Latest updates on technology and innovation trends in Africa

Popular tags: All Tanzania Startups Innovation Mobile
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Semi-finalists of the Pivot East 2015 has been announced for different categories has been announced and we are following closely the tweets #PIVOTEast
Learnings from Alban James CEO and founder Apex Media,  event management startup and learnings from Tyler Bosmeny CEO of clever during the Y-Combinator and Stanford Entrepreneurship Program.

Day 7 of Buni Entrepreneurship Bootcamp started by watching the video by Tyler Bosmeny CEO of Clever. The video took us to the discussion on which strategies African startups should adopt for sales and marketing.
African startups usually spend a lot of time and resources building great products and spend a little time getting users feedback and strategizing on market entrance. The wrong strategies on the market entrance are what makes most of the startups (products) to die at very early stages of their life cycle. 
The value of innovation is very high for the new startup compared to the companies already existing in the market hence the need to market and push more on sales for your product become inevitable. 

 Resources
 More resources to be shared....
The Learnings from Nisha Ligon founder Ubongo Kids and learnings from Keith Rabois, PayPal  during the Y-Combinator & Stanford University entrepreneurship program. 


Founders are everyone bosses and they always get paid last - Nisha Ligon
Choose passion and drive over CV on building your Startup teams - Nisha Ligon
One of the Ubongo Kids TV segments which teach kids in primary school the basics of mathematics in Swahili language. 

Resources
More resources to be shared











Resources




The learnings from Adora Cheung co-founder Homejoy and Brian Paul co-founder Fast & Fresh, Tanzania first start up to delivery groceries by ordering online.

Day 4 of Buni Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Started by listening to Adora Cheung talk at Stanford University on "Building Products, Talking to users and Growing". The talk was about the journey of Homejoy and the key things to consider on building service delivery startups. 
3 years of going back and forth, pivoting several times and trying out different techniques is what made Homejoy to reach where they are today. 


 Understanding the process of how things work at the lowest level of operations is crucial to the startup owners and new co-founders. Brian Paul co-founder Fast & Fresh, explain the days he used to wake up at 4:00 am in the morning and go to the local market and buy groceries ready to prepare, pack them and deliver them to the customers himself. 

 Adora explains how they had to send one of their team members to work to the cleaning company and understand how the cleaning process work. 
Resources









Happening now at Buni Hub, Dar es Salaam Technology Hub live stream of Google I/O 2015. Buni Hub in partnership with Vodacom Tanzania organizing the live stream session for developers to watch in real time what is happening at the world largest tech event happening now in San Francisco...


Google Photos App is here...

Google stunts are just getting warmed up 







Earlier Today...

Vodacom Tanzania and Buni organizing the live stream session live from the hub.


Learnings from Kevin Hale and Michael Kimollo Co- Founder Soka App, Startup which provides information about Tanzania football league. 


 Day 3 of Buni Hub Entrepreneurship Bootcamp started by listening to the talk by Kevin Hale on "How to build products that users love". Understanding the need of the users and customers is crucial in building a great products. We reflected on the role of the co-founder on building an emotional connection between their products and users. Constantly getting customer feedback while developing your product is a necessity. You are the marriage counselor of your product and your customers.

 The challenge facing most of the African products is going live with unfinished "raw" products, although there was a lot of discussion on how to balance between releasing the Beta version of your product, it was not very clear when is the right time for you to go out with your product? We all agree it is critical for your product to have a good first impression. 

 You want occasionally to ignite users conversation about your products  by releasing a new innovative feature or by coming up with a strategy to promote user engagement with the current features of your product. 
What separates good products from great ones? The first question Michael Kimollo asked to the audience. If you don't understand your product don't expect users to understand it. Create something you yourself love and appreciate, you can only do this by wearing the shoes of the users. 

 "Don't just introduce new features on your product for the sake of adding features" Michael Kimollo

 Resources:

 Michael's Presentation @micka_mwamba 






learnings from Sam Altman and Time Tickets, African digital ticketing and reservation startup.
Day 2 of Buni Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is about Teams & Execution. How to develop successful teams for African Startups. The day starts  by watching the talk given by Sam Altman during the Stanford University entrepreneurship session.

Our discussion focuses more on African perspective, our culture values and social influences, can your friend be your co-founder? if yes, what kind of measures co-founders need to put into consideration before choosing their partners. How to hire or recruit great people for your startups? Do the local universities provide enough skills for local startups to hire from them? Where to get the right people for our startups? When is the right time to drop someone who is not productive in the team? How do you measure productivity?

