As global aid budgets contract and traditional financing vehicles falter, the question is no longer whether social innovation must scale—but how.   Join us in this forward-looking timely conversation on what it truly takes to move beyond pilots and into lasting, system-level impact.

Drawing on experience across international NGOs, government partnerships, UN agencies, philanthropy, and technology-enabled innovation, this session will explore why so many promising ideas struggle to survive once donor funding ends. Rather than focusing on tools alone, we’ll examine the institutional, governance, and market conditions that determine whether innovation endures—or quietly disappears.

The discussion will tackle big questions: What does “scaling” really mean in a post-aid world? What market forces and financing mechanisms are critical for innovations to scale? How should AI and digital tools in public systems be governed? what roles should universities, companies, governments, and social sector actors play next?

Designed as an interactive exchange, this session is for students, researchers, practitioners, innovators, and private-sector partners shaping the future of social impact, we will unpack what’s broken in current models, why promising solutions stall, and how new approaches—blended finance, market-shaping partnerships, institutional reform, and locally led innovation—can unlock scale with integrity.

Expect sharp insights, real-world examples, and honest debate from experts working at the intersection of innovation, institutions, and impact. If you care about building solutions that last—and matter—this conversation is for you.

Presenter: Madhu Deshmukh, CEO & Co-Founder - ARCH Impact Lab
Bio: Madhu Deshmukh is CEO & Co-founder of ARCH Impact Lab, scaling bold, locally led solutions at the intersection of climate and health. A seasoned scale & systems thinker, she has worked across grassroots movements, UN agencies, INGOs, and governments—always championing locally led and globally connected models. With over three decades of experience across 60+ countries, she’s led breakthrough initiatives, most recently - scaled impact at CARE as the Vice President of Program, Strategy, and Innovation to grow the global portfolio by 70%. Madhu blends entrepreneurship, innovation, and fearless partnerships to drive sustainable change. When she’s not redesigning the future, you’ll find her jamming to music, remote adventures (Antarctica included!), or training her dogs.

Presenter: Bill Philbrick, CEO & Co-Founder - RON AI; Sitara International Research and Consulting
Bio: Bill Philbrick is a global health, digital health, and AI governance expert focused on translating responsible technology into real-world impact. With 25+ years of experience across 40+ countries, he has partnered with governments, NGOs, and multilateral organizations to strengthen health and protection systems through evidence-driven digital and AI solutions. A former CARE director (HIV and Infectious Diseases) and now co-founder of an AI health venture, RON AI, and Lead Researcher at Sitara International Research and Consulting, Bill bridges law, ethics, research, and innovation to design scalable technologies that expand equitable access to care for underserved communities. He has led global evidence initiatives with the Campbell Collaboration and has advised partners including UNICEF, UNDP, CARE, and Palladium. 

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Conversations@TechSquare is a dynamic space for new ideas, not an environment for established concepts. We gather creators and innovators from across Georgia Tech, the broader Tech Square community, and beyond, to engage in open dialogue around some of today’s biggest challenges and opportunities. These gatherings are organized and hosted by the Georgia Tech Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and will occur several times during a semester at the Tech Square Clubhouse. The Clubhouse address is 848 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30308 (street level, behind the Centergy One Bldg).

Tech Square Clubhouse

PARKING:
Parking is available at the Centergy One parking deck, located right next door. You can also find additional street parking via Park Mobile on Spring and 5th Street. Centergy One parking deck daily rates: Half Hour: $3.00 | One Hour: $6.00 | Two Hours: $12.00 | Daily Max: $20.00

GT CAMPUS BUS: Take the Gold route bus which stops at Tech Square.