Kuramo Capital is expressing interest in purchasing 12% of Kenyan-based digital micro-lender, Pezesha African LTD. The firm had earlier this year (August) participated in a Pezesha seed-round through its Consonance Kuramo Special Opportunities Fund I.

Pezesha, founded in 2016, has since carved a niche for itself as a value-chain financial marketplace, designed to provide financial education to borrowers, as well as walk them through a seamless credit-scoring process, that ultimately qualifies them for loans.

The online microlender matches lenders with creditworthy albeit low-income micro businesses.

If your home or office is plagued by cables, you’re going to want to consider undertaking cable management. It takes minimal effort, but the benefits it can deliver are huge. Here, you’ll discover why cable management is important and how to incorporate it into your space.

What is cable management?
Cable management is the process of correctly storing and managing cables in order to improve safety and make it easier to maintain them as and when it’s needed. There are several ways to manage the cables in your home or office and there are also a number of reasons why it’s important. It takes much less effort than you might think too, so what benefits could it provide?

What are the benefits?
The two main benefits of cable management include:

No risk of switching anything off.
It removes a potential tripping hazard.

At some point, you’re going to need to access the cables, whether it’s to upgrade your existing connections or to repair faulty cables. If they aren’t managed correctly, there is a good chance you could end up pulling the incorrect cable out, accidentally disconnecting some of your devices. This can prove disastrous if it’s a cable to your computer system! Cable management can help you to prevent this from ever becoming a problem.
The fact it removes a tripping hazard is also a great benefit too. A trip or fall over a cable could prove particularly nasty. So, it’s worth investing in good cable management for these two benefits alone.

How to manage your cables
Managing your cables is a lot easier than you might think. You can pick up everything you need from a company such as RS Components. Then, once you have the correct tools, you can focus on getting the cables off the floor and under the table.
There are lots of ways to do this including running them under the floor, ensuring the cables are separated with cable ties and labelling them so you know which cables go where. It’s also recommended that you manage the cables within the actual computer system, as well as outside of it.
Not only does cable management enhance safety and reliability, but it also looks better too. So, if you’re looking to create a safe, clean working environment, cable management is crucial. It costs little to set up and could save you a lot of time, money and stress in the long-term.

The world of work is changing. We all know this. To a certain extent the world in which people entered into a trade at 16 and stayed in this job for the rest of their life are gone, for better or worse. However, due to the rise in technology and the changing world we now have huge opportunities in emerging fields to look forward to in our work life, as well as the chance to constantly update our skill set. One of these new fields is Esports. You may be wondering what kind of careers are available in this relatively young industry.

First of all, you could work on the games themselves. This section of the industry includes but is not limited to gamer, those who play the games (yes it’s the stuff of dreams to be a professional gamer), and it also involves developing the games. For example, you may compose the music for the games, or develop and create the games, or even create the artwork. These jobs can be quite lucrative, and obviously require you to be creative and to have technical knowledge of games or some other form of specialist knowledge. Another dream job within the industry is to be a games tester. Just think, you could earn around £60,000 for playing games!

Aside from actually working on the games themselves, the other main sector of the industry involves organising and hosting the events in which people play the games. For example, you could organise the gaming events, including hiring the venues and marketing them. For this, you would need events and marketing experience. Likewise, you could be in charge of developing the merchandise for such events, for which you would need a similar set of skills.

As we said, the world of work is changing. To say you worked in the Esports industry only a few years ago would be akin to saying you had just arrived from Mars! However, now there are real opportunities in this industry if you have the right skills and qualification.

To find out more about these exciting careers, see this infographic.

Safaricom has now introduced Zuri, an AI chatbot for customer care which Safaricom users can interact with on Telegram and Facebook Messenger.

Zuri enables Safaricom mobile data users to manage their subscription services: they can view their subscriptions and unsubscribe from chargeable SMS services. Zuri can also handle M-PESA queries such as transaction reversals, data bundle purchases, airtime top up and checking M-PESA and airtime balances

Safaricom Chief Customer Officer, Sylvia Mulinge said, “We are continually working to provide the best experience to our customers by investing in technology and products that are designed to give them more choice and control. Zuri will add to the already existing self-care options we have including USSD and mySafaricom app. Using AI, Zuri will be able to constantly evolve and learn from the interactions it has with customers in order to provide accurate responses.”

In addition to the mentioned features, Zuri also provides information on how to retrieve your PUK number, unlock your M-PESA account, and even how to get a loan.

