BEACON 2024 Celebrates #TechforGood: Advancing Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation

Singapore, 23 November 2024 – BEACON 2024, Better.sg’s flagship annual conference, brought together over 270 innovators, changemakers, and tech enthusiasts today at Marina One to explore how technology can create meaningful social impact. With the theme “Diversity and Inclusion”, this year’s event reaffirmed Better.sg’s commitment to create a better Singapore through #TechForGood.

Highlights of BEACON 2024

Speech by Guest-of-Honour

Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information & Health, and Minister-in-Charge of GovTech, gave a speech at the event, emphasising the importance of using technology for good, to help society embrace its potential and use it confidently. He highlighted that partnerships between the public and private sectors are key to enable citizens to harness technology for good, and such collaborations are essential to strengthening Singapore’s communities and advancing the nation’s Smart Nation 2.0 vision.

During the event, Dr. Janil Puthucheary engaged with representatives from Better.sg’s impactful projects:

• Are You Ok? (RUOK): A Telegram bot that empowers Singapore residents to provide emotional support to loved ones in distress.
• CheckMate: A community-driven misinformation-checking platform addressing online harms such as scams and fake news through AI and volunteer collaboration.
• Schemes.sg: A centralised platform simplifying access to over 300 support schemes for Singapore residents, from financial aid to healthcare.

He also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum-of-Understanding (MOU) between better.sg and The Majurity Trust.

MOU Signing

A key milestone of BEACON 2024 was the signing of a MOU between Better.sg and The Majurity Trust to identify social impact organisations to participate in better.sg’s AI/ML-for-Good Programme. Supported by Meta, the programme currently provides mentorship opportunities for students intending to enter the AI/ML field. This MOU would expand the scope of the programme, to train changemakers from social impact organisations to integrate AI/ML solutions within their organisations, and contribute to a robust ecosystem for #techforgood in Singapore.

"AI/ML is transforming the way businesses operate, and social impact organisations should not be left behind," said Lewis Liu, CEO of better.sg. "We’re excited to partner with The Majurity Trust and Meta to harness the power of AI/ML in scaling the meaningful work of social impact organisations."

Thought-Provoking Panels and Workshops
A diverse lineup of panels and workshops featured leading voices in the non-profit and tech space, including: Care Corner, Intellect, Meta, Data.org, GoodHood.sg, Friendzone, Govtech, Figma, and Equitech Collective. Key topics included:

• Artificial Intelligence & Tech for Good: This panel explored AI's potential in tackling major social challenges, such as enhancing public health systems, and social service delivery. Speakers shared practical case studies, demonstrating how AI could empower non-profits to scale their impact. The discussion also tackled critical ethical considerations, offering a balanced perspective on harnessing AI responsibly for meaningful social change.
• Mental Health & Innovation: With mental health becoming a growing concern globally, this session examined how technology could improve access to mental health services and reduce stigma. Panelists highlighted advancements such as AI-powered chatbots and digital therapy platforms, offering scalable, accessible solutions for diverse populations.
• Community Building with Tech: This panel brought together key figures from organisations such as GoodHood, Friendzone, and Open Government Products to explore whether and how technology could foster equitable and trusted networks in Singapore’s diverse communities.

Attendees also participated in interactive breakout sessions on leveraging Figma and service design for social innovation, building data capacities for impact, and building accessible products.

Watch the event highlights here!

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‍Pushing the #TechForGood Movement Forward

Organised by Better.sg, Singapore’s largest #TechForGood community, BEACON 2024 offered a platform for innovators to connect, share ideas, and build collaborations that address societal challenges. With support from partners such as the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Ahrefs, Figma, Marina One, Intellect, Meta, and Potato Productions, the event reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a culture of innovation that prioritises inclusion and social responsibility.

For more information, visit beacon.better.sg.

About Better.sg

Better.sg is Singapore’s largest community of tech volunteers dedicated to creating innovative solutions that address social challenges. Through collaborations with nonprofits, ground-up initiatives, and social enterprises, Better.sg aims to empower communities and amplify social impact.

Media Contact:
Audrey Tim
Head of Branding, Marketing and Communications
Better.sg
audreytim@better.sg

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