Mission not impossible

When was the last time you imagined our world as experienced by those who are differently abled? For example, how do people with hearing impairment feel in public events? How would you describe nature to someone who is visually impaired?

I believe that adding value to the lives of people with diverse physical, mental, and cognitive abilities is one of the most noble missions in life. While we live in a world that experiences violent shocks of disruptions, not the least being pandemics, genocidal conflicts, and rapidly rising cost of living, we are also experiencing many ordinary people coming up with extraordinary solutions for humanity. This is what amazed me about the origin story of “Not Impossible Labs”.

The start of Not Impossible Labs

You often hear the phrase “what a crazy idea!” describing a potential solution that has not been done before. This phrase is what motivated Not Impossible Labs to start an innovation studio for technology solutions of societal problems. This innovation studio does not only rely on technical engineers but invites groups of innovators from all walks of life to make experiencing the richness of life possible.

One of the most beautiful Not Impossible Labs examples is their project to facilitate for deaf people enjoying sound in a concert. They developed devices that connect to the skin and transform sound waves into vibrations felt by deaf audiences. People told them it was a crazy idea, but their determination to be inclusive of people who are differently abled finally paid off and they are changing the lives of millions of hearing-impaired people around the world forever.

Scaling up tech solutions for humanity

There is a famous saying in the business world in the Arab region that says “capital is coward” referring to the fact that people with money see risk as a major red investment flag. Investing in technology for humanity and solving societal problems is a risk, yet it is the reason we are all alive today. The homes we live in, the food and water which keep us alive and the income we generate come from solutions by forward thinking innovators, such as Not Impossible Labs. Yet, the truth is access to ideas without access to resources means that the innovation ecosystem is not sustainable. What makes the innovation ecosystem in more dire straits today is how profitable it is to invest technology related to conflicts. One of the most blatant examples is how the US backed Zionist governments of Israel’s intrusive surveillance technology and assault weapons industry contributed to the harm and death of tens of thousands of people in Palestine and around the world, without any tech solutions to societal problems.

An exit forward

Exiting is a popular term in the investment world as it refers to the right time to leave a business or an initiative after meeting your objectives. Humanity needs an exit from the clutch of human made crises, especially geopolitical conflicts, and this cannot happen if we keep fueling these crises with investments. One of the most significant steps in the roadmap to make the impossible non-disruptive missions possible is by investing in incubators and studios that develop sustainable solutions made by the right groups of storytellers, artists, engineers, technologists, entrepreneurs and ethical hackers.