Equity Equivalent Investment Programme to drive digital transformation and create economic empowerment in South Africa.
Seven years on after launching the Microsoft Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), the company evolves the programme. Microsoft announced the EEIP in 2011 where they committed 7 years to support black owned Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) helping them develop and expand.
The evolved Microsoft EEIP will now focus on investments in technology solutions in agriculture and digital transformation in the manufacturing sectors. It will also include funding of skills development of South Africa’s young software developers. Through multiple AppFactories hosted by strategic partners across the country.
According to Microsoft South Africa managing director, Lillian Barnard “these are two areas where government’s priority and Microsoft’s focus overlap. We are evolving the program to meet South Africa’s shifting social economic needs. As well as take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by public cloud and Microsoft datacenters (cloud services) now available in South Africa“.
As part of the Trade Ministry’s requirements for any multi national company operating in South Africa. Microsoft had to make a contribution towards the objectives of South Africa’s Trade and Industry Ministry Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) initiative. In 2011 Microsoft launched the Microsoft Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) as a means of supporting South Africa’s transformation imperatives. It was established to address the ownership element of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and approved by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Microsoft’s Equity Equivalent Programme injects direct funding and business development assistance into several sustainable, independent and majority black-owned software companies in South Africa. The programme targets investments that promote socio-economic advancement and development within the South African economy.
Empowering Next Gen companies
Over the 7 years, Microsoft has identified and supported 8 independent software vendors. For Microsoft the evolved EEIP will drive innovation. Through access to technology solutions and digital transformation to help businesses in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors compete and be successful. Microsoft wants to create experienced and employable young software developers to take advantage of the 4th Industrial Revolution and contribute towards the economic growth of South Africa.
Beneficiary ceo’s from Chillisoft, Maxxor, mmapro IT Solutions, Home Grown and iSOLV Technologies talk about the Microsoft EE program.
Home Grown – Microsoft Equity Equivalent Investment Programme recipient.
It has made a massive difference to our capabilities as a busines. Our status as a Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme partner gives us a great deal of credibility.
One such early beneficiary of the Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme is Home Grown. Home Grown is a utility management service provider. Developing solutions for the mobile cellular industry with a focus on the energy sector. The smart utility management platform uses Microsoft’s cloud technology Azure to forecast electricity demand in real time. It also incorporates external data such as weather measurement and GPS coordination to assist in more effective resource distribution and management.
Then a startup in Kwazulu Natal, Home Grown’s CEO Thaisi Shale, was looking for a way to break into the bigger South African market.
“In 2011 Microsoft confirmed that Home Grown had been formally identified as an Equity Equivalent Programme partner. Securing the business long term financial and strategic assistance from one of the globe’s largest technology pioneers.
Home Grown’s status as a Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme partner has afforded us the opportunity to solidify our internal resources. Since the announcement we have been able to take on valuable staff in marketing, administration and development. It has made a massive difference to our capabilities as a busines.
Our status as a Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme partner gives us a great deal of credibility. Microsoft’s input from a strategic perspective has been invaluable. We believe that with their continued assistance we can competitively introduce our solutions to a global market.” – Thaisi Shale, CEO Home Grown
Microsoft is increasing its investments on African soil. It is launching two development centers in Africa. With offices in Kenya and Nigeria. Early this month Microsoft’s planned Africa datacenters became a reality and went live in South Africa. Last year in partnership with Techno Brain Limited Microsoft opened Africa’s first Software Testing Centre in Kenya. It also opened its first Africa customer service support center in Lagos, Nigeria in partnership with Tek Experts.
The latest announcement was highlighted by Alex Kipman, Microsoft’s technical fellow for AI and Mixed Reality. Alex is known as the man behind Microsoft HoloLens. A software engineering job posting on Microsoft’s career page gives more details about this.
The role description says Microsoft is launching a “Cognition Africa engineering team to build Mixed Reality Cloud Services”. And asks software engineers who meet the qualifications to apply.
Here’s what the job posting tells us about the Mixed reality and AI engineering office in Lagos.
