Don't be a Non-Profit

Peter Haas, TED Fellow and founder of AIDG writes:

Bogo light, Tom’s Shoes, SKS Microfinance, there are plenty of examples of organizations that can scale quickly in providing services to people because they are for profit entities. Investment can be easier to find than donation and making money with each client served is always more scalable than losing it. While sometimes, like the case with AIDG’s training services, there is a need that it would be difficult to establish a profit model around, there are plenty of social ills that can be met in a for profit model. See if your cause fits.

Read more about Peter's rules here

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• Vikram Akula on how SKS blends social and commercial motives (ericjohnolson.com)

Crafting LED Light Arrays

Build Africa provides an update on the work of Nana Owusu Acheampong covered earlier:

Cheap Chinese LEDs, which are pervasive in Mali, have not yet reached this part of Ghana so Mr. Acheampong and others have started to make their own LED light arrays powered by wooden box battery holders. Asked how he came about the idea for the battery boxes, Mr. Acheampong explained that observed his radio worked that way so he “took the power out of his radio”.

More here
Photo courtesy of BuildAfrica

Gabriel Kondesi's Pachikweza Radio Station

When will we have the instinctive ability to recognize innovation and not punish it? From Malawi comes the story of arrested(later released) radio operator, Gabriel Kondesi:

A Standard 7 dropout, Gabriel Kondensi from Mulanje district(Malawi), built and operated a radio station known as Pachikweza. He was using a set of three transistors to penetrate the airwaves and a set of batteries as a source of power. His radio was running phone-in programs at 98.5 FM.

More here and here
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Mbugua Njihia- Software Developer

Interviewed on BlackAmphi Mbugua Njihia outlines his software application
projects which include:

Zunguka.com – Zunguka is hand-built, line by line, to be African Mobile and Web Social Network. We aim to revolutionize the way you work and lead your day-to-day activities.

Zunguka is aimed at enhancing your social and professional lives as by enabling you discover new ways to improve your efficiency and interaction

TumaSMS.com – TumaSMS is a communication service that will allow registered users to send SMS cheaply from their Web Browser or phone. I

Sembuse – With Sembuse you can say a simple habari (hello!) or tell the details of your weekend without thinking of the limiting constraints of regular sms at 160 characters or without having to result to cryptic SMS jargon that would leave the reader dumbfounded.

More here
See earlier related Hash coverage

Terre Exotique

In Yayemarieba:

Terre Exotique Gourmet Line is the vision of Erwan & Marie. This french couple lived for 5 years on a plantation in the region of Penja in Cameroun, there they fell in love with African spices, condiments , but particularly with the region's Penja pepper.
When they moved back to France they embarked in a cullinary business venture with an emphasis on African culinary particularites.
The line carries products from Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Madagascar, L'ile Maurice, Ghana, Mali, Cameroun ect, on top of African delicacies they also sell products from Guyane, Japan etc...

More here

Exporting Health-Lenmed

In NetAssets:

Lenmed’s first cross-border project is the US$17m Hospital Privado de Maputo. Lenmed director Ahmed Nana says the hospital will include a 24-hour trauma unit and a five-bed intensive-care unit. Nana, who has spent the past few months shuttling between Johannesburg and the building site in Maputo, says it expects to admit 500-1 000 people each month.

More here

Off-Grid Charging for Cell Phones-A $2.3 Billion Industry

In Treehugger:

According to EETimes, "Up to 500 million mobile users...in emerging countries could benefit from the provisioning of off-grid charging solutions such as solar phones or external solar chargers, according to a report from the GSMA. The results -- and the figure of a $2.3 billion opportunity -- are based on research for the Association's Green Power for Mobile (GPM) programme, which has identified a range of charging choices available that, if implemented effectively, will extend service availability and could boost average revenues per user by 10-14 percent."

More here

Nigeria flight schedules from Text2Fly

Bankelele reports:

Text2Fly a mobile service that lets your search for flights putting a travel agent in your mobile phone. Not flown much of late and next flight is likely to be local, but I’d personally be interested in a service that lets me know what’s available, - like Kenya last minute see 10.

The Architecture of David Adjaye

The WaPo reports on the winning design for the new National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The bronze, layered corona atop a stone base, according to David Adjaye, would be the defining element of the structure, which could be the last major building added to the expanse between the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument.... The crown concept, which would allow natural light to flow into the structure through bronze screens, was inspired by images from African and American history, Adjaye said, "this idea of uplifted praise sort of imagery." It evokes traditional headdresses worn by African-American women [he might be referring to this], as well as the colonial crown from Africa and the idea "that a hat-wearing person is a free person...who doesn't have to carry a load but could wear a hat."

via Bombastic Element

What comes next in the M-Pesa economy?

John Karanja speculates on the evolution of the M-pesa mobile money economy:

M-pesa on its own transacts about 17 billion shillings monthly and has a market of 6 million users in the country. This will on the surface make MPESA a USD 2.5 billion venture making sending it into the realm of PAYPAL.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal which is one of the worlds most prolific virtual money transfer ventures. For this to happen in what is ostensibly a third world nation is what is making the whole world take notice.
In fact I posit that MPESA will be on its own a major driver of the economic expansion of the Kenyan economy and best of all it will take a bottom up approach because it will empower the mama mboga (woman grocer) by allowing her to manage her finances efficiently.

