NexTech 2017 kicks off, Microsoft aims to empower African Innovators

NexTech Africa, a new flagship Africa technology event by Microsoft has kicked off today in Nairobi Kenya. The two day event aims at connecting technology and business leaders, Microsoft engineers, local developers and entrepreneurs, in an effort to listen, engage and collaborate on developing more locally relevant technology.

Themed “Building for Africa”, the event aims at helping African entrepreneurs solve many business and market related challenges across sectors from healthcare to fintech.

According Kunle Awosika, Country Manager of Microsoft Kenya, “We believe in the power of the emerging technologies to connect people to key services and boost productivity, while utilizing unique and differentiated business models. Our goal with this event is to bring various players together and collaborate, so that we can equip our innovators with the right technology-based tools and infrastructure, helping them create and scale more of these solutions.”

NexTech Africa is an extension of the Microsoft4Afrika initiative, which was launched in February 2013 and has been actively engaging on the ground to better understand and help shape African innovation in the world. The initiative helps the continennt achieve more by giving them tools and skills to make the most of any momemtnt in the mobile firstand cloud first world.

“Along with our support for local entrepreneurs, technologistsand businesses we are excited to be working with African Governments in the digital transformation process. In addition talking about tech and cloud for global good brings to light our responsibility to build trustworthy innovations that are inclusive for all,” added Kunle.

Part of inclusivity is Microsoft’s belief that innovations should be co-created with the community. M-Kopa Solar is a prime example of this, providing pay-as-you-go, off-the-grid solar energy to over 400,00 homes. Using Microsoft Azure, they currently manage over 10 million mobile transactions per year.

#Insiders4good us another initiative designed to help Windows Insiders tackle important issues in their local communities.