Sky Eye’s  successful journey attributed to family

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 27 November 2023: The success of Sky Eye Pacific Company is attributed to the unity and support of family.

Sky Eye founder and Chief Executive Officer, Fa’asootauloa Sam Saili said that despite the notion never to do business with family, he believes that his company’s success is a testament to the success of a family owned enterprise.

“This is based on trust and each one entrusted with their role and responsibilities,” he said.

He also acknowledged his parent’s encouragement and the values they instilled that have guided him and his siblings throughout their long journey.

Sky Eye has been operating from various locations since its launch in 2013 and the grand opening of their new permanent office at Lotopa last Friday is a testament to their journey of success.

The Minister for Public Enterprises, Leatinu’u Wayne Sooialo commended Sky Eye for their perseverance and commitment to the community.

He said Sky Eye has contributed tremendously to the technological landscape of Samoa and the Pacific but also represented the spirit of community and family values.

The inspiration to the success of Sky Eye is their mother, Taimaaiono Metotagivale Saili who cut the ribbon to officially open the new office after the blessing by the St Anthony parish Catholic priests and deacons.

From humble beginnings to the Pacific
Sky Eye started out small in 2013 and registered as a company in 2015. In 2016, Sky Eye spread its wings and registered as a company in the Solomon Islands and in 2017 in Vanuatu.

That same year, they won a prestigious Asia Pacific Frontier Innovation Award and their journey did not end there.

In 2018, they registered as a company in Tonga and also won the GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Award.

In 2019, the popular Maua e-Commerce App in Samoa was launched and the same year won the Pacific Excellence in GIS Awards for their presentation of the Maua App at the Barcelona Mobile World Congress and recognition as one of 35 global startups shaping the future.

In 2020, the UNCDF Fintech Funding Award recognized the Maua App as an essential service.

The Minister of Public Enterprise, Leatinu’u Wayne Sooialo and Sky Eye founder Faasootauloa Sam Saili at the company’s new office.

In 2021, Sky Eye launched the Maua Payment Gateway, UNCDF COVID Ecosystem Recovery Funding and featured on the UNESCAP homepage.

In 2022, they introduced the Samoa Travel Tracer App which won them the UNCDF Inclusive Digital Economies Award. They also launched the Maua App in Vanuatu the same year.

In 2023, Sky Eye won the bid with DT Global for the Tautai Partnership.

According to Faasootauloa, SkyEye Pacific has done so much in the 10 years since their establishment and the progress and success he attributes to the support of his family involved in the business.