Identifying Italian Innovation

In the heart of Tuscany, Pomaio Green Winery (or simply Pomaio) is a new face to the wine industry, yet it is standing at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. We recently had the opportunity to explore this unique winery and sit down with Leonardo Bihal, the visionary owner who is breathing new life into the region’s storied winemaking legacy.

A Walk Through the Vineyards

As we strolled through the thriving vineyards of Pomaio with Leonardo, the landscape seemed alive with history and potential. Originating in 1993 as a tranquil countryside retreat for an Italian family, the property evolved over time into a beacon of modern winemaking.

“We started out as just a countryside house,” Leonardo shared, “but in 2004, the project began to shift. We planted our first vineyards, motivated by a philosophy of sustainability and a belief in the potential for innovation.”
leonardo bihal

Vision Meets Tradition

While he took us around the vineyard, Leonardo reflected on what set Pomaio apart from other wineries in the region. “There’s a strong tradition in Tuscany,” he noted, “yet our approach is about blending that with new technology. Many see a divide between tradition and innovation, but at Pomaio, we see them as complementary.”

Leonardo emphasized the transformative impact of technology on their operations. From soil hydration measurement tools to machines that gently separate grapes to maintain quality, and ensure the best product is to be enjoyed every time. Every aspect of production is a testament to that blend of history and modernity.

Overcoming Challenges

The conversation soon turned to the challenges of innovating within a traditional industry and how they plan to overcome that challenge.

“Tuscany’s wine culture is deeply established and sometimes resistant to change. There’s a perception that innovation might compromise tradition, but we believe the opposite—that innovation can enhance the character and quality passed down through generations,” he explained.

Leonardo stood strong in his beliefs as he recounted their efforts to integrate technology not just in production but also in reaching new audiences. “Social media and digital platforms have been crucial. They help us tell our story and show that while we respect tradition, we’re also forging a path forward.”

Cultivating a Unique Identity

Pomaio’s identity is claimed to be as eclectic as Leonardo’s taste in music. “Just like I appreciate different eras in music, I see Pomaio as a blend of the best of the past and present. We want to preserve the essence of our heritage while making room for modern tastes. The goal is to create wines that resonate with both young drinkers and seasoned connoisseurs.”

Leonardo is actively aware of the challenges facing the wine industry today—particularly its relevance to younger generations and has been doing his part in keeping the wine industry alive and breathing. “There’s been a noticeable shift, with young people drinking less wine. But we see that as an opportunity,” he said with optimism. “Our goal is to captivate them with engaging labels and relatable storytelling, then hook them with the quality of our wines.”

Looking Forward

As the interview was wrapping up, Leonardo shared his thoughts on what the future holds for Pomaio. “Our mission is to be an innovator in the industry. Challenges are part of the journey, but they also offer us a chance to learn and improve. By continuing to marry technology with tradition, we can provide a memorable experience that stands the test of time.”

Leonardo’s passion was infectious as he spoke about the road ahead. “We’re committed to evolving while taking the best lessons from our past. Our wines are a reflection of that vision, and we’re excited to see where it takes us.”

In conclusion, Leonardo Bihal and Pomaio Green Winery represent a harmonious blend of Tuscany’s timeless tradition and cutting-edge innovation. While they stand firmly on a foundation of historical respect, they are unabashedly forging a future that embraces change, all in the pursuit of creating wines that tell stories as rich and complex as the land from which they come.

Understanding the Risk in the Tuscan Wine Industry: Through the Lens of Leonardo Bihal’s Pomaio Green Winery

By Aidan Jordan

On March 10, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

The wine industry is often steeped in tradition, yet the need for innovation is paramount to address ever-changing wine market, whether that be consumer preferences or environmental impact challenges. At Pomaio Green Winery emphasizing the balance between maintaining traditional practices and embracing modern techniques is essential to understanding its role in innovation. With this innovation always comes risk. From an interview that my peers had with winery owner, Leonardo Bihal, we can look at a thoughtful approach to risk management and insight into the innovation that goes into a rapidly evolving market.

Just over 20 minutes outside of Arezzo, Pomaio Green Winery sits in the hills of Tuscany. Located on top of one of these hills with a breathtaking view, this vineyard represents a long history of vineyards that have been located in this region in Tuscany. This history is essential into understanding Pomaio, its successes, struggles, risks, and innovation. Leonardo, the winery’s owner, articulated the challenges and risks associated with this dual approach, of marrying tradition with innovation, during an in-depth interview

Leonardo emphasized the importance of technology in understanding and combating risks related to managing and maintaining the vineyard. He noted,

“When I got here one year and a half ago, the way they used to run the vineyards was completely different than what we do now.”

