Singularity University Celebrates Success and Impact of Global Solutions Program

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Singularity University (SU) is highlighting the most significant achievements and recognition of recent classes of the Global Solutions Program (GSP), which provides participants with the tools, knowledge and skills to discover technology-based solutions to improve the lives of billions. GSP16, which will be SU's eighth class, is accepting applications now through Monday, March 7, 2016 at Midnight PST.

GSP15 participants and companies have already started positively impacting world issues and receiving many accolades – AIME's team has won numerous start-up competitions and is working with Viva Rio on leveraging their technology in Brazil for dengue and zika detection and prevention. Vendedy founder Christine Souffrant was recognized on Forbes' 2016 30 Under 30 list, iHelmet was a finalist in Verizon's Powerful Answers awards, and Emerge's founder Isaac Castro was both invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos and honored on MIT Tech Review's Innovators Under 35 list.

Participation in the 10-week GSP program is made free of charge through a group of partners and sponsors including Google.  SU first announced Google's support of the program in January 2015, with Google providing $1.5 million annually through 2016.  Throughout the program, participants are exposed to the methods and mindsets for leveraging technologies, such as artificial intelligence & robotics, digital biology, nanotechnology, and computing systems. Participants are charged with the mission of turning inspiring ideas into feasible solutions and creating viable companies that address global grand challenges. Additional generous support comes through Global Impact Challenges with sponsors around the world providing funding for participants from their region to attend the GSP.

Companies to watch from GSP15, creating innovative solutions in healthcare and food safety include:

• AIME: AIME's platform provides critical information for disease prediction and outbreak management via machine learning and artificial intelligence with the goal to geolocate the next disease outbreak up to three months before it occurs.
• Aipoly: Using convolutional neural networks and neural image caption generation, Aipoly is an intelligent assistant for the visually impaired that empowers them to explore and understand their surroundings through computer vision and audio-feedback.
• Awake Labs: To help children with autism, Awake Labs developed an ankle bracelet that predicts anxiety in children using state-of-the-art algorithms, and then notifies caregivers and educators about heightened anxiety levels in order to apply calm-down routines.
• Bloomer Tech: Bloomer Tech allows people to better understand their bodies via sensor technology in clothing, with the goal of moving treatments, fitness and wellbeing from the current generalist process to one that is user specific and individually focused.
• Emerge: Emerge developed a device that augments digital communication by simulating and transmitting human touch from one person to another, with the goal to incorporate the sense of touch into daily communication.
• ImpactVision: Focusing on the food industry, ImpactVision uses hyperspectral sensors to analyze spectral signatures, working to detect pollutants and bacteria on foods in an effort to determine freshness and reduce food waste.
• iHelmet: iHelmet (known as Red Olive in the GSP) is an intelligent helmet bolt-on that uses sensors and cameras to constantly monitor motorcyclists' surroundings, designed to provide safety and convenience experienced by automobile drivers to motorcycle riders.
• Iris AI: Iris AI is building an artificial intelligence that makes navigation to relevant research fast and easy. The first beta product provides a visual shortcut to open access research related to 2,000+ TED talks and is launching at this year's TED Conference.

"Beyond identifying today's leading entrepreneurs and technologists with the passion to positively impact our future, core to our mission at Singularity University is empowering these leaders with the tools, knowledge and support needed to bring their ideas to fruition," said Rob Nail, CEO and associate founder, Singularity University. "With the support of Google and our generous Global Impact Challenge sponsors around the world, this year we are pledging even greater commitment to ensuring successful project outcomes with GSP Launchpad, a new 8-week pre-accelerator program immediately following GSP."

Singularity University has identified eleven global grand challenges facing the world today: learning, energy, environment, food, health, prosperity, security, water, space, disaster resilience and governance. Previous GSP participants include Getaround [GSP09], a car-sharing company that enhances mobility and has positive sustainability impact on society; Made in Space [GSP10], the world's first space manufacturing company; Matternet [GSP11], the leading provider of autonomous drone logistics systems for urgent deliveries, such as those during disaster relief; Miroculus [GSP13], a biotech company that brings its non-invasive and affordable microRNA detection platform to allow for early-stage disease detection; and Disaster Mesh [Exponential Youth Camp 2014], which aims to re-establish wireless connectivity using a mesh network deployable by airdrop in disaster-affected areas.

Applications are now open for the 2016 Global Solutions Program through SU's Direct Admission online application: https://singularityu.slideroom.com/#/login/program/28326/6Myv01TGi6. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 7th at Midnight PST.

Tune in Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 11:00pm PST here for a live webinar and Q&A session with Nicholas Haan, Managing Director of the Global Solutions Program, who will cover the program's history and share tips on what to expect when applying and attending.

More information on GSP is available here: http://singularityu.org/gsp16/.

ABOUT SINGULARITY UNIVERSITY

Singularity University is a California benefit corporation with a mission to educate, inspire and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies towards solving humanity's grand challenges. Together with a highly engaged alumni community in over 90 countries, SU is committed to creating positive and sustainable global impact via three core areas: Education, Innovation and Community. Headquartered at NASA's Research Park in the heart of the Silicon Valley, it was founded in 2008 by Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis. For more information, visit: SingularityU.org. Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SingularityU.

CONTACT: Daria Baxter, 415-629-1942, [email protected]

SOURCE Singularity University

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