[kictanet] Government extends financing for ICT incubation

Fri Jan 25 16:32:07 EAT 2013

Well done to Sam and team...thanks GoK/ICT Board for the well directed
support !

On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 6:23 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
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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.
>

-- 
Muthoni

My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/
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