Honoring entrepreneurs promoting digital inclusivity For the first time in 2021, the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge included a special Digital Inclusivity Prize offered by Cisco’s Emerging Technologies and Incubation (ET&I) group. The prize was intended for a startup using technology to close the digital divide, whether through accessibility, affordability, or development of digital literacy. Beyond money, the prize included technical mentorship opportunities with ET&I experts. The Digital Inclusivity Prize winner was Jangala , a startup working to enable Internet access for the unconnected. The company’s solution is Big Box, a briefcase-sized device that transforms any form of Internet connectivity into Wi-Fi that can be accessed by thousands of users. It has been deployed in refugee camps, schools, and in the aftermath of natural disasters. A smaller-scale solution, known as Get Box, has been used in shelters and community centers during the pandemic. One of the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge regional runner-up prizes also went to a digital inclusivity startup, Telecomunicaciones Indígenas Comunitarias (TIC) . Based in Oaxaca, Mexico, TIC helps indigenous communities build and manage their own telecommunications networks. Since 2015, TIC has used open-source technology to bring cell service to thousands of people. FUTURE INTRO POWER INCLUSIVE 2021 Cisco Purpose Report | csr.cisco.com | ESG Reporting Hub 34