“If you want to go fast, go alone,
if you want to go far, go
together.” (African
proverb)
The Impact of
Our Initiatives
is Global
Setu’s Evolution of Impact
Setu’s early partnering and delegation initiatives in bridge building were superseded by the immediacy, urgency, and scale of India’s 2001 earthquake and 2004 tsunami. Setu leaped into the first response wave, and quickly focused on aiding and then educating and enabling widowed women to achieve self-sufficiency as micro-entrepreneurs with an ecosystem of collective cooperation to support themselves and their families. These successes were extended into education and medical outreach initiatives for underprivileged populations and replicated in response to Sri Lanka’s 2007 tsunami.
Setu’s engagement model continued to evolve, into proactive strategies seeking broader and more powerful impacts, through multiple programs convening decision makers with talent, resources, and mentoring for entrepreneurial innovation and critical emerging technologies.
With diverse, global, valued partners, Setu focuses on impacting three critical existential challenges for humanity, and the interplay and opportunities that arise between them:
Human Health
Innovating solutions to address exploding diseases presenting looming health economic crises, and focusing on practical, economical and sustainable implementation to improve equitable access for all.
Planetary Health
Educating for acceptance and collective ownership of planetary existential imperatives, to ensure immediate engagement and adoption of transformational policies, innovative solutions and pervasive implementation for urgent remediation of climate and other planetary challenges.
Women’s Empowerment
Identifying and fostering models of success in women’s education, enablement, leadership and collective power, while welcoming, facilitating and accelerating women’s inclusion in the ideation and implementation of solutions benefitting us all.
Setu Signs MOU with Gujrat Government
Gandhinagar, Gujrat
Setu’s Priya Tandon signs MOU with the Gujrat Govt in the presence of Gujrat Chief Minister Hon Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel on the occasion of Pre Vibrant Gujrat Summit on 11 December 2023 at Gandhinagar, Ahemdabad, Gujrat.
APEC Economic Leaders’ Week
San Francisco & Silicon Valley, CA
APEC provided an exceptional global platform for building on private-public-academic collaborations across all 3 pillars of Setu focus. Beyond APEC’s main events, Setu also participated in the parallel “APEC meets California & Silicon Valley” program, convening global leaders from 20+ countries. These efforts focused on driving specific collaboration progress in climate and sustainability, as well as de-stigmatization of mental health support offered through AI’s non-judgmental vehicles. Each effort encompassed focus on opportunities for women leadership in solution creation and implementation.
“Selma-Benares Rural Bridge” announced at Women Leaders Celebrate the Legacy of Robert A. Ingram
Research Triangle Park, NC
The “Selma-Benares Rural Bridge” for Breast Cancer Early Detection was dedicated in honor of late Robert A. Ingram, an early visionary champion for women- led development – and for this initiative to simultaneously address unmet needs of rural women in USA and India. Announced by Setu Co-founder Nandini Tandon during her talk in the “Servant Leadership” panel at Women Leaders Celebrate the Legacy of Robert A. Ingram. The program, conceived and celebrated by women colleagues and mentees of Bob (with Setu’s co-founders), included the announcement by RTI Intl. & NACD of a fellowship program in Bob’s name. Setu dedicated the “Selma- Benares Rural Bridge” initiative to carry forward Bob’s global legacy supporting underserved populations in the US and in India, with invaluable potential for global replication.
B20 Summit
New Delhi, Delhi
Setu participated in the B20 Summit (G20’s dialogue forum for global business), successfully forging win-win partnerships within this global convergence of business leaders, especially focusing on digital business innovation and AI’s impact across all verticals.
Indian Ambassador to USA hosted India’s Foreign Minister along with USA and Indian Diaspora Leaders
Washington DC
Setu participated with US and Indian diaspora leaders in a unique opportunity to learn how USA and India are shaping joint-programs, implementation, and expansion strategies, while supporting key goals reflecting shared values of the globe’s two largest democracies.
