Posts in category: Technology

In a significant coup, Routed, Africa’s only vendor neutral VMware cloud provider and now a VMware by Broadcom Premier CSP Partner, has appointed Lee Syse as its Director of Product and Go-to-Market (GTM). Globally recognised as one of the most experienced VMware cloud product expert across the continent, Syse brings immense depth of both product and channel knowledge and experience to Routed, at a critical time in its growth trajectory.

Andrew Cruise, founder and CEO, Routed, says that the appointment of Syse is part of the company’s strategy to grow an already successful and exciting business: “Lee is joining at a director level to drive the daily business and the overall GTM strategy. Routed has spent eight years building a service-to-partners business and the addition of Lee will enable us to amplify our visibility from a sales and marketing perspective, while also being able to offer enhanced partner support.”

It’s been nine months since Broadcom completed its acquisition of VMware in a move to build out what the company sees as a multicloud strategy.  Since then, local channel partners have been adapting to the new structure and Syse says that he is excited to use his prowess in driving a partner-centric GTM strategy, with a particular emphasis on optimising a joint solution approach across the business, where mutual support drives collective success.

Routed is well placed to become a pivotal force within a collaborative business ecosystem according to Syse. While at VMware, he managed the VMware Cloud Service Provider (CSP) business. Initially in supporting the area, after which he managed over 60 VMware Cloud Service Providers across the Sub-Saharan Africa region. “This role allowed me to engage with CSPs in various capacities, including technical architecture and engineering, productisation, sales, and GTM strategies. This comprehensive experience has been invaluable and provides a robust foundation for my role at Routed, where I am excited to contribute to the organisation’s continued rapid growth.”

Syse believes that Routed will achieve additional success by engineering and operating enterprise-grade solutions that deliver critical products to organisations. “Our strong reputation for exceeding Service Level Agreements has established Routed as a trusted brand among partners and customers.”

He says that to align with Routed’s growth strategy, the focus will be on implementing a channel-based GTM approach to address the complex IT challenges associated with physical infrastructure. Central to the business is the design, deployment and operation of VMware Cloud platforms.

“We are committed to significantly enhancing these core offerings and will invest in initiatives to support our partners in driving VMware Cloud GTM strategies, whether through white-labelling our cloud solutions or assisting in developing their cloud capabilities.”

According to Cruise, Routed operates with a highly developed business model providing substantial value to partners and customers. “Lee has joined Routed during significant market transitions, especially the VMware acquisition by Broadcom. His primary objective is to assure our partners and customers that Routed’s established service catalogue will remain central to the business and that the model is both well-established and highly valued.”

Given his years in the channel, Syse is geared to work within the channel and says that partners are crucial to Routed’s success: “One of my key responsibilities will be to enhance our approach to partnering, with a focus on enabling our partners to achieve greater self-sufficiency.”

Looking ahead, Cruise and Syse both agree that given Routed’s current level of maturity, it is essential to evaluate the expansion of its service and product offerings. “We will assess emerging technology trends to make informed, strategic decisions about the future growth of our business.”

By Lenah Bosibori

As the world plans for this year’s Conference of Parties 29, (COP 29) with the theme of Climate Financing in Azerbaijan in Baku this November, change in weather patterns is still hitting hard in Kenya as many entrepreneurs yet to heal from the floods that affected the country in May.

The conference places many youths with high hopes that the meeting will bear fruits by providing alternative financing in climate related activities. In Kenya, most female youths have found it difficult to get loans from local banks due to high lending rates shifting to alternative lenders.

One Non-government organization has stepped out to support women with loans at a low interest rate to help them expand their ventures. Launched in 2023 and funded by the Standard Chartered Bank, Somo in collaboration with Youth Business International (YBI) has successfully supported 77 women-led businesses with loans creating 326 direct jobs and achieving notable growth.

The fund supports low-income female entrepreneurs aged 18-35 to access financial support they need to sustain and grow their business. According to them, they provide loans between Sh 130,000-Sh 3.2 million (US$1,000 and US$ 25,000) at five cent interest rate per annum.

Informal businesses play a critical role in the inclusive economic growth, job creation and sustainable development, however they face substantial barriers in accessing finance, limiting their potential to contribute to national economies and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Over 80 % of Kenya’s employment outside small-scale agriculture is in the informal sector, Women entrepreneurs face significant financial exclusion receiving only 7 % of venture capital funding in Sub-Saharan Africa despite representing 26 % of entrepreneurs.

