Semi Tukana, Founder (July 7, 2022)

Since the inception of Software Factory back in 2000, I have worked and travelled throughout the Pacific region designing and deploying software services. During my visits I observed that a common thread amongst, Pacific islanders, was the absence of substantial capital or savings.

“This I believe has severely handicapped Pacific islanders in many areas of life. As a consequence of a non-existent capital base, many indigenous Pacific islanders have encountered a poor track record in starting and sustaining a business operation. They are also often constrained in accessing higher and quality education. Lack of capital also gives rise to poor decision making in matters pertaining to proper housing, healthy foods and quality health services. Being trapped in a cycle of poverty, poor housing, poor education and poor health. This makes us particularly vulnerable to all kinds of shocks like natural disasters where our recovery rate is very slow.”

To break free, we need to change this lifestyle and vicious cycle. In 2008 (14 years ago), I realised that Sustainable Capital Generation is the Key to the survival of our People. To attain this Capital Reserve (savings), we need to play to our strengths. We have strength in our solesolevaki. We have strength in our veilomani, vei vakaturagataki which are core values of our people. It is a beautiful way of living. Sole is a financial tool that strengthens the unique attributes we share as a people. Sole is a Fintech platform to empower our people to develop sustainable capital generation.

Building the right team with the right skill sets and competence to realize Sole has been a quite unique experience. Observing the crystallisation of the vision I had 14 years ago through Sole is so satisfying to the soul. We’ve still got quite a journey ahead of us, but nothing good ever comes easy. I firmly believe that Sole is the key to enabling our people to foster sustainable wealth creation through #veilomani and #solesolevaki.