Ashifi Gogo

Founder / CEO
Sproxil.com

Ashifi Gogo is founder and CEO of Sproxil, a social enterprise that checks medicines against counterfeits in developing nations, where drug counterfeiting is widespread. Sproxil has developed an innovative mobile phone-based drug authentication and tracking technology appropriate for cash-based societies. Akin to the very popular scratch card method for replenishing cellular talk-time, users reveal a one-time-use code on drugs and text the code to 511; a “911 for fake drugs” number which is identical on all cellular networks. Sproxil's service enables all consumers to participate in bringing an end to the $75 billion trade in counterfeit medication, while putting manufacturers directly in touch with consumers to close the feedback gap in a cost-efficient scalable electronic way.

Ashifi's venture into social entrepreneurship has continuously enjoyed a strong link with academia. Ashifi holds undergraduate degrees in mathematics and physics. Seeking a closer experience in implementing scientific solutions with a focus on the developing world, he is completing a PhD in engineering at Dartmouth College, with an emphasis on information assurance in communication systems. At Dartmouth, he earned an IEEE GOLD Humanitarian Fellowship by virtue of social enterprise, and honed his professional acumen with Six Sigma Back Belt training as well as awards from the Clinton Foundation, NCIIA Venture Well and Nokia.