Press release: biNu receives United Nations Innovation Award

biNu, the mobile app platform that brings a high speed, data-lite iPhone-like experience to low-end smartphones and feature phones, was today recognized by the United Nations for its innovation. biNu received the United Nations MY World Innovation Award, presented at the UN General Assembly today, for it’s work in bringing fast, affordable mobile internet services to the billions of people in emerging markets.

The award in particular recognised biNu’s contribution to the development of the UN’s next set of Millennium Development Goals, a program of initiatives agreed to by all countries and development institutions, including halving extreme poverty, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. As part of the program, the UN runs the My World Global Survey, capturing the voices, priorities and views of over a million people from across the globe. The findings are to be presented to world leaders as they begin the process of defining the next set of development goals.

biNu’s Research & Rewards platform provided a fundamental contribution to the My World Global Survey. More than 100,000 biNu mobile users in emerging and developing markets responded to the survey, making biNu one of the largest individual contributors. Uniquely, biNu members also submitted 7,000 individual photos, ‘selfies’, an additional benefit to the UN team who were able to actually see the people responding and their surrounds.

biNu CEO, Gour Lentell said of the Award: “biNu is changing the lives of millions of people through connecting them, engaging them and giving them fast easy access to information and services. Reaching people in some of the world’s most remote areas and enabling them to engage in a global conversation and have their opinions heard as part of the MY World Global Survey, has been incredibly rewarding. Being recognized for our efforts with the innovation award was unexpected but a great honor.”

Mr. Lentell was presented with the award at a private event held in New York on 25^th September, 2013, organized by the United Nations Millennium Campaign, UN Foundation, United Nations Volunteers Programme and UNICEF. The ceremony took place within the framework of the UN General Assembly, running between 22-27 September, 2013.