[kictanet] Successfull Visit to Silicon Valley

Sat May 21 09:58:08 EAT 2011

Thank you Muraya,

I am documenting the serious and fun bits of my travel here -
http://www.samgichuru.com/ feel free to share with others, I don't edit
my writings much and post as I go...

I will definitely be on the lookout for that, but one thing I love about
this valley is even the failed start-ups consider themselves a success, they
learned how not to do something and they keep changing until eventually
manage to get it right...

Thank you for taking an interest Muraya, hope the government pays attention
to some sound advice.

On Fri, May 20, 2011 at 11:21 PM, Muraya Kamau <martin at itech2020.com> wrote:

> Way to go Samuel,
>
> I am looking forward to your report. This is a first in Kenya and I would
> advice that we can get as much information as possible.
>
> Secondly, the Y Combinator model, the Portland Seed Fund and other seed
> funding models have success stories and failures. Getting information on
> startups that failed is equally important.
>
> Third, the government disburses funds to the likes of 'Kazi Kwa Vijana' and
> other Youth Empowering initiatives. I would like to ask if with proper
> channels and frameworks, this can be extended to offer support to young
> entrepreneurs (read start-ups) in the technology sector bearing in mind the
> various challenges they go through.
>
> I say again keep up the good work Samuel.
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 8:44 AM, Samuel Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> +Ndemo, that is perfect I am back to Nairobi the first week of June
>>
>> +Liko, very true, we did some calculations with Paul on what a guy with a
>> good idea would need to get it ready in 3-6 months and I was surprised at
>> the fact that we have resources to do this.
>>
>> Still allot of work to be done, thank you for being supportive.
>>
>> On Fri, May 20, 2011 at 10:23 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Sam
>>>
>>> This is commendable, Paul Graham and the Y Combinator model can be
>>> very effective for Kenya.
>>>
>>> My thought has always been that for young guys to develop anything,
>>> someone has to jump in early, provide a place to work, food and even
>>> accommodation as they hack away for 3-6 months
>>>
>>> Once that is done, they have a product that works end to end, a few
>>> clients and they can move from these. I think the country has focus
>>> too much on VC's as opposed to developing a good angel network for
>>> enterpreneurs to tap for early stage money.
>>>
>>> The y combinator model protects entrepreneurs from being in a
>>> perpetual bootstrap mode... Where you have to keep running after
>>> development and website to earn your keep.
>>>
>>> Looking forward to seeing the tech community grow... Especially the
>>> "guy with and idea"
>>>
>>> Again, good stuff chief
>>>
>>> Liko
>>>
>>> On 5/21/11, Samuel Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > Listers,
>>> >
>>> > I am glad to say that after meeting Paul Graham at Y Combinator I got
>>> > introductions to everybody else I would have loved to meet including
>>> Reid
>>> > Hoffman of linkedIn.
>>> >
>>> >  I can now confidently say that in the future Nailab might have a
>>> chance to
>>> > present smart innovative ideas to VC and Angle Investors together with
>>> the
>>> > likes of dropbox , airbnb and others in Silicon Valley.
>>> >
>>> > PS Ndemo, I am disappointed that government bodies like KICTB keep
>>> sending
>>> > people all over the world and cannot facilitate a simple meeting or
>>> > connection despite the enormousness opportunity such networkings
>>> present to
>>> > the average Nailab entrepreneur or tech seating at the Ihub.
>>> >
>>> > Sam Gichuru
>>> > Nailab
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 7:41 PM, Samuel Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >>
>>> >> Hi..
>>> >>
>>> >> I am visiting San Francisco and would have loved to visit Facebook, I
>>> >> understand Kenya ICT  Board had a team that did a visit a while back
>>> and
>>> >> was
>>> >> wondering if anyone on this list was part of that team, I have tried
>>> >> reaching Paul Kokubo to no avail, some kidogo networking here will not
>>> >> hurt
>>> >> .. thank you
>>> >>
>>> >> NB: I already have visited, Sales Force and is Scheduled to Visit
>>> Google,
>>> >> Y
>>> >> Combinator and a host of other companies, - Two office I cant find
>>> >> networking contacts are Facebook and Apple, your help will be much
>>> >> appreciated.
>>> >>
>>> >> --
>>> >> Warm Regards,
>>> >> ------------------------
>>> >> Samuel Gichuru
>>> >> Nailab Director
>>> >>
>>> >> twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
>>> >> Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
>>> >> Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
>>> >> Skype: Sam.gichuru
>>> >> Cellphone: | 0722-730565
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > Warm Regards,
>>> > ------------------------
>>> > Samuel Gichuru
>>> >
>>> > twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
>>> > Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
>>> > Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
>>> > Skype: Sam.gichuru
>>> > Cellphone: | 0722-730565
>>> >
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Warm Regards,
>> ------------------------
>> Samuel Gichuru
>>
>> twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
>> Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
>> Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
>> Skype: Sam.gichuru
>> Cellphone: | 0722-730565
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> *__________________________________________________________
>                         *
> *Muraya Kamau*
> *Web\Mobile Applications Developer*
> *Deveint Ltd*
> *www.deveint.com*
> *Twitter: @MurayaKamau*
> **
>
>
>

-- 
Warm Regards,
------------------------
Samuel Gichuru

twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
Skype: Sam.gichuru
Cellphone: | 0722-730565
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