More here

Canoe Magazine

CANOE is inspired to celebrate Africa’s evolving culture and lifestyle. It is a creative initiative by 7 entrepreneurs endeavoured to correct the image of Africa, predict growing trends and portray positively, the continent and its people.

The Bagmaker-Gidan Nodza

In true 'Maker' fashion Gidan Nodza, of Nodza bags takes us visually through her bag crafting process:

'iWarrior' a Leti Games product

Hash profiles iWarrior by Leti Games:

iWarrior is an iPhone game (iTunes link), created by the cross-African team of Kenyan Wesley Kirinya and Ghanaian Eyram Tawia of Leti Games. It’s a unique top-down shooter game that utilizes the iPhone’s inbuilt accelerometer to both move and shoot. 

More here

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Sustainable Health Enterprises's she28campaign!

From the Sustainable Health Enterprises covered earlier:

Better sanitary protection, PERIOD. Girls and women in developing countries can miss school and/or work--up to 50 days--because they don't have access to affordable sanitary pads. SHE is increasing girls' and women's access to affordable sanitary pads through sustainable businesses. Join us now!

Viable Energy for the BOP

Next Billion highlights a report on opportunities in "...Energy for the Base of the Pyramid..."

...just released by Ashoka and Hystra highlights four very promising business models for grid connections, devices, solar home systems, and rural cooperatives. I've talked about grid connections already, as well as financing mechanisms that show the maturation of the access to energy market.

More here

The Survival of the Fitter Lives of Some African Engineers

A Practical Action book about makers, The Survival of the Fitter Lives of Some African Engineers by John Powell :

The first generation of grassroots engineers are wayside vehicle mechanics, or "fitters", engaged in repairing machinery. The author argues that the evolution of a fitter, from this role to that of a manufacturer of tools,machines and equipment serving a wide range of 'secondary' urban and rural industries, is central to progress in engineering, and that engineering and engineers are central to the development of an economy.

Photo courtesy of This Fab Trek

An Unfolding Urban Music scene

More evidence of an assertive, evolving and emergent popular culture scene within the continent-the growing indigenous urban music sphere. Along with Nollywood,theatre,contemporary art and high fashion they constitute a deepening,increasingly viable sustainable resource and revenue generating industry. Sites such as 'We run Things', 'Nigerian Hip Hop' amongst others which profile this space testify to the strengthening of these sectors.
Photo:Courtesy Nigerian Entertainment For Life Crew

Mar Kwami's "Made in Africa Collection"

Culled from DesignIndaba and GIC:

Mark Kwami lives in Berlin and runs a chain of stores called "Made in Africa". MIA stocks modern furniture and decor accessories from Africa...You won’t find the usual mass-produced African masks and sculptures here, but modern African design testifying of this continent’s rich craft tradition.

The promise of Reverse Innovation

Annansi Chronicles reports on reverse innovation:

While the idea of reverse innovation – or trickle up innovation as the business practice is sometimes called – is nothing new, the business climate is ripe for it’s large scale adoption. With the global economy in peril, and waning consumer confidence particularly in the west, multinationals are increasingly seeking alternatives to old revenue and product development models. Reverse innovation – creating entry-level products for developing nations and then repackaging them for sale in richer nations – solves many problems for multinationals including reducing product development costs and increasing revenue by diversifying globally.

More here

JKUAT-MIT AITIx

Innovation continues to bubble up in the appropriate information and communication technology space.Within the JKUAT-MIT AITI-x program:

Abel Masai, a second year Computer Technology student (in JKUAT), has developed a database-driven SMS application that can be used by JAB. The application allows students to send their index number and the replies with the details of the course the student is enrolled. The student composes a message in the form “JAB INDEX_NUMBER”. The application then sends a reply containing the student’s full name, the university and course he/she is enrolled.The application recognizes malformed messages (wrong format) and advises the user on the right format.

More here
via KenyanPundit
Image: A Contacts J2ME App developed by the students during the lab

Pamela Akinyi Nyagilo-Satellite Farms for Schools

Pamela Akinyi Nyagilo was a prize winner for the Pan African Prize for Entrepreneurial Teachers 2007,an initiative of teach a man to fish she:

...has been teaching her Kenyan students to cultivate indigenous vegetables since 2003. The sustainability of the project lies in the harvesting of seeds from the school farm and sowing them into their home farms; this method has radically reduced malnutrition in the area.
The students at Ojere Primary School are also learning to breed their family’s hens with purebred cocks, to produce high value products that are sold to local hotels for a profit, which in turn buys educational materials.

