We need to get serious about certain issues like wanting to keep things small and cute, WiPro runs a graduate academy that hosts over 18,000 people a year and only employ 1,200. This is the level of engagement we need to aspire for not tiny little over funded projects. It is foolhardy to say that the iHub should be feed and blotted rather than expanded to serve and reach more. It would be like Henry Ford deciding to make a single Ford Model T or Bill Gates developing DOS and using it alone in their garage. If you have some time search on google about scaling and franchising as it might help you appreciate the benefit of getting out of your box and comfort zone and look at how you can have an effect on the larger population. I have said it again this it the thinking of Maria Antoinette, I do not want to be beheaded for refusing to get out of the box. The iHub is a prototype keeping it under wraps is a disservice to the Nation. From Liko's comments I know understand why he offered to give a presentation at AITEC in Nairobi in 2010 and the he did not show leaving many of us disappointed, worst of all you did not have the courtesy to notify the organisers. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Mon, 7 February, 2011 22:55:10 Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICT incubator - Expressions of interest I think the ihub is way ahead on this one and it should be supported ... instead of copied ... a y combinator like model would work very well. It would take care of issues like busfare, living expenses etc etc On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 10:50 PM, McTim <dogwallah@gmail.com> wrote: a related news item:
http://www.fastcompany.com/1724774/afrilabs-links-startup-incubators-tech-co...
-- Cheers,
McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 8:18 PM, John Kieti <jkieti@gmail.com> wrote:
Chris, That sounds like a useful forum for Listers interested in the economic future of ICT in the region. I like the thought of initiatives coherently fitting together, as it should be more of collaboration than competition (not that competition I bad for raising standards). Thanks
On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 5:13 PM, Chris Foster <cgfoster@gmail.com> wrote:
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
======= ICT in East Africa - Report Launch East Africa ICT SME Report Launch at World Bank, Nairobi ======= 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.
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