Summit Fellows on the Frontlines

Year-round, Summit Fellows are working on innovative solutions to better our communities. In the midst of COVID-19, we’ve seen them step up even more to help those in need.

From using artificial intelligence to curb the outbreak of COVID-19 to creating MedPod shipping containers, Summit Fellows have been responding to the pandemic with creativity, resilience, and compassion.

Interested in learning more about these projects? Contact us at fellows@summit.co.

Rainier Mallol, Founder of AIME (Artificial Intelligence in Medical Epidemics), uses artificial intelligence to predict disease outbreaks before they happen. For COVID-19, AIME developed ACURA, a platform to help government and health care providers set up surveillance, manage and protect precious healthcare resources, working to curb the outbreak of COVID-19.

Wanona Satcher, Founder of Makhers Studio, created MedPod shipping containers to provide COVID-19 flexible medical spaces that are desperately needed, which can be built and customized in less than 2 weeks.

Erin Zaikis, Founder of Sundara, has donated 10,000 soap products to hospitals in and around Mumbai, the epicenter of Covid-19 in India – in New York, she’s developing educational videos on hand hygiene to be given to school teachers, while they are teaching remotely.

Nicole Cardoza, Founder of Yoga Foster and Reclamation Ventures, is coordinating a $500k relief fund for the wellness community in partnership with major brands and foundations.

Marcos Lacayo Bocshe, Founder of Estación Vital, created kiosks that have facilitated 247,000 preventive health exams and impacted the lives of more than 60,000 individuals. Given the global health crisis, Marcos has had to close his kiosks, but he's now creating two telemedicine platforms within Estación Vital where people can access nutritional plans and emotional support.

Mubarak Sumailia, Founder of BezoMoney, a digital savings platform, is pivoting strategy to help those affected by COVID-19. He's focusing on helping small business owners move to digital transactions to boost their savings.

Richie Reseda, Founder of Question Culture and Success Stories, is revamping his organization's prison programming from direct mail to digital. Mail services have been impacted by COVID-19, and prisons will potentially stop allowing mail. Richie is pushing prisons to allow internet access so that inmates can continue to benefit from his program.

Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph, Founder of Africave (which recently raised its pre-seed round from two Summit community members!), is continuing to build their remote workforce by helping to source software engineering talent from Africa.

Aline Sara, Founder of Natakallam, created a virtual platform where anyone can learn languages with refugees. Especially during times of quarantine, Aline's work is helping people learn remotely while also supporting those in need – NaTakallam hires refugees as online tutors, teachers and translators.

Hannah Olson, Founder of Chronically Capable, continues to provide flexible and remote work opportunities for the chronically ill.