Entries for the 2009 awards are now being accepted here

AfricaCodeCamp

Subsaharska reports on AfricaCodeCamp,which included the following sessions:

- Intellectual Property and your code
- Localization of language interfaces
- Tropically Tolerant Design Patterns
- Developing for low bandwidth
- Seeding startups in Africa
- Mobile development
- Spreading Open Source technologies
- African/American approach to programming
- Mapping spaces and systems

Image:Twitter stream of the event

Oliberté Footwear

Oliberté intends to market and manufacture premium urban-casual footwear that is exclusively made in Africa.The company goals include,implementing the following:

• Footwear is first to be made from natural rubber in Liberia

• Premium leather is light, natural and from Ethiopia

• Support local training and communities in every country where we work

via Nubian Cheetah

Skunkworks Kenya

Bankele reports:

The latest Skunkworks was held on September 29 2009 at Teleposta Towers Nairobi. The focus of the tech group this week was on Tech & Entrepreneurship and four speakers were chosen to provide their insight on the new business models they are developing in Kenya.

Four speakers representing Verviant,KCR,Kahenya and Pamoja Media gave their thoughts on new business models their firms are implementing.

The Emergence of African Fashion Magazines

The NYTimes reports:

In the wealthy neighborhoods of Lagos, Nigeria; Nairobi, Kenya; Luanda, Angola; Dakar, Senegal; and the like, ladies of leisure, successful businesswomen and middle-income housewives make up an attractive demographic that, in the past, relied on international fashion magazines for style and beauty information.
But in the last few years, while Condé Nast, Hearst and Hachette Filipacchi were expanding throughout Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, a handful of African publishers were busy staking claims to this publishing territory. A result has been a series of new glossies, like Arise, HauTe, Helm and True Love, that put an African spin on fashion.

More here
Image from Haute Magazine

Mango Processing

In Spore:

Currently, just 0.22% of mangoes produced worldwide are used for processing. Yet this versatile fruit lends itself to transformation into a wide variety of products. Unripe fruit can be used to make chutney and pickles. Ripe mangoes can be canned, frozen or made into purée for re-manufacturing into juice, squash, nectar and jam. Dried mango for use in fruit bars, muesli, snacks and baby foods has good potential, especially for Europe, which is the world's biggest market for these products.


More here
photo courtesy of Spore

Apply for the GO Ingenuity Award

From the Go Campaign website:

The GO Ingenuity Award (GIA) is awarded to artists, inventors, and small business entrepreneurs to stimulate the next generation of "makers." Building on the momentum of Maker Faire Africa, GO Campaign will award one-year, one-time fellowship grants to individual applicants who are eager to share their skills with marginalized youth in developing countries in ways that educate and inspire youth to harness their own ingenuity. The GIA emphasizes the sharing of innovative artistry and technology in informal, hands-on learning workshops in places where youth already gather.

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Robocon Nairobi

Afrigadget reviews Robocon Kenya 2009:

Kenya's ministry of higher education has organized a robot contest (RoboCon), between Kenyan Universities and middle level colleges. The regional competition is taking place today at the Kenya Polytechnic. Here are the first looks at the Robots from institutions taking part in the competition.

More here

Angel Investors

In Ecademy:

...Enter the Business Angels in South Africa. Business Angel's are familiar with the risk that they take on when investing in new or growing business. The idea really is that someone who has been successful in the business world or are looking for the excitement of being involved in a new high growth start-up, finds a business with a good business plan and strong potential, bring along both capital, expertise and business connections and help the whoever they are involved with to make fewer mistakes and bring the product or service to market more successfully.

More here

NgateGen

Hortense Dodo-Konan is the founder of NgateGen a biotech start up company that develops transgenic crops:

...She is also the President of Nano Bio Institute, an international training and teaching academy of sciences, biotechnology and nanotechnology established to train Africans to become successful entrepreneurs in the agricultural and technical sectors. Dr Dodo-konan is a co-founder of “Institute Geniocrate” a specialized school targeting and training children with high IQ in Africa-Tancon

Applied Rail Research Technologies

Founded by inventor Jude Igwemezie, Applied Rail Research Technologies a railway research and consultancy:

...is a key developer of innovative track technology,they combine analytical tools available in Computer-Aided Design,Finite Element Analysis,and event simulation with data from laboratory and field testing to design better track.

An affiliated company Transglobim provides integrated railroad construction services,they recently won a railway contract in Iraq.

Off-Grid Resorts & Housing

Sally Kneidel highlights the off-grid Tshulu Camp whose aim "...is to stimulate the local economy by creating employment and micro-enterprise opportunities in tourism, agriculture and through small business development..."

Much of the food prepared in the camp’s kitchen comes from their organic vegetable garden. The garden not only supplies food for the camp kitchen, but also provides employment for villagers living nearby. The vegetable garden is irrigated from underground, which is a plus, as water shortage is a big issue in Africa. The camp uses their waste sustainably too – composting all the vegetable and garden waste to enrich the soil for the organic farm.

Meanwhile engineering news profiles an energy-independent house design:

All electrical devices in the house are powered by electricity from the photovoltaic system, and hot water is supplied by a solar water heater and geyser...The concept of the sustainable-energy house design is based on the use of renewable-energy resources in place of fossil fuels. This entails the use of climatic conditions to design a climate-sensitive building, which discourages energy use processes that cause greenhouse-gas emissions.