This shift involved investing and introducing new technologies to monitor soil health and water levels, enabling more precise management of the vineyard as well as a more precise and consistent yield from the grapes. This is done through identifying which areas require more attention, reducing the risk of poor crop yields and ensuring higher quality grapes. In a region and industry steeped in so much tradition, it is interesting to look at these innovations and risks that Pomaio Green and Leonardo are taking.

As we know innovation is not without its challenges, the same is true for Pomaio Green. Leonardo discussed the potential pitfalls of introducing these new risks, stating,

“If it didn’t work for some oaks, okay, we don’t buy for next time,”

discussing the failures and success that the winery had had with fermenting in different types of oak barrels. This illustrates a calculated approach to innovation: experiment with new ideas, learn from these risks, and adapt accordingly. In this specific example of the decision to experiment with different oak barrels, they aimed to enhance the flavor profile of their wines. This innovation carried the risk of consumer rejection, what if they preferred the way it was done before? What if it does not meet their expectations? These are the risks businesses take across the world when innovating, especially Pomaio Green Winery.

With these risks, Leonardo spoke on a main concern for him and Pomaio Green: facing the challenge of attracting younger consumers who may be losing interest in wine. Leonardo pointed out,

“Young people are losing interest in the wine,”

this challenge highlights a significant risk for the industry. To counter this trend, Pomaio Green is focusing on modern branding and sustainability, Leonardo proved this by acknowledging that

“everything matters, the label and the product.”

This approach to create a compelling narrative that resonates with a new generation of wine drinkers while also maintaining the winery’s commitment to quality, is a great example of balancing tradition and modernity as well as innovation and risk

Despite this relation with risk and innovation, Leonardo remains committed to this idea of combining both the traditional with the contemporary. He stated,

“Take what is good from the past and try new things,”

a great example of the winery’s philosophy of respecting heritage while embracing change. This approach not only requires taking risks but also fosters a unique identity for Pomaio Green in a crowded marketplace, where other competitors are more traditional with different mindsets than the young Leonardo.

The case of Pomaio Green Winery illustrates, as Kirk Duclaux might put it, the intricate “dance” between that of risk and innovation. Leonardo’s story serves as a powerful testament that while innovating and changing is difficult in an array of different ways, it is also rewarding and fulfilling for the potential to create and discover a new way of doing something. By embracing technology, exploring innovative practices, and connecting with young consumers, Pomaio Green paves the way for future success while also understanding the challenges that come with these risks. As Leonardo aptly noted,

“You have to move forward”

A reminder that progress requires stepping into the unknown and taking risks.

Pomaio Winery: Balancing Community and Tradition with Innovation

By Ramey Brinkman

On March 10, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Vineyards at Pomaio Winery

Just a 20 minute drive from Arezzo, Pomaio Winery strives to combine innovation with traditional Tuscan wine making practices. In the hills of Tuscany, the winery sits on top of a mountain that overlooks the city, and in an area where vineyards have been around for centuries. From the beginning, Pomaio Winery wanted to focus on sustainable practices while also producing quality wine. This is something that Leonardo Bihal wanted to continue when he bought the winery a little over two years ago: Creating quality wine in line with Tuscan traditions, will also come up with new ways to innovate.

Italy regional wine map

“We have to be very, very careful to not compromise the production and the quality of the production. We try to compromise tradition with new techniques, but we strive for both to have a better product,” Bihal said.

Wine culture in Tuscany is a big deal. Wine making in Tuscany is deeply rooted in its culture-from creating traditions passed from family to family to cultivating vineyards that have thrived for literal centuries. Tuscany is known for its Chianti, Merlot, and Cortona wine. While competitors, wineries in Tuscany are a tight community that use similar methods to ferment and bring their wine to life. These methods are rooted in tradition and have been around for centuries.

“Tuscany is one of the most traditional regions in Italy. So the wine tradition here is really strong. We are trying to keep the tradition, but also we are trying to bring new things,” Bihal emphasized.

Tuscan regional wine map

Pomaio winery specifically produces two different types of grapes: Sangiovese and Merlot. These grapes thrive in the region, and are some of the traditional grapes that winemakers use in Tuscany. To produce the wine from the grapes, the Tuscan wine community has long standing traditions: such as the way they ferment the wine through big barrels, a practice Bihal doesn’t follow. He uses oak barrels to ferment his wine. Bihal wants to honor the traditions of the community, but he also wants to create his own way of doing things.

