Global South startups can do better than Silicon Valley

A Silicon Valley brand of solutionism pervades even 'homegrown' platforms such as Grab in Indonesia. They presume that technology can solve the logistical challenge of efficiently matching consumers to services. Instead of starting with one-size-fits-all approaches (that often fall flat when implemented in local markets and are then localized in ways that question their claims to innovation), entrepreneurs, VCs and designers need to consider local problems and whether their technological solutions are necessary or appropriate.