jwesonga

It's hard to believe that it's been exactly 2 years since I released Peupe-this blogging application I'm using right now, the reason I always remember is because I codenamed it Madaraka since it coincided with the madaraka day celebrations.It was an interesting time for me, I had just dived head first into the world of entrepreneurship with the belief and conviction that I would change this continent (I still believe I will in one way or another), I was uneducated in the ways of business but that didn't matter to me because I had the BRING IT ON!! mindset of an aspiring entrepreneur, and Peupe was meant to be the start of many projects that would rock the continent. The next 2 years would be a journey that can't be captured in a blog post.

Now as I look back I realise that I've come a long way, a lot has changed but my core values remain the same especially when it comes to technology,innovation and entrepreneurship. I still believe that Kenyans have the ability,and know-how to develop globally competitive applications that work in this market but that can be adapted for other markets beyond this continent.

I still believe that the challenges of being in a continent that's always known material deficiency, has not only made as stronger but more resilient to the struggles that lay ahead of us.We maximize the little we have because we know we may never get access to it again, just see how far we've come even with poor internet connectivity and access to mobile phones. Simply put when life has given us lemons yet we desired oranges,we've made lemonade.

I still believe that  African technology must go beyond the computer screen,beyond the techie sub-cultures, the confusing acronyms, that it needs to reach out to business and create new opportunities,explore new ideas and empower a new generation business savvy techies, my words back then to the local techie community "..technology/technologists cannot exist in vacuum, it must come together with business...". A sustainable business should never be the after thought of technology enthusiast, but should be at the core of his technology pursuit.

I still believe that innovation will always trump imitation. Africa has always played catch up to the rest of the world, but the internet provides us with the tools and medium to finally make our mark in this world. As we leverage the internet local applications that address the unique challenges that Africa faces, the ingenuity and innovation that is abundant in Africa will go beyond the continent and showcase what we can truly do.

So here I am,typing away at this blog post at 1am, wondering whether in the next 2 years I'll build something that will truly rock the continent, if my beliefs will be the same or will I have changed them to suit the day, who knows, what I do know now is that I STILL BELIEVE..