 The second session of the day is facilitated by TiME tickets a Tanzania Startup with their mobile application for ticketing and reservation. Their team has been together throughout the journey up to their recent success. The learnings from their team include;  the challenges of team formation, building shared vision for startups, maintaining team discipline  and how to nurture commitment among co-founders.


Execution is also an important part of the discussion, African startups are working with minimum resources possible and with unsupportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. What is like to be an African startup CEO? What are the most important qualities you should possess? What are things to consider as a CEO when you are building a new product in Africa? Product based startups VS service based startup, which is a practical option to start with for African startups?  Management of funds and resources, maintaining startup momentum and essentialism, what does this mean to African startup CEO? You can download Time Tickets app from here.


Day 2 Resources:

Samuel Masinde "Doer not A dreamer"
Sam Altman "Team & Execution"
Sam Altman Slide Deck




As part of the Buni Entrepreneurship Bootcamp at Buni hub. We will be sharing the resources, video, articles and talks through this website. You can catch up and read recaps of things happening during the Bootcamp from this blog.

 Day1: #BuniEntrepreneurshipBootcamp is all about building successful startups in Africa focusing on individual startups and the ecosystem in general. The video by Sam Altman and Dustin Moskovitz on how to start a startup will challenge the attendees of the Bootcamp on how they view the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa. Do we share the same challenges facing startups in developed countries? How can we establish successful startups by solving local problems and adding value to existing systems?

 Getting the right idea, team  and solving real problems facing the continent has been one of the challenges facing most of the African tech startups. Getting the right team to form successful startups is an obstacle. The article by Ndubuisi Ekekwe on Havard Business Review, explains on methods that African startups needs to apply to hire and keep talented individuals.

 Day 1 guest, Co-Founder of Kwetu Chalks, Amiri Hassan who will be sharing his experience as an African entrepreneurs on what it takes to build successful startups. Kwetu Chalks is the only startup which manufacture Chalks at small scale in Tanzania. Most of the chalks are being imported from abroad. How did he come up with this idea? What motivated him to establish his small manufacturing plant? What are the challenges he had to face in the process?  

The lifecycle of the African startup is always considered to be short and most startups that are considered to be doing fine, they are doing fine in the media. Is hype killing African startups? You can read the article from Mbwana Alliy about hype in the startup ecosystem in Africa, Kenyan perspective. Are we really growing? What is the role of the grassroots innovation initiatives on the growth of the startup ecosystem in Africa? Is the ecosystem balanced? What is missing and how can we replace it?

 Do you believe Africa will never produce Facebook, Groupon, Zynga or Google as Mfonobong Nsehe wrote an article in Forbes magazine?



Resources:
Join KINU for week long Android Developer training with Denis Minja, certified eMobilis Android Developer. The workshop will be held over 5 days, from October 28th to November 1st, from 9 am to 3 pm. 

The first three days of the training will focus on building a functional application, that utilizes a range of Android features. The following two days will be used to allow participants to work on their own ideas for apps with the trainers, through to posting them in the app store. 

The workshop will cover the development process of creating Android applications, including:
- Development environment
- User interfaces
- Intents and services 
- Android SQLite and database

The workshop will cost 75,000/- Tshs, payable in cash at Kinu either prior to the first day of the event.

Additional learning resources: 
- Android’s web site at http://www.android.com/ 
- Eclipse’s web site at www.eclipse.org 
- Videos on Android at http://www.youtube.com/user/androiddevelopers 
- Android Development Community http://www.anddev.org/


Sources 
The five most inspiring stories stand to win prizes of $25,000 each, and the winners will also have the opportunity to work with a Google champion to help them make their venture even more awesome.
Google launched 'Africa Connected. Success stories powered by the web.'  This is an initiative with the aim of establishing a platform to drive the largest collection of inspiring stories about ventures established by Africans using the power of the web.


An example is Asurf who learned film making using Google Search and YouTube.  Watch his story and be inspired.Some other tr AfriNolly. Several more amazing stories from across the continent on the 
website: www.africaconnected.com.


Get involved?
1.    If you have an amazing story to tell yourself, or know someone that does, we're collecting submissions until October 31, 2013.  The top 5 awe inspiring stories will win $25,000 each from Google to use to further grow their impact.
2.    You may also join the  community on Google+ to follow the discussion across Africa. Please use hashtag #AfricaConnected when posting.


