigrant support groups to ensure the relevance and accuracy of our content. Regular collection of user feedback and data to improve the platform.

Immediate Outputs: High-quality, accessible civic education content available to immigrants at the click of a button. Increased awareness and understanding of civic responsibilities, societal norms, and laws among immigrants. Active user engagement on the platform, leading to a community of informed, engaged immigrants.

Short-term Outcomes: Improved social integration of immigrants, as evidenced by increased participation in community activities, improved language proficiency, and self-reported measures of belonging. Increased civic participation, such as voter registration and attendance at community meetings. Positive user feedback and success stories demonstrating the platform's impact.

Long-term Outcomes: A shift in policy towards recognizing and investing in digital civic education for immigrants. A more inclusive society where immigrants are not only informed and active participants but also feel a strong sense of belonging. Market transformation towards more personalized, inclusive digital education.

The evidence supporting our theory of change comes from various sources. Numerous studies have shown that education, especially when delivered in an engaging and culturally responsive manner, can promote social integration and civic participation. Digital platforms have been recognized for their ability to reach large audiences and provide personalized learning experiences. Furthermore, our user feedback and data will provide ongoing evidence of our platform's impact.

In the past 2 years we have engaged with more than 100 women from diverse backgrounds who have earned various certifications as Cloud engineers  and Cyber Security. One of the hurdles they face has been access to civic education to enable a faster route into learning more about their communities and finding jobs.

In conclusion, our theory of change posits a clear, logical, and evidence-backed pathway from our activities to our desired outcomes. By committing to this theory of change, we aim to make a transformative impact on the lives of immigrants and society at large.

Use of Video .

We are doing a App - Webapp.

The core technology that powers our solution is a combination of advanced digital media and AI-based recommendation systems, supported by a robust, user-friendly web and mobile platform. This multi-pronged tech approach allows us to deliver our innovative educational content effectively and provide a personalized learning experience for each user.

1. Digital Media Production: Our content is delivered in the form of high-quality videos, which are created using advanced video production software. These videos use visual aids, animations, and real-world examples to illustrate complex civic concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. We also use subtitle generation tools to provide multilingual subtitles, ensuring our content is accessible to immigrants regardless of their language proficiency.
2. AI-based Recommendation System: To provide a personalized learning experience, we use an AI-powered recommendation engine. This system uses machine learning algorithms to analyze user behavior, such as viewing history and interaction with content, and suggest relevant videos. This not only makes the learning process more engaging but also ensures that users get the most relevant information for their needs.
3. Web and Mobile Platform: Our platform is built using modern web development frameworks, ensuring it is fast, secure, and responsive. It is designed to be user-friendly, with intuitive navigation and search features. The platform is also mobile-optimized, recognizing that many immigrants primarily access the internet through their mobile devices.
4. Data Analytics: We use data analytics tools to collect and analyze user data, helping us understand how our platform is being used and identify areas for improvement. This includes tracking user engagement metrics, conducting A/B testing, and analyzing user feedback.
5. Privacy and Security: Recognizing the sensitive nature of our users' data, we have implemented advanced cybersecurity measures to protect user information. This includes encryption, secure login mechanisms, and stringent data privacy policies.
6. In addition to these modern technologies, we also value and incorporate traditional, ancestral, and natural knowledge systems into our content. For example, we may include videos that explain civic concepts using culturally relevant metaphors or stories, recognizing that traditional knowledge can often provide valuable insights and make learning more relatable.

In conclusion, our solution harnesses the power of both modern digital technology and traditional knowledge systems to provide an innovative, effective, and culturally responsive civic education platform for immigrants. This technology-driven approach allows us to scale our impact and reach a global audience, making a significant contribution to promoting social integration and inclusivity.

Our approach to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into our work involves multiple strategies, ensuring that our platform benefits and engages a wide range of immigrants  from different levels of geograhies and their unique needs. 

Here are some key aspects of our approach:

1. Multilingual Content: We recognize that language barriers can be a significant obstacle to accessing civic education. To ensure inclusivity, we create content in multiple languages, enabling users from diverse linguistic backgrounds to engage with our platform effectively.

