Entrepreneurs can be compared with painters or writers. Their reputation and understanding of their role for the society is seldom appreciated during the active part of their life. An entrepreneur is very seldom understood for what he is trying to create. The entrepreneur sees something that we, “the other”, don´t see “it” the same way and perhaps we do not value “it” as high as they do.

I am an entrepreneur, and for me it took many years to understand what entrepreneurship meant. After some years of struggle in trying to live a life that I was used to as norm and how everyone around me lived. I understood that being an entrepreneur is not a job; it is a lifestyle, where you, the entrepreneur set the rules and the borders for your life. Prior, the life was set by my parents, my school, my university, and my employers and so on. When I received this insight, I decided to set my own rules and borders achieving a much deeper sense of safety and freedom.

The danger to most entrepreneurs is that, they don´t see this change or they understand this change of mind-set when it’s too late. For many entrepreneurs, they live a life of their choice and try to comply with the rest of the society. A society where entrepreneurs are not part of…. A society where heroes are employed….. Where all the rules are set by people that are employed and do not have the mind set of an entrepreneur….How can this society produce entrepreneurs?

In the early part on 20th century Sweden was very entrepreneurial country and many good business ideas were adopted and companies started growing rapidly. The Swedish entrepreneurial spirit was known worldwide. The Swedish welfare state became a model for many other countries. Today, entrepreneurialism in Sweden is trying to survive. They are not even close to living a life of their dream. They try to survive.  So the questions have to be raised – What has changed? What is it in the Swedish System today that is making it so difficult to produce entrepreneurs? Why is it not a debate on this subject in Sweden?

One of the reasons is the large increase in rules that you need to comply as an entrepreneurs. In today’s Sweden more time is spent on topics outside of the entrepreneurs focus area than on the focus entrepreneurship itself. If Sweden or the rest of the western world would like to produce more entrepreneurs a lot of rules need to be eradicated. It is so complicated to find resources for growth especially in the early phases. Bureaucracy is the enemy of all creativity. In an entrepreneurial friendly society the control system needs to be brought down to a minimum, otherwise the system kills the entrepreneurial spirit that needs to be nurtured in all systems.

Now, if being an entrepreneur is a lifestyle and I strongly belief it is and one that is difficult to understand unless you try to live it. It contains so many areas that are more driven out of the entrepreneur’s heart than from the brain. It is almost impossible to manage entrepreneurship, it needs to be led by the heart and the feelings and the intuition that goes with passion and a strong belief that it will succeed. Without these core principles, entrepreneurship will be just a more difficult word to spell than work. It is up to the entrepreneur to fill it with activities that makes sense for them and for the system that shall be complied.

In words of Michelangelo, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” This needs to be thought about especially when we compare Sweden with the rest of the world. After Second World War; where Sweden was well ahead of the rest of the world. Sweden has only produced 5 global business companies, Gambro, Tetra Pak, IKEA, H&M and …… help me find the fifth or was it only four? During the same period that US created Micro Soft, Apple, Dell, and many other large corporations we only produced 4 or 5. This is big challenge for a small country like Sweden to maintain and even become more entrepreneurial than ever before. It is very difficult to trace any political activity that will boost the spirit in Sweden so that people will move out of the employee false comfort zone and try to live a life like an entrepreneur.

The large corporations in Sweden will not be the engine for new welfare in Sweden, it is only the entrepreneurs that will bring this to Sweden and it is very hard to see that this has been understood by the political systems. A lot of “lip” service but very little in actions that will bring difference to the ones trying to live a life as an entrepreneur. So if you like to try to live this life where do you go? Well my advice is to any emerging market, because they are re-writing their agenda for success and many new avenues are being tested. An emerging market is like a candy story for a child. It has so many opportunities, so which one shall I pick? Goes the question, the art in an emerging market is to act like an adult in a candy store. Pick and chose from a perspective which is the best for YOU.

”Entrepreneurship is living a life of your choice, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” —

As an investor looking to invest in a new country you usually checks three major areas, economics, infrastructure and risk. I will try to help you in trying to find some answers in those areas.

The main questions is why invest in east Africa? and why invest now?

