Mobile Applications which are Contributing to

Improving African SocietiesDr Loren Treisman

Executive: Indigo Trust

• The Indigo Trust is a UK based grant making foundation that funds technology-driven projects to bring about social change in Africa

• The Trust focuses mainly on innovation, transparency and citizen empowerment

• We also support innovative tech-driven projects which support development outcomes in any social sector including the health, education, human rights and agricultural spheres

• We believe that if people have the ability to access, share and create information, then they are empowered to make positive changes in their own lives and communities

Hubs are Springing Up Across the Continent

And some are cropping up in unexpected places….

A Role for Tech Innovation Hubs

• The best solutions to Africa's challenges will be devised by those affected by them

• Hubs galvanise the tech community, provide high speed internet, host events & provide training & mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs

• Hubs have a catalytic effect on the number and quality of successful projects and products which can be developed in-country

Can Tech Hubs Achieve Financial Sustainability?

• This Sector is still in its infancy and we have to be patient

• But some business models are emerging……..

iHub-Nairobi, Kenya

• iHub research• Memberships fees• Renting out the space• Corporate sponsorship and events• Consultancy• Jobs Board-biggest in East Africa• Government and private sector contracts• User experience lab

RLabs-Cape Town, South Africa

• Their revenue is R3.4-4 million, 50% from partnerships, 10% from their services, 10% from investments and 30% from donors/funding-they break even

• Employ 50 full time staff and 12 part time and have created 264 jobs directly or indirectly through their hubs and start-ups

• Indigo Trust funded the opening of an Innovation, Incubator and Accelerator (InnovIA)-6/14 projects generate an income

• Nurtured 12 start-ups from scratch, already achieving 2 exits generating more than R3Million in income-Jamiix has reached over 2.5 million people

• RLabs have trained 9,113 people in UCT certified courses

• Social Franchising-Living Labs are being developed in other countries

The Impact of Hubs?

• This sector is still in its infancy-local context• Change doesn’t happen overnight even in the developed world

• Impact should be phased:1. The existence of more hubs, hosting more events, raising

awareness of the sector etc should be considered a success

2. How are they surviving? Attracting funds? Generating income?

3. How many projects are emerging?4. Are they generating impact?

• Expect a high failure rate for product BUT a few successes can have a massive impact

A Case Study: Budgit (Nigeria)

Democracy, Transparency and Accountability

• Open Data• Citizen Participation/Reporting• Media Strengthening• Digital Mapping• Empowering Activists

A Case Study: iCow

Agriculture

• Extension/information services• Market Prices• Insurance• Link farmers to buyers• Product authentication• Mapping and transparency• Financial Services• Data Collection• Integrated Business Solutions

Health

• Health information (One World)• Support (Youth for Tech Foundation, SHM Foundation)• Alerts (Cell Life, Praekelt)• Referrals (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)• Training and Support for Community Health Workers• Health Service Accountability (CIPESA, WOUGNET, GACC)• Drug authentication• Data Collection• Data Management

Are Business Models Emerging?• Some Projects will require on-going funding whether in the

developed or developing world• Often transparency projects or public services and goods fall

into this category

• Many social projects can make a profit/become self sustaining• This can take time, patience, a willingness to take risks & fail

fast

• Business models are emerging:1. Charge end users2. Freemium/Value added services3. Advertising4. Chargeable services-consulting, training5. Public-Private-Charity partnerships6. Impact investing

The Role of Foundations• Providing small, high risk grants to not-for-profit & social

enterprises which contribute towards social change at the early stages

• Enable entrepreneurs to pilot new ideas, room for trial & error

• Preference for locally owned interventions

• Some projects will achieve financial sustainability or make a profit, others need on-going support

• Multi-year funding

• Advice, access to our networks, leveraging support

A Role For The Private Sector• Businesses could sponsor hubs in exchange for branding or

support them by utilising their facilities e.g. hiring their space for corporate events, hiring their developers for contracts-branding

• Businesses could provide free internet or phones (for testing) to hubs

• For some projects, well devised business models can be developed through collaborations between the private sector and social enterprises/social projects

• Mobile operators and ISP providers could reduce data costs for social projects or host Apps on their platforms in exchange for increased market share

• Businesses and Angel investors should consider financing promising

social enterprises once Foundations have funded proof of concept

Thanks for ListeningAny Questions?

Dr Loren Treisman

http://indigotrust.wordpress.com/Twitter: @indigotrustLoren.treisman@sfct.org.uk