Democracy Day Edition 🌍: Intangible Tech In Africa: Bridging the digital divide for real world application

African users want what they want 🌍🤌🤌

Hi Dear Innovator 👋

Happy Democracy Day! 🫡

What’s the most patriotic thing that you’ve been doing all year?

(let us know in the comments 👇👇)

Also….

It’s a public holiday today. Did you take a break or have your innovation wheels been turning?

If it’s a ‘yes’ to the first option, carry on. We’re not here to judge anyone 👀

Aaaand if your wheels have been wheeling 😇, when do we get to see the final results?

Tick tock, Innovator. June will be over before you know it 🤝

***

Last week, we shared the tea ☕ on solution providers that are using their connections to build businesses and solve problems in Africa. Incase you missed it, you can check it out here

Don’t forget to show us some love and share this newsletter to your favourite people. Thankssss ✨✨✨

As promised on Saturday, let’s get into it.

Understanding Intangible Tech in Africa… 🤔🤔

"Intangible tech" here refers to tech solutions/innovations that either just sound good on paper or are not being maximized to its highest potential.

It has potential o, and everyone & their favourite aunt can see that but for some reason, it’s not translating into real life application….

Or, the solution’s usage just cannot seem to go beyond its baby stage.

Why do you think this is happening, Dear Innovator. Why? 🤔

Stats show that 9 out of 10 startups fail globally ¹ especially in their first year, and a 2022 report also showed that 61.05% of businesses were shutdown in Nigeria²

😱😱

To top that, when a solution is being created for a problem that users don’t even realize is a problem, it’s no wonder why it might be a challenge to get it off the drawing board or why gaining traction becomes one of its biggest challenge in its early stage.

Some of the types of solutions that easily fall into the category of intangible tech are: Virtual Reality (VR) Education Platforms, Blockchain-Based Supply Chain Solutions and Renewable Energy Microgrid Projects.

And it’s not only limited to these examples, so take a long look around you Dear Innovator. Take a realllly long look around 😶😶

This is not to say that there’s any problem with the solutions themselves, but for the African reality right now, they might have to be tailored a little differently or be completely put on hold 🚫 for the time being ‘cos Africa is still a technologically immature ecosystem, a lot people still lack access to reliable internet and electricity, and the regulations that might come with it have not been properly figured out yet.

African Solutions and African users thrive when the tech meets AND solves a pressing need. If it can also be converted into a daily need, even better, and everyone goes home happy! 🎉🎉

If you do insist on coming up with solutions that might take a little bit of squinting to see 😑, you must first emphasize on educating your users about the problem and then collaborate with already existing businesses/platforms/institutions

On this, MTN and telehealth outfits like Helium Health have cracked the code. On a global scale, Google and Airbnb are doing good on this too. And a host of others, local and int’l, too numerous to mention.

When your solution is taken apart to the barest minimum, what is the simplest, everyday problem that it is solving for your users? That is the intangible tech litmus test.

Annnd the simpler, the better 😉

On Saturday, we’ll talk about what it entails to attract African tech talent back and the cost of not doing so.

Toodles! 👋

1. Percentage of Startup Failure

2. Percentage of businesses that shutdown in Nigeria