Entering Kenya's mobile market
As often in Africa, Kenya is a “mobile first” nation. The main focus of any tech-centric startup in Africa can often be found to revolve around the growing mobile market. Let us explore why: Kenya’s mobile market Kenya is a land of 44.0 million people. Of that population, 30.4 million have access to a mobile […]
BRICS series #2: B2B-Center, a successful B2B marketplace from Russia
To celebrate the 6th BRICS Summit, we’re continuing our showcase of top startups from each country with Russia’s B2B-Center, an online procurement services marketplace. But first, a few words on Russia as a market and as a startup scene. Russia’s digital landscape & startup scene: local players rule Being the biggest country and population in Europe, […]
BRICS series #1: how Brazil's Hotel Urbano dominates the online hospitality industry
The 6th BRICS summit has closed its doors last week, so we feel it is a good timing to showcase a few big startups from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and we’ll start with Brazil’s Hotel Urbano. The 5 countries were actually four when the concept of BRIC (minus South Africa) was coined back […]
Kenya connectors & events of 2014
Connectors: Eric Hersman/ Mbwana Alliy/ Martin Obuya/ Brian Muthiora/ Pelle Braendgaard/ Eran Feinstein/ Njeri Chelimo/ Gainluco Iazzolino Events: IPO 48 Organizations: iHub Hear the words of any wizened real estate agent, ‘Location, Location, Location’. Similarly in today’s world, where you are placed in the giant ecosystem of startups, VCs and accelerators plays a huge role in how valuable […]
How we can build Kenyan entrepreneurship
How can Kenyan entrepreneurship be built? How can Kenya grow its startup ecosystem and its economy? We have envisioned potential endeavors and proposals that can build the future of Kenya with global startups through minimal but efficiently placed resources. Turn the entrepreneurial youth into people able to understand and develop code Sustain grassroots initiatives such as Nairobi Dev School to […]
The top 4 Kenyan Startups to look out for
In this article, we will introduce 4 of the most promising Kenyan startups from the Savannah Fund, a fund that invests in startups from the East African community. Founded by Mbwana Alliy, the Savannah Fund operating from Nairobi currently has 9 startups in portfolio and can be found here. #1 – Zatiti, “Powering mobile e-commerce” Zatitti […]
Starting a Business in Kenya: Market Analysis
Facts (as of 2012): GDP – USD$40 billion GDP growth – 4.6% GDP breakdown – Services: 61% / Industry: 14.8%/ Agriculture: 24.2% Inflation rate – 7.4% (2014) Pros: Highly beneficial geographical position/ Regional financial centre/ Forthcoming monetary union/ Well-educated labor/ Growing government support/ Strong mobile market/ Diversified economy/ Highly social community/ Strong diaspora Cons: Security issues/ High […]
The Potentials & Futures of Iran
How can Iran grow its startup ecosystem and its economy? Working with our Iran-based correspondent Natalie Corpuroglu, we have envisioned potential endeavors and proposals that could help build global startups with minimal resources. Tap into the diaspora’s wealth and networks to scale globally “There is a growing recognition that transnational communities facilitate increased trade, investment and […]
Startup books #1: How Asia Works, by Joe Studwell
We at Innovation is Everywhere are fans of history and economics, as we try during our travels to see why some countries succeed in developing their economic strengths and reap benefits in terms of growth, wealth and global influence. How Asia Works – Success and Failure in the World’s most dynamic region, by Joe Studwell (Amazon), […]
BRICS series #5: Remitix, a South African solution for cheaper remittances
Remittances are a huge market startups are entering, although most are stealth players such as South Africa Remitix. I’ve met their CCO, Ernst Janse van Rensburg, back in May 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria, during the Mobile West Africa conference. Remittances and their high fees are an obvious target for startups in the emerging markets The rise […]
