Thanks for this, it's an interesting discussion. How do all these different incubators, labs, entrepreneurship schemes and open spaces that are emerging in Kenya fit together coherently....

On this subject, I thought I'd point out the launch of the Infodev/DFID/Hivos report on the ICT SME Sector taking place in Nairobi next week (18th Feb).

From my brief reading, this report is very much setting out the future agenda for these donors on small ICT business development, so it might be of interest, and perhaps an appropriate platform to raise these issues for debate?

http://www.infodev.org/en/Article.673.html (outline is included below)

Thanks
Chris

-- 
Christopher Foster
PhD Researcher, Centre for Development Informatics (CDI)
University of Manchester, UK 
Skype: cgfoster


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ICT in East Africa - Report Launch
East Africa ICT SME Report Launch at World Bank, Nairobi
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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are poised to play a significant role in the next phase of ICT industry growth in East Africa. To assess the market and identify opportunities infoDev, UKaid and Hivos conducted a detailed on-the-ground study of the ICT SME landscape in East Africa. This study performed by the Excelsior Firm, engaged over 100 policy makers, investors, academics, donors and entrepreneurs.
report Launch
 

Sign up to attend in person, or online, at eastafricaict.eventbrite.com

Please join us on February 18th for the launch of our report on the East African ICT Sector: Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a Business Engine for SMEs. This event will be held at the World Bank Offices in Upper Hill Nairobi on 18 February from 10:00am to 12:00pm. We will be presenting the report and hosting a question and answer session with the project team and donor communities.

 
Background
 
The information and communications technology (ICT) sector has been the major driver of economic growth in East Africa over the last decade growing on average by as much as 40%. To date, growth has largely come from world-class innovation by large multinational and local enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are poised to play a bigger role in the next phase of industry growth. However, they must overcome a multitude of system-wide challenges in order for them to succeed in the marketplace.
 
To understand the interventions required, a consortium comprised of members from infoDev, UKaid and Hivos conducted a detailed on-the-ground study of the ICT SME landscape in East Africa. This study performed by the Excelsior Firm, a US and Africa based advisory firm, engaged over 100 policy makers, investors, academics, donors and entrepreneurs.
 
The findings suggest that the vision of a robust and dynamic ICT sector driven by SMEs that create jobs and world-class innovation is possible, and the likelihood of this outcome can be improved with a few targeted interventions. The five proposed interventions consist of the development of a fully connected SME network, filling the skills gap in advanced business and technical knowledge, providing start up and early stage funding for companies, enabling job creation for knowledge workers and upgrading the business environment. Together these interventions form the components of a potential East African ICT Business Engine that could boost performance, not only within the ICT sector, as well as continue to expand the economic development of the region.
 
We would like to sincerely thank the over 100 entrepreneurs, ICT professionals, academics and experts who participated in interviews, workshops and numerous discussions over the past 3 months. We appreciate their dedication to the advancement of the ICT sector in East Africa and their invaluable contributions to this report.

Full Report

Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a Business Engine for SMEs


Executive Summary

Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a Business Engine for SMEs - Exec Summary


 



On 07/02/11 17:18, McTim wrote: 
On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 4:18 PM, John Kieti <jkieti@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks McTim for good insights
I still think it is too early to conclude though. Consider the following :-

Strathmore - am not sure they have had time to graduate any incubatee as yet
(any updates?)
NaiLab has not taken off as yet. Their space (on the 4th floor of Bishop
Magua house?) is still an empty hall.
mLab (infoDev, iHub, UoN, Web Foundation, eMobilis) is still at infancy.
Currently building out on the empty space on the 3rd flr of Bishop Magua
House.
ictpark.com (Any updates on some graduates will help)
KIRDI - (Any updates on some graduates will help)

Perhaps you mean that the above and other incubation programs are founded on
wrong premises.

no, I just mean that we seem to have several, so questioning the need
for more at this point.