A paragraph
in a story ran last week in The Rwanda Focus titled, 'Technology won't find you
a husband' read thus, 'the world of geeks... is mainly populated by men, and it
is hard to find women interested in technology.
If you
believe the assertion, Hermione Way is obviously not one of those technology
shy women.
The 27-
year-old British national says her relationship with technology has shaped her
whole life, influencing her to start several initiatives using ICT to help
those around her.
Having
graduated with a degree in journalism, Way found her way to the USA where
having joined a media house she didn't find it hard to choose a news beat (an
area of specialization assigned to professional journalists) to cover.
"I
was technology reporter based in Silicon Valley, the home of the most famous
ICT innovation," says Way who has since abandoned mainstream journalism to
embark on a more focused calling, that of promoting start-ups in ICT for
business.
Six years of
reporting and a direct experience in the Silicon Valley didn't leave Way the
same person. She says as a journalist she noticed a trend in the growth of
entrepreneurship and startup culture in emerging markets.
"But
I also noticed a huge gap in coverage of these growing technology hubs- and I
was inspired to start the start-up world- an idea that could provide a platform
on which ICT startups can pitch their products to emerging markets," she
told The Rwanda Focus.
The
'Start-Up World' has seen her move continents trying to identify and promote
young innovators with brilliant ideas that have the potential to create the
next big thing after twitter or face-book. "I believe we can discover the
next Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg by providing a little help and
exposure to special start-ups," says Way.
Way and her
team was in Kigali last Week to oversee the start-up world pitching competition
in Kigali where they partnered with Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) to see
Rwanda take part in the competition for the first time.
But it's
mostly thanks to Rwanda's hard efforts in ICT promotion that to be one of 35
other cities that are taking part in the 'start up world' competition. "Though
Rwanda was the poorest country economically on our Startup World map, it has
been the richest in terms of promotion, press and excitement around the
event," noted Way.
Not easy
In
Rwanda, ten finalists were shortlisted to compete in the Start-up world Kigali.
These included Heheltd.com, campusolve.appspot.com, zilenciocreativo.com,
twihute.com, mahwiii.com, plusgreen.co.rw, guhaha.com and others.
According to
Way, one of the ten start-ups deemed to have the best innovation will be
sponsored to pitch at the grand finale to take place in Silicon Valley, USA in
2013. The victor would also stand to win prizes worth up to $37,000 with
opportunities of free Rackspace hosting and Echo real-time streams.
Most of all,
Rwanda's winner, even if they don't emerge victorious in the grand finale, will
have had a chance to have an experience in Silicon Valley where all known heavy
weights in technology have had their beginnings.
"Silicon
Valley is not just a place, it's a mentality - the brightest minds on the
planet go there to build their products. Everyone believes they too can be the
next Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs and they are building products that change
the world," noted Way. However, she notes that it's not an easy world for start-ups
in ICT.
"Building
a startup is not easy, many people dream of having their own business, but it's
the ones who can execute their ideas who turn them into a reality. My biggest
advice is just start - if you have access to a laptop and an internet
connection there's no reason why you can't build the next Facebook or
Apple," she says.
And Way
expresses hope in what she was able to see in Rwanda saying that the country is
already putting itself on the global startup map as with a government which
supports entrepreneurship and technology - co-working spaces like K-Lab which
help young people with ideas to turn them into tangible products.
"Africa
is the new hotbed for innovation and Rwanda is a leader in recognizing the need
to support new ideas and young innovators to advance," she noted. Though
running an idea largely positive and full of hope for African talent, there are
those who are suspicious of Way's intentions probably thinking she might be
scouting for Africa's bright brains to 'steal' them as a journalist put it
during a press conference Way addressed last week.
"While
they could be the stars in Africa, trust me they will be learners in a place
like Silicon Valley where the likes of Mark Zuckerberg emerged and we hope
winners from Africa can use the chance to learn and come back to transform
their communities," she advised.
Start-Up
world is an international initiative run by the 'The next web.com' based in
California; whose aim is to promote early stage businesses, entrepreneurship
and technology through global competitions to give a platform for the world's
most innovative ideas.