ERP is the abbreviation for Enterprise Resource Planning. Even with this definition, it is still not clear what ERP is, and what the applications for it are. If the information about it on the internet seems overwhelming, fret not, we will explain it to you in the simplest language possible.
The central processes required to run a business effectively are human resource, finance, sales, marketing, customer service, inventory management among others. An ERP system integrates and, streamlines all these core functions of a business into a single system. The automation and computerization of these processes help to increase efficiency. Improved efficiency in a company almost always results in profits.

Integration is only the primary level. Most ERP systems can provide intelligence and analytics that informs the various decisions the business undertakes. An ERP system is also capable of facilitating the flow of information across departments in real time.

Here are 6 tips on selecting the right ERP for your business:
1. Business needs
Every business has its own specific requirements that must be met for the business to continue growing. While it is true that ERPs generally integrate all the company’s core processes, they are highly customizable and can be easily adjusted to suit the business needs.
Always inquire if the ERP you are looking to purchase can meet the specific needs of your business. It would be best if you never altered your business needs, and goals, because a new system has been introduced.

2. Budget
Every investment should be carefully thought out. Crunching the numbers to determine the return on investment (ROI) is something all business people do. For ERP software, you need to factor in implementation, installation, and maintenance costs.
Choosing cheaper software may not always be the best idea. For example, you may find that cheaper ERP software requires intensive training that may be costly to obtain.

3. Customization
As earlier stated, ERP for manufacturing systems are highly customizable; different industries have unique requirements. Those in retail will require a different ERP to those in education.
Therefore, if you have highly complex processes, you will need an ERP that can be customized to support all those processes.

4. Easy to update
Let’s face it. The technology world is constantly changing, and so do their products. In fact, these companies have departments dedicated to this very task. Thus, an update to a system is almost inevitable.
You will never be able to get the maximum potential out of an outdated system. Also, you may experience errors trying to complete common actions. It is, therefore, critical to know the procedure of updating an ERP system whenever an update is released. Ensure that you also find out if there is a cost involved.

5. Accessibility on portable devices
ERP software that can only be used on a desktop is very restrictive. Many companies have embraced mobile devices that can be used by employees on the go. This accessibility on different devices makes the use of new systems seem less daunting as it is generally a pleasant experience using tablets and Smartphones.
It is imperative that you find ERP software that can be used on multiple devices. The system should be device friendly.

6. Company size
Some ERP systems are better suited for larger organizations, while others are better suited to smaller organizations. Most solution providers often have a list of companies currently using their services.
You can explore this in detail to determine the sizes of the company, and then make the decision based on that information.
Use these six tips on selecting the right ERP for your business to make an informed decision!

Equity Group is set to launch an online foreign exchange platform for SMEs and large corporates dubbed EazzyFX. The platform main aim is to improve the experience of buying and selling foreign currency. The platform will ensure traders will not need to make transactions via phone or face to face, as well as ascertain access to competitive prices on major traded currencies. Equity Bank MD, Polycarp Igathe said, “In eliminating the need for face-to-face transactions, businesses are assured of greater ease in buying and selling foreign currencies without being restricted by geography and time. Our platform promises speed, convenience, security and gives our SME and Corporate customers access to the best deals in the market.”

The platform also features real-time streaming access and prompt tailored request-for-quotation services. It also has a dahsboard from which users can customize their profiles.

EazzyFX is currently accessible via the web, however, Equity says the platform will be integrated into the Eazzy Banking app in early 2019.
In future, EazzyFX will be rolled out for use in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and DRC.

Safaricom has partnered with Commercial Bank of Africa to launch Fuliza, a new M-Pesa feature which should complement the existing 30-day loans offered via M-Shwari. Fuliza will allow MPesa users to complete transactions even with insufficient balance in their M-Pesa wallet.

THe new feature aims to reduce the daily rate of failed mobile money transactions due to insufficient funds. These tranactions currently account for 58% of all transactions on the platform.

Isaac Awuondo, CBA Group Managing Director said, “Our continued collaboration with Safaricom aims to drive financial inclusion in a digital economy. With our technological innovation and responsible lending principles, we will advertently bring more people into the financial system, encourage more transactions, more savings and, ultimately achieve stronger economic growth.”

How will Fuliza work? Customers whose Lipa na M-PESA transactions are more than the amount currently sitting in their M-PESA wallet to complete transaction with the benefit of the Fuliza limit for an access fee of 0.5%. Subsequently, a daily 0.5% maintenance fee is charged for each day the wallet remains overdrawn.
The overdrawn balance and fees are removed from the customers M-Pesa wallet whenever a deposit is made.

During the period within which your M-Pesa wallet is overdrawn,you will still have access to their M-Shwari limit.

