Competition
Key Intellectual property and legal issues to consider when structuring your startup
Intellectual Properties.
In a bid to empower and inspire women entrepreneurs in the tech industry, @iBizAfrica-Strathmore University, in partnership with Standard Chartered Kenya, held the second Women in Tech Masterclass series.
The event delved deep into the fascinating realm of IP infrastructure for startups, shedding light on the theme of intellectual property and legal issues.
Universally, the tech industry is thriving like never before, and women are making significant strides in this field. However, in the fast-paced world of innovation and entrepreneurship, understanding the importance of owning intellectual property is important.
Intellectual property refers to intangible creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. It includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, all of which can significantly impact the success and sustainability of tech startups.
There are many IP considerations when structuring a startup, and many founders tend to overlook the importance of owning an IP and are faced with questions of IP ownership in critical moments such as business registration or capital raises.
Most investors are mostly keen on these IP assets; thus, as a startup founder, one can be asked to show ownership documentation before making an investment. Businesses are occasionally made aware of IP ownership concerns during the due diligence process of potential investors; such issues may lead investors to either reject the investment opportunity or postpone it until the issue is resolved.
Leading the conversation was Dr. Melissa Omino, Director at the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), Strathmore University. She said, “In the realm of IP, research is the key that unlocks innovation’s chest, helping you identify what’s worth protecting and ensuring your ideas are your most valuable assets.”
Dr. Melissa’s pointed out the following:
- Start with your IP strategy: As a business, focus on building and shaping your strategies around your IP. Prioritize what truly matters to your business model.
- Embed an IP culture in your startup: Regular IP audits are an essential step in identifying what licenses you are missing or need to renew.
- Share your IP now and then: but this also depends on various business factors. Take software developers, for instance; they regularly share code. Although this act might expose their copyrights, it does not entirely permit other developers to harness their product fully since they’ll only use the shared data to earn revenue.
Ms. Dorcas Chebet, Research Manager at CIPIT, mentioned the different types of IPs.
- Copyright: A type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work into a tangible form of expression. It can be writers owning their written work or visual artists owning their designs.
- Trademarks: A sign that can be used to distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of other companies.
- Patent: An exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem.
- Trade Secret: IP rights on confidential information that may not be sold or licensed.
Understanding how to protect IP is paramount for startups aiming to shape their niche in the market. The masterclass featured expert speakers who demystified IP concepts, highlighting their relevance and the legal implications involved. Participants gained insights into the different types of IP and learned how to safeguard their innovations from potential infringement.
Events like this act as catalysts for progress and change as women continue to create a place for themselves in the tech industry. The masterclass’s insights will undoubtedly inspire women entrepreneurs to follow their passions, take risks with their innovations, and contribute to the rapidly changing digital sector.
By Wachira Kevin.
Women in Tech Program awards 7 women-led startups with USD 70,000
- 7 Kenyan women-led startups awarded USD 70,000 through the Women In Tech Program
- To date, 64 start-ups have participated in the Women In Tech Program and 32 have been awarded over KES 38.4 Million in seed funding
The Standard Chartered Bank and @iBizAfrica – Strathmore University, through its partnership program the Women in Tech Incubator program has today awarded 7 women-led businesses with USD 70,000 marking the successful conclusion of the 6th cohort of the incubation program.
The award ceremony, themed Leveraging Technology for Impact, was presided over by The Standard Chartered Bank Board Member, Mr. Imtiaz Khan, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya CEO, Kariuki Ngari Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, and @iBizAfrica Incubation Centre- Strathmore University Director, Dr. Joseph Sevilla.
The 6th cohort of the Women in Tech Program, launched in March 2023, attracted a pool of over 250 startups from sectors such as agriculture, finance, transportation, health, and the construction industry. 15 women-led startups were shortlisted to undergo a 3-month incubation training modeled around the fundamentals of business idea conceptualization, strategy formulation, the Internet of Things (IoT), marketing, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Vincent Ogutu, the Vice Chancellor at Strathmore University, stated, “As we celebrate the graduation of this Women in Tech Cohort, it’s important to recognize the role of technology in our daily lives. A recent study has shown that only 14.6% of startups in Africa are founded by women; there is hope for a bigger representation. If women receive the right mentorship, training, and coaching, the tech ecosystem in Africa will thrive even more. Currently, 30.9% of all new tech roles are filled by female candidates, showing a slight increase from 29% in the previous year, according to recent statistics. Academia and the private sector need to collaborate more on programs like this that support women-led businesses”.
