Silicon Savannah: Huge demand meets a newly interconnected economy
To most of Europe, Africa still means crises, catastrophes and wars, so we have not recognized that Africa’s businesses are booming. Our Learning Journey to Silicon Savannah will change that.
Too few of us are aware of the high economic growth rates of African countries and their innovatuve pioneering solutions. Africa is the first “mobile-only” continent. 60 % of its 1.2 billion population are owning a mobile phone which gives them access to their bank accounts, acts as a credit card, provides them with medical advice, gives market information, provides a platform to sell – generally it is a tool to earn a living.
African countries have simply by-passed the stage of fixed-line telecommunication or a banking system with only physical outlets. Mass access to the internet has come directly via mobile phones and not desktop computers. Can you imagine the ingenuity and power of innovation that has been released without GDPR, Basel III, Solvency II and similar regulations?
Our program has been set-up in collaboration with CircleInnovation, an innovation THink Tank based in Nairobi. We show you what one of digital Africa’s hotspots has to offer. We will visit companies such as M-Pesa and hotspot-institutions as Nairobi Garage, Ikigai or Baraza Media Lab. And we will meet local CEOs and other important decision makers. Additionally, we have also arranged visits to important spots of the city and – optional – a safari to the Nairobi National Park.
It has really changed my life, at least the perspective on much of what we Europeans think is good, right, meaningful or whatever. What really counts is what locally is considered as appropriate.“
Dr. Markus Griesbeck, Member of the Executive Board, Crespel & Deiters Group, Germany
What will you get from it?
- Insights into a different digital transformation
- Access to agile people and organizations
- Starting points for further contacts and cooperation
- Ideas and Concepts for access to new markets
- Indications of what the next market disruptions can be
- Understanding new approaches of collaborations
- New insights and understanding of Africa’s relevance
Program
| Monday | Theme of the day: APPROACHING |
| Morning | “Silicon Savannah: A new Africa breaks free” Pitches and Talks from Nairobi business people |
| Afternoon | Field visits to successful Start-ups – ENERGYTECH |
| Evening | Dinner with Nairobi business people |
| Tuesday | Theme of the day: DIGITAL AFRICA |
| Morning | “The mobile economy – access to communication and money” Field visit to Safaricom/M-Pesa – FINTECH Field visit to Nairobi’s first open-access makers’ space |
| Afternoon | Field visits to Nairobi’s co-working spaces like iHub Field visit to investors platform |
| Evening | free evening |
| Wed’day | Theme of the day: URBAN AFRICA |
| Morning | “21st century entrepreneurship: A huge demand meets the networked global society” Reading and discussion with artists and thinkers Field visits EDUTECH and HEALTHTECH |
| Afternoon | Local tour to Kibera, Nairobi’s biggest informal settlement |
| Evening | “Building the plane while flying“ – NextAfrica Networking Seminar |
| Thursday | Theme of the day: CO-CREATION |
| Morning | Experiencing: train ride with Madaraka Express German companies in Kenya China in Africa |
| Afternoon | Synthesis: “New African-European relations: Co-Creation” Visit Nairobi National Park End of program at 6.30pm |
| Fr/Sa | optional: 2-day Safari to one of Kenya’s famous National Parks |
Who should join us on the Learning Journey?
1. CEOs, CIOs.
2. Business angels and incubators.
3. Decision-makers in the fields of politics, business, technology, development cooperation and migration.
The fee includes a program of lectures, company and field visits, a city tour, four lunches, coffee and tea catering and one dinner. Hotel stay and travel to and from Nairobi are not included.