Fuliza will be availabale to all Safaricom’s M-Pesa customers who have been active for at least 6 months and maintain a good M-Shwari credit score. It will be offered via the mobile money app and My Safaricom App.

Interested customers are required to dial *234# and agree to the presented Fuliza Terms and Conditions. You do not necessarily have to be an existing M-Shwari customer in order to benefit from this service.

You can’t just grow your business on Instagram without planning.

You need to plan, be strategic and then get to action. You ought to know what your niche will be then plan your content accordingly. People usually think that all you need to do is post photos of your product and then you get traction. However, there is actually a strategy and plan that you need to put to place, try everything on this article and see if it will work.

1. Connect it to your other social networks

You’re aiming to market your product and if you can do it on several platforms at the same time the better. Twitter and Facebook would be preferable as they all have large audiences. That way, any image you share on Instagram will automatically post to those profiles, and people can click to see your Instagram stream, like an image, comment on it, or follow your brand.

2. Post good photos of your product

People are very visual, if you have a good phone it is time to make use of it and take good pictures. Post good and clear photos, hire a photographer if you have to because people are quite visual and don’t forget that.

3. Use hashtags

Because people sort images by hashtags, you have the opportunity to reach even more new followers by using one that relates to your image. You can also find people to follow by searching relevant hashtags.

4. Respond to comments and interact with your fans

Don’t leave your comments unanswered, talk to your fans ask them what they like and don’t be rude. Be professional and helpful this will help you create a relationship with your fans and will help you out later.

5. Be consistent

Just like with any social media site, consistency is key. Get into a regular cadence of posting pictures so you stay in front of your audience and they know when to expect new content from you.

Everyone knows that when you educate a girl you have educated a whole community.

This is why Maneo Mapharisa is is giving young women and girl opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) she does this through her academy Girls Coding Academy. By doing so, the organisation’s 7 co-founders are making a tangible and lasting contribution to the reduction of the gender gap in Lesotho. Girls have always been socialized to like the arts and stay away from “boys” subjects such as the Sciences, the kind that are said to be hard. But recently, girls have also been challenged to try something new and they are astounding.

Girls Coding Academy is a startup movement founded by 7 women within the Computer Science field.

They were part of the female 2017 Africa Code Week team trainers and from that training they were inspired to start their own academy. The academy is dedicated to educating, mentoring, innovating and equipping young women and girls with technological skills by club program, campus program and summer immersion. Their mission is to reduce the gender gap by engaging and encouraging young women and girls to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths or STEM fields.

The academy has encouraged many girls to reach their full potential.

A potential that would not be unlocked in a normal academy. They offer a range of one-on-one sessions, group sessions, computer skills sessions for women, summer and winter coding camps, and school coding clubs. So far the startup has 7 Basotho women within the Computer Science field with both local and international exposure and experience in the same fields.

Their mission is to reduce the gender gap by engaging and encouraging young women and girls to participate in Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths or STEM fields.

A country with no health care system is basically a lost one.

This is why when we get people who create an easier way to access a healthcare system we tend to be impressed. The chances are that in our increasingly busy lives, we will need to get health advice and information at short notice and potentially outside of usual medical practitioner hours or without having to wait for clinic appointments, meaning that an alternative is required. South African techpreneur, Gaby Lobban, founder of Zumbudda, knows this scenario only too well as a busy working mother of three children. Her website offers real-time e-chats with expert healthcare professionals is providing a great and innovative solution.

Her company is a unique one and a growing one in the market.

Zumbudda is a technology company which has launched a website offering REAL-Time eChats with healthcare professionals (Experts) to people looking for advice. More personal than a Google search and more specialised than a helpline. The technology used is proprietary software which allows the Expert to charge a set rate per minute and anyone can sign up to chat using credits purchased through an approved payment gateway like PayPal. Practitioners know their limits of care so they are very wary and conservative in their approach to eVisits but they often consult on the phone for minor problems so all this does is move the call to an online text chat which is billed per minute. This also ensures both parties have a record of their conversation which they can keep on file for future reference.

Where does Zumbuda usually come in?

Many people are worried about receiving a diagnosis over the internet, but this is not the purpose of the website. Advice could include questions about a health issue or to get clarity on a medication or even confirm if you need to go seek a face-to-face consultation urgently. When your own practitioner is unavailable often there isn’t a relationship with another Expert so Zumbudda could be a plan B or a second opinion.  A lot of working mothers and single fathers would benefit from this website but it could be for anybody, young or old seeking healthcare advice.

Why is such a site an accomplishment?

