Zimbabweans call for start-up ecosystem and urgent AI adoption
Media entrepreneur Trevor Ncube’s idea of an annual Ideas Festival came to fruition in November when the inaugural grouping of some of Zimbabwe’s top minds gathered at the resort town of Nyanga, three hours from the capital Harare, to share ideas and thrash out solutions to some of the problems businesses, particularly start-ups, face.
Ncube is the chairman of Alpha Media Holdings, the biggest independent news organisation in Zimbabwe which publishes three newspapers and runs an online television station.
The major issues that emerged from the festival were the quick creation of a start-up ecosystem and the government's embrace of artificial intelligence (AI) as a matter of urgency because that is the direction the world is going.
“We must act quickly to create an environment conducive for start-ups,” Ncube said in an interview. “The government does not get AI technology and we need to lobby to get this sector happening,” he added.
The 2023 festival programme included master classes, ideas panels, fireside chats and an Ideas Tank for entrepreneurs to pitch their exciting business ideas.
“We believe that we learn from the mistakes and successes of others. We benefit from being in the room where others share their lived experiences in business,” Ncube wrote in a series of OpEds promoting the Ideas Festival.
Ncube said the Ideas Festival was not just another talk show: “The Ideas Festival is not just another conference. It is an immersive space where participants share practical lessons on moving from an idea to the creation of products and services. They share lessons from their failure, success and more.”
The Ideas Festival is a culmination of yearlong conversations that Ncube had with people who have made a difference on the Zimbabwean business scene. Dubbed “In Conversation With Trevor” (ICWT), the series now boasts seven million followers on YouTube.
“The main objective of ICWT is to change our narrative by moving away from the noise and toxicity and focusing on the life journeys of ordinary people building companies and providing quality products and services. By amplifying what these entrepreneurs are doing, we have started influencing our story as a nation. We have inspired thousands by showing them that what they thought was impossible is possible with a little bit of courage, self-belief and putting in the work,” said Ncube.
He said: “The conversations with people building real things have opened doors for them and provided impetus to their dreams. Sometimes what makes us take the next step is affirmation such as ‘Well done and keep going’. This means the company you keep is important and who you listen to matters.”
A powerful lobby for the creation of a start-up ecosystem emerged from the discussions and the call to action was for the government and the private sector to come to the table on this important issue.
“Zimbabwe confuses SMEs with start-ups and in reality, there is no start-up ecosystem in place. So, there is a lot of work to be done to enable start-ups to emerge, grow, create jobs and have a positive impact on the economy. The economic environment is hostile for start-ups and many of them have relocated to countries that support start-ups” Ncube said.
Robotics professor and director of the Institute for the Future of Knowledge at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, urged the adoption of AI technologies as a matter of urgency.
He said AI was going to add $7 trillion to the global economy but Africa was not ready for its share of it. “Are we producing the AI product? Are we manufacturing the AI product? Or are we just consumers of AI? What are we? We must also have a share of that. We can talk about healthcare, finance, efficiency, reduction of costs and so on.”
He said productivity was being driven by AI. “Why? Because data is so much, remember the way robots and AI work is about data. They give you so much data. There's so much data now and there's so much computing power.”
Human Resources consultant Memory Nguwi who delivered a paper at the festival said in an interview that the Ideas Festival was a transformative experience for him.
“It opened my eyes to the immense potential for innovation within our Zimbabwean community. The presentations and discussions revealed a wealth of brilliant ideas, driven by a passion for creativity and problem-solving. However, a common theme that emerged was the struggle for funding among start-ups. This lack of financial support is hindering the growth and development of these innovative ventures.”
He said business ideas have to be nurtured in a structured way. “In my youth, I recall the existence of a company called Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe, which played a pivotal role in supporting the growth of several Zimbabwean businesses, including banks. This company's structured approach to providing funding and guidance proved to be instrumental in nurturing innovation and driving economic growth. I believe that reviving such a structured system would be a catalyst for unlocking the full potential of Zimbabwean start-ups and innovation. With the right support, our nation can emerge as a hub for cutting-edge solutions and contribute meaningfully to the global innovation landscape.”