“We are launching a Cognition Africa engineering team to build Mixed Reality Cloud Services that bring those technologies to a wider range of devices. Do you want to join us on this journey? We are offering opportunities for passionate Software Engineers to help us build the team and suite of cloud services which bring these capabilities to the cloud“.
Excited to share that our team is opening an engineering office in Africa to build #MixedReality and #AI. We are going to be based in Lagos, Nigeria. You can apply for roles here: https://t.co/wFJzUbIl3k … looking forward to my first visit soon [)-)
Alex Kipman in his tweet also says “looking forward to my first visit soon“. I want to believe we might have a HoloLens 2 showcase event in town soon. Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens 2 recently at the 2019 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Microsoft Announces Africa Datacenters are available. Its Africa Cloud Regions are live.
Today, Microsoft announced its Africa datacenters are live. The two Datacenters located in South Africa will bring Microsoft’s total available and announced cloud regions to 54. Microsoft says the datacenters will begin to generally offer Azure service followed by office 365 and Dynamics 365 services in the near future.
“Azure is the first of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud services to be delivered from the new datacenters in South Africa. Office 365, Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity solution, is anticipated to be available by the third quarter of calendar year 2019, while Dynamics 365, the next generation of intelligent business applications, is anticipated in the fourth quarter”.
The two regions, South Africa North and South Africa West are located in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively.
“Azure is the first of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud services to be available from the new Microsoft cloud datacenters in Africa. And will be followed in the future by Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity solution, Office 365, and Dynamics 365, the next generation of intelligent business applications.”
Announced first in May 2017 with initial availability in 2018. The infrastructure had some setbacks that Microsoft said had to do with third-party supplier unable to deliver to specification. It was however expected in 2019.
Yousef Khalidi Corporate Vice President of Azure Networking at the event said; “with the availability of Microsoft’s cloud services delivered from Africa it will mean local companies can securely move their business to the cloud”.
Microsoft becomes the first cloud provider ahead of Amazon and Huawei go to live with its datacenters. The other cloud providers are scheduled to open or run Africa cloud regions.
New Microsoft South Africa Managing Director, Lillian Barnard spoke at the event and had this to share. “Technology is changing the way we live and work. She also says it will ultimately determine how businesses grow and innovate and Africa and Africa will not be left behind. At Microsoft we strongly believe that these substantial development in infrastructure, innovation and skills development will help South Africa navigate the fourth industrial revolution and set the country up for digital success. With today’s announcement we are aiming to accelerate these opportunities“.
The first Campus Connect Summit, A Microsoft Education Partner Summit takes place in Nairobi.
Microsoft hosted a 2 day education partner summit in Nairobi at the Villa Rosa kempinski hotel. The event brought together over a hundred Microsoft education partners, educators and from across the country.
Preparing graduates for 21st Century panel discussion led by (from Left) Michael Rasugu with panelist Audrey Cheng, Henry Hickman, Nancy Mokua and Sebuh Haileleul.
Conversations of the day higned on the theme; Digital Transformation in Higher Education – Future Trends and Best Practices. Through panel discussions and keynotes that explored Microsoft’s technologies enabling digital transformation in Education. Including Other Microsoft Education Partner solutions addressing challenges in Higher Education.
Claudia Johnston, Microsoft Education Sector Enterprise Channel Manager, Sub Saharan Africa speaking at event.
Sharing on Microsoft’s Vision in Education was Simon Ouattara, Education Lead MEA Multi Cluster Countries. He said “At Microsoft we have made a commitment to impart digital skills to 10 million youth across MEA in the next three years”.
The event saw Microsoft highlighting products like Microsoft Azure, LinkedIn and Microsoft 365.
Microsoft Partners with FirstBank Nigeria Limited. Providing SME’s with a skills development platform, access to networks and discounted Microsoft products, payable in local currency.
The partnership started out as a memorandum of understanding in June 2018. Microsoft through its 4Afrika arm has reached an agreement with FirstBank of Nigeria. To provide a platform for small and medium scale enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journey.