The reality is, it’s better to have an expert to communicate with than even Googling symptoms online. This has obviously created jobs in the healthcare industry and it’s great because experts are selected through a quality assurance process and they also have to sign up and become members which ensures that they are registered with the relevant regulating body or council. Experts can work more flexible hours and manage their office hours more efficiently by being available online to their clients after hours or during non-peak periods.

Kwese TV is, or should I say was a subscription-based Zimbabwean satellite and broadcasting network owned by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, under Econet Media.

The service was officially shut down on the 1st of November, 2018, barely 2 years after its initial launch. Parent company, Econet Media, is shifting its focus to the latest digital and satellite broadcasting trends.

Kwese, which has been available in several African countries will now focus on three other brands; Kwese Free Sports, video-on-demand business Kwese Iflix and streaming service Kwese Play businesses.

Group President and Chief Executive of Econet Media, Joe Hundah, says the business’ is repositioning in response to market trends. “We believe these changes will safeguard the future success of our business as we continue to make an indelible impact on Africa’s media industry. The revised business strategy will also ensure that Kwesé TV continues to remain competitive within the industry,” said Mr Hundah.

In a statement, the firm said it will be reviewing its operational structures across all markets where Kwesé TV has a presence and the move may lead to changes on the firm’s various departments.

“Refocusing our business offering across markets, is a strategic move which aligns our business to Over The Top (OTT-streaming services) and video-on-demand trends which present significant growth opportunities for Kwesé. This renewed focus on digital services will see us provide new compelling offers for our customer’s enjoyment,” added Mr Hundah.

Subscribers of Kwese satellite TV will access free-to-air (FTA) stations only after the firm did away with third-party channels.

For close to a year Cameroon has been in a tense state on the political front. The government has toggled the internet on and off in the country in order to keep misinformation and animosity in check. Despite the adverse situation, Cameroon-based Zuoix developed an innovative offline tracking mechanism for use by vehicle owners. The tracking system, Zoomed, has since won a prestigious award in the country for innovation and is currently in use by several individuals and companies. TechMoran spoke to Zuoix CEO Zuo Bruno about the company, its journey so far and plans for the future.

Tell us about yourselves; your team, your educational and professional backgrounds, and your journey with Zuoix so far
Firstly I want to thank you for inviting me into this forum. It is a great pleasure for me and the entire Zuoix team to be with you. Well, my name is Zuo Bruno, Founder and CEO of Zuoix which is an Offensive Information Security Company based in Limbe, Cameroon I am 34 years old today, happily married too. My team is made up of young and talented people, I work with Fergus Assam, Numfor Bridget, Tabot Ebai, Zuo Patience (My Wife), Dieter Trapp and Blaise Amadou amongst others, we work with a number of local electricians too.

How would you best describe Zuoix briefly, what does it do? Tell us about your product Zoomed?
ZUOIX is an Offensive Information Security company found in Limbe, Cameroon. The company quickly gained grounds in Silicon Mountain Ecosystem where it offered free Cyber Forensics Classes and other training mostly for free. Just like ZOOMED, we have other successful projects like RAfrica (listen to free radio stations across Africa via any smart device), GCE Helper (facilitates students writing the Cameroon Government Common Entrance Advanced and Ordinary Level pass with good grades), SOS (Smart Office Security ; a home/office building security system based on SMS) and ongoing projects like Crime Line and Motrix.
ZOOMED stands for ZUOIX Object Oriented Motor Electronic Device. It is a car security system that makes use of the SMS platform, GPS technology, Bluetooth and many modern technologies to secure cars. ZOOMED works solely by sending SMS commands from your existing mobile device such as your mobile phone (Any Type) Smart Watches, laptops, Fixed Phones or tablets, to your fleet of cars. ZOOMED makes use of specific SMS commands to carry our different functions on your fleet or car which include the following:

GPS Location
Geofencing
Voice Surveillance
Two-way Calling
Overspeeding Checks, alerts and analysis
Immobilisation
Ignition Alert
SOS Alarm with Artificial Intelligence
Accident Prediction and Prevention
Fuel Management / consumption Analysis
Location History
No Internet Required
Each car is secured with a password allowing only the car owner to carry out specific functions. Our team is constantly working on the clock to make ZOOMED a better service for use in Cameroon and across Africa.

What market gap did you spot that motivated you to start this company?
Honestly, I was motivated to create this application because of the disconnection of the internet from the English speaking regions of Cameroon, during this time a lot of people I knew lost their cars even though they had subscribed for Car security companies, some paying up to $500 just for installation fees and as high as $50 USD for monthly maintenance fees. However, when these cars were stolen, the owners could not recover them, the reason being that these systems relied entirely on internet connectivity, and once they were taken out of the country, the internet settings would change making it impossible for these cars to connect back to their owners. So, I immediately recognised that this was a problem and I wanted to solve it with technology. Another reason was the high cost of securing cars which excluded the average Cameroonian from enjoying the service, I thought that an SMS based system will be cheaper and also the internet services were difficult for some people to understand and use but SMS is easier and covers a wide area of the territory across the country and Africa at large.

