Jamon Mok, Founder, Backstreet Academy
Jamon is the founder of Backstreet Academy, a peer-to-peer impact travel platform tailored for developing countries, where people at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) who cannot speak English or access smartphones are empowered to host tourists and make additional income via its technology of using local language call/SMS notifications coupled with a hyperlocal on-demand community translator system, allowing them to handle bookings with just a feature phone.
Over 1,200 unique travel experiences are available on Backstreet Academy in more than 8 countries and 40 cities. Through hosting, locals are able to become micro-entrepreneurs, increase their income 2-3 times, conserve intangible cultural heritage and move themselves out of poverty with dignity. Backstreet Academy has been featured on Forbes, National Geographic, BBC Travel and is supported by Booking.com’s sustainable travel accelerator. Jamon is also a Tedx Speaker and a Citizen Ambassador of Singapore International Foundation commended by the President of Singapore.