Meeting Congresswoman Sewell for USA Rural Early Breast Cancer Detection Program
Washington DC
Planning for Selma launch as part of first ever India-US rural implementation bridge for early breast cancer detection via local women frontline workers. Community implementation of this CBE, clinical breast examination program is expected to deliver survival outcomes akin to effectiveness of X-ray mammography.
Silicon Valley’s Strategic Dialogue with India
Silicon Valley, CA
Setu hosted a discussion of Silicon Valley leadership from private, public and academic sectors convened with leaders from policy think tank from India, focusing on addressing and diminishing barriers in perceptions and priorities, to improve bridge building.
SemiconIndia 2023
Gandhinagar, Gujarat
This pivotal 2nd annual conference fosters India’s aspiration to become a global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and development. Setu co- founder Dr. Tandon spoke on the opportunities presented by the semiconductor industry for venture capital to contribute to its transformative potential in human and planetary health applications, and to the inclusion of women in this critical industry, on the panel for India’s Growing Presence in Electronics GVC.
Mentoring startups, UP Health Technology Summit
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Setu co-hosted the Health Technology Summit, in partnership with Stanford’s Biodesign Program and the UP government, focusing on mentoring entrepreneurial innovation and startups offering potential for improved health equity, inclusive of women’s priorities
Mentoring Rural Women for Tech-assisted Health Initiative
Kusmahi Jungle, Uttar Pradesh
Setu met with rural women leaders from underprivileged backgrounds to improve both health and gender equity, with inclusion of tech-assistive platforms incorporated into training of rural women for solutions in healthcare.
Rural Breast Cancer Early Detection
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Setu was invited and engaged with oncology thought leaders from the private, public and academic sectors in Lucknow at the Launch of the “Stakeholders for Coherent Cancer Care” to take forward its initiative for early breast cancer detection for rural women from underprivileged backgrounds.
Setu Climate and Health Collaboration
Delhi & Uttar Pradesh
The Setu team engaged with local leaders and decision makers in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and established plans for formal educational exchanges between India and the University of California Santa Cruz, spanning all the core areas of planetary health, human health and gender empowerment, as the potential is very high to address challenges together.
Oncology Conference
Benares, Uttar Pradesh
Setu was invited as US delegates and speakers at Tata Trust’s Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Center, in Benares, holding meetings with key thought leaders in oncology to explore and define opportunities for deeper bilateral partnerships.
UP Global Investor Summit
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
The Setu team served in the US delegation participating in the UP Global Investor Summit. In meeting with the Honorable Chief Minister of UP, Yogi Adityanath and his team, the delegation focused on building collaborations between Silicon Valley and UP for investment, joint development of educational programs, and mutually beneficial entrepreneurial initiatives.
Stanford 7th Ideal Village Conference on Rural Transformation for Sustainable Growth
Benares, Uttar Pradesh
Setu co-hosted Stanford’s 7th Ideal Village Conference, at BHU, Benares. Setu chaired the session on skilling, education and mentoring especially focused on helping rural women achieve gender, health and economic equity. Private, public and academic leaders were convened to address sustainable growth, comprehending the impending impact and planning for climate change in the Indo- Gangetic plain, with a primary emphasis on students, as the next generation of leaders and stewards of the planet.
Selma-Benares Rural Bridge for Breast Cancer Early Detection Initiative
Selma, AL
The India-US Rural Bridge program will be a simultaneous dual country implementation of ground-breaking results, for lifesaving early detection of breast cancer with non-invasive, approaches. Both the US rural Black Belt and rural India, critically need an ecosystem of women supporting women to detect cancer early, with training for awareness, education, and detection to support underserved populations, with invaluable potential for global replication
Silicon Valley Strategic Dialogue with India
Silicon Valley, CA
Setu hosted a working group of Silicon Valley leadership from private, public and academic sectors convened with dignitaries from India, addressing and diminishing barriers in perceptions and priorities, to improve bridge building in multiple arenas between the two democracies.
