1. MXit

Founded: 2003
Country: South Africa
Description: MXit was one of the first Mobile Instant messaging services in the world and in Africa, and has a userbase of about 45m.
Website: http://www.mxit.co.za

2. Yola

Founded: 2007
Country: South Africa
Description: Yola is a simple website builder and hosting service, that allows anyone without any HTML skills to easily create websites.
Website: http://www.yola.com

3. Dropifi

Founded: 2011
Country: Ghana
Description: Dropifi assists businesses better respond to incoming messages via their website, and also includes analytics for website owners.
Website: http://www.dropifi.com/

4. Cobi Interactive

Founded: 2009
Country: South Africa
Description: Cobi interactive is a mobile software development company with clients
Website: http://www.cobiinteractive.com/

5. FloCash

Founded: 2010
Country: UK
Description: FloCash allows anyone with an email address and mobile number to send and receive money across Africa simply and easily.
Website: https://www.flocash.com
6. Obami

Founded: 2009
Country: South Africa
Description: Obami is a social network and learning management system for schools, teachers and students
Website: http://www.obami.com

7. Bandeka

Founded: 2011
Country: Ghana/Nigeria
Description: Bandeka is an exclusive social network, for building relationships/dating.
Website: http://www.bandeka.com/
8. Jobberman

Founded: 2009
Country: Nigeria
Description: Jobberman is west africa’s most popular job and placement website.
Website: http://www.jobberman.com/

9. Motribe

Founded: 2011
Country: South Africa
Description: Motribe is a mobile platform enabling users, brands, agencies and publishers across the world to build and manage their own mobile social communities.
Website: http://www.motribe.co.za

10. PesaPal

Founded: 2009
Country: Kenya
Description: PesaPal is a payment platform that enables Kenyans to buy and sell on the Internet using M-Pesa, Zap and Credit Cards.
Website: https://www.pesapal.com/

11. Synaq

Founded: 2004
Country: South Africa
Description: Synaq provides messaging and security products built around open source solutions.
Website: http://www.synaq.com/

12. Rupu

Founded: 2010
Country: Kenya
Description: Rupu is a daily deals website modeled on groupon.
Website: https://www.rupu.co.ke

13. BongoLive

Founded: 2010
Country: Tanzania
Description: BongoLive is a mobile and SMS services company.
Website: http://www.bongolive.co.tz/

14. Skyrove

Founded: 2006?
Country: South Africa
Description: Skyrove is South Africa’s largest independent Wi-Fi hotspot network with over 600 Wi-Fi hotspots in South Africa.
Website: http://www.skyrove.com/

15. Njorku

Founded: 2011
Country: Cameroon
Description: Njorku is a career and recruitment services platform focused on Africa.
Website: http://www.njorku.com/

16. Ushahidi

Founded: 2007
Country: Kenya
Description: The only non profit on this list, ushahidi develops software for information collection, visualization and interactive mapping.
Website: http://ushahidi.com/

17. SMSGH

Founded: 2005
Country: Ghana
Description: SMSGh offers bulk SMS solutions, SMS Gateway solutions and mobile web solutions
Website: http://smsgh.com/

18. Hummba

Founded: 2011
Country: South Africa
Description: Hummba is a social and travel networking website that lets you download free audio travel guides and share travel experiences directly from your mobile phone.
Website: http://www.hummba.com/

19. 10Layer

Founded: 2011
Country: South Africa
Description: 10Layer is CMS system targeted specifically at news rooms.
Website: http://10layer.com/

20. Sembuse (Kenya)

Founded: 2009
Country: Kenya
Description: Sembuse is a mobile social network & instant messaging platform similar to Mxit
Website: http://www.sembuse.com/

Do you believe there is any start-up company that has been left out on the list by Forbes Africa?

Content & Photos Courtesy of Forbes & Startup Africa

Airtel is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to complete the all round improvement of the school over the next 2 years including construction and renovation of classrooms, rehabilitation of boreholes, provision of desks and other educational support on a need basis.

The MOUs were signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Prof. Ole Kiyapi who expressed his Ministry’s appreciation of the initiative, commending Airtel for its contribution. He also urged other corporations and the Private sector in general to join the development of education in Kenya.

