Can Silicon Valley Help Africa Solve her Challenges?

Silicon Valley is regarded as the start-up capital of the world. It is one place that has literally turned the world inside out via technological innovation and unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit. I haven't visited the Silicon Valley area before now but from what I understand, there is a deep spirit of openness and collaboration that ensures everyone works for the good of everyone. How true this is, only time will tell? 

I am a big believer in the new Africa and one interesting TedX Talk by Stephen Ozoigbo titled Africa Rebooted - Enabling the Afropreneur clearly distills some of the deep rooted assumptions of what Africa IS not. He sums it up nicely,

“There is a new Africa and I welcome you to join on this journey. The ONLY way is UP!”

As an African living in Africa, Nigeria to be precise, I understand some of the challenges facing Africa and each day I am encouraged by the increasing number of bold entrepreneurs and start-ups taking up such challenges. While I am a big believer in the fact that only Africa can solve her problems, I also think that there is no need re-inventing the wheel as there are models that can be adopted.

This brings me to key questions, Can Silicon Valley help Africa solve her challenges? What can Africa learn and adapt from the massive successes that have come out of the region? 

I have a number of friends who would tell you that the answer is NO, and they explain that it is more because certain fundamentals aren't just there in the case of Africa. I honestly do not have answers to these questions but one thing I do know is that there are a number of Africa-rising start-ups deeply connected to Silicon Valley.

The quest to find answers has led me to make a decision to spend some days in and around Silicon Valley in order to better understand the culture of support, strategies towards problem solving, entrepreneurial spirit, openness, acceptance of failure and much more. Enter CFA's Silicon Valley Series, a journey into the heart of Silicon Valley in search of answers. I am not sure I will find all the answers but I will strive to document the experiences. 

Africa is indeed a young continent with a lot of talented people that are passionately taking on big challenges and one of my goals is to help attract attention and support to them in any way possible.

The Remarkable Story of Tobi 

Africa isn't dark a continent as many people assume. Tobi is an embedded systems engineer who designed an IoT gas pump design all from his base in Lagos, Nigeria.

He is also a member of the rloop team that contested in the SpaceX challenge - this proves that skills and talent are everywhere, they only need to be nurtured and supported. Tobi is one of the over 200 start-up founders and executives I have interviewed on Tech Trends.

The quest to support folks like Tobi led us to kick off CFA's Startups Hangout, a monthly meetup/fire chat session that seeks to connect startups with experienced entrepreneurs and mentors. One of the objectives is to bridge the knowledge gap that somewhat exists amongst startup founders in Nigeria. And we do this by inviting experienced industry veterans and entrepreneurs to provide them with practical insights that would help them come up with better solutions and add value to the African economy in general. 

I strongly believe in the new Africa and all the work we do is guided by this belief. 

This trip to SV isn't a mere visit but more of an expedition to learn, connect and share - I believe that there will be profound lessons for all. Thankfully, I have spent the last decade garnering experiences and developing content for multiple platforms, organising events and working directly with start-ups. I hope this SV expedition affords me the opportunity to meet and work with open-minded people who are visionary enough to understand that a prosperous African continent means more stability for more developed countries. 

Finally, I'll be in the Silicon Valley area from the 17th and am open for a quick meet-up. By the way, if you know MZ personally, please tell him I want another selfie but this time in San Francisco. Muchas gracias!

Meet CFA

CFA is a renowned media personality, start-up advisor and mentor with vast digital footprints of IMPACT across Africa. He is visible in some of Africa's most respected broadcast, print and digital platforms creating weekly content geared towards helping Africans connect the dots using digital technology. Catch his weekly show called on Tech Trends on Channels Television (www.CFA.ng/tv); read his weekly column in the Punch Newspapers (www.CFA.ng/punch) plus a nationally syndicated radio show amongst other laudable initiatives such CFA's Startups Hangout, Nigeria Int'l Tech Exhibition & Conference and much more.

About CFA's Silicon Valley Diaries

A 7-day quest into the heart of Silicon Valley in search of fresh answers for Africa. These experiences will be shared primarily from interactions and 'gist' with founders, investors, advisors, mentors, entrepreneurs and executives who live and work there.