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<p class="Body1"><b style><span style="font-size:14pt">Kenya
ICT Board kicks off business plan training at Strathmore<span style> </span></span></b><b style><span style="font-size:14pt"></span></b></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>Business
strategy training for the Tandaa Digital Content Grant shortlisted applicants
is underway at Strathmore University. The training, which runs in batches from
January 23 - February 3, 2012, seeks to impart business knowledge to
shortlisted candidates from last year's Tandaa Digital Content Grant Call for
Proposals.</span></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>Understanding
how to write a business plan, price products and develop a market penetration
plan are some of the important business strategies that all entrepreneurs must
understand. But for many founders of start-up companies in Kenya, opportunities
to take courses to learn business strategy are few and far between. Time
constraints for busy business owners and the high cost of quality business
courses hinder many new entrepreneurs from taking such classes. But the value
is undeniable, as participants at the Business Plan training sponsored by the
Kenya ICT Board discovered. </span></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>"I've
learnt a lot," says Graham Muhunga of SMSVoices, "Having a good idea
doesn't mean you'll make money. I'm learning to think differently about our
business." Muhunga, who represents one of the companies that was
shortlisted for the Tandaa Digital Content Grant, finds that one of the valuable
things he has learnt is the importance of research and correctly identifying
the industry their business is actually in. </span></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>"Our
courses are designed to be interactive and hands-on," says Dr Monica
Kerrett, Program Director for the project at Strathmore. "Participants are
encouraged to talk about their business idea as a core part of the curriculum.
It has been refreshing to hear the participants share challenges and give each
other tips and feedback."</span></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>The Kenya
ICT Board announced the top 150 applicants to the Tandaa Digital Content Grant
Call for Proposals in September 2011. This is the second round of granting the
Kenya ICT Board is offering to fund development of digital content and services
in Kenya.</span></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>The Call
for Proposals for the second round of the Digital Content Grant focused on
ideas for solutions that use web and mobile technology. After selecting the top
ideas, the Kenya ICT Board is now exposing the entrepreneurs to essential
business strategies to help them design their business plans.<span style> </span>After submitting complete business plans, a
maximum of 40 finalists will be selected to receive grants of up to $50,000
each to develop their digital content products.</span></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>"In
the first round of the Tandaa Grant we received many good ideas from passionate
entrepreneurs," explains Kaburo Kobia, Project Manager for Local Digital
Content at the Kenya ICT Board, "But for many, the business side of the
proposals were not as strong." </span></p>
<p class="Body1"> </p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>In
response to the challenges applicants had with developing business plans, the
Kenya ICT Board introduced the training component to the Grant Call for
Proposal process.</span></p>
<p class="Body1"><span style>The Kenya
ICT Board hopes that the training will not only increase the quality of
proposals received but have a lasting impact on the applicants and equip them
with skills they need to successfully grow their business. <br></span></p><p class="Body1">ends<br><span style></span></p>
<br clear="all">Paul Kukubo<br>Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board<br>PO Box 27150 - 00100<br>Nairobi, Kenya<br><br>12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street<br><br>Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 <br>Fax: +254 20 2211962<br>
website: <a href="http://www.ict.go.ke">www.ict.go.ke</a><br>local content project: <a href="http://www.tandaa.co.ke">www.tandaa.co.ke</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tandaakenya">www.facebook.com/tandaakenya</a><br>
twitter:@tandaaKENYA<br>BPO Project: www. <a href="http://doitinkenya.co.ke">doitinkenya.co.ke</a><br>Digital Villages Project: <a href="http://www.pasha.co.ke">www.pasha.co.ke</a><br><br><br>personal contacts<br>_______________<br>
<br>Cell: + 254 717 180001<br><br><br>skype: kukubopaul<br>googletalk: pkukubo<br>personal blog: <a href="http://www.paulkukubo.co.ke">www.paulkukubo.co.ke</a><br>personal twitter: @pkukubo<br><br><br>____________________<br>
Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub<br><br>Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment <br>