[kictanet] ICT incubator - Expressions of interest

Mon Feb 7 22:50:01 EAT 2011

a related news item:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1724774/afrilabs-links-startup-incubators-tech-communities-in-africa

-- 
Cheers,

McTim
"A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
route indicates how we get there."  Jon Postel

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 8:18 PM, John Kieti <jkieti at gmail.com> wrote:
> Chris,
> That sounds like a useful forum for Listers interested in the economic
> future of ICT in the region. I like the thought of initiatives coherently
> fitting together, as it should be more of collaboration than  competition
> (not that competition I bad for raising standards).
> Thanks
>
> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 5:13 PM, Chris Foster <cgfoster at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for this, it's an interesting discussion. How do all these
>> different incubators, labs, entrepreneurship schemes and open spaces that
>> are emerging in Kenya fit together coherently....
>>
>> On this subject, I thought I'd point out the launch of the
>> Infodev/DFID/Hivos report on the ICT SME Sector taking place in Nairobi next
>> week (18th Feb).
>>
>> From my brief reading, this report is very much setting out the future
>> agenda for these donors on small ICT business development, so it might be of
>> interest, and perhaps an appropriate platform to raise these issues for
>> debate?
>>
>> http://www.infodev.org/en/Article.673.html (outline is included below)
>>
>> Thanks
>> Chris
>>
>> --
>> Christopher Foster
>> PhD Researcher, Centre for Development Informatics (CDI)
>> University of Manchester, UK
>> Skype: cgfoster
>>
>> =======
>> ICT in East Africa - Report Launch
>> East Africa ICT SME Report Launch at World Bank, Nairobi
>> =======
>> Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are poised to play a significant
>> role in the next phase of ICT industry growth in East Africa. To assess the
>> market and identify opportunities infoDev, UKaid and Hivos conducted a
>> detailed on-the-ground study of the ICT SME landscape in East Africa. This
>> study performed by the Excelsior Firm, engaged over 100 policy makers,
>> investors, academics, donors and entrepreneurs.
>> report Launch
>>
>>
>> Sign up to attend in person, or online, at eastafricaict.eventbrite.com
>>
>> Please join us on February 18th for the launch of our report on the East
>> African ICT Sector: Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a
>> Business Engine for SMEs. This event will be held at the World Bank Offices
>> in Upper Hill Nairobi on 18 February from 10:00am to 12:00pm. We will be
>> presenting the report and hosting a question and answer session with the
>> project team and donor communities.
>>
>>
>> Background
>>
>> The information and communications technology (ICT) sector has been the
>> major driver of economic growth in East Africa over the last decade growing
>> on average by as much as 40%. To date, growth has largely come from
>> world-class innovation by large multinational and local enterprises. Small
>> and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are poised to play a bigger role in the
>> next phase of industry growth. However, they must overcome a multitude of
>> system-wide challenges in order for them to succeed in the marketplace.
>>
>> To understand the interventions required, a consortium comprised of
>> members from infoDev, UKaid and Hivos conducted a detailed on-the-ground
>> study of the ICT SME landscape in East Africa. This study performed by the
>> Excelsior Firm, a US and Africa based advisory firm, engaged over 100 policy
>> makers, investors, academics, donors and entrepreneurs.
>>
>> The findings suggest that the vision of a robust and dynamic ICT sector
>> driven by SMEs that create jobs and world-class innovation is possible, and
>> the likelihood of this outcome can be improved with a few targeted
>> interventions. The five proposed interventions consist of the development of
>> a fully connected SME network, filling the skills gap in advanced business
>> and technical knowledge, providing start up and early stage funding for
>> companies, enabling job creation for knowledge workers and upgrading the
>> business environment. Together these interventions form the components of a
>> potential East African ICT Business Engine that could boost performance, not
>> only within the ICT sector, as well as continue to expand the economic
>> development of the region.
>>
>> We would like to sincerely thank the over 100 entrepreneurs, ICT
>> professionals, academics and experts who participated in interviews,
>> workshops and numerous discussions over the past 3 months. We appreciate
>> their dedication to the advancement of the ICT sector in East Africa and
>> their invaluable contributions to this report.
>>
>> Full Report
>>
>> Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a Business Engine for
>> SMEs
>>
>> Executive Summary
>>
>> Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a Business Engine for
>> SMEs - Exec Summary
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 07/02/11 17:18, McTim wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 4:18 PM, John Kieti <jkieti at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks McTim for good insights
>> I still think it is too early to conclude though. Consider the following
>> :-
>>
>> Strathmore - am not sure they have had time to graduate any incubatee as
>> yet
>> (any updates?)
>> NaiLab has not taken off as yet. Their space (on the 4th floor of Bishop
>> Magua house?) is still an empty hall.
>> mLab (infoDev, iHub, UoN, Web Foundation, eMobilis) is still at infancy.
>> Currently building out on the empty space on the 3rd flr of Bishop Magua
>> House.
>> ictpark.com (Any updates on some graduates will help)
>> KIRDI - (Any updates on some graduates will help)
>>
>> Perhaps you mean that the above and other incubation programs are founded
>> on
>> wrong premises.
>>
>> no, I just mean that we seem to have several, so questioning the need
>> for more at this point.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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