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Learnings from building an online platform for development innovations

for the

High-level Study Visit on STI for SDGsShanghai, ChinaDecember 5, 2017

11/9/17 FOOTER GOES HERE 2

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CHALLENGES IN GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

ACCESS

TO INFORMATION

LACK OF SHARED BUSINESS

INTELLIGENCE

DUPLICATIONBARRIERS TO SCALE &

SUSTAINABILITY

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SOLUTION

SINGLE DATABASE TO MATCH

INNOVATIONS & FUNDING

SECTOR AND REGION

AGNOSTIC

OPEN, PUBLIC

GOOD PLATFORM

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TRANSPARENCY

GLOBAL COLLABORATION

ENHANCED BUSINESS

INTELLIGENCE

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SDG Engine

• Project ideation beginning October 2014 at USAID

• Concept to MVP in 100 business days

• Iterative, agile development process

• 100+ partners across USG and private/public sector partners

• Current co-funding partners:

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JOURNEY

• Default to public, open platform

• Default to all innovations welcome

• Needs assessment & requirements gathering began at “home” first

• User Personas and Use Cases

• Then we talked to everyone and anyone

• Open to all feedback

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USER RESEARCH & PLATFORM DESIGN - 1

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USER RESEARCH & PLATFORM DESIGN - 2

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USER RESEARCH & PLATFORM DESIGN - 3

• Fine balance between quantity vs. quality

–A platform for all ideas OR only good, validated ideas

• Who is the primary customer... innovators or funders?

–Innovators seek funding, experts, curated content

–Funders seek validated innovations

• Data Partnerships

–Magical API is not so magical

• The Ginsu Knife Dilemma13

LESSONS LEARNED

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WHAT’S NEXT?

• Enhanced match-making for innovators to funding opportunities

• Validations

• Deals & Funding

• Expert & Peer Reviews

• Investors Portal

• Universal Application: Quick Apply

• Localization: language and content

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www.globalinnovationexchange.org

Grace Kimgkim@usaid.gov