These 15 teams are an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort received funding.
Speaking during the event, Mr.Kariuki Ngari, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya & East Africa said, “Supporting women-led enterprises is a key component of our ambition to impact and influence the growth of the SME sector, and the Women in Tech programme enables us to bring this vision to life. We have been able to catalyse growth through our latest cohort and are confident that the entrepreneurs who have gone through the programme will be better positioned to take up the opportunities in across the various sectors that they serve.”
The funding recipients were picked after a rigorous judging process undertaken by accomplished industry experts in both private and public sectors, seasoned entrepreneurs, and academic thought leaders on solution innovation, availability of market opportunity, and social impact in Kenya, among other criteria.
The seven awarded women-led startups demonstrated excellence based on three main criteria:
- A female-led start-up business that solves social economic needs in Kenya
- An innovative startup that utilizes emerging technologies ie. Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and virtual Reality; 3D & 4D Printing; Cloud Computing; Big Data; Blockchain; Drone Technology, and Biometrics.
- A business model with a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) alignment
The Women In Tech Top 7 startups for this year are as follows:
- Sign-With Us – Sign with Us is a Sign language training institution that teaches sign language to anyone around the world who has a passion for sign language, or may interact with a deaf person in their line of work.
- Saidiwa Rides – Aims to bridge the gap between unreliable public transportation and relatively expensive digital taxis with a novel driver-passenger pairing model that permits daily commuters to share taxi seats and share costs.
- Imani Health – An e-wallet that enables people to save specifically for healthcare. It breaks down large payments into piecemeal payments that one can easily pay over time before they need the healthcare service.
- Know Learning Ltd – Revolutionizes parental engagement by providing a user-friendly platform that bridges the gap between schools and parents.
- PanaCare- A healthcare company that provides affordable telemedicine services using USSD technology for consultations, remote monitoring, and health management tools without internet access.
- Rhea Soil Health Management – Rhea provides access to soil testing and agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers, analyzing soil and providing results and fertilizer recommendations through a machine learning-powered recommendation system.
- Instruct Africa -Instruct is a legal tech company that leverages tech and data to provide legal assurance to matatu drivers and bodaboda operators. Our mission is to democratize access to justice and legal tools in the informal sector.
In today’s increasingly digitized landscape, emerging technologies have become essential for startup innovators to integrate into their ventures. Notably, AI startup funding in Kenya is valued at KES 13 billion according to a recent survey. However, the adoption rate of such technologies in Kenya remains relatively low at 28.76%, falling below the global average of 35.17%.
Since its inception, the program has trained more than 64 women-led businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. To date, 32 startups have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications.
Inclusion and Digital Innovation to Empower the Deaf Community
Hali Halisi, Digital Sign Language Interpretation
In a world that is growing more connected, it is essential to ensure that no one is left behind, especially when it comes to accessing information and services.
In response to this demand, @iBizAfrica-incubated startup Hali Halisi has become a pioneer in digitally connecting institutions with qualified interpreters, enabling the Deaf community to have uninterrupted access to vital information.
Hali Halisi’s remarkable achievement was recognized in June of this year when they won a coveted Sh3.5 million at Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge.
The Birth of Hali Halisi:
The company came to life from the vision of Silvia Muturi, founder of Hali Halisi, who, after over 15 years of sign language interpreting, dreamed of bridging the communication gap between the Deaf community and the hearing world by utilizing technology to bring access and inclusion to those who were often denied access to important health and education information by communication barriers.
“I witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by the Deaf community in accessing crucial information. This ignited a fire within me to create a solution that would empower them to lead more inclusive lives.” Says Silvia.
