Why We Invested: Phandeeyar

Turbocharging startups in Myanmar

Three years ago, mobile penetration amongst 53 million Myanmar citizens was a mere 10% and only 1% had Internet access. A new SIM would cost $1,500. Today, more than 40 million active subscribers later, the much anticipated “communication revolution” has delivered. 60–80% of subscribers own a smartphone and 55% are regular data users. Perhaps for the first time in history, an entire nation has ignored feature phones and SMS in favor of smartphones.

This is even more significant in the backdrop of Myanmar’s nascent transition towards democracy. Recently concluded elections have brought a civilian government to power for the first time in over 60 years, and understandably, expectation of socio-economic progress is high.

We believe that Myanmar’s “digital leapfrog” can have a meaningful impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. However to do this, a new generation of technologists, civil society leaders, journalists and other change-agents will need to be equipped with the necessary skills to leverage the new connectivity infrastructure. These skills are in short supply today after decades of isolation.

This is why Omidyar Network seed-funded Phandeeyar in September 2014. It is a community tech hub that is designed to support social innovation and civic tech in Myanmar. Phandeeyar brings the tech community together with others who are moving Myanmar forward — such as civil society organizations, social enterprises, and independent media — to build the digital tools, platforms, and content to accelerate change and development. The organization is helping build Myanmar’s tech ecosystem from the ground up, infusing the goal of long-term social impact in all that they do. In less than 12 months of operations, Phandeeyar has run 100+ events, including 36 MeetUps, 21 seminars, 42 workshops, and 10 major activities such as hackathons, a startup challenge, and a hardware competition.

Omidyar Network’s second grant of $2 million in April 2016, will enable Phandeeyar to scale and refine its core activities to match the fast-growing demand. Further, it will help the organization set up an incubator to nurture the nascent but vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Myanmar. We share Phandeeyar’s belief that there is no shortage of entrepreneurial talent in Myanmar. Given the right mix of mentorship and seed capital, promising startups can impact the lives of millions by creating jobs and providing critical services.