Today, we are excited to officially announce our partnership with GSMA Foundry. This collaboration marks a significant stride towards driving innovation and fostering growth within the industry. It will include a number of activities to further align and consolidate innovation between 4YFN and GSMA Foundry. One key aspect of this collaboration is the spotlight on the 4YFN 2023 Award Winners, who will be featured as showcase projects within the GSMA Foundry. Together, we couldn’t be more excited to work together to develop new opportunities, driving growth and innovation.
This strategic move not only highlights ground-breaking startups but also supports the bridging of start-ups and scale-ups, creating a seamless continuum for emerging companies from 4YFN to the wider Mobile World Congress (MWC) event. Similarly, starting at 4YFN will lead to development, growth and industry exposure within the GSMA Foundry as start-ups raise their profile at MWC.
This competition serves as the pinnacle of recognition for startups at MWC Barcelona 2024, ensuring international exposure. As part of their prize package, the 2023 finalists were granted the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments through the GSMA Foundry platform.
We interviewed two of the 4YFN finalists, heres what they said..
Payflow
Payflow is the leading company in On-Demand Salary and Flexible Compensation in the European Union and Latin America, offering the most comprehensive Financial Wellness platform in the market. Through an intuitive application, users can access a portion of their already earned salary, save in automated virtual piggy banks, and receive financial education through their interactive classes platform. Additionally, they can save on taxes by using the Flexflow card for Food, Transportation, Childcare, and Training. As a social benefit, it is completely free for employees and a strategic ally for Human Resources teams, as it enhances productivity and boosts the employee experience. They have surpassed 800 clients and operate in Spain, Colombia, Portugal, and Peru.
Congratulations once again for being one of our 4YFN23 finalists! Can you share a standout moment or experience from the event that had a significant impact on your startup’s journey? How did it influence your subsequent actions or strategies?
“Thank you immensely! Participating in the entire startup competition, and particularly emerging victorious, was undoubtedly the highlight of our experience at the last edition of 4YFN. Engaging with exceptional startups, along with the various smaller events and activities woven into the schedule—private pitches, meetings, networking—proved immensely advantageous for our company. The substantial press coverage and heightened brand awareness following the event significantly bolstered our Marketing and Sales Team, contributing to sustained growth.”
4YFN23 was a platform filled with innovation and networking opportunities. Could you tell us about a valuable connection or partnership that stemmed from the event? How has this collaboration contributed to your startup’s growth and success?
“4YFN is unquestionably the ultimate destination for every startup, and our three-year journey with this event culminated in our latest participation, where we proudly clinched the coveted 4YFN Startup of the Year Award. Beyond the recognition, it was a pivotal moment for us to connect with fellow professionals in the ecosystem, both current collaborators and potential investors. Furthermore, the event served as a catalyst for team building within our company, as a substantial number of our employees actively contributed to the preparation and success of our participation in the competition.”
Microverse
Microverse is an online school for remote software developers where students learn collaboratively with peers around the world. Microverse believes the place where people are born shouldn’t determine their opportunities in life and provides access to global opportunities by offering world-class education. At Microverse, students learn to work remotely with people worldwide. More than 3,000 students from 150 countries have joined the program since its launch.
4YFN23 was a platform filled with innovation and networking opportunities. Could you tell us about a valuable connection or partnership that stemmed from the event? How has this collaboration contributed to your startup’s growth and success?
“We strengthened our connection to the startup ecosystem at MWC Barcelona. For example, with the founder of Norrsken, who was in the process of setting up Norrsken House Barcelona for impact-focused startups. Thanks to that connection, Ariel joined the Norrsken Club Advisory Board. We also approached exhibitor companies to discuss building potential hiring partnerships for our students. These conversations gave us more insights into the market.”
Participating in 4YFN is a significant achievement. In what ways has your journey with 4YFN helped you gain more visibility, recognition, or resources for your startup? What advice would you give to the 4YFN24 finalists to maximise their experience?
“Prepare in advance with a clear objective and identify the people you want to connect with to make the most of networking opportunities. Whenever possible, reach out before the events and use these opportunities to build more rapport. Also, when presenting, keep your slides simple to avoid confusing yourself or the audience. Audio-visuals are great, but too much complexity can create headaches when presenting, and you will need a backup plan if technology fails you!”
DeafTawk
DeafTawk provides quality Sign Language Interpretation round the clock 7 days a week through a mobile application that is available on both Android and iOs platforms. DeafTawk started in Pakistan in 2018, and has now expanded to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Denmark, and other SEA and European countries. DeafTawk bridges the communication gap between 466 million deaf individuals across the globe. DeafTawk facilitates deaf individuals to actively participate in society, access necessary services, and gain a better understanding of their rights and available resources. This inclusive participation will contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society, where deaf individuals have equal opportunities to thrive and improve their lives. We want to expand our reach and provide real-time sign language interpretation services to a larger number of deaf individuals globally. We do this by partnering with companies to make their services inclusive for the deaf, create employment for the deaf persons and empower them financially. DeafTawk is developing AI driven sign language interpretation to provide more affordable and reliable solution.
Congratulations once again for being one of our 4YFN23 finalists! Can you share a standout moment or experience from the event that had a significant impact on your startup’s journey? How did it influence your subsequent actions or strategies?
“Being in the top five in a 4YFN was one standout moment for DeafTawk as it got us due recognition and visibility in the market. This increased exposure has led to more opportunities, partnerships, and connections in the industry. It motivated us and inspired us to continue pursuing our goals and contribute to a positive mindset.”
4YFN23 was a platform filled with innovation and networking opportunities. Could you tell us about a valuable connection or partnership that stemmed from the event? How has this collaboration contributed to your startup’s growth and success?
“Yes, 4YFN23 was a game-changer for us. Through the event, we forged key connections with mobile network operators and joined forces with a Canadian accelerator. This partnership has been instrumental in launching and growing our presence in the Canadian market, offering us invaluable insights and support for tailored success. The event’s networking opportunities have significantly contributed to our startup’s growth and achievements.”
Project Resources
Building a Bridge Between Talents and Opportunities
Monday 6 Nov 2023 | 4YFN | Case Study | Microverse |
4YFN 2023 competition finalist, Microverse has helped 3,000 people from across the world acquire the skills they need to secure well-paid coding jobs. Rather than migrating across the world in search of better-paid jobs, ...
Helping the Deaf to Communicate
Monday 6 Nov 2023 | 4YFN | Case Study | DeafTawk |
4YFN 2023 competition finalist, DeafTawk uses mobile apps to provide real-time translation of text and audio into sign language. The world’s 466 million deaf people can find it hard to communicate and access the ...
Delivering Salaries on Demand
Monday 6 Nov 2023 | 4YFN | Case Study | Payflow |
4YFN 2023 competition winner, Payflow enables a company’s employees to access the money they have earned on-demand, rather than waiting for a monthly pay cheque. As a result, almost 500,000 employees now have far more ...
