Download - The African Renaissance 1
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The African Renaissance
How venture capital, web 2.0, mobile phones, and informal
markets are changing the face of entrepreneurship in Africa
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Copyright (c) Nii Simmonds
What I’m passionate about
Venture capital Web 2.0 & Technology Informal markets
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Can GREED save Africa?
December 10, 2007 Issue
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Why is venture capital hot now in Africa?
Fiscal discipline, and commodities Inflation is lower and debt ratings are getting
better This has led to bond offerings in the
international market. Ex, Ghana, Nigeria Diasporan's returning and bringing back
western management skills
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Which Venture capitalist firms are investing in Africa?
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Which sectors are ripe for investments?
Energy, Agribusiness, Infrastructure, Telecom, Media, Tourism, Health, and Stocks
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Business news coverage of African equities
Reuters Africa CNBC Africa Financial Times
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Web 2.0, Mobile phones and sustainable technologies in Africa
Some Statistics African Population 940 million Internet users of 44 Million or about 5%
penetration rate However, many people can access the internet from
their Mobile phone By the end of 2009, 330 million Mobile phones in
Africa or 34% of Africans will own a mobile phone!
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The impact of the Mobile phone in Africa
Payment systems M-pesa, TxtnPay, BSL Limited
Commodities exchange Tradenet.biz (founded by Mark Davies of BusyInternet Ghana) is
allowing farmers in rural areas to communicate via text about latest prices
Has forced state-owned monopolies to privatize telecoms
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Web 2.0 & blogs
African sites have moved up the product life-cycle chain
Google sees Africa as an opportunity and is ramping headcount
Blogging is a powerful medium that is allowing and enabling many Africans to voice their opinion
Fiber optics and other broadband technologies are enabling better access to the net
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Web 2.0 sites
Courtesy of:
Erik Hersman (White African Blog)
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Sourc
e:
CTiA
Rep
ort
20
02
/03
Communications infrastructure in Africa
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Zanzibar
Malaba
EASSy Cable, Reliance telecom and other fiber networks
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The real wealth of Africa lies in the Informal markets What is an informal market?
In economics, the term informal economy (or second economy in the South African context) refers to all economic activities that fall outside the formal economy regulated by economic and legal institutions. It refers to the general market income category (or sector) wherein certain types of income and the means of their generation are "unregulated by the institutions of society, in a legal and social environment in which similar activities are regulated.
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Microfinance is great, but….
How great is Microfinance? Poverty reduction, economic relief
Kiva, MicroPlace Others
Is only for “micro” loans What if you are a small farmer who needs a 100k
equipment to harvest your produce?
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Mesofinance or Mesocapitalism is the new area for SME's
Using a co-op model I believe Mesofinance can be instituted well
Co-ops own their own equipment and have economies of scale Ex. Farming, skilled artisans, etc
Can access global capital
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Informal markets have ingenuity
There isn’t a Home Depot, Lowes, or Best Buy in the informal market. So what do they do? They make their own
products, what else!
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African ingenuity at it’s finest
Courtesy of:
Erik Hersman (Afrigadet blog)
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What I like about each sector
Venture capital Global capital is agnostic Don’t just focus on aid…lobby about smart aid
and venture capital Robert Zoelick
Web 2.0 & Technology Accountability – Ory Okolloh of Mzalendo.com valuation
Informal markets They have purchasing power when organized
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Copyright (c) Nii Simmonds
What I’m working on
African ebay called eNubia.com I blog about business, technology, venture
capital, and social entrepreneurship on Nubian Cheetah http://nubiancheetah.blogspot.com/
Other stuff…invest in one of my projects and maybe I’ll tell you!
Email: [email protected]