Building AI that organisations can actually trust
Alan Kan has spent the better part of two decades building technology that serves people — not the other way around. As co-founder of Mission Ready, one of New Zealand's most recognised technology education providers, and founder of Wonderbean, he developed a deep understanding of how organisations absorb new capabilities: slowly, with legitimate concerns, and only when they trust what they're adopting.
That understanding now drives Sovata AI. Alan founded Sovata with a specific thesis: that the organisations most in need of AI — community groups, iwi authorities, NGOs, government-adjacent bodies — are also the ones most poorly served by generic AI tools designed for Silicon Valley enterprises. The gap isn't technical. It's about sovereignty, accountability, and trust.
“Most AI tools were built assuming your data is yours to share. For community organisations — especially those holding cultural or vulnerable-population data — that assumption is wrong. We build AI that starts from the opposite premise.”
— Alan Kan, CEO
Approach to responsible AI
Alan's framework for responsible AI deployment centres on three principles. First, architectural sovereignty: AI should run inside the organisation's own infrastructure, not in a shared cloud where data flows are difficult to audit. Second, governance before launch: guardrails, audit trails, and human oversight must be built into the system from day one, not bolted on after complaints arise. Third, operational continuity: AI is not a project to be handed over; it requires ongoing management, monitoring, and improvement to remain safe and useful.
Background and credentials
Areas of expertise
Work with Alan directly
Founding Partner organisations work directly with Alan, Tracey, and Ariena — not account managers. Book a free Discovery Call to speak with the team.
Book a Discovery CallA free Discovery Call takes one hour. We'll tell you honestly where AI can help, what it will take, and whether a Founding Partner arrangement is the right fit.
Free · No commitment · One hour · New Zealand-based