[kictanet] Top brains to entice global investors

Ali Hussein ali at hussein.me.ke
Mon Sep 17 15:45:11 EAT 2012


+1 Francis.

Infact my understanding is that Demo Africa is just that. This isn't about
judging for competition's sake. The 'judges' are investors and companies
looking for new products and services that already have traction or have a
huge potential for traction.

The last few years have been good for awareness and we have gained a
reputation as an innovation hub. However the pipeline now needs to move
towards actualizing these ideas into viable, bankable business models.

Demo Africa seeks to fill part of the gap.

Harry/Brian, hope I haven't put my foot in my mouth...

Ali Hussein

On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 1:51 PM, Francis Hook <francis.hook at gmail.com>wrote:

> I am keen to know to what extent innovators will leverage OSS as they
> make their pitches.
>
> I hope we will not see technology for technology's sake kind of
> innovations.   We've seen some very sexy ideas develop over the years
> but they do not really solve real problems or are very hard to
> monetise.
>
> It would also be nice if we could hear of experiences of local
> developers/innovators in terms of getting funding for their start ups,
> how their ideas get an audience (and what reactions they get) etc.   I
> gather there is a degree of wariness when it comes to showcasing ideas
> and the fear that players with big pockets will take it and run with
> it  (because they can afford to) or shoot it down because it could
> disrupt existing business models (e.g.  cross network shared mobile
> money platforms...).
>
> We've also heard that techies are just that - and have bright ideas
> but are not good sales people or any good in biz devt.   To what
> extent does DEMO address this issue?
>
>
>
> On 17 September 2012 00:47, Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > IN SUMMARY
> >
> > Demo Africa director Harry Hare said the event, the first to be held in
> > Africa, presents a good chance for local innovators to move their
> businesses
> > to the next level.
> > Over the last five years, innovators at DEMO US have received about Sh297
> > billion in business capital.
> > Microsoft, which is sponsoring the event together with Nokia and other
> > multinationals, said that the partnership is one of the best activities
> they
> > have done because it will help accelerate success of entrepreneurs and
> > start-ups in Africa.
> >
> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Top+brains+to+entice+global+investors/-/1006/1509036/-/ntbwhpz/-/index.html
> >
> >
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> --
> Francis Hook
> +254 733 504561
>
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> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>



-- 

*Ali Hussein*



Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo
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