In March, our podcast series focused on family owned businesses (FoBs) and ways they are navigating the pandemic. In this episode, we host Haanee Khan, partner at CMS Daly Advocates, and Faizal Bhana, Director Middle East, Africa and India at Jersey Finance. The due delves into the effects and impact of the pandemic on FoBs saying that many business were severely affected. One thing that stood out was the quick adoption of technology for FoBs, adoption of professional structure independent of family, and finding financial aid from private investors and venture funds. The discussion is insightful to FoBs, LISTEN IN AND LEARN

In our episode 3 of the #techstarspodcastseries , we feature Chelsea Ngigi, Mugabaru Baranaba, and Michael Ochola the founders of the MamaMboga Grocery delivery platform. MamaMboga emerged the overall winner in the just concluded Techstars Start-up weekend which occurred on the 29-31st January 2021. The team shares about their experience participating in the conference and the plans they have to actualize their idea. The platform aims to solve grocery delivery headache by linking customers to green groceries nearest to their location. They are looking to partner with Safaricom for payment solutions, the Nairobi county government to get access to vegetable markets, and a delivery firm to provide the last mile connection. As always, listen and learn.

In this episode, we feature Samuel Macharia, founder of the GreenEco platform. GreenEco emerged the third position in the just concluded Techstars Start-up weekend which occurred on the 29-31st January 2021. Macharia gives us a brief overview about the platform and the solutions it provides to farmers across Kenya. Some of the products sold on the platform include yellow corn, chillis, capsicum, and cauliflower. Listen and learn as Macharia shares about the future prospects of the farmers’ marketplace platform

In this first episode of the #Techstarspodcast, we host the organizers of the Techstars Startup Weekend that occurred on 29-31 January 2021. They share their experiences planning a 54 hour virtual event in the midst of a pandemic. The Nairobi event saw teams in grocery delivery, e-agriculture, and ride sharing carry the day. This series will highlight the winning ideas from the event and host team member to expound on their products. Listen and learn 

In this episode 3, we host Francis Wainaina from Seacom East Africa. We dig deeper into cloud service adoption across Kenya and East Africa in general. Mr. Wainaina lauds the pandemic as a blessing in disguise as it was an eye-opening moment for businesses. Cloud computing allowed business continuity as firms adopted remote working allowing staff to access platforms from anywhere. Plenty of insights on cloud, listen and learn. 

 Here is a transcript of the questions:

 • Briefly take us through the cloud computing landscape in Kenya and East Africa in general. 

 • One of the silver linings from the pandemic in 2020 was a shift to remote working as firms allowed staff to work from anywhere. In what ways would you say this drove up cloud adoption globally? 

 • Did this cloud adoption drive hit the local firms in East Africa? 

• Lack of information about cloud services is a barrier to cloud uptake in Kenya. What measures is Seacom taking to bridge the information gap and create awareness on cloud?

 • Software as a service (SaaS) is gaining traction as firms create software distribution models that allow third-party providers host applications and make them available for customers on any internet-connected device. What are the trends you are expecting in SaaS going forward? 

• Is Seacom offering SaaS? If so, what are some of the products?

In this episode we host Mezzanine's East Africa CEO Stephen Kinuthia. We dig deeper into ways that cloud adoption is enabling Education, Healthcare, and Agriculture services. One thing that stuck with me from the discussion is The Connected Farmer app that has already over 1.5 million farmer in Kenya guaranteeing subsidized farm inputs, better prices, and elimination of middle men. There is also the cloud based education programs that have revolutionized training for community based healthcare providers 

Listen in and learn.

In this episode, we host Joseph Maina from Collectr Kenya. We delve into credit risk management in the wake of a pandemic and the growing need for alternative credit scoring. Listen in and learn

This is a teaser to what is to come