Incubation at @iBizAfrica:
Hali Halisi found its nurturing ground at @iBizAfrica, a renowned incubation center. Through the Women in Tech program. Through @iBizAfrica’s comprehensive support, including mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to resources, Hali Halisi transformed from an idea into a dynamic startup. Silvia Muturi acknowledges the impact of @iBizAfrica, stating, “By the time we were joining the incubation at @iBizAfrica, we were at the ideation stage. We were formerly known as HOD Hear(oes) on Demand, but based on feedback, it was @iBizAfrica where we were able to rebrand to Hali Halisi and understand our product or service better. The guidance and support we received from @iLabAfrica were instrumental in refining our concept and building a robust platform that addresses the needs of the Deaf community.”
Revolutionizing Communication:
Hali Halisi’s capacity to instantly interpret for clients and remove obstacles to productive communication is its one-of-a-kind selling point. The firm makes it possible for the Deaf population to access education, career opportunities, healthcare services, and more by linking institutions with skilled interpreters available on demand. This innovative digital platform is revolutionizing the way the Deaf interact with the world, empowering them to become active contributors to society.
Triumph at Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge:
Hali Halisi’s groundbreaking innovation caught the attention of Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge, a prestigious competition that recognizes and supports transformative tech solutions. Out of numerous entries, Hali Halisi emerged victorious, securing a remarkable Sh3.5 million to scale their operations and expand their reach. Silvia Muturi expresses her elation, stating, “Winning the Mozilla Africa Innovation Challenge is a testament to the immense potential of Hali Halisi. This grant will enable us to further enhance our platform, reach more institutes, and empower countless lives within the Deaf community.”
Impact and Future Aspirations:
Since its inception, Hali Halisi has positively impacted the lives of many within the Deaf community. By ensuring uninterrupted access to interpreters, the startup has empowered individuals to overcome communication barriers and seize opportunities that were previously out of reach. Looking ahead, Silvia Muturi envisions a future where Hali Halisi becomes a global force for inclusivity, stating, “We aim to expand our reach beyond Africa and create a world where the Deaf community has equal access to information, resources, and opportunities.”
Hali Halisi’s remarkable journey from an @iBizAfrica-incubated startup to a winner of Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge underscores the transformative power of digital innovation. Through their pioneering platform, Hali Halisi is breaking down communication barriers and empowering the Deaf community to thrive. With their inspiring CEO, Silvia Muturi, at the helm, Hali Halisi is set to revolutionize accessibility and create a more inclusive world for all. As the startup continues to make strides, its success serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the remarkable impact that can be achieved when technology and empathy converge.
By Wachira Kevin.
Standard Chartered Bank supports women entrepreneurs as it launches USD 175K Women in Tech program – cohort 6
● The program will see 15 businesses get access to incubation and 7 businesses receive over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed money.
● The theme for this year’s cohort is Embracing Equity in Women-Led Tech Businesses.
29th March 2023 – Nairobi, Kenya: Standard Chartered Kenya in partnership with @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University has today launched the 6th Cohort of the Women in Tech (WIT) Incubator Program. The program aims at championing more diversity in technology and advancing entrepreneurial and leadership excellence for women-led businesses. Edith Chumba, Standard Chartered Head of Consumer, Private and Business Banking and Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu presided over the event at the bank’s Head Office.
The theme for this year’s cohort, Embracing Equity, is tied to the 2023 International Women’s Day theme and calls for more inclusion in the digital and technology space.
The 6th cohort of the Women in Tech program will see 15 applicants participate in a 12-week incubation program with 7 women-led startups receiving seed funding. This is an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort received funding. Businesses chosen to participate in the incubation program will undergo training, coaching, and mentorship offered by the @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University network of key industry experts, faculty, business leaders, experienced mentors, and professionals. Through the incubation, all the entrepreneurs will get expert training in the areas of idea conceptualization, strategy formulation, and marketing which is key in moving the businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.