We’re excited about this initiative and can’t wait to hear many more great stories.
 Dar es Salaam Google Technology User Group


ICANN’s Durban meeting will continue through Thursday, July 18.

The first group of Internet Registries and Registrars has signed new agreements with ICANN, bringing new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) into the home stretch of going live online.



“This is a huge accomplishment,” said Fadi Chehadé, ICANN President and CEO. “We can see the last mile before the first new TLD is activated in the Internet’s root.”

Chehadé made the comments during a ceremonial signing at the opening session of ICANN’s 47th Public Meeting in Durban, South Africa.

Three companies signed the Registry Agreement (RA) while five others signed the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA), including Registrars from Senegal, Australia, France and the U.S. 

Registries operate Top-Level Domains. Registrars are the entities through which domain names are registered.

The three registries applied for Top-Level Domain Names using language characters in Arabic, Chinese and Cyrillic.

During his remarks, Chehadé also acknowledged Nelson Mandela, the renowned former South African leader who is now hospitalized. Chehadé said Mandela’s philosophies should act as guiding principles in the Internet ecosystem.

“We must realize we are inherently interdependent and thus must learn to be conciliatory and Africa defines that, as does Madiba [Mandela’s clan name],” said Chehadé. “We need to maintain that Madiba spirit.”

Dr. Elham Ibrahim, the African Union’s Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy told the attendees, “The Internet is one of the greatest public gifts of the 20th century.”

“African domain names will bring financial, economic and sociocultural benefits to Africa,” said Ibrahim.

In referring to ICANN during a video address, Dr. Hamadoun Touré, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union, said there needs to be a “goal of working together by cultivating a relationship based on collaboration and cooperation.”

“In a fast moving, rapidly evolving environment there are not permanent or even long term solutions,” said Touré. “What works today will not necessarily work tomorrow.  We need open on-going dialogue.”

ICANN’s Durban meeting will continue through Thursday, July 18.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Create, complete and present collaborative computer programming projects livestreaming with colleagues from the top USA universities: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, University of California, Berkeley among others.

In Tanzania these event is going to be at  Buni Space
 COSTECH Building Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, 
Kijitonyama (Sayansi),
 on 14 July 2013
Register http://tzmithackathon.com/ and attend these Big event.
For more information please contact

George Machibya
+255757022731/+255786692790/+255786693474


Nii Quaynor will join ICANN CEO and Board Chair in Answering Journalists’ Questions at Durban News Conference

DURBAN, South Africa, July 10, 2013/ -- Dr. Nii Quaynor, often referred to as the “Father of the Internet in Africa,” will join ICANN CEO and President Fadi Chehadé (http://www.icann.org), Board Chair Dr. Stephen Crocker, and Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement for Africa Pierre Dandjinou at a news conference on Monday, 15 July - the first day of ICANN’s 47th public meeting in Durban, South Africa.
A recent inductee into the Internet Hall of Fame, Dr. Quaynor has spent two decades promoting the Internet’s growth across the African continent. He will answer questions about the expansion of the Internet in Africa and how increased online access is expanding business potential and information access across the region.

The news conference will also address ICANN’s role in Internet growth and its increased efforts to internationalize the organization.

In addition to taking questions on the global expansion of the Internet, the four will also answer questions on a variety of other ICANN related subjects, ranging from the new expansion of Domain Names to ICANN’s plans to increase its presence in Africa.

Journalists are also encouraged to attend the Welcome Ceremony and President’s Opening Session on Monday, 15 July at 0830.  Dr. Elham Ibrahim, the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy will be among the speakers. 

Press Release

BHARTI Airtel, a leading telecommunications service provider with operations in 20 countries across South Asia and Africa, has announced plans to launch the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone.
The new BlackBerry Z10 is the first smartphone based on the re-designed, re
engineered and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platform, giving customers a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience.
The BlackBerry Z10 smartphone is the fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone yet, and offers customers a smarter experience that continuously adapts to their needs.
The BlackBerry Z10 has already been launched in Nigeria and will become available from Airtel stores across Africa over the next few weeks. The new smartphone will be supported by Airtel's data bundles, designed specifically with the BlackBerry Z10 customer in mind.

DailyNews Tanzania.
Tanzania
MNH to Get New CT Scan Machine Coming Fiscal Year
THE government will purchase a new and modern CT scan machine for Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) this financial year, … see more »



 GENEVA, Switzerland, April 4, 2013/ -- The fourth annual African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF), organized by the Internet Society (http://www.internetsociety.org), will be held 3-5 September 2013 in Casablanca, Morocco.  A unique regional forum, AfPIF facilitates discussions on African Internet infrastructure challenges, including terrestrial capacity issues, national and regional Internet Exchange Point (IXP) development, local content development, measures to lower connectivity costs, and international peering. The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and New Technologies of Morocco has accorded his High Patronage on this event.

