Techies Launch Assault on Content Market

“Some of the biggest challenges for developers is getting access to financial backing, equipment. There is also a large disconnect between the industry and our education systems and a lack of adequate mentorship in the industry,” said Conrad Akunga of iHub.

iHub represents growing conscience of the appeal of the content industry.

In recent weeks, several events attempting to inform Kenyan companies on how they can tap into the growth market that has seen international firms like Google, Microsoft and Cisco benefit were held, highlighting the increased interest in the field.

Last week, top executives of Safaricom and content providers such as Adtel, IMS, Cellulant and Symbiotic met to discuss how the mobile firm could leverage on content.

On Monday this week, the Kenya ICT Board announced a Sh2.4 million partnership with Google to raise awareness on the relevance of Internet in everyday life and encourage development of more local digital content.

“Through this partnership, we can educate Kenyans on the opportunities the Internet offers and that in the end we will see Kenya producing more local content and competing at a global level,” said Joseph Mucheru, regional lead for Sub-Saharan Africa at Google.

The Kenya ICT Board will bring together local content developers and IT professionals to explore the subject of content through bi-monthly events dubbed the Tandaa Symposium on Local Digital Content.

The symposiums, sponsored by Google, will bring together experts, entrepreneurs, business executives and civil society to explore how to produce more local content for consumption via mobile phones, digital TV and the Internet.

The events will train business owners, innovators and community groups and show them how to adopt digital technologies.

Intellectual property

“We aim to look into how communities can use emerging technologies to enable community voice, preserve our culture and bring together all the content that supports them in making informed and wise choice,” said Paul Kukubo, CEO of the Kenya ICT Board.

This morning, the University of Nairobi will host another event dubbed the 1% EVENT, which will “bring together innovators, young professionals, entrepreneurs and change-makers to invest their time, expertise, experience, talent, network and energy to work on new innovative approaches to international co-operation”.

The opening of iHub is anticipated to be the catalyst developers need to create solutions. “Kenyan developers face challenges such lack of advice on suitable business models for their products and services, lack of business skills to pitch their ideas and intellectual property rights,” said Ms Colaco.