Lets answer this question by citing McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) – ”Africa’s collective economy grew very little during the last two decades of the 20th century. But sometime in the late 1990s, the continent began to stir. GDP growth picked up and then bounded ahead, rising faster and faster through 2008. Today, while Asia’s tiger economies continue to expand rapidly, we foresee the potential rise of economic lions in Africa’s future”.
According to McKinsey Global Institute equals Africa´s GDP in 2008 Brazils or Russia’s at $1.6 trillion. The combined consumer spendings for 2008 exceeds $ 860 billion. Since 2000 has more than 316 million new mobile subscribers. Africa share of the the worlds total amount of uncultivated, arable land is 60%. The number of cities with more than 1 million people is 52 and lastly 20 companies has a revenue of more than $3 billion.

The estimate for 2020 is that Africa´s collective GDP will exceed $2.6 trillion, the consumer spending will exceed $1.4 trillion and 50% of the population will live in cities by 2030.
Kenya and rest of east Africa is at a tipping point and with the support of the global community can become a prosperous nations once again. Business leaders can support the countries in quickly overcoming the hurdles to recovery.

This isn’t just a job for aid organisations and governments. Business can help encourage sustained investment and support all those working for a peaceful, financially secure future for Kenya and in rest of Eastern Africa.
Kenya has a fairly well developed and sophisticated financial sector which is one of the most diversified and developed in sub-Saharan Africa. Indeed Kenya is considered a regional financial hub in this part of Africa.

One an economy is in growth stage 1 the risks are to high and the political systems are so un-stable that it is almost impossible to make a good calculation on a specific investment, but one the political systems has been stabilized and the political equation has been sorted out the economy enters into stage 2. Kenya and east Africa is there right NOW!. Why well see the vision that has been decided for Kenya, labeled Vision 2030. It outlines a very functional and moderns society. The  cost of entering into an economy in early phase of stage 2 is very low.
In growth stage 3 the entry cost is very high, very stable economy that growths at a very slow pace, so the return on investments are very low. 

Kenya and east Africa has sorted out the political equation but a lot of work remains and will create some un-certainties but the overall picture is very promising for investments.
Look only at the opportunities in the financial sector

In spite of its developed form, the financial sector exhibits certain fundamental weaknesses which it needs to address to enable it play its rightful role in the country’s development within the vision 2030 economic blueprint. These weaknesses include among others:
• Exclusion of nearly half of the country’s population from access to financial services.
• The structure of the banking sector whereby a mere 6 out of 43 banks control over 50% of the market for banking business.
• The oligopolistic nature of the banking sector has stifled competition in the sector due to the high entry barriers imposed for new entrants.
The lack of competition has in turn translated into market inefficiencies leading to very high lending rates and other bank charges and negative deposit interest rates. This has further exacerbated the problem of access to banking products and services for those already excluded creating a vicious circle of exclusion for the larger population.
This un-balance in the financial sector is calling for new innovative solutions like the Mobile Money services that is now growing very rapidly throughout eastern Africa and lead by organizations in Kenya.
Today it is possible for Kenyan to pay their services and physical goods using their money transfer account available in their SIM cards, Airlines, hotels, transports shopkeepers, bars, market vendors, apparel dealers all prefer this medium for payments.
A study released last week by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said mobile operators are investing in the field of mobile payment to compete with banks. ” The mobile payment appears to be very interesting sector for investors, particularly for telecom operators and banks” a section of the report said.
USHINDI is Swahili and means Victory but in this context it means transforming communities, changing lives. By igniting entrepreneurs with new insights through coaching and with easy access to capital improved quality of lives will prevail and poverty will finally be eradicated, not through welfare organisations but through Kenyans themselves with support from the global community. USHINDI is a private initiative to invest in mobile money, commercial bank, packaging- and distribution systems for liquidated food like water and milk and much more.

