Tech innovators have been challenged to monetise their creations, build partnerships with like minded people, for their products to have an impact in the market. “It’s important to know your market well, the barriers, opportunities and associate with like minded people,” advised Michael Onyango, of Africa Creative Hub and Vice Chairperson of creative Industry Taskforce under the Ministry of Information and Communication.
He was speaking at Plugged Digital Expo breakfast held at Nailab, Nairobi. This year's Expo will be held from July 13-14 at Sarit Centre.
At the corporate and press briefing, saw several innovators talk about their like Ufahamu platform (ufahamu.or.ke) a data visualizing portal, a multi-application smart card solution, and a Kenyan gaming application named Haki.
“Innovators make up one percent of the population, but their products influence 99 percent of the people. We need to stop being just consumers of creations and move to developing not only cool products but those that are practical, functional and will have an impact in society,” Bernard Neto, the Creative Director, of Tafsiri Entertainment Group, and organizers of Plugged Expo, noted.
Plugged Digital Expo is an experiential event established to explore the convergence of Digital media, technology and business with a special focus on promoting home grown innovators.
“There is need to continue building opportunities for the skills and talent we are producing as a country. Plugged Expo help build excellence, influence public perception and help to mobilize new talent and build partnerships in the industry,” Kaburo Kobia, Kenya ICT Board, Project Manager in charge of Local Digital Content, shared.
The main sponsors for the event are Kenya ICT Board, CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa.
Last year, the inaugural Plugged event saw 4,000 people experience creative innovations by young Kenyans and over 80 percent of exhibitors last year have already reported a return on Investment from business connections made at Plugged.
This year, Plugged, will have an even bigger innovators' Pavilion featuring a wide range of home grown solutions with focus being on how innovators can create scalable solutions and monetize them locally and internationally.
For more information log on to: www.pluggedexpo.com and www.tafsiri.com