One notable beneficiary of the program in Kenya is Maureen Odera founder Modesh Bakers based in Kisumu County Manyatta estate. Odera says that she started her business in 2016 with little funding but when she heard about Somo and YBI in 2021, she has been able to record progress and expansion in her business.

“I started my business in 2016 and came 2021, I heard about SOMO Africa when I visited KIRDI Kisumu, they trained us on entrepreneurial skills and then granted me a loan of Sh 100,000 (US$766) through Standard Chartered Bank and I returned the loan within 5-6 months,” says Odera in an interview.

Benefits of the Somo and YBI loan

After successfully returning the initial amount. Odera adds that she was able to get a bigger loan of Sh 1.5 million which she has used to expand her business and employed seven employees.

“I had an oven that needed a three phase, through the loan, I was able to approach Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) who installed the three-phase connection for me,” she adds.  

Odera who is also certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) wanted to sell her own cookies and cakes and was able to brand her packaging bags through the loan. “Since I am doing cakes and events, I have made my own packaging bags with part of the money, I also have my own branded tents that I use during events and hire them out for an extra income,” she adds.

She further adds that she has stocked her bakery and managed to add a bigger machine in the bakery with part of the money. “I have stocked my bakery and managed to add a machine in the bakery with part of the money.” She adds. “I am lucky to have been introduced to Somo Africa because they are like my mother, they are always there when I call upon them, the work of a mother is to give birth and then take care of the child.”

Modesh produces cakes and cookies made from cassava and crickets and trains young women in baking skills, Odera is currently generating a monthly turnover of Sh 1.5 million versus a baseline of Sh 57,000 in 2022.

She has trained 80 women in bakery skills, 35 of them have secured employment and 20 have started their own bakery shops while three have been retained by Modesh Bakers.

“Somo has walked with me through a bigger journey, they teach you on how to sell the product then after that they grant loans and employ you, they also help you sell the product and introduce,” she reiterates.

So far Odera has repaid Sh 650,000 from her initial loan of Sh 1.5 million. “I am still paying the Sh 1.5 million, this is my first year and I was given three years to repay, I have already paid Sh 650 000 at an interest rate of 5 per cent as compared to banks which loan at 15-21 per cent,” she adds.

Challenges faced by Odera

Odera says that she has not experienced many challenges in her business apart from the Economic situation in the country that is facing almost every business. “I am facing Economic challenge which is common everywhere,” she adds.

The floods experienced in May also affected her business as most of her clients come from areas that were greatly affected by the floods. “The floods also affected me because some of the clients come from the areas that were highly affected by the floods so they couldn’t come and purchase the product the way they used to,” she says.

This loan model has allowed young entrepreneurs who are operating in the informal sector and are excluded from the financial landscape to access capital and grow their businesses into commercially viable and investable models

According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, (KNBS) Economic Survey 2022, the informal sector accounted for over 80 % of Kenya’s total employment

Investing in female entrepreneurs will drive the economic empowerment and inclusion of women in the region like Odera, it will also contribute to increased gender equality in society and business, according to a policy brief by Somo and YBI.

YBI and Somo also call upon the government, financial institutions and development agencies to offer alternative financing models and partner with community-based organizations specifically targeted at informal businesses and provide microloans.

Further, they call upon partnerships with local organizations to provide financial literacy initiatives tailored and accessible to marginalized groups who are more likely to operate in the informal sector.

Finally, they suggest more support for marginalized groups, tailor all support services and simplify policy frameworks for formal business registration and access to finance.

Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications and mobile money services provider in 14 countries across Africa, publishes today its 2024 Sustainability Report.

The report highlights Airtel Africa’s progress across its key sustainability targets, including support for its people and communities, promoting financial and digital inclusion, and initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

Airtel Africa’s outgoing Group CEO, Segun Ogunsanya, said: “I’m very proud of the strides Airtel Africa has made in advancing our sustainability goals. While targets are vital to driving change, our mission is much bigger: to transform people’s lives through connectivity, products and services fostering digital and financial inclusion while unlocking the potential of the next generation.”

The report shares progress highlights for the company’s four sustainability pillars: ‘Our business’, ‘Our people’, ‘Our community’ and ‘Our environment’.

Our business: Airtel Africa continued to expand telecommunications services, supporting economic growth and development across the continent.