SME’s will have access to “value-added products, services and offerings. Such as access to premium content, business networks, capacity building initiatives and more“. This includes access to Microsoft productivity suite tools at discounted rates. FirstBank hopes this will “drive the growth of SME’s within the Nigerian context. That’s “by providing easy access to productivity tools, capacity building and a platform for SME education“.
Microsoft 4Afrika’s regional director, Amrote said integrating technology into operations is no longer an option but a necessity.
With this partnership, FirstBank customers can buy Microsoft products at discounted rates in the local currency – the naira – As this seamlessly aids technology adoption, skills and capacity development among SMEs in Nigeria. For SMEs, integrating technology into their operations is no longer an option, but a necessity for future growth and success. Technology and the relevant digital skills today play such an integral role in business success. We’re working with organisations to extend this support to as many SMEs as possible, ensuring not only their success, but the growth and competitiveness of our continent in an increasingly digital world.
“This partnership is a landmark step in our quest to leverage the influence of technology in businesses, especially in today’s digital age”. – Taiwo Shonekan, Head Customer Experience and Value Management, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited
Microsoft says beneficiaries of the portal “will be exposed to skills development resources, access to business networks and an educational platform”. The portal is will be available to only FirstBank customers.
Microsoft last year changed its business approach to dealing with Partners. Introducung a new win win strategy. A startegy where Microsoft see’s its partners as its growth engine. Ibrahim Youssry Microsoft Regional General Manager MEA MCC put’s it this way. “Our success comes with success to our partner ecosystem. To make you successful driving Microsoft business or your business on our technologies“.
“We believe that it takes an ecosystem to build a successful startup”
Muhammad Nabil
An Ecosystem for Startups to Thrive
It’s with this same kind of win win drive that Microsoft wants to engage Startups. Microsoft put’s it this way “you’re here to do great things. we’re here to help“. Microsoft announced Microsoft for Startups a platform for startups to grow, build and connect. The program gives startups access to technology, market and a community. The idea with this offering as shared during the Head Start Program in South Africa is to help startups grow their customer and revenue bases. It is also to ease the pressure and headaches associated with starting up. Director Commercial Partners Ecosystem, Lionel Moyal, explains it this way. “We will support you to find your first customers and get your products to market as quickly as possible“.
At RiseUp Summit in Cairo, Egypt last year Microsoft’s Partner and Startup’s Strategy Lead, Muhammad Nabil shared some more details in relation to the region.
“Microsoft has shaken up how it works with startups! Microsoft aims to help startups at every stage of their journey. Whether it’s taking an idea from inspiration to working code. Gaining access to Microsoft tools, building a business, making connections with customers through Microsoft Accelerators or getting the funds needed to really take off through Microsoft Ventures, Microsoft wants startups to know: it is here to help.”
Muhammad Nabil, Partners and Startup’s Strategy Lead, Microsoft 4Afrika
For Muhammad, Microsoft believes it takes an Ecosystem to build a successful startup. He shares that “the reality is that the contribution to economies by SMEs in Africa and Middle East could be so much more if ecosystems worked together to enable true growth. If the focus is moved from only access to funds to true access to markets. [That’s] Helping the entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by helping them get more business.”
For Muhammad it has to be a delibrate decision and a long term approach of collaboration for mutual benefits. He said Microsoft 4Afrika’s strategy is not only to bring cutting edge technology to startups. But also to unlock markets to both business to business and buisness to consumer startups through Microosft’s scalable go to market programs.
Muhammad says Microsoft is committing $500M over the next two years through the Microsoft for Startups program. To offer joint sales engagements with startups, along with access to technology and new community spaces that promote collaboration across local and global ecosystems.
“We believe that a focus on giving the startups and partners tools to grow their market access will greatly add to the overall growth of economies“.
Muhammad Nabil
This approach has turned trust into cash for Microsoft with its partners. Recording quater on quater sales growth especially in the cloud. Microsoft has been making the right calls lately, Is this the break startups in Africa and the Middle East need or are looking for?