Who is your target market?
Our target market is anybody who needs to secure any Automobile (Vehicles, Yacht, Ships, Motorbikes, just to name a few.). Anybody who wants a very good security system on their Automobiles. This includes but not limited to logistics companies, transport agencies and motor taxi operators even delivery companies and governments

How does your company make money?
Well, for now, we make money from selling our products to our loyal customers. We charge very low (since SMS is cheaper in Africa than the internet) we charge an installation fee from $100 USD and a monthly maintenance fee which can be paid daily of 17 US cents or monthly from $6

Who would you say is your major competition in this space at the moment?
We have a lot of competitors, all car tracking companies in Cameroon and Africa are our competitors. The difference though is that while all of our competitors secure cars using the internet (which is available to only 13% of the African population) we are making use of SMS which is available to more than 76% of the population and by extension we cover more territory just by using SMS.

What is your vision for the company in the next 5 years? What is your plan for expansion? Any new products coming soon?
Definitely, expand. Move to a much bigger office and employ a lot of people. We plan to make not only Africa but the world a better place. We want to have a major influence on the development of Africa as a whole and the world at large. Currently we have Four (04) projects we are currently working on and we hope that in a short while we will be able to put them in the market, The first is SMS Office Security (SOS) which will secure homes and offices using SMS, We are also working on a Fishing application which will allow local fishermen to locate fish in rivers, lakes and coastlines using SMS. We are also testing out Crime Prediction with SMS with an Application code-named CrimeLine and Lastly Motrix, a custom-made device for convoy security.

At the moment, how do you measure your own success? What are your metrics?
Well, we are doing quite well at the moment and if we are to scale we need to do even better. We currently have 105 paying client of which 90 are champions (Clients really dedicated to the product) we have a total of 612 individual installations and currently available in Cameroon, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Congo Kinshasha, Benin and hoping to scale even more to other markets, we have a 2% churn rate which is pretty good for a startup like us.

What advice would you give to upcoming entrepreneurs?
Failure is not a crime and it should not stop you, you have to be self-motivating, pushful and never give up. Like they always say; Good Things Takes Time, and I will tell them to always remember that they owe their innovation to Africa, it is their responsibility.

In the wake of mobile money interoperability, MPesa has found more ways to expand its reach and tighgrab a larger share of the money transfer market. Safaricom has partnered with Western Union to make cash transfers overseas easier for MPesa users. This new deal was signed this Tuesday.

MPesa subscribers will be able to send and receive money from their mobile phones to individuals across the world, an expansion from the previously select 45 countries established in 2011. The firms had been working on the deal since July of 2017.

The partnership will see the more than 21 million of the globally-acclaimed mobile money service subscribers send a maximum of KES70,000 daily to family, friends and business partners abroad through the 500,000 plus Western Union’s agents in close to 200 countries.

Western Union’s regional vice president for Southern, East and Anglophone West Africa Richard Malcom said, “This is real a game-changer, a first one in the world for us,” Mr Malcom said. “Kenyans who have children studying abroad can now send them money directly from M-Pesa in case of an emergence such as medical.”

“M-Pesa is one of the greatest export. It has become part of our social fabric with 17 million customers now transacting on M-Pesa daily,” said Safaricom’s Chief Customer Officer Sylvia Mulinge said during the launch of the service in Nairobi.

Smartphone users on Android have to refresh their M-Pesa app to access the service under M-Pesa Global, while it may take up to four days from Tuesday for iPhone users to access it, Ms Mulinge said. Those with feature phones can access the service by dialling *840#.

The service will cost between a minimum of Sh100 for a transaction of up to Sh5,000 and Sh500 for remitting offshore more than Sh35,000, Safaricom said.

In light of the Presidents recent crackdown on tax evaders, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced its search for areas where it can apply blockchain technology for tax administration with the help of the Blockchain and AI Taskforce.

The authority’s Commissioner for Strategy and Innovation, Mohammed Omar, said at the 2018 Tax Summit in Nairobi, that KRA is in talks with a various stakeholders including telcos, the National Transport and Safety Authority and Kenya Power to work out a strategy to create a data pool that will be used to nab tax evaders.

A recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) notes that while blockchain is not a solution to all the problems in the tax system, it could potentially be applied to reduce the administrative burden and collect tax at a lower cost, helping to narrow the tax gap.

