Social
Resilience
Impact Vertical II
As our second pillar of investment focus, Social Resilience is the simplest way through which we can summarize an aspiration to a different vision of the future that the team at Positive Ventures projects. Beyond an environmentally Prosperous Planet, we would like to see resilient societies, and for us, this translates into people with a good quality of life, with access to quality basic services, and who can develop their capacities as active members of a functional society. Imagining a utopian society often starts with envisioning universal healthcare access for everyone. Access to healthcare is a fundamental necessity for a dignified life; without health, everything else becomes secondary. Unfortunately, despite significant advancements in science and technology over recent decades, this goal remains distant for several emerging economies like the ones we have in Latin America.
"Access to healthcare is a fundamental necessity for a dignified life (...)
"Access to healthcare is a fundamental necessity for a dignified life (...)
"Flag RE-UTOPYA", 2021. Hal Wildson | Galeria Lume
Brazil, a good example as the main economy in LatAm, is a vast and densely populated emerging economy, grapples with stark disparities that expose many in its population to various vulnerabilities, including health issues. Since 1988, the country has been committed to establishing and enhancing a universal health system to ensure widespread accessibility. Currently, about 49 million Brazilian citizens rely on private healthcare services, while a staggering 164 million depend on the public health system, which offers free services through a comprehensive network.
Despite numerous primary care initiatives within both the public and private sectors, health promotion and disease prevention have been largely overlooked, except for notable vaccination campaigns and efforts against specific endemic infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV, and lately, Covid.
The existence of an expensive private healthcare system alongside an overwhelmed public one leaves Brazilians with limited options. This flawed healthcare system presents numerous opportunities for disruption and innovation, especially in the startup ecosystem, focusing on early diagnosis and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations to promote health and save costs.
Millions silently suffer from chronic diseases that often go unnoticed until they reach advanced stages, leading to preventable suffering and premature deaths. The current structure of the healthcare system, with its insufficient screening and lack of support for health professionals, exacerbates the issue of preventable healthcare costs.
Labi Exames (know more) is a prime example of innovative responses to this challenge, offering fairly priced exams for the uninsured through clinics and homecare services. This approach not only facilitates the early detection of diseases but also helps avoid unnecessary hospital stays.
MEXICO
BRASIL
ARGENTINA
COLOMBIA
CHILE
INDIA
USA
Number of doctors per 10.000 people
Recommendation
World Health Organization
2020 - 2021 numbers of doctors
A closer look at the data reveals two significant issues: Brazil falls below the recommended rate of 25 doctors per 10,000 people, and there is a pronounced scarcity of medical professionals in regions far from the southeast, where 54% of the country's cardiologists are concentrated.
14
Doctor per 1000 people by brazilian state
Brasilia has nearly 5x as many doctors as Pará (5.5 vc 1.2 doctors per 1000 people)
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World Health Organization
2022 numbers of doctors
Cardiovascular diseases account for approximately 400,000 deaths annually, with one of the main contributing factors being the extended time required to produce medical reports - often taking between 7 to 14 days. This is particularly problematic in areas suffering from a lack of qualified doctors, where such reports require expert medical interpretation. Neomed (know more) is addressing these challenges by providing the fastest and most reliable diagnoses accessible to everyone, leveraging cloud-based software adaptable to various cardiovascular hardware ecosystems, and delivering diagnoses in less than two minutes, thereby saving countless lives.
The digital divide in healthcare, especially pronounced among women - who make up 65% of the population under 40 and predominantly rely on smartphones for information - highlights another challenge. Despite the global trend towards innovative healthcare solutions, Brazilian options remain outdated and inefficient. This gap leaves over 60% of Brazilian women feeling isolated and unable to confidently discuss their health concerns. Oya Care (know more) emerges as a proactive player in women's health, emphasizing preventative care and empowering women to make informed health decisions with a blend of online and in-clinic consultations.