Our engagement in the development of education in Kenya is in line with Bharti Airtel’s Corporate Social Responsibility vision to uplift the standard of living in the communities through the improvement of infrastructure in the institutions, ensuring access to better quality education for the children and communities in general, said the company’s chief operating officer, Shivan Bhargava.

Equity Group will today officially launch Equity Bank Rwanda at a colorful event to be graced by the Hon. John Rwangombwa, Minister of Finance & Economic Planning.

EVENT LAUNCH EQUITY BANK RWANDA

VENUE: GRAND PENSION PLAZA, KIGALI

DATE: FRIDAY, 17TH FEBRUARY, 2012

TIME: 10.00 A.M

I can’t blame them because I was also in the same boat and used to complain about the risks a business entails and also fear of failure was my greatest enemy. Yes, Business is risky in so many ways and very difficult to operate. However I believe that by not starting a business is actually even more risky.

Why Business Is The Way To Go!

Let me explain my point, when it comes to business, you are actually building a business which is your passion. The ownership of the business is entirely yours and you can transfer it through succession plan to your children and family. It brings financial freedom in your life and adds more freedom in controlling your own schedule on when to get to work, learning experience, doing what you love and having fun while you are at it. The benefits are endless!

Untapped Potential of Rift Valley!

I believe that we have so much untapped potential in Rift Valley which has so many potential entrepreneurs whom have not yet realized that they hold the power to become employers and owners of business empires.

Entrepreneurship is about solving the problems of society, not starting a business for one’s own sake

Rift Valley has so many problems and complex social issues which can be an opportunity for many entrepreneurs to address them by starting businesses that brings solutions to the communities. This companies tend to prosper because it creates a meaning to the community and gain a lot of popularity because it is not driven by profits, instead it is concerned to solving problems. Profits are secondary!

Businesses Opportunities in Rift Valley!

When I was in Bomet County, I saw huge untapped potential in Brick Making. It doesn’t really require a lot of capital to start (as long as you work smart), right skill can be acquired and partnership with Ministry of Housing. You don’t have to purchase a Hydra form machine which can cost up-to Ksh. 4,000,000, instead you can visit the Housing ministry to book a hydraform machine to assist in making the bricks for commercial purpose and actually sell it to other counties. Another option is to partner with NGOs like BIRD Initiative, whom can assist in arranging in training on how to use Hydra form machine.

Image Courtesy of Hydraform.com

Honey Business in Baringo County Get Boost!

Just recently the Ministry of Livestock approved a budget to build a Slaughterhouse and Honey Factory in Baringo County. As entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector, one can take advantages of the development and create value addition on some of the products like the Honey. One can brand the honey as “Sweet-as-honey” and start marketing it for Free through social media.

I believe that even Kenya has so many potential entrepreneurs whom can make that decision to stand out and enter the entrepreneurial world.

All potential entrepreneurs should not be afraid to start small. Its where you are heading that really counts.

Entrepreneurs journey begins by dreaming BIG. I truly believe that you have the potential power in you to actually build BIG businesses like Safaricom in the newly created county government. Why not! The ground has been leveled cause time & chance happen to us all. Remember that dreaming BIG is FREE! So the Big question is, what will your county lack because you fail to live out your full potential?

Images Courtesy of A Kale Would Say

So how do we make a good experience for a customer to purchase a product from our website. Well it isn’t rocket science. it’s all about “Simplicity”. Customer love simple and easy to understand e-commerce website, anything short of that won’t get any attention from them.

I thought i should share a video that i encountered when having a conversation with my fellow entrepreneur Sofia Getambu, CEO Duara Safaris;

So how easy is it for your customer to purchase a product or service from your website?

Image Courtesy of Zeuscart 

Video Courtesy of Google Analytics

Faster, more reliable software: A Lecture

Date: Feb 3
Time: 5pm – 7pm
Venue: Strathmore University
Entrance: FREE
What to expect: For the first time in Africa, software engineer Professor Randal Bryant, Dean, Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science will give a lecture on computer systems.

Can technology enhance musical experience and creativity?

Date: Feb 6
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Venue: Michael Joseph Centre
Entrance: FREE
What to expect: Roger Dannenberg, Fellow at the Studio for Creative Inquiry will speak about his experience in using software engineering to create products that make music more accessible and interactive. Roger’s research work in music and technology has earned him three patents.

Is your business idea viable?

