[kictanet] Government extends financing for ICT incubation

robert yawe robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
Mon Jan 28 09:44:04 EAT 2013 

Hi Sam,

Sorry I could not make your weekend but I am sure I will make your week, here is the Amen you requested, I did not respond on Friday because soon after making my cynical post Liko of PesaPal/Verviant/ticketsasa called me to update me on what you are doing at Nailab, he did it in the most civilised way with no threats.  

After my long telephone conversation with Liko I had to go off to Strathmore's iBizAfrica http://www.ibizafrica.co.ke/   where I was taking part as a panelist on their "Pitch Friday" incubator applicants presentation which I have been participating in every last Friday of the month for the past number of months (more than 6).

Sam, we need regular updates on what is happening with some of this initiatives and heed the teaching of my high school mathematics teacher who kept reminding us not to hide our light under a bushel an issue that we instinctively do as Kenyans, might have something to do with us being British.  I am sure many on this forum, including the laggards, have no idea what it is that goes on at Nailab so we use the traditional African way of finding out which is to throw a stone over the fence and wait for a response such as this one.

As I have indicated above the issue is not peculiar to you but is a national epidemic, KICT Board spent over 150 million on incubation type initiatives but since they have never made the efficacy available to us that is money done the drain,  Dr. Ndemo has done a lot as relates to the advance technology in the country but he keeps this gains buried until he is constantly whacked on head when he then comes out with all guns blazing, I hope after he goes back to tend his banana's soon he will spend the time between planting and harvesting writing a couple of books on his achievements after which I hope he will tour the counties, universities, primary and secondary schools giving talks on the same.

If you require my involvement, which is the best way to keep me from throwing stones from across the fence, I am more than willing to give my time and resources which is something I have been doing for many years.  I have provided incubation for startup's over the past 10 plus years both in technology and non-technology industries and whenever the opportunity has presented itself I have shared my experiences. 

Regards


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


Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696


________________________________
 From: Sam Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com>
To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Friday, 25 January 2013, 12:55
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Government extends financing for ICT incubation
 

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.
>
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>Congratulations Sam and the Nailab team.
>
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>Kind regards,
>
>
>Muchiri Nyaggah | LEAD FELLOW, CODE4KENYA
>@muchiri
>Cell: +254 722 506400
>Skype: mrmuchiri
>WWW.CODE4KENYA.ORG
>
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>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. 
>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>kictanet mailing list
>>>>>>kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
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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.
>>>>>>
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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.
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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.
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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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>>
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-- 
Warm Regards,
------------------------
Sam Gichuru



twitter: | @samgichuru
Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
Facebook: | 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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