SUMMARY
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s statements came after the US lifted an embargo on exporting raw materials for vaccine production
Pichai announced a commitment of INR 135 Cr to Covid relief efforts in India
Former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan and Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin have committed crypto donations to ease the Covid crisis in the country
Covid19 Tech Impact
Latest updates & innovations, in-depth resources, live webinars and guides to help businesses navigate through the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on India's economy.
Top global tech leaders like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan have come out in solidarity with the Covid situation in India. As the Covid situation continues to worsen — 3.52 Lakh new cases and 2,812 deaths were reported on Monday (April 26) for the previous day — people have been asking on social media about the conspicuous absence of technology executives in throwing their weight behind the relief efforts.
Many on Twitter even questioned if Nadella and Pichai were making an effort to reverse the US embargo on exports on vaccine raw materials. Interestingly, both the big tech CEOs tweeted about the Covid situation in India on Monday morning — in toe with US President Joe Biden’s announcement that India will henceforth get the requisite raw materials to ramp up vaccine production in the country.
“I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the US government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices,” tweeted Nadella at 7:23 AM IST on Monday. Inc42 has learned from a source close to the developments that Microsoft has offered to help volunteer communities procuring oxygen concentrators from abroad with funds to the tune of INR 5 Cr.
Pichai’s statement followed a couple of hours later. “Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing INR 135 Crore in funding to @GiveIndia, @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information,” the Google and Alphabet CEO said.
Meanwhile, Balaji Srinivasan, one of the foremost proponents of cryptocurrency in India, has committed $100K in crypto for Covid relief in the country. The announcement came in response to crypto startup Polygon cofounder Sandeep Nailwal’s viral tweet asking the global crypto community to lend a helping hand to India.
He said: “Can’t take this sitting down anymore, I am going to run a Covid relief campaign in lieu of what’s going on in India. Need help from the Global crypto community. I will take full responsibility for transparency, funds usage and regulatory compliance If you want to donate.”
Elsewhere in the crypto world, Vitalik Buterin, cofounder of Ehtereum, the blockchain that supports Ether, the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation after Bitcoin, joined the effort as he posted a proof of transfer of 100 ETH and 100 MKR, worth approximately $606,110 — approximately INR 4.5 Cr at current conversion rates — towards Covid relief measures in the country.
