Jacob Korenblum

Early in the 2000s, Jacob Korenblum visited the Middle East and became aware of a startling circumstance that offered a challenge and a chance for greater economic freedom in the region: the absence of internet access. Due to the poor network coverage and high fees, having a dependable internet connection was out of the question for many households, especially in Palestine. At the same time, Korenblum discovered that 80% of locals owned cell phones.

Similar circumstances existed in a large number of emerging nations worldwide. Despite the limited availability of the internet, mobile device usage was significant. An NPO called Souktel, which is derived from the Arabic terms for "telephone" and "market," was co-founded in 2005 by Jacob. This social enterprise sought to replace the need for the internet by utilizing SMS to connect companies and job seekers.