“A lot of winemakers are very traditional, they don’t change at all. The use of the oak is one of the examples. They don’t like to use the traditional oak. They usually use big barrels.”

Oak barels at Pomaio Winery

This reflects a widely accepted concept in the Tuscan winemaking community where tradition overtakes innovation, such as normal barrels that don’t have oak. By using oak to ferment his wine, Bihal thinks that the flavors will be enhanced.This break from the Tuscan traditions and communities helps set his wine and practices apart in the region.

“Even if Tuscany is a very traditional place when we talk about wine, food, and everything, I guess we are aware that things are changing. We are trying to keep the tradition, but also we are trying to bring new things”

While the Tuscan community is important in influencing his practices, he also focuses on building his own community on his property. Pomaio Winery allows people to come and stay in one of their villas on their property year round, offering an immersive experience into the Tuscan countryside. By offering these experiences, Pomaio Winery allows visitors to have more than just a glimpse into how wine is produced in Tuscany, but also be a part of that practice.

“We always try to make our guests feel at home. And we always try to make them feel part of our small world here.”

Through wine tastings, cooking classes, and tours, guests get to actually be a part of the rich traditions, and new practices, that Pomaio follows. Bihal wants these guests to feel at home, creating a sense of community throughout the entire Vineyard.

“We always try to make our guests feel at home, and we always try to make them feel part of our small world here. I really try to share my experience in this place with them, make them feel part of [our community],” Bihal said.

This sense of community is part of what builds Pomaio Winery–it becomes a place where tradition and innovation combine. By blending old Tuscan practices with new ones, Bihal works to preserve tradition while also creating new, flavorful, wine. His approach to sustainability and balance of modern and old techniques help make Pomaio Winery unique.

Bihal demonstrates that innovation and tradition can coexist: They can build off each other to make a lasting impact on a community. His use of fermentation through oak barrels, a practice not seen in Tuscany, and the way he uses Tuscan tradition as his foundation for his practices, honors the community and accelerates it into the future.

By combining his practices with hospitality, Bihal has created an environment that showcases the Tuscan community and invites guests to become a part of it, fostering a shared appreciation for tradition, innovation, and the art of winemaking.

“I really think that the experience, like the good experience, makes people feel at home. And this is something that I don’t want to give up.”

A Bottle of Innovation with Leonardo Bihal

By Sterling Foster

On March 4, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation, Sterling Foster

On a cloudy day in late February, I piled into a van with the other students in Innovators in Journalism and we drove up a mountain to our first site visit interview location. As our van climbed higher into the mist, the winding mountain road gave way to the breathtaking view of Pomaio Winery. Leonardo Bihal greeted us at the top holding an umbrella, which he generously pawned off to one of us while he gave us an outdoor tour of the winery. You’d think that the rain clouds might ruin the view, but let it be known that the views from the top of the mountain were nothing short of stunning.

Bihal proved to be an exceptional host and tour guide, which makes sense given that he mentioned to us that hospitality is a major part of Pomaio’s business and how they stay profitable. He guided us through the winery’s underground storage, where their wines age to perfection, and even offered us a taste of their signature rosé straight from the barrel. Once back above ground, we were treated to fresh bread straight from the oven drizzled with Pomaio’s own small-batch olive oil. And after all of that, he still generously took the time to answer our questions. Now that’s a host.

During this interview, I got to ask Bihal questions about something every innovator faces at some point: failure. Specifically, I asked him if there had “…been any innovations you attempted that ultimately failed, and what did you learn?”

Bihal: “Yes. I’ll give you one example: I tried a new label for a type of wine we have here, and some people loved it and some people hated it. Of course, we try to reach as many people as we can, but sometimes you cannot please everybody.”

I pressed him for more information about this mystery label, asking, “Whatever happened to that label? Is it still here? Did you change it?” And this, dear reader, is where I found the true innovator in Bihal.

Bihal: “No, no, I still have the label. Basically, we tried to make the wine for young people. So for that wine, we’re going to try something more fun. A lot of people start to drink wine when they’re young.”

Bihal, like any good business owner, recognized a shift in consumer habits. Young people today aren’t drinking wine the way older generations have in the past. To keep Pomaio relevant and thriving for generations to come, he saw the need to innovate, even in something as seemingly minor as a label. The goal was to make wine feel more accessible, more fun and exciting if you will, for a younger demographic, rather than something reserved for special occasions or your grandparent’s collection you aren’t supposed to touch.

