[kictanet] Government extends financing for ICT incubation

Fri Jan 25 12:55:06 EAT 2013

Yawe,

Quick one:

I understand your skepticism but between August 2011 to date (17 months) we
have incubated total 20 companies, 10 of this are less than 3 months old.

1. Sematime - over 1000 Subscribers in less than 6 months, Revenue
generating, 1 founder and by the time they left Nailab he had about 4
employees
2. Myoder -  Two founders, Now a team of 6, positive cash flow
3. Ukall -  Team of 3, currently providing HR software to Senaca (over 6000
Security guards), KMV among others, positive cash flow.
4. Dumaworks - 2 months old, currently beta testing in Nakuru, signed up
1040 Users as of Monday and connected over 60 jobs, just closed their seed
round.
5. Mprep - Used by over 5000 students across the country, raised over
$70,000 seed funding, started with one Founder/CEO employee, currently
about 6 of them.

I think its working Yawe, and we will need people like you to believe so
that we can tap into your resources: Network, coaches & mentors and board
of advisor's to this start-ups...

Nailab is 18 months old, so we are a start-up that's helping start-ups...
While the money is extremely important, we will need industry leaders to
help steer us in the right direction... if I get an Aimen from Robert, I
will have a very good weekend. :)

Sam

Twitter @samgichuru

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 12:02 PM, Muchiri Nyaggah <muchiri at semacraft.com>wrote:

> I think this is a very good development. Many small businesses have
> benefited from incubators. These incubators just didn't look like Nailab,
> KEKOBI (remember them?) or iHub. Some business are incubated (unwittingly)
> by the employers of the entrepreneurs, very many by cybercafe owners as
> well as friends and family with a business address. Structured incubators
> are not for everyone and Nailab has always vetted those interested in
> joining so I'm certain 5 or so success stories are possible.
>
> Congratulations Sam and the Nailab team.
>
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Muchiri Nyaggah | LEAD FELLOW, CODE4KENYA
> @muchiri
> Cell: +254 722 506400
> Skype: mrmuchiri
> WWW.CODE4KENYA.ORG
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 11:42 AM, Evans Ikua <ikua.evans at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Muraya. how about the guy who has a great idea that has never been rolled
>> out anywhere, and they have no 3 years audited accounts, or even 1 year's?
>> I think we should just refine the vetting process so that we just get the
>> best projects with the best potential.
>> Think about all those guys coming from college with very great ideas. No
>> roll outs yet and no business experience.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 9:57 AM, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> How do we ensure a good number (say 5 of these startups) win some Go.Ke
>>> business at county levels and at the national level?
>>>
>>> How is the procurement law being revised to fund / allow local talent to
>>> thrive? This should be a very major campaign issue.
>>>
>>> Instead of asking start ups for 3 years of audited accounts why not ask
>>> for 3-5 references of sites deployed/ projects implemented?
>>>
>>>
>>>  On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 10:49 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>>  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
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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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>>>>
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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.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
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>>>>
>>>
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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.
>>>
>>> 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
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *----------------------------------------------------
>> Kind Regards,
>> Evans Ikua,*
>> lanetconsulting.com,
>> lpi-eastafrica.org,
>> ict-innovation.fossfa.net,
>> Skype: @ikuae
>> Cell: +254-722-955831
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/muchiri%40semacraft.com
>>
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> 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.
>>
>
>
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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.
>
> 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.
>

-- 
Warm Regards,
------------------------
Sam Gichuru

twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
Skype: Sam.gichuru
Cellphone: | +254-722-730565

Co-founder/ Director /Nailab Incubation
Location: | Nairobi
Website: | www.nailab.co.ke
twitter: | @thenailab
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