Infopreneurs

Accelerated and Shared Growth
for Today and Tomorrow
Challenges:
1. Enhance and sustain the local (economic
development) service delivery channel
2. Enhance access for the end user
3. Address issues
of job creation
through
enterprise
creation
Ethics
Democratization
Provincial
Government
Local
Government
CBOs
Franchise
“Back-office”
Regional
Infopreneurs
Local
Infopreneurs
Citizens
Corporate
Business
Medium
Enterprise
Small
Enterprise
Micro
Enterprise
Technology Convergence
Globalization
National
Government
A community of ICT-enabled
Infopreneurs™ in Southern Africa operating
at grassroots-level and sustained by a
MicroFranchise* approach
Infopreneurs™:
Service-sector micro enterprises operating to render a range of services
as “social entrepreneurs”, i.e. doing it in a entrepreneurial, sustainable manner but with a clear
commitment to the development of the community in which they operate.
* MicroFranchise:
A social movement that seeks to adapt the powerful franchise
business model to the stark reality on the ground in developing countries in order to establish
successful, locally-owned micro enterprises helping to develop low income communities.
*See: Kirk Magleby’s “MicroFranchising as a Solution to
Global Poverty”, Dec 2005.
Guiding Principles *:
 “Rather than continue with a focus on technologies, our
journey has led us towards the establishment of a
network of community based, ICT-enabled, sustainable,
micro service enterprises where ‘development through
enterprise’ is the key.”
 “We have found that when the service delivery channel is
enhanced by a co-ordinated approach to ownership and
channel support, community based businesses work well.”
*See: J. v. Rensburg, A. Veldsman & M. Jenkins in “From Technologists to
Social Enterprise Developers: Our Journey as ‘ICT for development’
practitioners in Southern Africa ”, Jul 2007.
Current ‘Survivors’: 33 (of 52)(64%)
• Where
•
•
•
•
N Cape - 5
E Cape - 17
Gauteng - 3
Limpopo – 8
• Status
• First 3 (of 3): 3 years in existence
(100%)(Springbok, Data Services)
• 2nd 17 (of 34): 18 months in existence
(50%)(Wrong Selection)
• 3rd 13 (of 15): 12 months in existence
(87%)(Good ‘roots’ & Selection)
• Current Partners
• Kellogg Foundation
• Dell SA Foundation
• ISETT Seta
• Bank of Athens (WIZZIT)
• Beehive Financial Services (Pty) Ltd
Suppliers
Service
Provider
Network
WareProviders
houses
National Wholesalers
Banking
Services
Enabling Layer
Service
Provider
Warehouses
Regional Retailers
Franchise
“Back-office”
Regional
Infopreneurs
Local
Infopreneurs
Marketing
Development Technology
Partnerships Partnerships Partnerships
National Delivery Partners
Marketing
Development
Houses
Agencies
Local Delivery Partners
Delivery Layer
Client Layer
(Local)
Government
Citizens
SMMEs
/ CBOs
3. Database Related Services:
Spatial Data Create & Maintain
i. LED Data (Econ. Ind.)
ii. Local Business Promotion
iii. Tourism Catalogue
2. Information & Advisory Services:
a. Front-desk /M & E Services
b. Bus. /Proj. Dev. Services:
“Infopreneur”
Services
i. SWOT /Idea analysis
ii. Business Plans
iii. Tender Advice
c. Process & Ref. Info (Branded)
d. Event /Community Diaries
e. Audio-visual & Broadcast.
1. Office Services:
inTouch
Africa®
Enabling Software
a. Phone & fax
b. E-Mail & Internet
c. Entertainment /Gaming /Café
d. Desktop Publishing
e. Computer Assisted Learning
4. Agency Services:
a. BDS /SEDA /OCP Office
b. Membership Org. (eg. NAFCOC)
c. Youth & Acad. (eg. UYF, UNISA)
d. Financial Services
i. Indiv. (Ins., Funeral, Housing)
ii. Group (Ins., Loans, Save, Fun.)
e. Bureau services (eg. accounting.)
5. Banking Services:
a. Bank Accounts and debit cards
b. Electronic payments & transfers
c. Pre-paid commodities
6. ICT Services:
a. WAN connectivity
b. LAN connectivity
c. HW /SW Supply & Maintenance
7. Commerce & Logistics Services:
a. Procurement Services
b. Inventory Services
c. Transport brokerage and logistics
services
Level of
Infopreneur
Main Services
or Role
Regional
Infopreneurs™
Coordination &
Marketing:
District Level
Service Level
Agreement (SLA)
negotiation
Local
Node
Infopreneurs™
Database services;
SMME
development
services; and
Internet Café &
CBT
Facility & Tools
Collocated with service provider
with:
•
•
•
•
power PC for functions like video editing;
data projector for presentations;
Internet Connectivity (128 KB);
small “bakkie” (for visits & delivery).
In own office (container?) w:
•
•
•
number of PCs for CBT and
“edutainment” use;
“server” and
network switches.
Profile &
Qualification
Example
Support
Older (30+ yrs)
w tertiary
qualification.
UYF accredited
Service Provider.
Springbok,
Sifiso in
Lydenburg
???
25 – 30 yrs w
Learnership
qualification
(NVC /ICT /BA).
UYF Allocating
Agent Extension
Officer.
Mpumi in
Peelton
Regional
Infopreneur
Matriculants w
Micro MBA.
Product specific
training
(as agents).
Lettie
Sithole in
Masada
Node
Infopreneur
Home-office w:
•
Local
Satellite
Infopreneurs™
Agency & mobile
“citizens services”
(connectivity,
training & multimedia services)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Laptop (1,5GB RAM, 80GB HDD, ‘Firewire port’, DVD Writer);
wireless connectivity (GSM);
portable, colour printer;
external USB HDD (200GB for back-up);
video /still camera
(3 CCD, 1,7 Mega pixel stills);
Tripod, Video Light and
Secure Container.