Bihal: “There’s a crisis in the wine business, and it started a couple years ago for the first time in 30 years. Some studies revealed that young people are not drinking wine. And that’s something we really want to bring new people and young people into: the wine world. And to do that, everything matters. The label and the product. So make a fun label, an interesting label that brings you in. And once you’re in, you taste the product and you like it.”

I think Bihal’s approach to innovation is a lesson of adaptability. He understands that in order to sustain a business, winery or otherwise, you have to pay attention to the shifting trends in your market and then be willing to take risks. A wine bottle label might seem like a small detail, but in an era like today where branding and marketing play a massive role in consumer choices, it’s a crucial factor in attracting new people to, as Bihal calls it, “the wine world.”

Innovation isn’t always going to be about a radical change. Sometimes it can be as simple as changing the way you present something to the world to pique the interest of new audiences. By adding a touch of modernity to the wine bottle label, Bihal is ensuring that Pomaio continues to evolve with the changing times and doesn’t get left behind. And isn’t that what innovation is all about?

In the winery business and beyond, the willingness to take risks and adapt with your market is what really sets true innovators apart from the rest. Bihal isn’t simply keeping up with his market, he’s getting ahead of the curve.

Hunny Bhagchandani: Innovating for an Inclusive Future

By Aidan Jordan

On March 3, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Hunny Bhagchandani, founder and director of Torchit Electronics, a social-tech start up based in India, has continually been driven by creating accessible and affordable assistive technology for people with disabilities (PwDs). This is the sole motivation behind Bhagchandani’s innovation.

“The lack of affordable assistive technology for PwDs was a major problem. Seeing individuals struggle with mobility, education, and employment motivated me to innovate solutions that truly empower and uplift.”

Understanding the challenges and barriers that have, and continue, to limit the independence of so many, Hunny has dedicated his career breaking through these barriers.

“Innovation is at the heart of Torchit’s mission—it allows us to create affordable, scalable, and impactful assistive technologies that break barriers for persons with disabilities (PwDs). By leveraging AI and smart technology, we are making accessibility a reality, not a privilege, for millions worldwide.”

Pushing through barriers and strivings for innovation does not come without creativity; for Bhagchandani and Torchit, this is means “constantly [challenging] ourselves to think beyond limitations,” he explains. For Bhagchandani the importance of “creating solutions that are affordable, intuitive, and user-friendly,” which was especially true in “the process of developing devices like Jyoti AI and Saarthi Smart Cane,” cannot be understated. With this strife for affordability, sustainability, along with creativity, these innovations have “required [Bhagchandani] to reimagine how visually impaired individuals interact with the world,” displaying what is means to innovate: to think outside of the box to create something that hasn’t been done before.

The use of Artificial Intelligence has played a major role in this process.

“AI has been a game-changer—it enables real-time text recognition, facial recognition, object detection, and smart navigation.”

With the development of these AI technologies, assistive technology is no longer limited to basic mobility solutions. Bhagchandani envisions a future where AI technologies can be seamlessly integrated into daily life, enabling individuals with disabilities to navigate the world independently and with confidence.

“The response has been incredibly positive—users share stories of how our technology has transformed their independence and confidence. Organizations and governments are now recognizing the importance of assistive tech and actively supporting our mission.”

The communities response to incorporating these new technologies has been a massive success. Despite this success and upward trend in Torchit Electronics, innovation does not come without its challenges. For Torchit, Bhagchandani highlights three major challenges that they have faced and continue to combat are:

“Affordability vs. Advanced Tech – Making cutting-edge solutions cost-effective for underserved communities.

• Awareness & Accessibility – Even the best innovations require strong distribution networks and training.

• Funding & Scaling – Ensuring sustainable growth without sacrificing our core mission.”

These challenges push Bhagchandani and Torchit to continuously refine their work, approach situations from new perspective, and create new strategies that will ensure the validity of their product as well as ensuring their technologies reach the people that need them most.

Beyond the technical aspects of innovation, Bhagchandani emphasizes the human element of his work. The genuine care that he has for the people he tries to aid and the emotional impact of his technologies can often be overlooked, he feels, as the focus favors technological advancement.

“One thing that is often overlooked—the emotional impact of assistive technology. It’s not just about devices; it’s about restoring confidence, dignity, and self-reliance to millions of individuals.”

This theme of empathy is a key motivation for Bhagchandani, when I asked him what keeps you up at night? His response for himself and his company was:

‘”How can we scale faster and reach every person in need?

How do we continue making our solutions better, smarter, and more affordable?

How can we ensure equal opportunities for PwDs across the world?”

How can Torchit continue to impact others, what more aren’t they doing, what can they do better? These are important questions that Bhagchandani continues to answer as is the theme with innovation.

For Bhagchandani, impacting real lives, of real people, who have real needs is of the upmost importance. This journey is a testament to the power of purpose-driven innovation. His work is not just about advancing technology but about transforming lives—one breakthrough at a time. Innovation is always moving, never stagnant, and Bhahchandani and Torchit Electronics are evidence of this continual strife.

A Taste of Tuscany

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On March 3, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Leonardo Bihal’s Innovative Approach to Producing Wine

A few images come to mind when picturing the Tuscan countryside: rolling hills, a lush landscape, medieval towns, and of course, charming vineyards. When I stepped out of the car at Pomaio Green Winery, this dream enveloped me. It was lightly raining, but this fact somehow reflected the intimacy of the experience offered by Leonardo Bihal.

Sustainability and Hospitality

Leonardo has owned the winery for just over a year and a half. Since purchasing the vineyard, he has strived to set Pomaio apart from other wine producers through the use of innovative goals and standards. These primary objectives are sustainable production and incomparable hospitality.

We took a walking tour of the property, and Leonardo explained that these factors are the driving force behind operations at Pomaio:

“When it comes to wine and olive trees, we strive to adopt sustainable practices not only by using products that are mostly organic-based but also by incorporating sustainability into our daily operations.”

From the treatments done to the growing vines to the fermentation process, all processes are held to the highest standard of organic production. The physical spaces of the winery reflect this as well.

The property is home to two Tuscan-style villas, which retain their historic feel even after being fully renovated. Each villa demonstrates the experiences and hospitality offered by Pomaio, and are built on the same sustainable foundation:

“…our heating and air conditioning systems do not use wood or gas but rather a geothermal system that combines solar and electric energy.”

Buying a bottle of wine from Pomaio is not simply a taste of Tuscany but an experience that imprints itself on your memory. Leonardo emphasized hospitality as he spoke. More than that, he showed it through his actions. We were given the opportunity to try rosé, straight from the tap to our glasses, as well as Pomaio’s signature olive oil. His passion for the industry was evident, and he carried this passion from the walking tour to the sit-down interview.

Technology as an Innovative Tool

The organic, sustainable practices of Pomaio and the mission of hospitality are both innovative in themselves; however, there are lots of underlying factors that drive both sectors. The goals set by Leonardo have required a variety of innovative thinking patterns. He has confronted challenges, set new standards, and worked to think outside the box. One way he has accomplished this is through the use of technology.

The world of technology is expanding exponentially. It is undeniably a useful tool, but a company’s approach to utilizing that tool can make or break their business. Leonardo recognizes this fact. He explains that the use of technology in both the vineyard and the wine cellar are crucial in supporting the production of quality wine.

“…we also have technology (in the wine cellar) because it’s important too. But if you don’t have good practice, of course, with technology in the vineyard, you can have the best quality of technology in the wine cellar and that won’t be enough. So it’s a mix.”

The use of new technology directly impacts the physical work being done on site. Leonardo expanded on this fact, explaining that new digital tools have allowed Pomaio to change the way they produce wine.

“We invested in tools to measure how much water we have in the soil. Knowing how the weather works in a year is really important to identify what product you’re going to have. It shows which part of the vineyard is struggling, which part has more water or less water… if you don’t have the technology to identify these things, it is impossible.”

Such advancements in technology have vastly increased Pomaio’s ability to identify the problems that are happening and solve them more easily than ever before. Incorporating this aspect of the digital world into production is an innovative mindset, which has enhanced the work done at Pomaio.

Another unignorable factor of technology is media and the internet. This has also played a key role in furthering the Green Winery’s missions.

“We work a lot with people from abroad… if you have a good project when we are talking about the website, Instagram, and social media in general, you can reach more and more people. This is something that we are really trying to do.”

Leonardo shared that the project of social media outreach has expanded over a few months. As they rebrand the business in preparation for new wine sales, social media has become a crucial tool in furthering the process. It aids in increasing the visits to the site, but also in connecting guests with various aspects of the hospitality.

“…so not just the reservations for the tour, but also for wine tasting, cooking classes, special dinners, the weddings, all the activities we can provide… it’s important to bring these reviews to other people, of course, and social media has had a huge part in that.”

Using digital technology, Leonardo is able to keep track of events for specific clients months in advance. In addition to this, it connects past clients to prospective clients in a way that was never feasible in the past. Pomaio uses this innovative tool to continue pushing the business toward success. Leonardo exudes dedication to his craft. Taking one look at Pomaio’s website makes this abundantly clear.