Blockchain identity platforms have several uses, among them tax filing and regulatory enforcement. Corporates, government tax administrations, and tax advisory organisations could all be potential beneficiaries of this revolutionary technology.

BeBlocky is a gamified programming learning app for children between the ages of 6-13. It sets out to teach children the basics of programming and robotics in fun and interactive way. BeBlocky harnesses the power of Augmented Reality(AR) to project a programmable friendly robot, BlockyBot(left on the picture), into the real world. BeBlocky uses a drag-and-drop blocked based programming language which enables the children to creatively stack together programming components, such as actions, events and operations, and program BlockyBot. TechMoran spoke to BeBlocky to learn more about their business and their vision towards steering kids into technology in a fun-fueled way.

Tell us about yourselves; your team, your educational and professional backgrounds, and your journey with BeBlocky so far
My Name is Nathan Damtew. I was born and raised in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. I’m a 21year old recent graduate, class of 2018, from College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University with bachelors in Computer Science . Ever since I was a kid, I love playing digital games, usually on my computer. But I never had the chance to learn programming until 11th grade in my high school, Saint Joseph.

Back when I first joined college in 2014, it has always bothered me why most of my classmates had trouble programming a simple “Hello Wold” app. Then later in 2017, 3 years into college, I’ve realized ,on a family holiday gathering, my cousins, who were only 10/11 by then playing Clash of Clan, a game that confuses me to this day on. So I thought if kids can understand game as complicated as Clash of Clans, they can also understand programming. That was my eureka moment. That’s when BeBlocky was born.

How would you best describe BeBlocky briefly, what does it do?
BeBlocky is a gamified programming learning app for children. It’s sets out to teach basics of programming in a fun and interactive way. It will enable kids to creatively stack together puzzle like graphical programming blocks to program BlockyBot, a friendly programmable robot. This way kids will grasp the basics of programming and also develop new ways of thinking and advance them in valuable skills.
My journey with BeBlocky . . .
It’s been almost over a year since I started working on BeBlocky. Ever since then I’ve been wearing different hats and played different roles. While BeBlocky was still at it’s early stage, I had some trouble finding the right partner. Later on I’ve decided to proceed solo hoping the right partner will come as time goes on. Now our team ranges from, 3D motion designer to programmer to business developer.
Within the past few months BeBlocky has been gaining a lot of attention. So far, BeBlocky has been nominated by World Summit Award as the best and innovative digital solution in Learning and Education from Ethiopia and recently BeBlocky made it among the finalists in AppAfrica Innovation Awards. I’ve have been accepted in Reach for Change incubator program and Tony Elumelu Foundation program.
BeBlocky has been demonstrated for over 2000 individuals on different occasions including in the Ethiopian National ICT expo 2018. It’s currently available on our website and soon to be launched on Google Play Store.

What market gap did you spot that motivated you to start this company?
There is a growing understanding that knowing how to program is essential, especially for younger generations. According to code.org, the number of jobs requiring basic programming skills within the next 5-10 years will reach 1.5 million. Yet coding is an invaluable skill that not enough people in the workforce master in Africa. Less than 1 percent of children in Africa currently leave school with basic coding skills. Ethiopia is among the least represented countries in this digital world. One of the main reasons for Ethiopian’s under-representation in the digital field is the absence of opportunities for its youth to learn and equip themselves with the skills to contribute to the digital development. Neither Ethiopia nor the rest of Africa is ready to this digital shift.
Kids now a days are growing up in a very different world than it was few years before, with cellphones, tablets, digital games embedded in their daily lives. We’re living in a digital world and it’s only going to grown in the future. So if math and science are taught to children to help them understand the world we’re living in, coding should be taught too. Although it is one thing for them to know how to use this technologies, it’s another, however to understand the logic behind them. These children must be able to not only passively consume these technologies but also become innovators and creators of it.

Who is your target market?
BeBlocky is essentially made for primary school children (aged between 6-13), but anyone who’d want to learn basics of programming can use it. It’s designed to look attractive and interactive for children and it’s not gender specific.

How does your company make money?
We believe learning programming shouldn’t be only for lucky few. Therefore, BeBlocky will be available for free for everyone. Since children don’t like to play with just only one toy, we’ll offer them different characters to switch too. The characters will be available on our in-app toy store with prices ranging form $1-$5. This would open an opportunity for 3D artists and motion designers to upload their characters into our toy store and get 60%-75% commission on every purchase.

Who would you say is your major competition in this space at the moment?
There are a couple for free web only platforms to introduce children to programming, but there are only few platforms mobile devices. Among the web platforms. Our biggest competitors are Scratch and code.Org. Both have a larger number of user basis, reaching over 40 Million worldwide. Other companies include Tynker and Pixels.