Covid Response Initiative
India & USA
Setu collaborated with multiple institutions, from private, public and academic sectors to support Covid management with information, awareness, access to critical drugs and services, during the pandemic, especially focusing on women, seniors and under privileged populations.
Presidential Delegation to India
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Setu was an invited participant in the Presidential delegation to Ahmedabad, focusing on women’s empowerment, especially for entrepreneurship and economic growth.
World Economic Forum
Davos, Switzerland
The World Economic Forum presented an exceptional platform for convening and collaborating across all three core areas of focus for Setu, where our co-founder spoke at the CEO Roundtable at the WEF.
CA Lt. Governor Trade and Tourism Delegation Meets Eminent Indian Leaders
New Delhi, Delhi
The first woman Lieutenant Governor of CA (world’s 5th largest economy), Eleni Kounalakis led a delegation to visit India to promote trade and tourism and support the innovation economy, supporting growth of the $10B trade relationship between India and California. Setu co-hosted meetings in Delhi with several important leaders. India’s Principal Scientific Adviser, Dr. K Vijay Raghavan focused on building collaborations around science, technology and innovation as the key priorities for entrepreneurial economy. Deepak Bagla, Managing Director & CEO of Invest India led the focus on catalyzing win- win investments between CA and India.
Hoover Institute Meeting on Priorities for the Quad
Stanford, CA
Setu co-hosted a meeting at the Hoover Institute with Secretary Shultz and his team, focusing on how the private sector can optimally engage with the Quad’s priorities for partnerships to build greater economic development between the members.
Global Entrepreneurial Economy and Women Empowerment Symposium
San Francisco, CA
Setu convened CA Lt. Governor Elena Kounalakis and Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm for a symposium hosted at McKinsey’s offices, focusing on building women’s empowerment, and growing global entrepreneurial economies.
Setu Convenes Global Leaders Innovating for Health Equity and Women-led Development
San Francisco, CA
In parallel with the Bay Area Council’s Pacific Summit, Setu convened diverse global leaders across private-public- academic sectors, to innovate and catalyze partnerships for health equity and women-led development, focused on mitigating the massive risks faced by marginalized populations living just one Illness away from sinking below poverty level.
Global Entrepreneurship Summit The Hague, Netherlands
Setu’s co-founder was a USA delegate and speaker to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, GES, in The Hague, hosted by the State Department focused on strategies to accelerate global entrepreneurship. This platform offered exceptional opportunities to collaborate across all three areas of focus for Setu.
Setu Climate and Health Collaboration
Delhi & Uttar Pradesh
The Setu team engaged with local leaders and decision makers in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and established plans for formal educational exchanges between India and the University of California Santa Cruz, spanning all the core areas of planetary health, human health and gender empowerment, as the potential is very high to address challenges together.
Setu Mentor Strategy Retreat
Research Triangle Park, NC
Setu mentor Robert A. Ingram hosted a pivotal strategy retreat with Setu’s co-founders and Scott Levitan, CEO of Research Triangle Foundation, developing strategies for win-win partnerships between USA and India, focusing on health equity, women’s empowerment, and technology innovation for entrepreneurial-driven economies.
Global Climate Action Summit
San Francisco, CA
The Global Climate Action Summit, hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, brought together leaders and citizens from across the world, focused on preventing or blunting dangerous climate change and realizing the historic Paris Agreement. Setu’s co-founders participated in ideation for partnerships to build paths forward for a sustainable planet.
UP Investor Summit
Lucknow, Utter Pradesh
Setu co-founders participated as US delegates to the UP Investor Summit, laying strong foundations for CA-UP partnerships to stimulate entrepreneurial innovation across health, climate and economic growth objectives.
Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Hyderabad, Telangana
Setu co-founders were USA delegates and speakers during this Global Entrepreneurship Summit, hosted by the State Department of USA, with strong mandate for inclusion of women and for entrepreneurial economy.
