Safaricom, Strathmore University Launch ICT Innovation Centres

June 19th, 2014…… Leading Integrated Telecommunications Service ProviderSafaricom in partnership with Strathmore University has launched two centres of excellence for Telecommunication, Innovation and Development in the faculty of Information Technology at Strathmore University.

The first Centre aptly named “@iLabAfrica” is a Centre of Excellence in ICT Innovation and Development set up in January 2011. It was established to address the Millennium Development Goals and to contribute toward Kenya’s Vision 2030. It is an independent entity in the Faculty of Information Technology at Strathmore University.

Safaricom has so far invested Ksh.30 million in funding the @iLabAfrica Centre that is used to train the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs in the ICT sector.

The second Centre, the @iBizAfrica, is a Centre for Business Innovation that is managed by @iLabAfrica based at the same University.

@iLabAfrica Director Dr Joseph Sevilla said: “The @iBiz Centre provides an incubation space and a variety of programmes for young entrepreneurs. Apart from providing physical facilities, Internet access and a workspace environment, its programmes include business, marketing and legal mentorship of its members.”

He added that there are two international resident start-ups and two investment companies with long term agreements to work with @iBizAfrica residents.

The research Centre @iLabAfrica is involved in interdisciplinary research, students’ engagement, collaboration with government, industry and other funding agencies/partners.

Since January 2014 the facility has held 20 Pitch Fridays where start-ups looking to be incubated share their presentation and requirements to a panel.

“The Start-ups and solutions developed in this Centre will have a great impact in the way people transact business. In the past five years or so, we have seen an upsurge in the number of Start-ups  that provide solutions and espouse our people’s ingenuity,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.

Collymore added that there has been a pull of donors who have shown interest in funding start-ups from the @iLabAfrica. Since inception, 36 start-ups have been launched from @iBizAfrica.

Health-e-Net, which is one of the start-ups, has raised USD 100,000 (Kshs.879, 000) in funding and is providing health information to many of its clientele.

“These start-ups continue to provide needed solutions to county and national governments, corporates and the NGO sector,” Collymore said.

“More needs to be done in addressing the challenge of funding for startups. However I would like to thank private organizations such as Safaricom, Samsung and Ericsson for its efforts in growing the ICT sector and investing in our youth,” said ICT Cabinet Secretary Dr, Fred Matiangi.

He added that private sector business alone will not be enough to grow the ICT sector and that the government will need to make a deliberate effort to put public sector resources into developing innovation. One way of doing that would be to ‘employ’ tech startups to work on government projects.

The Launch of the two Centres marks a significant turning point for the ICT sector in the country since the industry is gearing up for a robust Telecommunications business and market growth not only in the country but in the region and continent as a whole.

June 19th, 2014…… Leading Integrated Telecommunications Service ProviderSafaricom in partnership with Strathmore University has launched two centres of excellence for Telecommunication, Innovation and Development in the faculty of Information Technology at Strathmore University.

The first Centre aptly named “@iLabAfrica” is a Centre of Excellence in ICT Innovation and Development set up in January 2011. It was established to address the Millennium Development Goals and to contribute toward Kenya’s Vision 2030. It is an independent entity in the Faculty of Information Technology at Strathmore University.

Safaricom has so far invested Ksh.30 million in funding the @iLabAfrica Centre that is used to train the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs in the ICT sector.

The second Centre, the @iBizAfrica, is a Centre for Business Innovation that is managed by @iLabAfrica based at the same University.

@iLabAfrica Director Dr Joseph Sevilla said: “The @iBiz Centre provides an incubation space and a variety of programmes for young entrepreneurs. Apart from providing physical facilities, Internet access and a workspace environment, its programmes include business, marketing and legal mentorship of its members.”

He added that there are two international resident start-ups and two investment companies with long term agreements to work with @iBizAfrica residents.

The research Centre @iLabAfrica is involved in interdisciplinary research, students’ engagement, collaboration with government, industry and other funding agencies/partners.

Since January 2014 the facility has held 20 Pitch Fridays where start-ups looking to be incubated share their presentation and requirements to a panel.

“The Start-ups and solutions developed in this Centre will have a great impact in the way people transact business. In the past five years or so, we have seen an upsurge in the number of Start-ups  that provide solutions and espouse our people’s ingenuity,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.

Collymore added that there has been a pull of donors who have shown interest in funding start-ups from the @iLabAfrica. Since inception, 36 start-ups have been launched from @iBizAfrica.

Health-e-Net, which is one of the start-ups, has raised USD 100,000 (Kshs.879, 000) in funding and is providing health information to many of its clientele.

“These start-ups continue to provide needed solutions to county and national governments, corporates and the NGO sector,” Collymore said.

“More needs to be done in addressing the challenge of funding for startups. However I would like to thank private organizations such as Safaricom, Samsung and Ericsson for its efforts in growing the ICT sector and investing in our youth,” said ICT Cabinet Secretary Dr, Fred Matiangi.

He added that private sector business alone will not be enough to grow the ICT sector and that the government will need to make a deliberate effort to put public sector resources into developing innovation. One way of doing that would be to ‘employ’ tech startups to work on government projects.

The Launch of the two Centres marks a significant turning point for the ICT sector in the country since the industry is gearing up for a robust Telecommunications business and market growth not only in the country but in the region and continent as a whole.