What is your vision for the company in the next 5 years? What is your plan for expansion? Any new products coming soon?
On our next update we’ll integrate Augmented Reality into BeBlocky. Kids love their smartphones and tablets, but still they enjoy playing with their toys. We believe adapting AR technology into our app gives them the best of both digital and physical world. This feature will make the the learning process more fun and more interactive. It will be available on our January update. Consider it as New Year gift.
We’re currently establishing a learning center here in Addis for primary school children. Learners will work on with a platform that’s intuitive and easy to use. It’s a child friendly environment in which children collaborate on given tasks and work on their own pace with the support and encouragement of an instructor. We’ll enroll our first batch on November 2018.
Within the next 3-5 years we expect to reach 7-9 Million children within Africa and the rest of the world as well. Our scaling strategy includes bringing more local characters in our app and translating BeBlocky into different languages.

At the moment, how do you measure your own success? What are your metrics?
I would consider my failures as my success. If I ever find a way to overcome my failure, which I usually do, it definetly means I’m Succeeding. It shows me am progressing. The more I keep failing, the more I learn, hetheore it wouod increase mu chance of succeeding. Of course I’ve set a road map where I would want myself and my company to be, but if it wasn’t for my failures I know I wouldn’t make it to any of my milestones. Whenever I fail, I belive it’s helping me get ready for a much bigger success. I don’t regret any of them. I just make sure I learn from them. So, everytime I fail it indicates me am on the right track and there is a success ahead, I just have to keep going.

What advice would you give to upcoming entrepreneurs
It’s never too early or too late to start, you just have to start. Once you decide, whatever idea you have on, being only passionate about it is not enough. A lot of things will change, people you hang out with, places you frequent, books you read, working hours, vacation days and the list goes on. You have to be willing to make this sacrifices. It’s basically a new lifestyle, entrepreneurship is a lifestyle. Things will get worse before they get any better. You just have to be patient and persistent all the time. Of course there will be a couple of times you’ll hit rock bottom but that doesn’t mean it’s over. You probably are exhausted. Take a break, go on a vacation, spent some time with your family and friends or if you are still a student as I was, am sure you are way behind on school work and you have a lot of caching up to do. Either ways, take your mind of it, take all the time you need and once you feel recharged or energized get back to work. Look for a good partner or co-founder. How do you know they are good ? Trust your gut! Surround your self with good support system. I have to say I owe everything to my parents and my family. Get your self a mentor, some who can guide you trough the journey. Build your self a team. A good team gets the job done quick. And make sure you are having fun through the journey. Last but certainly not least, be grateful for everything.

Nowadays, people record videos for almost all aspects of life, some do it for fun while others do it to preserving memories or events.  Of all devices used to record these videos, nothing puts you in the centre of the action than iPhone and GoPro cameras. To capture the true beauty of those moments, people usually go for high resolutions such as 4K and high frame rates. However, these high quality videos come with a catch, 4K videos balloon into large files that quickly diminish storage spaces. Luckily, we have a solution for you, it’s called VideoProc.

Why use VideoProc

VideoProc is a video processing tool that specializes in 4K UHD videos. It is much simpler to use than other 4K editors since it was designed for those do not have the technical knowledge of pro tools. It also uses Intel/NVIDIA/AMD hardware acceleration to process iPhone 4K videos much faster, while maintaining low CPU usage which effectively keeps your computer running cool and quiet.

Top 6 features to help you process and compress iPhone videos with VideoProc

1, Compress iPhone 4K videos to MP4, 1080p and other resolution

4K videos are large in size, VideoProc can compress iPhone 4K videos by changing their format to MP4 while still maintaining their perfect quality. VideoProc support up to 370 input codes and 420+ output formats. In each format, it have a brief introduce so that you can easily know to choose one.

2, Edit iPhone 4K Videos

VideoProc provides the ultimate solution in modifying oversize videos recorded from different recorders such as iPhone, iPad and active cameras like GoPro. The editing options found in this revolutionary software allow video cropping, splitting, file merging, video stabilization, and subtitle integration, giving you the best features to come up with an impressive presentation. The great thing is, this remarkable tool can convert and compress HEVC or H.264 videos as well as other typical videos, Audios, and DVDs with no effects to the original sound. You can convert videos from MKV to MP4, M4A to MP3 (videos to audios), and DVD to MP4 or MP3 with this user-friendly editing tool.

