Midweek Check-In: 9 Lessons, 11 Innovations (Part II)
there's an abundance of lessons to learn! 💯💯
Hallo, Dear Innovator❗❗ 👋
How are you doing?? 😉😉
If you’ve been busy setting the tech ecosystem on fire from your corner of the world, catch yourself an enthusiastic wave here 😍😍, Cos yOu deSeRvE iT!!
annnd if you haven’t 😪😪😪 you’ll still get your wave anyways
Here you go!
Where Were We….
We spotlighted some innovations by African tech innovators on the last midweek check-in and as promised, here’s part 2:
Bongalo, the Rwandan proptech startup, offers an affordable alternative to traditional hotel bookings by offering short-term rental properties across Africa. This gives their users a way to monetise their spaces while providing affordable stays for tourists and business travellers. Think of Airbnb, but from and for Africans 😎😎
From Uganda, there’s Lori Systems, the logistics tech company that optimises the cargo-transporting process across East Africa. By providing a digital platform that connects cargo owners with truck drivers, Lori has contributed to the reduction of inefficiencies and costs in the Rwandan transport sector, by helping move goods more efficiently across borders.
There must be something in the water in Rwanda 😍, cos Kasha is another Rwandan solution that’s specifically focused on women’s health products. The platform allows women to discreetly order feminine health products, including menstrual care, contraceptives, and medications, via USSD or online, even in areas with poor internet access.
WorkPay, a tech company based in Nairobi, offers a cloud-based HR and payroll management tool that enables small businesses across Africa to pay their employees in a more efficient and compliant way. It includes time tracking, leave management, and automated payroll processing.
Annnd finally, there’s AirQo. They developed a network of low-cost air quality monitoring sensors to provide real-time air pollution data across Africa. Their devices are designed to be affordable and accessible, helping to tackle the growing issue of air quality in urban areas😌😌
What are the lessons here?
Dear Innovator, in the ever-evolving tech landscape, there are valuable lessons to glean from these innovations that can help you 🫵 in your builder journey too.
Prioritising your users’ needs in the form of user-centric designs cannot be overemphasised. The goal has always been to make the technology work for people, not the other way around. You also want to create solutions that tackle real-world problems, especially since they are more likely to gain traction and make a difference 🤝🤝
Embracing various digital channels, including USSD and online platforms, ensures that your services reach users regardless of their internet access or educational background. If you keep this in mind, whether you decide to create a niche-market solution or one that’s mainstream, it won’t matter cos your users will love it anyway 😍
If you don’t know where to start, understanding and creating solutions that address the unique challenges of different regions can enhance the relevance and effectiveness of your solutions. Build products that can grow and adapt to different markets too. If it works, it’s scalable! 💪
Promote inclusivity with your tech solution, use data to drive decision-making and to refine your product 👀, and finally, build solutions that your users can actually afford cos affordability is key to widespread adoption.
Didn’t miss a beat, now did we? 😁😁
Now go out into the world and BUILD!!!
Incase you missed it:
Bring back tech for market women and taxi drivers 🗣📢
You’re not supposed to do it alone 🫂🫂🫂
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Be back on Saturday, when we dissect whether it’s better for African tech innovators to build from scratch or not
Adios!! 🫡🫡
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