A Tale About Franchises and Tech Companies that act like them
Go big (Global) or go home!
Hello Dear Innovator,
Welcome to Consonance weekly, where we discuss all things innovation. Are you ready? Let’s go!
This week's newsletter should meet you on the polling units 🗳️queue if you are a patriotic Nigerian. If you are not at the pooling booth we don't judge here, but we just felt to remind you of the end goal. A better Nigeria 🇳🇬.
As Nigerians exercise their franchise today, we thought 🤔 “why don't we make the day about franchises (Innovative tech companies that act like Franchises)?” and then enfranchise you with a poll on which franchise-like company is more innovative?
Just a little something to keep you innovatively engaged till you cast your ballot 🗳️ 😉. After all, innovation is first about acquiring knowledge and that’s what today is about. You would get close insights into the structuring of some of your favorite companies and how they work.
This one is for the motherland, may God bless Nigeria🙏🏽.
Let me also give you a little bit of creative insight here first, and you can thank me later.
Franchise
/ˈfran(t)ʃʌɪz/
the right to vote in public elections.
an authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities, for example acting as an agent for a company's products. "Toyota granted the group a franchise"
(Thank you, Google 💃🏽💃🏽, now if you would excuse me I have an appointment with ChatGPT, so I gotta run 🏃🏽♂️🏃🏽♂️)
Now read the first two paragraphs again, with the knowledge you now have. You gerrit? 😁Don’t say I didn’t do anything for you.
Not only Starbucks, Chik-Fil-A, and Mcdonald’s can be multinational ( or “omnipotent” if you may), but tech companies can also be in many different places at the same time. These companies have authorized business partners in Nigeria as well as other nations who provide their goods and services in these different regions.
Here are a few of our top picks of Franchise-like innovative companies but first, let’s have a good laugh from tech Twitter.
Let’s get into this.
MTN
You guessed it didn’t you? Of course, you did, if you didn’t are you really African? I’m just trying to prove a point, no shade intended.
Honestly, MTN never ceases to give us content, from blacking out on valentine’s day to laying off workers, they really seem to be Everywhere You Go. Don’t believe me? ask the valentine's couple in our last newsletter here. This is by the way.
There’s no denying that the South African-founded leading mobile network earned its way to the top of the ladder or should I say “almost top of the ladder”? I mean, you most recently must have heard of the wonders of Starlink, haven’t you?
Amidst so much competition in the telecommunication industry, MTN has earned the “Franchise-like” badge with a presence in over 20 Countries including Nigeria. They offer a wide range of affordable services too, such as voice, data subscription, and mobile money.
These eSIMs are definitely an innovative newbie and we are here for it. *giggles excitedly*🤭. We are really proud of MTN, but do you think it can win the “Franchise-like” Vote?
Cisco
Cisco is a leading innovative multinational provider of networking and communication technology in its rights. The name cisco was derived from the city of San Francisco (be my guest and look closely, as you read that line again).
The San Jose, California Headquartered company quickly became a household name after its founding in 1984. You just know that logo even from a thousand miles, don’t you?
Cisco has not only branded itself in our brains but also in our routers 📶 and switches. I mean it’s ain’t really routing and switching if it ain’t Cisco right?
Rising to quick fame in the world during the dot-com boom, this historical one-time most valuable company in the world has overcome its share of challenges. Cisco has a wide global presence, and is located in many countries around the world and arguably on every continent.
Microsoft
My oh my! if it isn’t Bill Gates’ innovative venture? Of course, this company co-founded in 1975 by the one-time richest man in the world would have made its way around the world too right? Yes, without a doubt.
Back in the day, arguably every household had a Microsoft Windows computer, talk about franchise right? The release of Windows by Microsoft in 1985, was a breakthrough in the history of the company. Windows eventually became a dominating operating system for personal computers.
Microsoft is a franchise-like company without question. It is almost all we know to be computers, except of course the later advent of MacBook by Apple, Dell, HP, and others. Microsoft has also proven its prowess by acquiring several high-profile companies like LinkedIn and GitHub.
In recent years Microsoft has also jumped on the Cloud computing and Artificial intelligence bandwagon. It is no surprise that just like its cofounder, it has offices and licensed partners around the world too.
Lenovo
You might not have guessed this one, but here it is.
Lenovo is another Franchise-like innovative technology company with all its own teeth. Lenovo produces desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more.
Founded in Beijing in 1984 as '“Legend Group Ltd”, the Chinese multinational company has also made innovative waves around the world. After a lot of rebranding over the years, Lenovo acquired Motorola mobility in 2014 from Google for $2.9 billion.
With operations in over 60 countries, Lenovo is one of the largest and most reputable gadget brand electronic companies in the world.
Now over to you.
A Call For Innovators
Attention! Innovators and forward-looking individuals, this is for you!
You have not been afraid to think outside the box to change the world, and now is a time to let the world hear your story. Consonance is looking to tell the story of about 20 to 25 people across the country and their innovation in tech.
The Consonance Community of Innovators (CCI) is where young, vibrant, and active innovators come together to network, collaborate, and get support to build & grow their startups. The seemingly “simplest ideas” have the greatest impact on humanity and you should not hesitate to pursue your dreams with a proficient community.
Apply to CCI today to earn a slot!
Sendchamp
If you are anything like the Consonance team, you are probably wondering what onboarding and verification on a franchise-like tech platform would look like.
Think no more! It should take no longer than 3 seconds to onboard a new user.
Sendchamp is the most seamless messaging platform for growing businesses. Send messages to your customers across WhatsApp, SMS, email, and voice - all with zero coding skills to get started.
It doesn’t stop here, because with Sendchamp you can connect with your customers every step of the innovative way.
See you on the inside 👋🏽.
Share This Newsletter
Technological Franchise wannabes? You didn’t see this one coming, did you?
*rolls eyes* 🙄 How many times do I have to tell you, that you just never know what we have up our sleeves.
Good thing you are signed up for our innovative surprises, but what about your fellow innovative friends? Don’t worry, we got you covered and you only have one role to play.
Enjoy Innovative Insights weekly, explore opportunities, read further hot happenings, and dare I say most importantly share with friends and on your socials.
Together we grow and make Africa better, and you never know, you could be building the next big tech franchise in Africa.
Notable Reads For The Week
Opportunities
Flutterwave is hiring a User Policy Strategist.
Klasha is hiring a Senior Product Manager
Tech Cabal is hiring for the following positions in Africa.
Big Cabal Media is hiring in Lagos and Africa
Lagos
Africa