3, Hardware acceleration

Equipped with Intel QSV, NVIDIA CUDA/NVENC, and AMD level-3 hardware acceleration tech, Hyper-threading technology, multi-core CPU utility, and AMD 3DNow! Tech, VideoProc can process 4K videos with full GPU accleration at a speed of up to 5X faster than similar programs in the market while preserving 98% video audio quality of the original media file so it’s the best software for iPhone 4K videos.

– delivers buttery smooth (4K) video editing and transcoding without compromising quality.

– provides both easy-to-access presets and advanced video audio parameter adjustment options.

4, Denoise and Stabilize Shaky 4K videos

we know how people can get carried away and overindulge in fun when a iPhone is still recording, this leads to shaky videos that will require a software like VideoProc to stabilize apart from the popular editing options such as cut, trim, crop, audio and colour adjustment etc, VideoProc lets you remove background noise from your videos as well.

5, Adjust audio video parameters

VideoProc guarantees smooth video conversion using its advanced video parameter adjustment settings. At the start of every conversion, you can always set up your preferred aspect ratio, video/audio codecs, sample rate, file type, frame rate, and bit rate to make your videos fully customized. There are individual presets included this package that can match every mobile device, video editing software, internet video and compression rate to HEVC output. With these beneficial options, VideoProc can assure everyone the best video compression process for all video forms including M4V and GoPro videos.

6, Download 4K Video playlists.

VideoProc doesn’t only stop from being an excellent video editor. You can convert web videos to MP3 format or set them as your iPhone ringtone. It can download 4K web videos and music from over 1000 sites including YouTube, Facebook, MTV, DailyMotion, Vimeo, SoundCloud and more. What’s more, VideoProc has the best capacity to save hundreds of thousands of streaming videos, playlists, and video channels.

Bonus features

• Video/Game Recorder – Aside from downloading, VideoProc is also useful as an accurate video recorder through the use of a webcam or a computer screen.
• DVD Ripper – Rip any DVD, including the copy protected DVD to any video format. The DVD to MP4 conversion only takes 5 mins.

Conclusion

VideoProc is all-complete video editing and 4K video compressing software for beginners that enable you to convert and process 4K raw video footages whether captured from GoPro high-tech cameras, iPhone, iPad, HD video recorders or smartphones. This powerful video creator gears toward efficient video editing, merging, cropping, compressing and converting processes to all high-definition (4K) videos that utilize installed PC hardware acceleration as discussed on. Lastly, VideoProc is compatible with both Windows and MacOS.

VideoProc New Release celebration sweepstakes

Digiarty Software Inc , the makers of VideoProc  are giving you a chance to walk away with cool iPhone XS prizes.

1. Grand Prize : iPhone XS (worth $999)
2. 2^nd prize : Airpod (worth $159)
3. 3^rd prize : iPhone Cable (worth $12.99)
4. VideoProc free license giveaway (500 Copies per day)

To enter, you simply submit your name and email in the giveaway page. That registration will count as one entry, to earn more entries, follow the instructions below;

• Acquire 3 more entries by sharing the event page on Facebook and Twitter
• Acquire 1 additional entry by following @VideoProc on Facebook
• Acquire 1 additional entry by following @ProcVideo on Facebook

The draw will be held on November 30^th 2018 and the winners will be announced 3 days after that on Facebook and Twitter on official VideoProc accounts. Hurry and register for the sweepstakes now.

These are the best online beauty stores in Kenya.

We all know how much women love their products but sometimes it can be hard to get these beauty products. Sometimes the effort of looking for something in a store takes time and getting a price estimate from just anyone can be ineffective. These online stores have proven to be the best in Kenya and mostly based on their prices, delivery and the availability of their products.

1. Jumia Kenya 

Everyone knows Jumia and they are well known because they have a variety of products from perfumes to actual makeup. It has the biggest online following with over 650K likes on Facebook and is updated frequently throughout the day.

2. Styleconnection.co.ke

They are best known for their makeup variety particularly when it comes to gel and khohl. They also have a good following on Facebook because of their good service and product availability.

3. Our Price Ltd

The shop changed their city centre location to Prestige Plaza on Ngong Road. Our Price Ltd on Facebook, with a little over 7K likes, posts latest news on all the products and offers in the store.

4. Lintons Beauty World

Lintons is quite famous for their products but apart from that they have a good online presence. They can be quite pricey but they have quality products which won’t ruin your face.

5. Blush.co.ke

Blush is not as popular as it should be but they are quite reliable when it comes to their stock. They are well known for wigs and hair products the only problem is that they don’t displace their stock prices which can be inconveniencing when you want to draw a budget.

There are many online stores but you need to be sure that you’re not being conned and that the product you will get is genuine and won’t ruin your face.