Another very interesting trend that amazes us and is deeply related to challenges we see not only in developed economies but also in developing ones in our region and all over the globe is the aging of the population and the additional budget strain it imposes on countries and their healthcare industries. In the United States, the population aged 65 and older is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, accompanied by high healthcare costs.
U.S. population ages 65 and older, 1950 - 2050
World Health Organization
Observing technology adoption in that country, its innovation capabilities, and as a test ground for Positive Ventures to explore technologies that we could eventually facilitate bringing to Brazil, we invested in Together by Renee (know more), which offers a unique solution with its patient-centric healthcare assistant that simplifies managing chronic conditions for the elderly leveraging its AI capabilities to increase engagement, retainment and thus positive health outcomes of its users. By streamlining appointment scheduling, medication reminders, and providing human support, it enables older adults to manage their health more effectively, underscoring the need for innovative solutions in an aging world.
The challenge of "screendemia," with over 20% of children under five spending excessive hours in front of screens, detracts from crucial interaction time with parents and poses risks to mental health and development. Yuna (know more) addresses this by harnessing AI to create a captivating educational app, offering an immersive reading experience for families and disrupting the traditional screen time dominated by platforms like Netflix and YouTube.
While access to health is crucial for any equitable society, education and upskilling of the workforce emerge as a critical factor in flattening the curve of social inequality, which is at unprecedented levels and is vastly proven to be detrimental to global development and societal well-being at a global scale. It's unjust for individuals' potential to be constrained by their circumstances at birth. Through technology and proper support in the early years, significant change is achievable, laying the groundwork for physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
"The Other's Table", 2005-2008. Julio Bittencourt | Galeria Lume
Nobel laureate James Heckman emphasizes the importance of investing in early childhood development, especially for disadvantaged demographics, as a strategy that yields significant returns in education, health, and economic productivity. This approach not only addresses social inequalities but also enhances economic growth, aligning with the strategies of visionary impact investors.
Investment in education must extend beyond early childhood, as it's crucial at every stage of life. Proficiency in reading and writing is fundamentally impactful, yet Brazil faces a literacy crisis that perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits economic opportunities for many.
"Proficiency in reading and writing is fundamentally impactful (...)
The proficiency in the Portuguese language among Brazilians is alarmingly low, and the situation with English proficiency is dire. According to a British Council survey, only 5% of Brazilians can communicate in English, with a mere 1% displaying fluency. English proficiency correlates with better wages and job positions, essential in a globalized world where today's knowledge and numerous work areas rely heavily on English.
Fifty percent of Brazil's high school seniors lack proficient literacy skills, reflecting a vast gap between public and private education. Letrus (know more), a UNESCO-recognized edtech startup, employs artificial intelligence to create personalized learning experiences that significantly enhance students' reading and writing abilities, especially benefiting public school students and improving their performance in national exams.
Slang (know more), originating from MIT research, tackles this challenge with an AI and NLP-powered e-learning platform, offering various specialized English courses for career development across fields like Sales, Finance, Logistics, Medicine, and Law. For Brazil to progress and actively participate in global dynamics, mastering English is indispensable.
The literacy and language gaps have profound impacts on Brazil's workforce quality, unemployment rates, job formality, and, consequently, economic development - issues that extend across Latin America. Many, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, struggle to find decent employment, with underserved individuals taking over 14 months to secure a job, significantly affecting their quality of life and family income.
Labor informality rate
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International Labor Organization (iLOSTAT)
Unemployment rate
World Bank
2022, %
2022, %
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Worc (know more) offers a forward-thinking approach to the future of work, focusing on employability, management, and people development within the food service industry. By aiding clients in recruiting, managing, and paying employees more efficiently, Worc optimizes resource allocation, enhancing employability and improving the quality of life for countless individuals.
As we delve into the complexities of fostering social resilience, the initiatives highlighted throughout this discourse stand as pillars of hope and progress. By intertwining healthcare access, educational empowerment, and workforce development, a blueprint emerges for tackling social inequality and enhancing the quality of life for all. These endeavors illuminate the vast potential for innovation, collaboration, and strategic investment to cultivate a more equitable, informed, and healthy society.