IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator

The amount of data that is being collected, analyzed, and stored by different organizations is growing at an exponential rate. In the last 10 years, the volume of data created, captured, and consumed worldwide grew by a staggering 3850%. This raises concerns for individual and business users on data protection, data privacy, security, and regulatory compliance. For example, to what extent do individuals have ownership over their data.

Businesses handling users’ data must act as data custodians (not owners) that maintain privacy, where client data is protected and data ownership is the sole right of users. Without secure data ownership, users not only lose potential benefits from their data to businesses, it also restricts their ability to access better and more inclusive services.

Over the past three years, the IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator worked with startups that utilize sensitive data and Personally Identifiable Information (PII), to create, improve, and increase users’ access to financial, healthcare, and other services. Solutions include unified APIs to foster financial inclusion in Africa, OpenAPIs to democratize access to affordable insurance in Latin America, and other digital solutions that touch on the intersection of technology, data, and impact.

IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator ‘22 is an investment-readiness and technical mentorship program, run in partnership with Village Capital. The program supports impact-focused startups leveraging highly sensitive data to improve the quality, and access to digital, financial and healthcare services. Learn about past Hyper Protect cohorts in 2020 and 2021.