An other very innovative system for up-lifting lives in eastern Africa is the danish company MyC4, head quartered out of Copenhagen Denmark. MYC4 is an online platform that connects people from all over the world with African businesses which lack capital to develop. So far 17,937 investors from 107 countries have invested €12,251,544 in 6,157 businesses in 7 African countries. You can explore more about this innovative company by visit www.myc4.com.
Kenya with it’s main port in Mombasa is supporting the only sea access point of Uganda, Rwanda and the soon to be independent South Sudan who are all landlocked. This means that all export and imports from those growing economies needs to be transported through Kenya.

An other important good indicator of general standards of living is the fact that life expectancy is about 60 years which is among the highest in Subsaharan Africa. 
Finally on the political risk front, we should mention the new constitution that was voted overwhelmingly in  a fair, internationally undisputed referendum. It is by far the most liberal in Africa, modelled on the US constitution, guarantees right to property, independent legislation and judiciary and establishes checks and balances for the government. In the few months in operation it has helped to uncover many abuses of power and a significant number of powerful politicians were removed on charges of corruption.
The time is now and IGNITE your self and start investing through our platforms, it is time to goMANGO.
That is why it is important to invest in Kenya and east Africa now.
Contact us now!

Kenya and rest of east Africa is at a tipping point and with the support of the global community can become a prosperous nations once again. Business leaders can support the countries in quickly overcoming the hurdles to recovery.

This isn’t just a job for aid organisations and governments. Business can help encourage sustained investment and support all those working for a peaceful, financially secure future for Kenya and in rest of Eastern Africa.

Kenya has a fairly well developed and sophisticated financial sector which is one of the most diversified and developed in sub-Saharan Africa. Indeed Kenya is considered a regional financial hub in this part of Africa.

In spite of its developed form, the financial sector exhibits certain fundamental weaknesses which it needs to address to enable it play its rightful role in the country’s development within the vision 2030 economic blueprint. These weaknesses include among others:

•    Exclusion of nearly half of the country’s population from access to financial services.

•    The structure of the banking sector whereby a mere 6 out of 43 banks control over 50% of     the market for banking business.

•    The oligopolistic nature of the banking sector has stifled competition in the sector due to     the high entry barriers imposed for new entrants.

The lack of competition has in turn translated into market inefficiencies leading to very high lending rates and other bank charges and negative deposit interest rates. This has further exacerbated the problem of access to banking products and services for those already excluded creating a vicious circle of exclusion for the larger population.
This un-balance in the financial sector is calling for new innovative solutions like the Mobile Money services that is now growing very rapidly throughout eastern Africa and lead by organizations in Kenya.

Today it is possible for Kenyan to pay their services and physical goods using their money transfer account available in their SIM cards, Airlines, hotels, transports shopkeepers, bars, market vendors, apparel dealers all prefer this medium for payments.

A study released last week by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said mobile operators are investing in the field of mobile payment to compete with banks. ” The mobile payment appears to be very interesting sector for investors, particularly for telecom operators and banks” a section of the report said.

One of the Kenyan companies active in the mobile money sector is USHINDI Mobile Money (UMM) who started in August and is based on Christian values. The aim of Ushindi  is to help commercial investors and philanthropists to find business and support social development, providing a safe haven for investment and to ignite local entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

USHINDI is Swahili and means Victory but in this context it means transforming communities, changing lives. By igniting entrepreneurs with new insights through coaching and with easy access to capital improved quality of lives will prevail and poverty will finally be eradicated, not through welfare organisations but through Kenyans themselves with support from the global community.

The Rotary eClub of London Centenary are starting a project to collect used mobile phones among members of different Rotary clubs. After collecting the phones the Rotary eClub will deliver them to Ushindi Mobile Money in Kenya so that they can give these used phones to people in the rural part of Kenya, so that they ca start up-lifting their lives.

Other innovative solution for mobile sector are solar powered wifi hotspots allow users to help the environment, generate their own power, reduce their electricity bill and get online at the same time!

Installation of the solar panels can easily be achieved via mounting a panel or series of panels on the roof or placed in a window. These panels are then either connected to the electrical grid or a battery bank which is then connected to a wireless hotspot.

In daytime hours, the solar panel alone will be enough to power the wireless internet hotspot, with any extra power it is possible to  generate returning to the grid. This means that people can save and earn money while surfing the internet via solar powered wifi hotspot.

