In this interview, we explore how the LED-UP team combines expertise in design, social sciences, economics, and blockchain to develop secure, decentralized solutions. With backgrounds in healthcare, business psychology, and software development, they are dedicated to enhancing privacy, security, and accessibility in digital identity management and beyond.
Can you briefly present your team?
Sarra-Maryam blends her expertise in design and social sciences to address healthcare challenges with empathy and innovation. With her background in International Studies, and experience in intensive care units, she brings a crucial perspective to our outreach strategies. Her skills are further enhanced by a Master’s in Service Design and her experience at IDEO, making her a pivotal force in steering our projects towards meaningful impacts. Manuel carries a blend of skills in Economics, Management, Media, and Business Psychology. His doctoral research focused on blockchain technology, equipping him with deep insights into the decentralized ecosystems we rely on. His extensive experience, including a recent role as Solution Architect at Curevac, pushes our project’s foundation in cutting-edge technology, ensuring we are building secure, scalable, and compliant solutions. Mengstu Fentaw, our lead Blockchain Developer, brings a rich background in software development and electrical engineering. His expertise is critical in developing the secure, robust blockchain infrastructure necessary for our project. Mengstu has been instrumental in deploying smart contracts and ensuring our data management systems are both reliable and transparent.
How did you come up with this project idea and what benefits will it bring to the end users?
The project was conceived to address the lack of secure, decentralised data management systems in sensitive areas such as refugee camps. LED-UP’s solution leverages blockchain and decentralised digital identity to provide privacy, security, and user control over personal data. It allows vulnerable populations to securely manage their health and personal data, improving access to essential services and empowering them with data sovereignty.
How is TrustChain supporting your growth and what role does it play for the next steps in your development?
TrustChain has been instrumental in supporting our growth by providing a framework that aligns with our focus on decentralized, secure data ecosystems. Their support has enabled us to harness blockchain technologies, which are essential for our solution that prioritizes privacy and security in managing personal and health data. Looking forward, TrustChain’s ongoing support will be crucial as we aim to scale our operations and expand our impact across new regions and sectors as their ecosystem not only fosters innovation but also connects us with potential partners and investors.
Why did you apply to the TrustChain call and has your vision changed since then?
We applied to the TrustChain call because it perfectly aligned with our mission to develop privacy-centric solutions for vulnerable populations using decentralized technology. TrustChain’s focus on fostering secure data ecosystems resonated with our goal to enhance data sovereignty and security. Since then, our vision has expanded as we’ve realized the broader applicability of our technology in other sectors such as healthcare and public administration.
What is the most valuable takeout from the TrustChain project and why was the topic of the Open Call important to you/your team?
The most valuable takeaway has been the ability to implement cutting-edge privacy solutions using blockchain technology. The Open Call addressed pressing issues of trust, privacy, and security, which are fundamental to our project. By focusing on decentralised identity and secure data management, the Open Call perfectly aligned with our objectives to safeguard personal data in vulnerable contexts.
Did you establish collaboration with any of the TrustChain teams or plan for any kind of synergies? If yes, what is the biggest potential in such collaborations?
We explored a possible collaboration with PECS, but ultimately, our solutions were not a match in the sense of becoming a running collaboration.
What are your expectations regarding the TrustChain software ecosystem and its contribution to the NGI priority areas?
Our expectations for the TrustChain software ecosystem are centered on its ability to continue driving innovation in decentralized identity management and trust in digital interactions. We anticipate that TrustChain will play a critical role in advancing the NGI (Next Generation Internet) priority areas by enhancing data privacy, security, and sovereignty. By leveraging TrustChain’s resources, we aim to further develop our platform to meet global data protection standards, such as GDPR, which will enable secure, user-controlled digital environments. This aligns with NGI’s goals to empower individuals with greater control over their personal data, fostering a more trustworthy and resilient Internet infrastructure.
What are the next steps for your team?
We expect the TrustChain ecosystem to continue fostering innovation in decentralised identity management, trust, and data privacy. By contributing to the NGI (Next Generation Internet) priority areas, we aim to improve digital sovereignty for individuals, enabling secure, user-controlled digital environments.
What is the message you would give to new and potential applicants to TrustChain Open Calls?
TrustChain provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with forward-thinking teams and access advanced blockchain technologies. For those passionate about decentralised solutions and data sovereignty, this is a great platform to scale your innovations and make a real impact.