2. Culturally Responsive Content: Our platform aims to provide content that is culturally responsive and sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of our target audience. We strive to create materials that respect, acknowledge, and incorporate different cultural perspectives, making it more relatable and effective.

3. Accessibility Features: We prioritize accessibility in the design of our platform, ensuring that users with disabilities can engage with the content easily. This includes features like closed captioning for videos, text-to-speech options, and adherence to web accessibility standards.

4. Community Engagement: We actively engage with immigrant communities to better understand their needs and ensure that our content is relevant and beneficial to them. This includes collaborating with community organizations, conducting user feedback sessions, and involving community members in content creation.

5. Diverse Team: We value diversity within our own team, as it brings varied perspectives and experiences that can enrich our work. We are committed to recruiting team members from diverse backgrounds and fostering an inclusive work environment.

6. Equity-driven Decision-making: Our internal decision-making processes are guided by the principles of equity and fairness. We strive to ensure that our actions and decisions consider the diverse needs of our target audience, prioritizing those who are most marginalized or underserved.

7. Continuous Improvement: We recognize that promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity is an ongoing process. We are committed to continuous learning and improvement in this area, actively seeking feedback and incorporating new insights into our work.

By taking these steps, we aim to create a civic education platform that is truly inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of immigrants, fostering social integration and empowering them to become active, informed participants in their new communities.

We provide these products or services:

1. Saas career platform integrated with AI & Machine Learning, Audiovisual Media, Big Data and Software and mobile application for Grads, Interns and Universities (Licensing).
2. Enterprises pay to recruit
3. Civic Education Training subscriptions  B2B/B2C 

They need this because it is a fast track and the first move for better integration into their new society. This enables them to enter into jobs quickly and also familiar with legal and civic systems.

Civic education plays a crucial role in fostering the social and cultural integration of people from migrant backgrounds and promoting tolerance between cultures.

The need for this solution arises from the unique challenges that immigrants face in understanding and integrating into their new societal context. Moving to a new country involves not just a physical relocation, but also a significant cultural shift. Immigrants often need to learn a new language,
understand different societal norms, and navigate unfamiliar legal and civic systems. These challenges can lead to feelings of disorientation and exclusion, and may hinder full participation in their new community and building equity.

Our solution addresses these challenges in several key ways:
1. Access to Comprehensive Civic Education: By providing a digital platform for civic education, we are giving immigrants a one-stop resource to understand their new society's civic duties, rights, and norms even before the move to their country of residence. This includes information about the political system, legal rights and responsibilities, and societal values and customs.

2. Culturally Responsive Content: Recognizing that immigrants come from diverse cultural backgrounds, our content is designed to be culturally responsive. This means that we strive to respect and acknowledge different cultural perspectives in our content, making it more relatable and effective.

3. Language Accessibility: Our platform provides multilingual support, ensuring that immigrants can access the content regardless of their language proficiency. This is crucial as language barriers are often a significant hurdle for immigrants trying to integrate into a new society.

4. Engaging and Personalized Learning Experience: Traditional civic education can often be dry and overwhelming. Our platform uses engaging video content and an AI-based recommendation system to provide a personalized, enjoyable learning experience. This makes the learning process more engaging and effective.

5. Community Building: Beyond just providing information, our platform also aims to build a community of informed, engaged immigrants. By fostering discussion and interaction on the platform, we hope to create a sense of belonging and camaraderie among users.

In conclusion, our solution fulfills a crucial need for immigrants by providing an accessible, engaging, and culturally responsive platform for civic education a faster route for integrating quickly into society to contribute to the workforce. By doing so, we hope to facilitate their integration into their new society and empower them to be active, informed participants in their community.

Revenue Streams:

1. Student subscriptions/Graduates
2. Brands/busineses will pay to recruite
3. Saas Career Products for Universities Licensing (Including Africa)

We have raised so far more than 150 000 kr. from Innovation Norway and 10000 kr for winning an award the Launch Global Award 2021 @ University of Salford Manchester, UK