What is Microsoft AI for Good? It is Microsoft’s philanthropic initiative to empower people and organizations working around the world to protect cultural heritage, solve humanitarian issues and create a more sustainable and accessible world.
Mike Yeh, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft Middle East and Africa speaks to Shalewa Williams, TechCity Nigeria about the initiative. He notes that the initiative is Microsoft funding people, companies with ideas that address global issues.
He sheds light on the Microsoft AI for Good initiative. Expounding on the various pillars; Sustainability, Accessibility, Earth and Cultural Heritage. Mike Yeh also shares the important details of how African organizations can apply for grants under this initiative.
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Women-led startups are only receiving 2% of all venture capital funding. A trend that needs to change if we are to achieve diversity in business. Muhammad Nabil, Partners and Startups Strategy Lead at Microsoft 4Afrika tackles the topic of diversity and what is needed to encourage more women to start businesses. As well as why investors need to take bigger bets on women-led startups.
Africa’s technology startup scene is vibrant – and growing fast. There are currently over 640 active technology hubs across the continent, and according to Partech Africa, startups raised $1.163 billion raised in equity funding in 2018 – a 108% year-on-year growth. Topping the list are fintech start-ups, who raised$132.75 million in 2018 – enjoying 39.7 percent of all funding.
Despite this momentum, however, there’s a concerning trend: Globally, women-led startups only receive two percent of all venture capital (VC) funding – and the picture within enterprise tech is dimmer. Additionally, of all startups, only 22 percent are founded by at least one woman. Africa-specific data is lacking, but sources suggest only nine percent of start-ups have women-leaders, and female-led South African start-ups receive only 4.5 percent of all funding.
Women-led startups are in short supply. And, where they are available, they often lack the investor backing to scale. The result is a significant loss of insight, perspectives, development and solutions, which affects us all.
African tech startups are renowned for building solutions to some of the most complex challenges. N-Frnds brings the power of digital to subsistence and small hold farmers in Africa and other emerging markets, via mobile. The N-Frnds mobile system, which started in Rwanda and since expanded dramatically, is text/sms-based and connects users without the need for data. Users receive vital crop and market information and get access to finance. Small hold farmers account for 80% of all food consumed in Africa, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa estimates. Giving these farmers access to increased market opportunities establishes them as micro-enterprises, which is where the majority of economic upliftment and job opportunities still reside.
Technology like this is set to completely redefine the
way we interact with the world. But if technology is only being created by a
portion of the population, how effective will it really be? Without the input
and contribution of women, how many challenges and opportunities will go
unnoticed, or only partially met?
Innovation needs diversity
Microsoft recently partnered with Sehat Kahani, a tele-health
start-up founded by two women, Dr. Iffat Zafar and Dr. Sara Khurram, in
Pakistan. As doctors themselves, they noticed a recurring “doctor-bride” trend,
where only 23 percent of female medical graduates in Pakistan become registered
physicians. The others either move abroad, or stop practicing after marriage due
to socio-cultural pressures and household responsibilities. Yet, Pakistan is in
desperate need of doctors, with a doctor-patient ratio of 1:1200.
Sehat Kahani developed a platform that pairs these female
physicians with patients in need of healthcare. Patients receive affordable and
quality care virtually using tele-medicine, while female physicians are able to
remain active, working at home on their own hours to effectively balance family
life.
If it weren’t for these two women entrepreneurs, this challenge,
opportunity and approach could have been missed entirely.
Diversity is better for business
Investors recognise the need for diversity in the long-run, which makes the lack of early-stage funding for female startups perplexing. Studies show that startups with at least one female founder raise, over time, 21 percent more VC funding than companies with all-male teams. Similarly, research also shows that if women and men participate equally as entrepreneurs, global GDP could rise by approximately three to six percent.
Diversity in business doesn’t just yield better
innovation, but better financial results too, as mixed teams are better able to
recognise and capitalize on market opportunities.
So, the question becomes: What is needed to encourage
more women to start businesses, and investors to take bigger bets on them
earlier?
Firstly, female entrepreneurs need to be given equal access to the tools needed to succeed as their male peers, including access to finance, technology, markets, information, skills and services. Second, and as a partial solve to the first, investing in diversity starts with having a diverse team of investors. Startup mentors, investors, pitch competition judges and all ecosystem players should come from diverse backgrounds, able to recognise, relate to and see the potential in different challenges and opportunities.
Last year’s Africa Seedstars Summit had a dedicated focus on female entrepreneurship, which is a positive step forward. However, the focus should not be on women-only initiatives or women-specific conversations alone, but on initiatives and conversations centered around all start-ups, where women are considered and treated as equals. Diversity and Inclusion are not an initiative, they’re a lifestyle.
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Over 600 industry leaders, entrepreneurs and investors across Africa will gather in Kigali, Rwanda for the annual Africa Tech Summit aimed at connecting the African technology ecosystem.
Microsoft’s Africa business and market development engine, 4Afrika, is a sponsor of the event. The company will share insights on artificial intelligence(AI) in Africa and leveraging partnerships to scale businesses. As well as engaging the community on leveraging its tools, solutions, platform and network.
Microsoft will steer conversation about AI and what AI is doing in Africa during the keynote and panel session at the Future Summit on day one.
On day two of Africa Tech Summit, the company will host a fireside chat for startups. On how they can leverage on partnerships to scale their businesses at the Africa Start-up summit.
The Pan-African tech event will bring together industry leaders, startups, investors and corporates from across the region.
Here are the available Microsoft Interns4Afrika positions across the Middle East and Africa. Find Microsoft Dynamics 365 internship roles in, Cape Verde, South Africa, Pakistan, Algeria, Angola, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Botswana, Cote D’Ivoire, Morocco and Nigeria.
Microsoft 4Afrika‘s internship initiative provides real employment opportunities to talented young professionals in Sales, Marketing and IT Technical Support tracks. A response to demand from its software distribution and development partners across Africa and the Middle East.
Do you live in any of the mentioned countries? Get to be a Technical Support, Sales or Marketing intern. Microsoft’s Intern4Afrika initiative will offer you a unique experience with a dynamic and agile technology organization. Learn and work at the same time.
You will get the opportunity to work for 6 months with a Microsoft partner organization on real projects. Get to collaborate and learn from your colleagues.
“You can also get to be hired by the firm depending on your performance and if you are interested in being hired after the internship program” a participant shared.
Kindly click on links below to apply on the Microsoft 4Afrika Interns4Afrika FUZU page. Read the position requirements and sign up and fill away. All the best.
We will appreciate if you will share this with your network of friends or anyone who might need this. Thank you.
Click to apply for Microsoft Africa Middle East Internship
All the best to you as you apply. If you do get in, come back and share the experience with us? Also kindly report any broken links so we can fix them. We will be updating this list when new positions are available. So bookmark the page and check back. Subscribe to recieve latest opportunities as well. Thank you.
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Happy new year guys! Let’s start off the year by telling you about events to look forward to in 2020. We are putting together conferences and trade shows Microsoft will host or participate in across the Middle East and Africa. The 2020 Microsoft events in the Middle East and Africa target students, developers, IT pros, partners and customers.
We are sharing details of events we have confirmed. However don’t hesitate to share with us events we haven’t included; info@microsoftcaregh.com so we can add them. We will also have a separate post that will focus mainly on the various Microsoft meetup communities and their events across the MEA region.
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This Microsoft events in the Middle East and Africa list will be updated from time to time. As new events come up. Bookmark this page and check it often. Share your thoughts with us.
