VC4 Africa Meetup - Dar es Salaam

Believing that entrepreneurship is the key driver for the continent’s growth and development, in particular small and medium sized enterprises ( SMEs) that provide most of Africa’s employment, income and hope for a better future. VC4 Africa, an online platform for networking and linking entrepreneurs and investors began to explore physical networking opportunities of which the first meetup for Dar es Salaam was done in September, 2012 with approximately 15 people who attended the event. The meetup included entrepreneurs and employees who work in the corporate field but joined the VC4 Africa network because of their zeal to in the near future become entrepreneurs and become part of the Tanzania’s reason to a greater economy through entrepreneurship. Earlier last week, the second VC4 Africa meet up was held at Brajec Mikocheni with a lesser turnout but quite an interesting dialogue. Abdul Kannady, the CEO of The Footprint that has worked with several NGOs though their work as Social Marketers said “The sector in Tanzania still has a gap in the energy sector, in particular renewable energy.” He added that the house of parliament passed an act in 2008 where the generation of electricity was liberalized and it allowed any Tanzanian to generate electricity either by connecting it to the national grid or independently. The government agency called REA (Rural Energy Agency) are allocated funds and can give an individual up to $100,000 to provide electricity. The attendees at the VC4 meetup agreed that there was not enough awareness regarding the renewable energy and what Tanzanians can do to improve the energy status in Tanzania. We can go on to talk about all the setbacks such as bureaucracy, corruption and the likes but if we do not speak about it nothing can be done. VC4 Dar es Salaam was also graced by a student from the University of Dar es Salaam studying BA in Computer Science. He also creates mobile applications for Nokia; Mussa Kimulo explained that he gained an interest in the programme of Java that allowed him to make mobile application for Nokia only. He was asked why he did not make applications for brands such as Iphone and Blackberry. He answered that his main interest lied in Java only. He later said that he had taken part in the competition ran by Vodacom Tanzania that required him to create mobile applications but until to date he has not received any feedback on the stage in the competition that he had reached. Mr. Peter Mallanga, Director of Programme at Investours Tanzania that are a start-up non-profit organization that combine the power of microfinance and tourism in the form of microfinance tours. They are located in Dar es Salaam as a local office and have been working to help local entrepreneurs for about 2 years now. Mr. Mallanga added “We will soon be joining forces with a tour agency in The Netherlands that will be sending tourists to Tanzania. This not only helps us with our role though Investours but also increases the country’s economy as Tourism is one of the sources of income for Tanzania. The most interesting part of the evening was the Alcohol Rehabilitation for a better future organization that are situated in Pugu that was graced by Nelisa Philip who is currently combating her addiction with Alcohol by designing shoes and selling them as a business and also attending seminars run by the organization. We asked her whether the business was helping her with her addiction to alcohol and she said that “it helps a little to keep her busy as she is also employed with a telephone company in Dar es Salaam as a data entry typist”. Charles Maganga who runs the organization explained to us that inside the organization you have addicts who also use locally brewed alcohol such as Gongo, Alcohol made out of coconuts etc. On the 29th of November they will be launching a seminar in Manzese where they will be speaking with several addicts on different aspects, businesses that can help them do something instead of going to drink. By Myoma N Kapya – Bizquest Consultancy

About Venture Capital for Africa ( www.vc4africa.biz) Venture Capital for Africa better known as VC4 Africa is the continent’s leading founder’s network, the largest and fastest growing community of entrepreneurs and investors building promising companies in Africa. The focus is connecting people and ideas on a peer-to-peer level: they are the only open and accessible platform dedicated to the subject and our network of entrepreneurs and investors extends to more than 159 countries around the world. The community currently supports more than 400 + ventures in more than 30 African countries. Already entrepreneurs have been featured in mainstream media, established joint ventures and secured funding. VC4Africa makes use of open source technology and the community is free to join. The system and tools are designed to leverage the power of the crowd, tapping the combined knowledge and resources that exist across the member base. The VC4Africa network is open in nature and fosters a supportive learning environment that is conducive to healthy networking.