Donaco

Donaco wants to use recommendation systems to bring contextualised donations. By partnering up with news agencies, Donaco will bring trustworthy and relevant charities to readers directly related to the content they read. By capitalizing on transparency and integrating payments, people can make informed decisions without taking any extra steps, and by tracking donations and allowing people to register with us, we are creating a community that brings disconnected charities to people.

Our team consists of members with very diverse backgrounds and skillsets. We have experience in coding, design, charities, management, risk advisory… you name it. While our differences are a definite strength, what truly brings us together is our desire to help others and deliver on Donaco’s mission, through our teamwork and laid-back culture. Michael is the creator and founder behind Donaco. On top of his technical abilities developed while studying for an M.Eng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London, Michael has forged a strong entrepreneurial spirit through his various professional experiences. After working as a funding and strategy advisor for Pre.sense, a technology startup, Michael has co-led the development of a device to reduce household food waste. Achieving second place in the Imperial College Business Plan competition has provided him strong insights into the development of business strategy and innovation management. Through his experiences in Finance and Engineering across three continents, Michael brings a strong understanding of both the technology and the business to take a product to market. Hailing from Lebanon, Philippe has a strong understanding of the importance of not-for-profits and charities in communities. Philippe has had diverse experiences that have tailored him to follow a path in product development. He has worked in data analytics at British Telecommunications, led the development of a hardware product, achieving second place in the Imperial Business Plan competition, and studied the cultural behaviour of countries to evaluate how they would affect cross-border partnerships as part of a consulting project. With a wide set of skills at his disposal, it is through his creative approaches, his ability to look forward, and easy-going personality that Philippe shines through and delivers the best for Donaco. Originating from Nepal and having lived in over five countries has influenced Monika’s interpersonal and communication skills. Her background in Development Economics and Management will be an asset to understanding the business world and charities in the developing nations as well as building networks. Monika worked at a renowned medical corporation and understands the gravity of streamlining a charity and understanding the fundamentals on its internal functionality. Her experience has empowered her to develop ideas on industry specific efficiency, and to apprehend the demands of a charity. Through this strong drive she has been and continues to be successful in imparting the value of Donaco. All of this, including her team participation and leadership skills, contribute to delivering the best outcome.