INTERNAL
Speaking during the launch, Edith Chumba said;
“Technology and innovation are key enablers of digital transformation and socio-economic growth in emerging markets. By empowering women-led businesses in the technology space to thrive, we not only contribute to their business growth but also drive sustainability and inclusion. The Women in Tech Program has been designed to bridge the finance and capacity-building gap that women entrepreneurs face, and we are excited to further champion this cause through an additional cohort. Furthermore, we have now scaled the program to create space for more participants and to channel increased funding to women-led enterprises. We encourage all eligible businesses to apply to the program as the evidence from previous cohorts proves that this is a forward-thinking, efficient, and transformative program. We are also pleased to continue our partnership with Strathmore and are grateful for their implementation support for the past 5 cohorts.’’ she concluded
The focus areas of this cohort will be centered around women-led startups with components of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things; Big Data; Machine Learning; Robotics; Big Data, and Blockchain among others
Commenting on the need for equity and inclusion of women in entrepreneurship and leadership was the Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu who stated;
‘’Women do business differently with a substantial number of them leaning towards social enterprises that make an impact on communities and economies as a whole. Driven by high work ethic and ambition, Africa holds the largest number of female-led enterprises, which highlights the need for more investment. The entrepreneurial and professional playing field is not level, which calls for more tools and systems that drive inclusion and equity, and in this regard, women entrepreneurs are setting the pace for by challenging societal biases and norms. Strathmore is proud to complement the advancements made by women entrepreneurs by providing training and capacity-building facilities that make it easier for them to access finance, scale, and innovate. We are happy to continue our partnership with Standard Chartered through the Women in Tech Program and are excited to work with the amazing businesses that apply and get to participate in the program.’’
Research indicates that female-led startups in Africa attracted less funding in 2022 compared to male-led startups in the region. Challenged by societal bottlenecks and financing limits, this points to a need for increased capacity building and focused funding toward female-led enterprises.
In the venture capital sector, nearly 85 percent of investors are men supporting male founders, while only 12 percent of VC firm decision-makers are women, but when these women do make decisions, they are twice as likely to invest in female-founded startups. Because men constitute the majority of the workforce in technical organizations, men can assist by taking up mentorship roles for women in the computing tech and engineering space.
Futuremakers by Standard Chartered
Women in Tech program is part of the Bank’s, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered initiative aimed at reducing social inequality amongst disadvantaged young people – especially girls and persons with disabilities learn, earn, and grow. The initiative empowers the next generation by focusing on education, employability, and entrepreneurship. The Women in Tech program is a partnership with @iBizAfrica – Strathmore University Incubation Centre.
Each year the program trains more than 10 small and medium businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. 50 start-ups have participated to date, and 25 have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding. 50 businesses have so far gone through the incubation process with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications. More details on the Women in Tech program can be found at http://www.womenintech.co.ke
About @iBizAfrica, Strathmore University
@iBizAfrica is the business incubator of Strathmore University, a leading private University in Kenya. The incubator since 2012 provides a nurturing environment that builds on the potential of the youth to develop innovative solutions and businesses that work for the common good in society. @iBizAfrica over the years has provided over 1600 startup companies with training, advisory, mentorship, coaching, networking opportunities, and access to seed capital and investors. We prepare startups to be investor-ready and launch into the market through our custom incubation and acceleration programs.
For more information, please visit http://www.ibizafrica.ac.ke.
Follow us on our social media pages @iBizAfrica on Twitter and Facebook
Standard Chartered
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How to – Storytelling for start ups.
“If your stories are all about your products and services, that’s not storytelling. It’s a brochure. Give yourself permission to make the story bigger.” – Jay Baer, content marketing strategist and keynote speaker.
Many startups often confuse storytelling with showcasing statistics during their pitches or even giving their overall strategy, while on the contrary, it is about sharing your journey in the most authentic way to you that relates with your employees, customers, users, and stakeholders. Unbeknown to many, business storytelling generates a high return on investment, with a recent survey revealing it produced 28.06 more times ROI for startups that had actively engaged in marketing their brand through their story.
As part of the mentorship journey for the Standard Chartered Women In Tech Program currently in its 5th year, Standard Chartered and @iBizAfrica recently convened the first town hall in the month of September which was themed “Storytelling for Startups”. The keynote speaker for the session was Ms. Ciiru Waweru, CEO of Funkidz and FunHomez, a creative serial Kenyan entrepreneur with a passion for mentoring youth in entrepreneurship. Having begun FunHomez and Funkidz ten years ago, she is passionate about being part of a positive change in Africa for young entrepreneurs who comprise Kenya’s “jua kali” or informal sector, to push them to become a continent of industrialists. At Fun Homes and Funkidz, they utilize 3-D technology to print designs on the wooden tables, furniture, and decor pieces that are displayed at the Lavington showhouse.