While the ever-developing field of technology is only one aspect of innovation, it is undeniably foundational in positive growth and change. This tool helps Pomaio Green Winery to build towards a more sustainable, hospital future, one bottle at a time.

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Minhaz Fahme: Changing the World One Pixel at a Time

By Charles Hall

On February 25, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

In a recent conversation, Minhaz Fahme, author and CEO of Battery Low Interactive Ltd., shared his journey and opinions on the evolution of game development and the innovative influence on the industry. His narrative offers an interesting view on how people’s experiences influence their career choices, how it is important to change according to the audience and the future of technology in gaming.

First, Minhaz recounted how he started playing video games at an early age and how this led him to want to become a game developer. He spent his childhood in Bangladesh where he could not always afford to buy gaming consoles and at times had to borrow them from friends to escape into the various worlds. His passion for games increased as he played games like “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and he wanted to build something that would make players happy. Despite the fact that there were no game design universities in Bangladesh at the time, Minhaz taught himself the C programming language and even created a game during his university days. This foundation provided the basis for his eventual entry into the gaming industry.

When Minhaz moved on from being a casual gamer to a professional game developer, he observed many changes in the gaming industry that opposed a new developing game studio. One of the most important changes that he noticed has been the changing of audience. He pointed out that the gamers’ population is getting younger and therefore the games must be developed to meet this new audience. This has resulted in more focus being made on integrating new ideas from the younger members of the development teams. Minhaz admitted that he enjoys working with young people, but this shift has become necessary for success in the commercial gaming world as well as giving him a hurdle to overcome in the effort of appealing to those audiences.

In discussing the impact of technology, Minhaz highlighted the rise of mobile gaming. He pointed out that although mobile gaming is easily accessible, it is not always as engaging as it is on the bigger platforms. This is in line with a larger debate within the industry about how to maintain innovation while also preserving the fundamentals of gaming experiences. In response to that question posed, Minhaz delved into the innovative technologies of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to implement in his own games. He explained how his company has gone out into the community to take AR and VR technologies to schools and colleges, and have students experience these new, accessible forms of gaming first hand. He believed that AR is an effective learning tool which can deliver information in a more engaging and long lasting manner than conventional approaches. Using the success of games like Pokémon Go to show just how much AR can not only change gaming but also education.

In the future, Minhaz is envisioning a world in which the gaming experiences will be improved by technological developments especially with respect to lighter and more energy efficient devices like mixed reality glasses. He predicted that these devices would in due course outcompete smartphones as new means of producing highly engaging games. His optimism towards the future is dampened by the understanding of the risks that come with innovation. He noted that any form of disruption in any sector comes with its consequences and complications and compared them to principles of physics, entropy and Newton’s laws of motion. Minhaz argues that while the path of entrepreneurship and innovation is fraught with difficulties, it is also ripe with opportunities for growth and success.

In terms of advice for aspiring game developers and entrepreneurs, Minhaz emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability. He encourages young innovators to envision potential challenges and prepare accordingly. By setting milestones and regularly evaluating progress, they can navigate the often tumultuous journey of entrepreneurship. He believes that every effort, whether successful or not, contributes to valuable learning experiences that can inform future endeavors.

In conclusion, I believe Fahme’s insights underscore the pivotal role of innovation in the gaming industry. His journey from a passionate gamer to a developer reflects a broader narrative of growth, adaptation, and the continuous evolution of technology. As the industry moves forward, embracing new technologies and audiences while fostering creative and business acumen will be crucial for success. His experiences and philosophy serve as an inspiration for the next generation of game developers and entrepreneurs, reinforcing the notion that with creativity and perseverance, the possibilities in the gaming industry are limitless.

Embracing Innovation: Lessons from the Experts

By Charles Hall

On February 25, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Innovation is all around us and I have recently had a chance to listen to a number of people share how they are contributing to change in their organisations. In this post I will be highlighting the key takeaways from the discussion which will be focused on the role of community, the concept of disruption and the advantages of thinking fast.

The Power of Community Engagement

Katie from The Gathering Place explained a very practical lesson on the importance of community in innovation. When the park was first built in an expensive area of Tulsa, it sought to be a place for everyone. But their initial attempt, for instance, through one-time cultural events was not effective. They then understood the need to build strong ties, not just by organizing events once in while.