Alternatively, a solar panel connected to a battery bank means that the extra power generated through the solar panel can be stored in the bank for times when a demand for power excists without the sun’s assistance e.g. wet/stormy days and night time.

A battery bank is ideal in the bush/countryside where there is more room to store the amount of batteries needed to store the solar energy acquired by the panel e.g. rural areas, golf courses, parks and resorts etc.

This digital kiosks will also be a loading spot for loading mobile phones in the rural areas of eastern Africa. The UMM Outlets or digital kiosks will be widely spread over the whole of Kenya.

According to a release from Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development; The first solar-powered Rural Internet Kiosk, aimed at empowering rural African youth through Internet access, has been installed in Kenya.
The Rural Internet Kiosk (RIK) is a completely self-contained self-service solution for providing access to computers and the Internet, and the RIK project is working to bring the kiosks to rural people throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

A community-based organisation will own and operate the Rural Internet Kiosk, with training, support and volunteers from Voices of Africa. The Rural Internet Kiosk is a product of Intersat Africa Ltd., which is providing the first year of bandwidth at no cost. The funding for this project was provided by the Internet Society through their Community Grants initiative.
Rural Internet Kiosks (RIK) is a Kenyan-based organisation that manufactures and distributes movable, recyclable, cost-effective kiosks that operate with satellite connectivity and solar energy to enable rural communities to access the internet.


The initiative uses software provided by Userful and internet connectivity provided by InterSat Africa. The internet kiosks are being distributed in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia providing rural communities with access to information on agriculture, health, the environment, and e-governance. Communication StrategiesRural Internet Kiosks produces kiosks that are independent, freestanding booths functioning on solar power and other forms of renewable energy. Each kiosk houses three energy-efficient personal computers. The kiosks are modelled on user-friendly software and hardware, and are manufactured and assembled in a ‘knock-down’ format, enabling them to be easily transported and set up in even very rugged regions.
The kiosks have been designed to give access to all users, including children and the disabled. According to RIK, they are also working on ways to use portable USB pen screen readers and accessible websites, which will help the visually impaired access information. Screen readers could also help people who can understand, but not necessarily read, English.
The kiosks are designed to promote entrepreneurship and electronic service delivery within rural and urban settings, and in turn help in e-commerce, e-education, e-health, and e-governance. The organisers say that the kiosks have helped farmers obtain regular updates on weather patterns and produce prices, thereby expanding their revenue. Business start-ups have been able to exploit digital multimedia advertising.
The Internet kiosks are helping government agencies to create awareness concerning health and environment and reach out to local communities. Through the use of multi-media information outlets, communities can also access information about infectious diseases such as malaria, polio, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. The kiosks also create platforms for the promotion of tele-medicine, which is still in its infancy in most African countries.
The kiosks use the open-source Ubuntu Linux operating system, as well as other open-source software. They utilise virtualisation technology, which allows for up to 10 uses to share a single PC.

The UMM is also supporting the Uza Mazao trading platform. This innovative schema will enable the users to meet, negotiate and transact directly with clients without having to leave the base of operations. The users can sell and source both within Kenya and with people in the global community as long as they subscribe to the UMM system.

By simply sending a SMS text to a short code number with the details of the produce that the user wants to sell or buy. The user will get a response from the Uza Mazao system that will closely match the users criteria. The Uza Mazao system wi ideal for framers in rural Africa and is geared to help them raise their economic livelihoods by sourcing markets for their produce and cutting out exploitative middlemen.

An other very innovative system for up-lifting lives in eastern Africa is the danish company MyC4, head quartered out of Copenhagen Denmark. MYC4 is an online platform that connects people from all over the world with African businesses which lack capital to develop. So far 17,937 investors from 107 countries have invested €12,251,544 in 6,157 businesses in 7 African countries. You can explore more about this innovative company by visit www.myc4.com

The Rotary eClub Centenary is looking for other Rotary Clubs that are willing to collect used mobile phones and by doing this helping people in the rural Kenya to up-lift their respective lives. If you have any questions please contact goran@mango4u.com

IGNITE your self and start finding used phones.