Hong Kong, China (March 10, 2020) – KaiOS Technologies has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2020.

The list honors the businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture, showcasing a variety of ways to thrive in today’s fast-changing world. This year’s MIC list features 434 businesses from 39 countries.

“We’re thrilled to receive such distinguished recognition from Fast Company,” said CEO Sebastien Codeville. “KaiOS, our mobile operating system for smart feature phones, enables millions of people in emerging markets to go online for the first time, and experience apps such as WhatsApp, Google Assistant, Facebook, and YouTube on devices that can cost as little as $10-$30. For Fast Company to recognize our innovative approach is a great validation of our mission to help close the digital divide and advance digital inclusion.”

Fast Company ranked KaiOS Technologies at #11 on their Top 50 Most Innovative Companies list, as well as #1 in the Consumer Electronics category. To date, more than 120 million KaiOS-powered smart feature phones have shipped to more than 100 countries around the world. These affordable yet capable devices make essential digital content on education, healthcare, and communications accessible to millions of people around the world for the first time.

The impact of KaiOS is global and touches regions most affected by the digital divide, such as Uganda, Rwanda, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Pakistan. Kai’s in-house educational app “Life” has also spread to new markets, delivering purpose-built, high-quality self-improvement content on topics including health, agriculture, digital skills, and gender equality.

Fast Company’s editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses on the planet and across myriad industries. They also judged nominations received through their application process.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.

“At a time of increasing global volatility, this year’s list showcases the resilience and optimism of businesses across the world. These companies are applying creativity to solve challenges within their industries and far beyond,” said Fast Company senior editor Amy Farley, who oversaw the issue with deputy editor David Lidsky.

Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2020) is now available online at http://fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2020, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning March 17, 2020. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative.

About KaiOS Technologies

KaiOS Technologies powers an ecosystem of affordable digital products and services, and exists to empower people around the world through technology. Its flagship product, KaiOS, is the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones with more than 120 million devices shipped in over 100 countries. Kai’s mission is to open up new possibilities for individuals, organizations, and societies by bringing mobile connectivity to the billions of people without internet in emerging markets, as well as providing those in established markets with an alternative to smartphones. KaiOS is based on HTML5 and other open web technologies. Devices running on the platform require limited memory, while still offering a rich user experience through access to apps like Google Assistant, YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps, and Twitter. The company is recognized as a winner of GSMA’s GLOMO Awards 2020 in the category of Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough, and also ranked among TIME’s Best Inventions in the Social Good category for 2019 and has won several other awards, including the “Changing Lives Award” at AfricaCom 2019.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Since 2011, Fast Company has received some of the most prestigious editorial and design accolades, including the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) National Magazine Award for “Magazine of the Year,” Adweek’s Hot List for “Hottest Business Publication,” and six gold medals and 10 silver medals from the Society of Publication Designers. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta and the publisher is Amanda Smith. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

KaiOS Media Contact

Eletta Leung / Sarah Collins
eletta.leung@kaiostech.com / scollins@hoffman.com (+1 206 423-6081)