QED builds technology solutions for basic problems.
Basic problems have been forgotten. But the developing world helps us remember them.
They are problems most fundamental to the human condition.
Environmental security, food security, health security … matters of life and death.
We search for worthwhile problems, and help our partners pursue their solutions.
And we infuse our solutions with “the hacker spirit” — the essence of computer science, math, and art.
QED builds data systems and AI for human health and agriculture, the two fields that we believe to be most relevant to the destiny of humankind. It is a fully mission-driven technology company, working on humanitarian projects mainly based in East Africa or South Asia that are aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, 6, and 15.
We aim to empower local organizations that have outstanding humanitarian goals and strong local presence. We shape and adapt tech to address their needs on the ground, so they can better collect and analyze data to inform policy decisions.
Our operating model could be described as a specialist squad of technologists focused on international development. We usually organize ourselves into three-or-four person teams including a domain specialist, and parachute into different parts of the world to solve worthwhile problems. Our teams stay for extended periods of time, to work alongside local experts, and understand the lay of the land. These field teams are further supported by a battery of software and hardware engineers from bases in Europe and the USA. Together, we develop practical solutions informed by realistic requirements and infrastructural limitations.
Since its inception in 2012, QED has provided mission-critical support to many health and agricultural projects, across 13 countries. We have built data processing pipelines for the surveillance of malaria, child mortality, crop disease, and soil health, and we provide the analytical tools required for our partners to execute targeted improvements. Our projects are executed in collaboration with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Gates Foundation (BMGF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Size: ~30 MB
Dr. William Wu studied EECS at Berkeley, followed by an M.S. in mathematics and Ph.D. in EE at Stanford. Trained both as a researcher and an engineer, he has +12 years of experience in building novel scientific computing solutions for organizations with complex data needs, including bioinformatics research centers, computer vision startups, agricultural cooperatives, and NASA JPL. Today he directs QED’s mission to amplify knowledge and information transparency in developing countries. He is passionate about all things clever and strives to build a culture of practical innovation.
Dr. Jiehua Chen (“JC”) received her B.Sc. in Math and Physics from Tsinghua summa cum laude, followed by an M.S. in Economics and Ph.D. in Statistics at Stanford. She has extensive experience in spatial-temporal statistics, randomized experiment design, and juxtaposing modern machine learning methods with more traditional statistical models. She has been working on development projects since 2008 and is passionate about finding proofs for problems that matter for all people, particularly in agriculture and human health.