 The three-day program brings together key stakeholders, including Internet service and content providers, IXP operators, research and education networks, government network managers, regulators and policymakers to share experiences and advance peering and interconnection arrangements.  The theme of AfPIF 2013 is “Policy Implementation and the Regional Content Factor,” and the forum will address region-to-region policy, tapping into terrestrial cable potential and traffic management needs, as well as content issues that are critical components of transit deficits.

 “Nearly all peering and interconnection agreements are forged at regional and global peering forums such as AfPIF. We are pleased to offer this important event for the fourth consecutive year and provide an opportunity for the business and operational community to work together to augment Internet infrastructure and services in Africa,” said Dawit Bekele, Internet Society Regional Bureau Director for Africa. “AfPIF offers the ideal venue for discussions and ideas on how to implement more efficient and cost effective local, regional, and international interconnection and peering strategies.” 

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the Internet Society


 
Join MoMoDar on Monday, 8th April 2013 for Mobile Monday Dar event. This month we are going to discuss about the uses of ICT in education sector. Speakers will include:

1. Emanuel Feruzi: Lecture at IFM & EASTC
2. Faith Shimba: E-Learning specialist at COSTECH.
3. Joel S Mtebe: Lecture at UDSM & PhD Candidate at TUT
4. Loyola Students: Projects demonstration
The event will be held at the KINU space starting from 18:00 to 20:00.

Registration is required as seats are limited, so reserve yours quickly athttp://momodareducation.eventbrite.com/

Best Regards,
MoMoDar




What’s it all about?
This online science competition in partnership with CERN, LEGO, National Geographic and Scientific
American which is open to young people aged 13 to 18 from around the world – working as an individual
or in a team of up to 3. It offers students the chance to explore an area of science that they're
passionate about - and be in with a chance of winning life-changing prizes!

How do students take part?
Students have 3 months to come up with a winning idea and complete their project before the 30 April
deadline. All they need to do is visit www.googlesciencefair.com and register, then they can get
started. This year we’ve included a wealth of resources designed to help you engage your students in
the competition and science in the classroom.

Once in a lifetime prizes!
Prizes include scholarships from Google, a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands with
National Geographic Expeditions along with an experience at Google, CERN or LEGO. In addition, this
year there will be  a Science in Action prize award, sponsored by Scientific American, awarded to a top science
project that has shown positive, local community impact and the potential to scale in other parts of the
world. The public will have the chance to vote for the most Inspired Idea and the winner's’ school will be
acknowledged with a Celebrate the School Award

It would be awesome if you  could help  spread the word back to your former high schools, and let them know about the Google science fair, and that it's a platform for students passionate about science & technology to showcase their ideas and express themselves globally and put Tanzania on the map.

attached  are two PDF documents that you can forward to potential students, teachers and anyone interested.

Cheers!

Joachim ,Dar GTUG 
All the Dar- es-Salaam, Google technology users members who are aiming at developing their skills and improving the status of their start ups this is an opportunity for you.

 Google is offering startups $1,000 of credit to start building applications on Google App Engine. As many of you know, App Engine is a development platform that makes applications easy to write, simple to scale, and trivial to manage. Apply for App Engine for Startups at cloud.google.com/startups and use verification code: GDG-02.  Application deadline is March 31, 2013.

Joachim Mangilima, Dar GTUG





Join KINU on Monday, 11th March 2013 for Mobile Monday Dar. This month we are going to look at the impact of ICT on the Tanzanian entertainment industry. The discussion will focus on the intersection between technology and gaming, music and social media, in the Tanzanian context.
Speakers include:

1. Ilunga Khalifa/CPwaa: IT Adminstrator & Project Management and Bongoflava artist.
2. Rashid Shamte: Head of Group Strategy Six Telecoms.
3. Luca Neghesti: Entrepreneur, Founder of Bongo5 and Co-founder of KINU
4. Charles Matodane: Head of Value Added Services (VAS) & Internet at Vodacom
5. Hussein Mkwazi:  Final year student at IFM / part-time programer(Developed  Bao game)

The event will be held at the KINU space starting from 18:00 to 20:00
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
ICT and Entertainment

Monday, March 11, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EAT)