Therefore, they decided to change the strategy and provide different activities that would be interesting to different categories of people. This made the park to become a place that anyone could feel comfortable in. In due course of time they marked the park’s fifth anniversary by telling the stories of the people who made it a success. The conclusion: innovation is most effective when it is based on the real needs of the community.

Technology Shapes Innovation

The panel also discussed how technology has changed the way we work and communicate. During the pandemic, many companies had to find new ways to engage their customers or clients. One of the panelists explained how they had employed Skype and Vimeo to engage with their clients despite the fact that they were based abroad. This not only maintained the operations but also provided a way to grow the business.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Innovators

As undergrad students and future professionals, I think this is a much needed experience and it is essential to embrace the lessons learned from these experiences. Here are some actionable takeaways I personally have gathered from this lovely panel:

Engage the Community: Foster genuine relationships with community members. Listen to their stories and experiences, and involve them in the innovation process to create meaningful connections.
Embrace Disruption: View disruption as an opportunity for growth rather than a challenge. Be open to restructuring and adapting to new circumstances to remain competitive.
Leverage Technology: Utilize technology to enhance engagement and storytelling. Explore innovative tools that can elevate your organization’s impact and reach.
Cultivate a Supportive Culture: Encourage a culture of innovation within your organization. Empower employees to share ideas, take risks, and collaborate freely to inspire creativity.

Conclusion

I believe this panel ingrains the message that: innovation is only truly created from someone that has utmost dedication, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures. Using the their passions to foster a culture of engagement, understanding community needs, and embracing disruption, organizations can pave the way for innovation that drives growth and impacts society for the better of everyone. It is only through this can someone create something meaningful, something that not only grows but also makes a real impact.

Health at Home: How one person revolutionized healthcare

By Ramey Brinkman

On February 23, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Dr. Bishal Dhakal always understood the importance, and the disparities of healthcare. Growing up in a small town in Nepal, he knew the struggles that a lack of good healthcare came with. This experience, growing up in a small town, combined with an international education, shaped his vision of a solution to affordable healthcare within Nepal. His understanding of healthcare and his experiences abroad laid the foundation for his future, innovative, company: “Health at Home,” a company that is a “one-stop shop” for all healthcare related needs in Nepal.

“I saw [more] advanced healthcare systems than what we had in Nepal, nothing [like this] existed in Nepal,” Dr. Dhakal said.

Before launching “Health at Home,” however; Dr. Dhakal started his studies in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he studied medicine. Dr. Dhakal was exposed to new forms of healthcare that didn’t exist in Nepal, saying that “ambulance services,” and “dispatch management” were not services that were around. He brought these ideas back to Nepal, trying to look for ways to innovate Nepal’s healthcare system.

“I started doing research, but there was not much [information] around this idea, but my commitment was to provide healthcare beyond hospital doors.”

His idea for a revamped healthcare system in Nepal took the services outside of hospitals and into the homes. He recognized that the traditional, hospital centric, model in Nepal was too expensive to pay out of pocket. It was also in-accessible to many communities, as some people didn’t have access to hospitals or hospital services. Dr. Dhakal envisioned healthcare where routine check-ups, preventative care, therapy, and other services could all be delivered directly to a patient’s doorstep.

“Wild idea, crazy. In Nepal, you know, nobody’s going to buy it.”

In order to make this concept a reality, Dr. Dhakal had to come up with new ideas that weren’t the norm in Nepal. He had to use his international experiences to fuel and provide inspiration to innovate: Working to make his vision of Health at Home into a reality.

As he was developing this idea of delivering healthcare to the patient, he had his first at-home patient. Nepal has many holidays where traditional services wouldn’t be open; This means that people wouldn’t be able to receive healthcare at hospitals. Health at Home, however; Allowed patients to receive care, even on holidays.

“This guy calls me up and asks, hey, listen, can you help me take care of my mom? Because, you know, there’s a celebration coming and I need to keep her [healthy].”

This led to his first patient, and his first at home visit. He sent a nurse to this patient’s house, and the nurse provided at home services. Not only was this a new service for healthcare in Nepal, it also opened up a whole new job market. Dr. Dhakal noted that nurses in hospitals in Nepal were overworked and underpaid: Causing them to leave for other countries. Health at Home was an alternative service for nurses that allowed them to get paid a livable salary and also not be overworked. According to Dr. Dhakal, it was the first time hourly pay was done in Nepal.

“I found out there was a term called temporary placements in the United States, In Nepal, I had never encountered this. I got an opportunity to do a private nursing placement duty for the first time, and to create a temporary placement job for the first time. We kept on changing the boundaries.”