Date: Feb 24-26
Venue: NailLab
What to expect: Startup Weekends are specifically designed for entrepreneurs interested in receiving feedback on an idea, looking for a co-founder, or who want to learn a new skill. Anyone looking to test the entrepreneurial waters are welcome.

Mobile content creation and monetization in East Africa
Date: Feb 22-23
Venue: SouthernSun Mayfair
What to expect: An action packed agenda featuring interactive sessions with individuals and organisations that are leading the mobile web and applications drive in East Africa and further afield.

Animation Expo 2012
Date: March 3
Venue: Sarit Centre Expo
What to expect: Kenya Film Commission has hosted the Animation Expo for the past three years. In the past, the event has incorporated the showcasing of animation works by Kenyan artists as well as an entrepreneurship workshop. You can follow Kenya ICT Board @tandaaKenya Content Courtesy of Kenya ICT Board

Samsung has been spear heading initiative across the continent with a goal to develop 10,000 Electronics Engineers. It will encourage the engineers to start their own business through its entrepreneurship and self-employment initiatives.

This is a similiar initiative towards entrepreneurship in which Coca-Cola targets to train over 5 Million Women Entrepreneurs by 2020.

See Also: 100 Young Women Entrepreneurs Trained in Kenya

Most corporate companies are warming up to support or starting initiative that encourages entrepreneurship.

Photo Courtesy of Samsung

Allow me to explain my point, most entrepreneurs struggle in their business not because they lack opportunity or talent to execute their goals. It has been mainly lack of concentration on the core product or services of their business.

Many entrepreneurs find themselves become a jack of all trade. Let me be honest, I also found myself doing everything when I was starting my web design firm. The company core business is web design & web hosting, however i found myself providing printing services for business cards which was completely not part of my core business. I learnt a lot of lessons and lost so much money while at it.

In most places, it is considered that it is ideal to do so many things so that one can have a more probability of landing on opportunities. Well I completely disagree with that thought of school. As Robert Kiyosaki once mentioned that in business an entrepreneur needs to have a great FOCUS in what they are doing. He expounded on it by saying that FOCUS stands for “Follow One Course Until Success“. It does take a great deal of perseverance to stay in the one course until success. Entrepreneurship is all about perseverance, all of us are born to be entrepreneurs but very few of us get to practice it through the test of “concentration and perseverance“.

If you can’t summarise what you do in your business in 25 seconds then i would highly recommend that you rethink again and FOCUS on specific product/service that you can specialize with.

People seek within a short span of life to satisfy a thousand desires, each of which is insatiable. – Oliver Goldsmith

Do you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in your industry?

HP recently announced new HP LaserJet printers designed to help small to midsize businesses (SMBs) create professional-quality color documents while increasing productivity and efficiency.

Small businesses will benefit from HP LaserJet Pro 300/400 color printer series will provide SMBs and home offices with uncompromisingly vibrant color prints. It will increase print speeds, allowing businesses to quickly create professional-quality color prints such as marketing collateral. The printer will have two devices with easy-to-use 3.5-inch color touchscreen interfaces:

Entrepreneurs will enjoy increase productivity with easy print, scan, copy and fax functionality, and enables their businesses to produce high-quality color prints and marketing materials.

What kind of feature do you believe can be added to your printer to suit your business/office needs?

Subsequently, ETI will execute a share swap with Ecobank Ghana Limited under which ETI will transfer its 100% stake in TTB to Ecobank Ghana in exchange for shares in Ecobank Ghana. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was scheduled for 20 January 2012 to pass the necessary resolutions to effect the above transaction.

Meanwhile, a new Board of Directors of The Trust Bank Ghana Limited has been constituted with Sam Ashitey Adjei, Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana Limited as Chairman, whilst Emelia Atta Fynn, will assume the role of Acting Managing Director. Prior to her appointment Emelia served as Head of Compliance on the executive management committee of Ecobank Ghana Limited and previously as Country and regional Treasury.

The combined Ecobank Ghana and TTB will be the largest bank in Ghana in terms of assets with the largest ATM network and over 70 branches.

The Ecobank Group is delighted to welcome employees, customers and shareholders of The Trust Bank aboard to the Ecobank family.

Furthermore, the Ecobank Group expresses its appreciation to the regulators, shareholders and the Board of Directors of The Trust Bank Ghana Limited for their confidence and support in facilitating this landmark merger.