[kictanet] Government extends financing for ICT incubation

Fri Jan 25 09:15:56 EAT 2013

@liko

Sorry if I mistook your statement for a sign of sarcasm, but nonetheless my experience is that incubators only work for chicken breeders where they expect to produce many of the same which is definitely not what we want.

Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

________________________________
 From: Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com>
To: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Thursday, 24 January 2013, 22:49
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Government extends financing for ICT incubation

I was not being sarcastic ... 

I think this is a very good and positive step. Sam and his team at Nailab will be able to shape the startup scene in the country.

With this development, I am sure something will happen to make it easier for IT SMEs to access credit/finance within the next 2 years.

Ps: of the 30 startups, we just need 1-5 success stories ...

This is very good for our IT scene

On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 7:07 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

@liko, your sarcasm is contagious, the chick that makes it is the one that hatches after it has been left in the bush to be incubated by the elements, those that hatch from the safety and warmth of the mother hen are and usually remain a clutch and over time develop into a brood .
>
>Any idea which incubator the following fellows where hatched from?
>
>1.  Agosta Liko
>2.  Bill Gates
>3.  Kamal Budhabhatti
>4.  Mark Zuckerberg
>5.  John Waibochi
>6.  Sergey Brin
>
>Regards
>
>
>
>
> 
>Robert Yawe
>KAY System Technologies Ltd
>Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>Kenya
>
>
>Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com>
>To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk 
>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
>Sent: Thursday, 24 January 2013, 18:23
>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Government extends financing for ICT incubation
> 
>
>
>Kudos to serikali for this one ... Mambo Grassroots !!!
>
>
>
>
>On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 3:25 PM, Phyllis Nyambura <pnyambura at ict.go.ke> wrote:
>
>Listers, 
>>
>>The incubation model got fresh momentum today as the government, through the Kenya ICT Board, announced that it is putting money to support ICT SME's. The incubation facility will be hosted at Nailab and more than 30 start-ups are expected to benefit for a period of 3 years. 
>>
>>For more information see below:
>>
>>
>>Government extends $1.6M support for ICT start-up businesses
>> Pilot incubation program to tap
into the robust ICT Enterprise by developing soft business skills and
operational support 
>> Nairobi, January 24th, 2013…The Kenya ICT Board, has
today launched a pilot of the first government supported ICT based incubation
program worth $ 1.6 Million with funding from the International Development
Association (IDA). 
>>The Information and Communication Technology business incubator
pilot will be implemented by NaiLab and will work with at least 30 startups
hosted at the incubator and another 100 virtually over a three-year-period in
an effort to sustain the concept and create high impact enterprises aimed at
growing Kenya’s economy and creating employment. Nailab, a partnership funded by 1%
Club and managed by NaiLab Ltd, won the contract to host the incubator, in
a competitive process that saw more than 16 companies bidding.
>>The program’s main goal will be to build a program, support
infrastructure and outreach with successes being replicated in other parts of
the country.
>>“The growth of Kenya’s economy is pegged on how many
profitable businesses we are able to build and sustain. This project displays
the government commitment towards supporting SME’s and growing Kenya as an ICT
destination,” says the PS, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Bitange
Ndemo. 
>>The project is timely as Konza Technology City prepares to
transform the ICT investment landscape in Kenya in the next three years.
Innovation, a strong talent pool and entrepreneurship will be the cornerstone
of the smart city success.
>> The incubation
addresses many of the gaps that have been identified in SME high failure rate.
These gaps include increasing the capabilities of the entrepreneur in terms of
soft skills, technical skills and business skills, business counseling, access
to affordable services and facilities, access to SME finance, better linkages
with both the academic community and industry, and quicker commercialization of
innovations.  
>>“This initiative is a public-private-partnership that builds
on existing efforts in building an ICT ecosystem to support entrepreneurs
towards turning ideas into scalable businesses. Such collaborations have proved
to give great results,” said Kenya ICT Board CEO, Paul Kukubo.
>>The incubation facility will have a mix of entrepreneurs in
the concept, early and mature stages. The companies to be considered will be
less than five-years old, offer ICT-oriented products and their offerings
should have an impact on Kenya’s social-economic environment.
>>“Our objective has been and will always be to stimulate
innovations and encourage entrepreneurship in Kenya, with the signing of this
contract with the Kenya ICT Board; we will be able to reach out to other parts
of the country, all grass root problems cannot be solved using ICT, but
innovation includes creating new more effective processes and we hope to play
our role in that. “We want to make sure that those we will incubate double
their turnover within three years,” said Sam Gichuru, the NaiLab, CEO
>>The pilot project will also see Kenya ICT
Board and Nailab establish collaborative relationship
with relevant organizations and institutions to drive the ICT agenda in the
country.
>> 
>> “It is important for
entrepreneurs to have other value addition other than just capital such as
industry knowledge and strong mentorship for their start-up. Establishing a
facility to give support services will enable the entrepreneurs get clarity in various
areas like target customers, approaches to reach them, infrastructure and how
to run their business successfully,” says Mr. Andrew Lewela, Project Manager,
BPO/ITes at the Kenya ICT Board.
>>A business
incubator avails young enterprises with an environment conducive to accelerate
business ideas by availing work spaces, business coaching and mentorship. The
Kenyan pilot model is looking at innovative ideas with business potential in
ICT.
>>“Our target has never been to have more “techies”
/programmers sitting in the space but to have them interact with the farmers,
health workers, teacher and matatu drivers and other relevant subsectors of the
economy, we need to understand their problems so that we can design market
driven solutions,” added Sam Gichuru.
>>
>>
>>About NaiLab
>>NaiLab is a startup accelerator is a partnership between 1%
Club and Nailab ltd ,that offers a  three
to 12 months entrepreneurship program with focus on growing innovative
technology driven ideas, this is done by providing business advice, technical
training and support, professional mentoring and coaching, access to market,
strategic partnership and most important investors.
>>The NaiLab focuses on early stage business ideas that are
likely to have a large social and economic impact, are highly scalable, require
minimum investments to prototype and have a strong value proposition.
>>About Kenya ICT Board
>>Established as a state corporation in 2007, the Kenya ICT
Board’s has been a champion and an active enabler for the adoption and
exploitation of ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and
infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment. This is in line with
making Kenya African premier ICT hub by 2030.
>> 
>>
>>
>>Regards,
>>Phyllis Nyambura
>>Communication Writer
>>Kenya ICT Board
>>
>>Telposta Towers, 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave
>>P.O. Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
>>t: + 254-020-2211960/62 | m: + 254 (0) 789396433 | e: pnyambura at ict.go.ke
>>
>>Visit: www.ict.go.ke
>>Become a fan: www.facebook.com/kenyaictboard
>>Follow us on twitter: @kenyaICTboard
>>---------------------
>>Our Vision: Kenya becomes a top 10 ICT hub
>>
>>Our Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for 
socio economic enrichment
>>
>>Our Quality Policy: Kenya ICT Board is committed to 
consistently deliver quality ICT services and manage projects that 
support the growth of Information and Communication Technology, to 
satisfy the needs and expectations of customers.
>>Kenya ICT Board shall comply with all requirements and continually 
improve the effectiveness of the Quality Management System. Kenya ICT 
Board leadership shall establish and review quality objectives in line 
with this policy and ensure commitment of all employees. 
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>The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform 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.
>
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