BFTW 2019 Customers: Hitnet

Hitnet aims to bridge the gap between technology and accessibility, and bring digital access and information to people who may otherwise miss out. There are over 3 million Australians that aren’t online — as government and corporations digitally transform their services, many aren’t engaged with the digital world. This is where Hitnet comes in. We speak with founder, Julie Gibson to learn more.

1. What makes your company Best For The World?

Hitnet brings information and services to the hardest to reach people. Our vision is to build vibrant, healthy and digitally capable communities engaged with the digital economy, all over the world.

2. What makes you stand out from other companies?

As governments and organisations are digitally transforming their services, Hitnet breaks down barriers to provide connection, access and information to the 2.5 million people who are not online and the more than 4 million who are limited internet users, currently in Australia.

Our Hitnet Community Hubs with Wi-Fi hotspots enable people to connect to online services and access culturally appropriate health and social information. We are a one-stop digital shop for hard-to-reach communities.

At Hitnet we have a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals, working towards the achievement of at least 7 of them.

3. How do you plan to celebrate?

We love being part of the global B Corp community, and being the Best for the World is the icing on the cake! We are no stranger to this accolade and will continue to do the important work that we are doing, breaking down barriers to engage everyone with the digital world.

4. Part of being “Best for the World” is striving to always use your business as a force for good. What initiatives do you have planned for the coming year to continue to be Best for the World?

We are now working in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific for the next 9 months.

As they connect to high speed internet for the first time, we will be providing an on-ramp to the digital world to enable them to have access to education, job pathways and employment. Our work will be done in even harder to reach communities that don’t have access to power, as we’ll be developing our solar powered outdoor digital hub.

We plan to develop a scalable, sustainable business model that will enable us to roll out through the Pacific with our digital hubs locally assembled in the Pacific, providing real jobs. Exciting times ahead!

5. What advice do you have for other B Corps and purpose-led businesses that want to improve their impact?

Talk to the people in the communities, understand their problems and co-design solutions.