Biography

Richard FOLLY is a Space Entrepreneur, Geospatial Data Scientist, Educator, and Public Speaker

Richard has over a decade of professional experience in technology, entrepreneurship, education, and media. He was a journalist and have covered environmental topics and presidential elections campaigns. Richard’s entrepreneurship journey began over ten years ago with the discovery of technology, which led him to collaborate on projects across Africa, the USA, Europe, and Asia. Richard has worked with private businesses, diplomatic institutions, international organizations, and government agencies, including ministries in Togo. Richard also had a Professional Development Experience at NASA, where he focused on disaster risk management and environmental monitoring. A Geography graduate from the Université de Lomé, Richard is leveraging geospatial technology, digital transformation, and data to address our planet’s most pressing challenges for the benefit of humanity.

He believes in open innovation and creative solutions. As a key figure in the open data movement in his country, Richard co-founded and led the OpenStreetMap Togo community, and is involved in other open data initiatives, including training journalists and civil society stakeholders on leveraging data storytelling and civic tech for positive impact.

Onward

While Richard continues to chase his childhood dream of space exploration, he is initiating purpose-driven entrepreneurship projects, among which the African Geospace, a space technology and data solutions company with the mission to democratize access to high-resolution satellite data and analytics, empowering individuals and organizations across Africa to make informed decisions that drive sustainable development and innovation. Additionally, he is also inspiring many people and organizations through education outreach campaigns, expert panel discussions, and public speaking engagements, where he shares his experiences and insights.

Global Leadership

In 2017, Richard was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a flagship program of the U.S. Department of State. He earned a certificate in Leadership in Public Management from Arizona State University (ASU). In 2019, he participated in the eFounders Fellowship program by UNCTAD and the Alibaba Global Initiatives, gaining business immersion experience at the Alibaba Business School. Richard is also a member of several global leadership and professional organizations, including The Mars Society.

The world is my classroom

Always pursuing experiential knowledge and innovations