Denis Opudo
Tom Jackson is the co-founder of Disrupt Africa, a company that deals with research and news surrounding Africa n tech ecosystem. Entrepreneurs interested in obtaining business news for Africa and Africans in Diaspora can Sign up for the AFKInsider newsletter. The Kigali Africa Tech Summit contributed by assembling the “taskforce” required for sustainable growth of tech sector in Africa. The pace of tech startups development in the continent can be improved by handling connectivity market sizes and funding challenges. The concluded Summit opened the door for improvement of Africa tech startups.
The host country (Rwanda) has made progress by providing solutions for real-life problems in the sector. Startups like TLcom contributes large funds develop tech startups. The Summit Panelist accepted that startups are usually not prepared for the funding process. Some participants begin to source for back up at early stages. Angel investors and more linkages are encouraged to provide financial support to upcoming tech startups. AFKInsider’s Tom Jackson also learned obstacles underpinning the growth of tech startups across the continent. He also suggested the need for establishing taskforce that will support tech growth.
According to the director of operations at Kenya’s Moringa School, Stacey Ondimu, taskforce should come out to tap talents in Africa’s tech institutions. Chief strategy officer Wambui Kinya Andela noted that Africa is endorsed by human capital which should be harnessed. She emphasized that reshaping the global view must be back with the talent lineage. Software product manager at Fenix International, Amy Robinson said that software engineering has become simple to pursue. He added that an individual will only require the computer, space, and internet connection to invent many things. However, funding remains the greatest bottleneck for tech development since most startups do not where the funds will come from.
The nature of innovation has changed from focusing on job creation to solution provision for problems facing the society. Space mobility is also a key concept for tech growth which needs to be prioritized. For instance, Rwanda’s Yego Moto integrates informal market in taxi industry to modern era via the help of tech startup. Karanvir Singh, the Managing director noted that entrepreneurs and individual have started to reap heavily from tech innovations. The director of strategy and operations at Carnegie Mellon University Africa, Crystal Rugege noted great opportunities ahead. He noted further that Africans are not in the position to gain from the great opportunities provided by the tech startups.
The primary factor holding the continent back is internet access. The panelists from the Liquid Telecom, Facebook and BRCK pointed out that cost of internet is too expensive in the continent. Good news for African tech startups is the free internet connection in the near future.
