<font face="georgia,serif">+1 Francis.<br><br>Infact my understanding is that Demo Africa is just that. This isn't about judging for competition's sake. The 'judges' are investors and companies looking for new products and services that already have traction or have a huge potential for traction.<br>
<br>The last few years have been good for awareness and we have gained a reputation as an innovation hub. However the pipeline now needs to move towards actualizing these ideas into viable, bankable business models. <br><br>
Demo Africa seeks to fill part of the gap.<br><br>Harry/Brian, hope I haven't put my foot in my mouth...<br><br>Ali Hussein<br></font><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 1:51 PM, Francis Hook <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:francis.hook@gmail.com" target="_blank">francis.hook@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">I am keen to know to what extent innovators will leverage OSS as they<br>
make their pitches.<br>
<br>
I hope we will not see technology for technology's sake kind of<br>
innovations. We've seen some very sexy ideas develop over the years<br>
but they do not really solve real problems or are very hard to<br>
monetise.<br>
<br>
It would also be nice if we could hear of experiences of local<br>
developers/innovators in terms of getting funding for their start ups,<br>
how their ideas get an audience (and what reactions they get) etc. I<br>
gather there is a degree of wariness when it comes to showcasing ideas<br>
and the fear that players with big pockets will take it and run with<br>
it (because they can afford to) or shoot it down because it could<br>
disrupt existing business models (e.g. cross network shared mobile<br>
money platforms...).<br>
<br>
We've also heard that techies are just that - and have bright ideas<br>
but are not good sales people or any good in biz devt. To what<br>
extent does DEMO address this issue?<br>
<div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
On 17 September 2012 00:47, Grace Githaiga <<a href="mailto:ggithaiga@hotmail.com">ggithaiga@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> IN SUMMARY<br>
><br>
> Demo Africa director Harry Hare said the event, the first to be held in<br>
> Africa, presents a good chance for local innovators to move their businesses<br>
> to the next level.<br>
> Over the last five years, innovators at DEMO US have received about Sh297<br>
> billion in business capital.<br>
> Microsoft, which is sponsoring the event together with Nokia and other<br>
> multinationals, said that the partnership is one of the best activities they<br>
> have done because it will help accelerate success of entrepreneurs and<br>
> start-ups in Africa.<br>
> <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Top+brains+to+entice+global+investors/-/1006/1509036/-/ntbwhpz/-/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Top+brains+to+entice+global+investors/-/1006/1509036/-/ntbwhpz/-/index.html</a><br>
><br>
><br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font size="4"><b><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif"">Ali
Hussein</span></b></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font size="4"> </font></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif"">Twitter: @AliHKassim</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif"">Skype: abu-jomo</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"></span></p>
<span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif""></span><br>