Setu Leaders Convene Strategy Dialogue with Indian Ambassador
Washington DC
Setu’s global leaders, from high-tech healthcare and IT/IOT digital, met with India’s US Ambassador, Hon. Navtej Singh Sarna, at the Indian Embassy, to strategize and plan mutually beneficial collaborations for harnessing cutting edge technologies in addressing unmet clinical needs and spurring entrepreneurial economic drivers.
Invest Karnataka Conference
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Setu co-founders were USA delegates and speakers during this Global Investor conference in Karnataka and co-hosted event for women entrpreneurs, with mentoring and discussion with more than several hundred women participation on the side lines of the Investor Summit where thousands were in attendance.
Women Entrepreneurs Advancement Initiatives
Washington DC
Setu co-founder was invited to the discussion led by President Obama, for the catalyzation of women entrepreneurship.
Setu Hosts Summit for Transformational Health
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Setu co-founders led and hosted a Health Delegation to India with the Vice Chancellor of Duke University’s Translational Medicine Institute, Dr. Robert Califf (just prior to him becoming FDA Commissioner), focusing on learning exchanges and collaborations on successful program models.
Setu Delegation Hosted to Meet UAE’s Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Setu co-founders led a health delegation with Vice Chancellor of Duke University’s Translational Medicine Institute, Dr. Robert Califf, (FDA Commissioner, 2016 & 2022) to UAE, hosted by HRH Sheikh Al Nayhan, focusing on harnessing cutting-edge, transformational US healthcare technologies.
Indo-US Science & Technology Conference
New Delhi, Delhi
Setu Co-Founders as speakers, engaged with John Holdren, White House Dir. of Science & Technology Policy, and with UN Ambassador Nicki Haley and among other dignitaries, at the USA Ambassador’s residence.
Setu India Outreach to Educate Underprivileged Muslim Children
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Setu reached out to support the underprivileged Muslim children in Aligarh with resources for education.
Setu Co-Hosts Bangalore – San Francisco Sister City Mayoral Delegation
Bangalore, Kochi, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Patiala
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and other Bay Area health care and IT entrepreneurial leaders traveled to India to build on the long- standing sister city relationship between Bangalore and San Francisco and convened with medical leaders in multiple regions, such as Kerala, Punjab, Delhi in addition to Karnataka, to learn from each other how to best serve the patients.
India Eye Check-up Camps
Lokhandwala, Andheri West, Mumbai
Setu organized free eye check-up camps to serve marginalized populations in Mumbai.
Tsunami Relief
Sri Lanka
Setu travelled to Sri Lanka to work closely with Honorable Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa to provide boats, tents, and medical relief to the tsunami victims.
India Slum Children Education Outreach
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Setu started a make-shift school in the slums of Andheri West, Mumbai, supporting street children lacking any infrastructure. Free mid-day meals, books, and tuition were provided to around sixty children. Setu also trained the parents of the students as cooks.
Tsunami Relief
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Setu aided relief efforts in southern coastal areas of India in December 2004 after a massive tsunami. Setu launched a two-year presence in Chennai, working with Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa, Mayor M. Subramanian, and the fishing community to reconstruct markets in Chennai, providing fishermen with much needed new boats and tents.
Earthquake Relief,
India
Setu contributed to the International Red Cross's March 2001 reconstruction of schools in Bhuj after a massive earthquake in the Kutch district. Women were provided clothes (Saris) and compact cooking vessel kits. Medical relief to make-shift hospitals was furnished, and care was provided.
Earthquake Relief,
India
Setu partnered with the San Francisco based, State of the World Forum of
the Gorbachev Foundation, to co-host panel discussions with global leaders
on equity in health and gender while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
The Millennium Summit, held at the United Nations in New York, was the
largest gathering of heads of state and government of all time, concluding
with adoption of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Develop a global partnership for development.
Setu’s core focal priorities align with the UN Millennium Summit’s goals