Through the town hall session, a space was created for open dialogue and candid conversations among the participants which provided an avenue for the entrepreneurs to learn and build on their experiences while improving on their vulnerabilities.
@iBizAfrica Incubation Manager, Ms. Ludovica Ochieng lauded the Women In Tech Program stating that “As an incubator and academic institution, platforms like these offer spaces for entrepreneurs to gain first-hand experience, network and acquire knowledge with seasoned entrepreneurs who are already in the industry such as Ciiru. As Strathmore, we look forward to hosting more similar events for women-led startups to help them scale their businesses from local to global brands.”
Present at the event was Standard Chartered Bank Head of Transaction Banking, Makabelo Malumane who stated “As a business, you must look at your story’s context and learn how to sell your story. People buy you first before they buy the product.”
The conversations were thought-provoking and insightful with Ms. Ciiru Waweru sharing insights on the various ways of telling their brand story in a credible and authentic way but also in a manner that generated social impact. Below are some of the key takeaways from the discussion:
- Don’t overcomplicate it, just start.
Most business owners often overcomplicate the process of starting their venture, majorly owing to self-doubt and limiting thoughts. Entrepreneurs should begin with the resources available and tackle the problems as they come along. - Be authentic with your product – Fall in love with solving the problem, not the product.
Most people are afraid to create products that they believe in owing to the fact that they are afraid of going against popular opinion. Being authentic creates an emotional connection with your customers, employees, and stakeholders because it allows you to outline your vision, and uphold your brand mission while taking into account the needs of your market. - Learn how to adapt your business according to your customer’s needs.
According to a recent survey, 33 percent of customers abandon a business owing to a lack of product personalization. The same study also found that companies lost around 32 percent of their customers owing to poor customer service. Customer experience is therefore instrumental in growing brand loyalty and is sometimes responsible for 49 percent of impulse buying purchases. - Collaboration with other Kenyan startups.
Startups needed to complement each other and promote one another. Referring to the Buy Kenya Build Kenya initiative, Startups are encouraged to locally source for their products in Kenya and Africa as a region. This strategy would increase competitiveness and consumption of locally produced goods and services and in return scale their businesses.
This session was timely and instrumental in growing and encouraging women-led startups present in the previous cohorts in The Standard Chartered Women In Tech Program. If startups want to succeed, they must learn how to tell their stories so as to attract investors. According to recent research by Quartz, Africa is attracting more funding, with Kenya women-led startups attracting two-thirds of $408 million.
Networking Session by Standard Chartered Bank London Group Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Group
“Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You’re only as good as the people you work with and the people you work for”.
For @iBizAfrica, collaboration is one of the driving forces that has enabled us to launch successful startups while increasing outreach and impact on our programs. In line with this @iBizAfrica had the pleasure of being hosted by Standard Chartered London Group Corporate Affairs Brand and Marketing Group in the month of June .
It was a timely event themed The Future of Women In Tech” and had an insightful panel discussion with speaker such as Claire Dixon – Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing Standard Chartered Bank , Makabelo Malumane – Head of Transactional Banking SC, Regina Mukiri – Head of Sustainability at SC, Diana Mutua – PR Manager @iLabAfrica Naomi Monari of Benacare Mx , Eunice Maina of Bismart Insurance, Yolanda Odida of Pure Purple.
The networking session gave participants a chance to discuss their experiences as women in the Kenyan entrepreneurship innovation scenes while reviewing world trends around funding for female-led startups. Through alumni sharing their experiences on the Standard Chartered Women In tech program with different stakeholders present, it allowed different perspectives around business life cycles to be shared such as challenges faced when setting up a business, remodeling of the business structure and understanding the market.
With the increase in women -led startups, there is a need to have channels for them to exchange ideas while encouraging each other to succeed. At the same time, get access to the market and capital to steer their businesses forward.
As @iBizAfrica, we remain grateful to partners such as Standard Chartered who continue to reinforce the importance of scaling the gains of female-led entrepreneurial programs in Kenya and giving women-led businesses a chance at success!
@iLabAfrica 