Young IT enterprisers get boost

Kenya: More than 60 young female entrepreneurs in the technology field benefitted from business development skills share at a workshop dubbed “Who wants to be a tech millionaire”.

Held in Nairobi, the one-day workshop was organised by Pan-African organisation ‘She Leads Africa’ and funded by technology firm Intel.

The young entrepreneurs with various business ideas and start-up businesses benefitted from training whose modules included registration of businesses, conducting market survey and accessing funding.

“The participation of women in tech programmes has been very minimal in the past as men seem to be dominating such events. So it is quite clear that there is a need out there to reach out to women in tech. As Intel, we are looking to offer these women technical training, marketing and creating awareness of their apps ideas,” said Intel East Africa’s Lead for Software and Services Agatha Gikunda.

Share experiences

Media and technology expert Isis Nyong’o and innovator Calvince Okello of M-Shamba application are among those who shared their experiences with participants.

“The purpose of the workshop is to support young women interested in technology to take their ideas and turn them into sustainable businesses,” said She Leads Africa co-founder Ofua Osei, adding that there would be similar workshops in Johannesburg and Lagos later in the year.

Founded in 2014, She Leads Africa is a platform that provides the most talented female entrepreneurs across the continent with access to the knowledge, networks and financing needed to build strong businesses.

“This was a great opportunity and I have learnt so much on how I can take my business to the next level and the relevant technologies from Intel that can propel my business,” said Tamara Nerima, the founder of Kenyacompare.com.