Defying the raging Covis-19 Virus, the founder of Bolt app Mr Markus Villig is in Kenya to interact with the countries techies and budding techpreneurs to explore ways of collaboration and helping grow Kenya’s tech industry. Mr. Villig who runs the $1 Billion company with presence in 37 countries, including seven in Africa, used the opportunity of his visit to encourage tech start-ups to come up with affordable software products that solve local problems.
The 26 years old billionaire who founded the taxi-hailing app Bolt founder Markus Villig shrugged off coronavirus fears to visit Kenya for a meeting with the East African tech community at Nairobi’s iHub said that Africans should come up with African solutions to African problems, noting that home grown solutions are cheaper and far more effective. He added that “the future is tech-based, affordable and local. Bolt looks at building partnerships with drivers, authorities and customers. For you to succeed, look within for problems that generate a commercial opportunity.”
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Tech start-up founders, he said, should concentrate more on developing products that give value to consumers away from running multimillion-shilling campaigns that drive uptake but consumers slip away after some time when they fail to offer value, access and convenience. He said his strategy for the Kenyan market was to build partnerships with other businesses that enhance the safety of riders and drivers as well as giving better commissions to their 25,000 drivers.
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The Estonian said start-ups must keep their budgets low and source development funds from immediate families. The firm will consider introducing food-delivery services in Nairobi as it has the city covered round the clock, he said. Bolt business development teams are also looking at retail outlets’ integration that would see them automate client-purchase and delivery modules based on payment-driven purchases.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry