Large enterprises in the consumer products and services space have for long benefited from research tools too expensive for small firms to access. Startups in Africa lack the capacity to carry out basic user research due to lack of capital and human resource. Semacraft Consulting Partners is working to bridge that gap.
The Software Developers Handbook Project aims to deliver an easy to implement business handbook for the majority of software developers in Africa trying to earn a living through ICT. By imparting the basics of user-centered design and business model innovation, the project hopes to see a marked improvement in the number of successful technology start-ups on the continent and the rise of easy to apply resources for young entrepreneurs. The handbook will be available free to download during the last quarter of 2012.
The project is currently in progress with a series of workshops scheduled from April 2012 through to June 2012 in collaboration with Kenyan universities and other local partners. Follow us on twitter for updates.
The first workshop was held at Strathmore University in April 2012. See the blog post here. The next workshops will be held at the Inoorero University in May and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in June 2012.