Temporary placement in the United States is where an employee is temporarily put in a certain job position for a certain need. By bringing this to Nepal, he was able to provide work for nurses and other healthcare providers: Revolutionizing the local job market by offering flexible jobs with fairly paid employment opportunities. This was something that hadn’t been done in Nepal before and would not have been possible without Dr. Dhakal’s vision. By adapting concepts from other countries, he was able to use his innovation to not revolutionize only the healthcare industry, but also the job market within Nepal

Services at Health at Home include home doctor visits, nursing care, vaccinations, equipment rental, like wheelchairs, and other health services. These are all provided through in-house doctors and temporary placement jobs. Because these are done at home, it reduces the amount of money that patients would have to pay if they paid for these services at a hospital. Health at Home doesn’t have to build infrastructure at a hospital, or pay rent at a hospital, therefore cutting down on recurring costs.

None of this would have been possible without Dr. Dhakal’s innovation. He was able to create a healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of Nepal with a combination of his experience with healthcare internationally. His vision turned into a product that helps thousands of people every week in Nepal, at an affordable cost. Through this commitment, Dr. Dhakal not only transformed how healthcare was implemented in Nepal, but also set a new benchmark for accessible services.

“I would call myself a patient advocate. I fought my battle, fighting for the rights of the people, not by arguments and litigations, but by building something.”

Systemic Solutions with Farhana Rashid

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On February 22, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

In a world that seems to push toward change at full speed ahead, it’s far too easy to overlook the challenges experienced by the masses in everyday life. Innovation has always been considered the creation of something new. More than this, it should be a way to build new systems within existing ones. Farhana Rashid launched her social enterprise “Bhumijo” in 2017, creating innovative solutions to one such overlooked issue.

Bhumijo operates out of Dhaka, Bangladesh. They provide hygienic, inclusive, and affordable access to clean toilets throughout the city. Expanding beyond this, Bhumijo provides extra services such as clean drinking water, laundry, and showers.

Farhana always knew she wanted to make a positive impact on the world, but was looking for a path that created change for underserved demographics.

“I wanted to do something for the most people, not only to serve the elite.”

Recognizing the toilet crisis and the lack of safe public spaces for women was the first step. It had been a problem directly affecting her world for years, but she became especially passionate about solving the issue after having a daughter.

Farhana explains that innovation occurs at different stages. This recognition of a problem was step one.

“You recognize a problem, ask why it is happening, and create a solution.”

Her approach could be described as a systemic solution. Using this pattern, you can identify the problem, analyze it, create and implement solutions, and evaluate and adapt the solutions. This is exactly what Bhumijo has done.

Farhana recalled having the initial discussion with her family. They debated all of these questions and she decided right then to pursue change. Farhana joked about the situation, showing that innovation doesn’t always happen in some formal setting.

“Sometimes innovation happens at the dinner table.”

There is a longstanding system of public restrooms in Bangladesh; however, that doesn’t mean that a push toward change should be off the table. While there are public restrooms, they are often inadequate. Women are especially affected by the unsafe spaces provided. This system is the context in which Bhumijo exists and builds upon.

“When we started, the percentage of women was almost 2 percent of total customers. Right now it’s around 20 percent… as a target, I would say I want my daughter and every daughter in Bangladesh to not worry when they are outside… I wanted to make a safe accessible space for them.”

The population of Dhaka is about 21 million people, condensed within the city. There are many ‘hot spots’ frequented by shoppers, storefronts selling anything from accessories to household items.

“Every day, thousands and thousands of people are coming to this space and most of them are women… we thought there should be women only toilets, and we didn’t find any.”

Upon discovering this, Farhana spoke with one market owner about installing a public toilet for women. To this request, she was told ‘women don’t come here to pee, they come here to shop.’ This was said in the context of thousands of women visiting the hotspots daily and more than 40 female employees at the specific site. Farhana continued to push her innovation in support of positive change and after a few more meetings, the market owner gave in and allowed Bhumijo to move forward with the project. Within 6 months, he contacted Farhana giving praise, and even requested a new installation for the men’s restroom.

Farhana remained innovative at all stages in developing the company. Various challenges arose, yet they were met gracefully by the team at Bhumijo. Resistance to change was a big obstacle to the team’s mission.

Now, Bhumijo operates 43 centers in Bangladesh. Over 10,000 are served daily, and the population of female users is consistently rising. Farhana takes great pride in being able to provide safe and inclusive spaces for the community, and rightfully so. Her approach to innovation was enormously successful. Bhumijo improves lives daily and continuously strives toward change.