Gapsquare, the innovative Bristol tech start-up focusing on tackling the gender pay gap, has been selected as a finalist in a worldwide problem-solving project staged by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The MIT Solve Global Challenge looks at solving the world’s most pressing challenges through open innovation and partnership.
This year four global challenges were identified – brain health; sustainable urban communities; women and technology; and youth, skills and the workforce of the future.
MIT Solve builds and convenes a community of leaders and problem-solvers of all shapes and sizes who have the resources, expertise, mentorship and know-how to get each solution piloted, scaled, and implemented.
The project received more than 950 solutions from 103 countries. Gapsquare, based at Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub, is one of 16 companies from around the world selected as finalists for the category Women and Technology Global Challenge: How can women and girls of all socio-economic backgrounds use technology to fully participate and prosper in the economy?
Gapsquare’s solution is to tackle the gender pay gap using technology. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 117 years to close the gender pay gap at the current rate of progress.
With instant analysis of pay data, custom-built narratives and tailor-made recommendations, Gapsquare is using disruptive technology to close the gender pay gap by a century.
Gapsquare CEO Dr Zara Nanu said: “We see Gapsquare as our opportunity to help shape a world based on fundamental ideals and principles of equality and inclusion. Being part of the Solve community will help us grow our technological solution to the gender pay gap further.”
Dr Nanu and Gapsquare partnerships manager Sian Webb will join other Solve Challenge finalists in New York on September 17 during the United Nations General Assembly Week.
They will pitch their solution in front of challenge judges, including retired chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation Ursula Burns and Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, along with other Solve members and a live audience.
Sian added: “We are so excited to be selected as part of MIT Solve’s finalists through our solution-focused approach to both support and accelerate positive change. This is just the beginning of tackling this global problem. By looking at the gender pay gap using big data and disruptive technology, we can solve it once and for all.”
Pictured, from left: Dr Zara Nanu and Sian Webb of Gapsquare
