:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bloomberglinea/WLSETEOTDRFERG3MDZEMGD3K3M.jpg "\"Zombie checking\" is the habit of checking your phone and social media accounts without even thinking about it.")
Miami — If you find yourself texting while driving, or addicted to social media, Globant, a publicly traded digital transformation company, is looking for solutions to these problems and others where tech is being misused.
Today, the company announced a $10 million fund called BeKindTech Fund, a new initiative from Globant Ventures, the company’s VC arm. The fund “aims to tackle the negative societal effects created by the misuse or misapplication of technology,” the company said in a statement.
There’s no denying that kids these days are glued to their phones from an early age, and many of the rest of us are captivated at all times by notifications and checking Instagram for the latest updates from our friends. For many, it’s become more of a reflex than an intentional action, so much so that people don’t know what to do with themselves if they are waiting in line and don’t have their phones in their hands. The media has coined a term for this and it’s called “zombie checking.”
But there are apps and programs out there that can actually help us manage our tech usage. For iPhone users, you’re likely familiar with Apple’s “Screen Time” usage reports every week. Of course, Google Android isn’t behind - the company offers a “Digital Wellbeing” dashboard on its phones, too.
The BeKindTech Fund is looking for companies around the world that are building ways to keep our tech usage healthy and safe. The fund will make investments that range from $100 thousand to $1 million, on a case by case basis.
“We believe that tech is inherently good and improves lives around the world. It connects us, spurs innovation for the greater good, and enables reinvention. However, when misapplied or misused, its impact can be negative. This needs to be addressed to ensure tech is beneficial for humanity as a whole, and we need to act now”, said Martín Migoya, Globant CEO & Co-founder.
If you’re an entrepreneur or startup focused on mitigating the negative impacts of tech and ensuring tech is used for good, you can submit your application at www.bekindtechfund.com
