THE CHALLENGE
Traditional computer and server development in the field is generally difficult to transport, expensive, requires advances technical knowledge for operations and maintenance, and is sensitive to environmental conditions (dust, humidity, or power cuts).
Many local communities and NGOs do not have the technical expertise and culture to properly deploy IT tools on the field. Digital education content allows more interactivity, personalization and access to larger databases.
THE CHALLENGE
Traditional computer and server development in the field is generally difficult to transport, expensive, requires advances technical knowledge for operations and maintenance, and is sensitive to environmental conditions (dust, humidity, or power cuts).
Many local communities and NGOs do not have the technical expertise and culture to properly deploy IT tools on the field. Digital education content allows more interactivity, personalization and access to larger databases.
OUR STORY
During an educational mission in West Africa back in 2012, Grey-box’s founder, Valentin Kravtchenko was working in a cyber-coffee shop when the following thought came to mind—how can his students do online research for their projects without easy and fast access to the internet?
A few years later, while on a Bolivian mission with OXFAM, a similar question arose. What about the communities located in remote areas, where internet and electricity access is unreliable? Is it possible to build a tool that promotes empowerment and autonomy in the field?
Grey-box was created to address this specific social and technical issue.
CORE PHILOSOPHY
Our main value proposition is to provide access to tools and content that promotes better living conditions.
We do this by curating the best tools and content and make sure that everyone has equal access to them—regardless of their gender, culture, or localization in the world. We perceive digital education as the most efficient way to sustain a mens sana in corpore sano.
Grey-box wants to push the best methodologies and practices in the field of social innovation and modernize traditional non-profits by promoting transparency, real-time impact assessment and a startup-like environment.
CORE PHILOSOPHY
Our main value proposition is to provide access to tools and content that promote better living conditions.
This is done by curating content that will help communities in accessing better resources. We also make sure that everyone has equal access to these resources, regardless of their gender, culture or localization in the world. We perceive digital education as the most efficient way to sustain a mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body).
Grey-box wants to push the best methodologies and practices in the field of social innovation. We also strive to modernize traditional non-profits. Our aim to fulfill this is by promoting transparency, real-time impact assessment and a startup-like environment.
OUR STORY
In 2012, Grey-box’s founder Valentin Kravtchenko was on an educational mission trip in West Africa. While working in a cyber-coffee shop, he thought of something rather peculiar: how would his students be able to complete online research for their projects without easy and fast access to the internet?
A few years later, while on a Bolivian mission with OXFAM, a similar question arose. What about the communities located in remote areas where access to the internet and electricity are unreliable? Is it possible to build a tool that promotes empowerment and autonomy in the field?
Grey-box was created to address this specific social and technical issue. Our product, UNI offers offline educational resources and digital classrooms in a tiny box.
VISION
Everyone should have access to the same tools and resources in order to empower themselves and their community.
MISSION
To build accessible digital tools that promote autonomy and empowerment within communities located in remote areas—where the internet and electricity are unreliable.
Our Journey
Working in the intersection of the tech startup culture and the humanitarian help field is definitely not the easiest path, but we would not do it any other way.
2012
The idea
During an educational mission in West Africa, Grey-box’s founder, Valentin Kravtchenko was stuck in a slow and expensive cyber-coffee shop.
2015
Another continent
In Bolivia with OXFAM, the same question arises. What about communities located in remote areas, where internet and electricity access is unreliable?
2016
D3 Center Incubator
Grey-box was awarded the best Business Model Validation in the D3 Center’s Incubator—a first for a social innovation project.
2017
Testing phase I
The deployment of the first prototypes were made in 5 countries in Central America.
2019
Finalist in Cooperathon
Grey-box was a finalist in the biggest social innovation hackathon in Canada, the Cooperathon (backed by Dejardins).
2019-2020
New product
Based on field testing results, we adjusted the design of our devices.
2021
UNI Field Demo
After months of ideating and prototyping, Grey-box founder Valentin Kravtchenko had the chance to travel to Morocco in partnership with La Puce to unveil UNI’s alpha version.
2022
Founder to Watch List
Our CEO + Founder, Valentin Kravtchenko, was named as a part of the 2022 New Founders to Watch list! This list contains 21 new social impact founders that are working on a promising solution for a more equitable, sustainable, caring post-pandemic Canada.
2022
BETA Stage
UNI reaches BETA Stage, indicating that it is now being used in the field, by real users.
2022
Boîte à science Deployment
Deployed 2 devices at Boîte à science to use for coding workshops in classes, resulting in the activity being set up faster and a lack of reliance on the school’s WiFi.
2022
La escuela mas grande del mundo Deployment
Deployed 3 devices in rural Mexico to help them access educational content.
2022
Parks Canada Deployment
Deployed 13 devices in one of Parks Canada’s most magnificent parks, Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site.
2022
More deployments
5 more UNI devices were deployed in Madagascar, Cameroon, & Congo.
2022
New Training/ Consultation Services Offered
New services and training aimed at non-profits and social impact organizations by helping them build essential internal capacity through digital skills such as Notion, Slack, Trello, and more.
COLLECTIVE EFFORT
In 2016, Grey-box was awarded the Best Business Model Validation at the District3 Innovation Centre—a first for a social innovation project in that incubator.
In 2017, the first prototypes of UNI were deployed in 5 countries in Central America. In 2017 and 2019, Grey-box was a finalist in the biggest social innovation hackathon in Canada, the Cooperathon (backed by Desjardins).
L’esplanade is the first accelerator dedicated to social innovation entrepreneurship in Quebec, Canada. They provide coaching and support to Grey-box’s strategic activities.
Want to get in touch?
Are you interested in learning more about us? We’d love to hear from you.