A Nigerian tech startup company has developed a new application for video conferences and webinars known as Konn3ct.
The new solution is developed by Newwaves Ecosystems, led by former Chams Nigeria executive, Femi Williams.
Although there have been dozens of players in the business for some years, Chinese company, Zoom Video Communications, appeared to sprint ahead of the pack as a runaway market leader. Zoom’s most recent figures suggest the platform had 300 million daily meeting participants at the end of 2020, versus just 10 million in December 2019. This is in comparison to Google Meet’s 100 million participants for 2020.
Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and the other existing players, numbering over 140, have been splitting the market among themselves, with no competition from Africa, in a market estimated to be worth over $75 billion (N30 trillion) in the next nine years.
But these are about to change with the entry of Nigerian tech startup Konn3ct placing the country and Africa in prime position to play recognizable roles in the fourth industrial revolution as creators of technology rather than consumers.
Konn3ct, Leadership investigations reveal, is entering the market with more than 40 differentiating features that put the App in good stead to compete strongly with the leaders of this rapidly growing industry. For instance, it was learned the App effectively mirrored real-life conference experiences in its construction process, enabling participants in a large conference to go into breakout sessions. To make this experience all-encompassing, Konn3ct allows as many as eight breakout rooms within the same conference after which the participants are timed out for return into the main meeting.
Apart from the breakout session feature, this new App allows organisers of any meeting to record the proceedings for proper documentation and ease of future reference, doing the job of video cameras and rapporteurs at the same time. Another interesting feature is the one that enables the person hosting a session to play You Tube and other videos and still be able continue the presentation even while the video was still playing.
With a default high-definition audio and a video that allows for four quality bands, ranging from low to high definition, Konn3ct also has a virtual lobby where participants can see the meeting floor while waiting to input their access codes.
Leadership sought and spoke with Chief Executive Officer of the company, Femi Williams, who was upbeat about the capability of the indigenous application to hold its own against any other player in the industry.
Williams, who anchored his optimism on what he called superior meeting experience, said although there might be expected entry challenges, especially being a solution wholly developed in Africa by Africans, he was confident that the global community would opt for value against port of origin.
“We are lucky that technology solutions, such as Konn3ct, are not sold with nationality stamps, same way you have your German machines and Japanese technology driving automobile sales. If this was so, a Chinese solution like Zoom would not be the leading meetings solution in both the United States and Europe. Technology thrives more on quality of user experience and problem-solving capabilities than nationality branding. This makes us believe that Konn3ct will compete quite well in the global market space, just to sound modest,” he stated in an exclusive interview with Leadership.
He said apart from the top-quality experience in Konn3ct, the solution also has strong security architecture that lends itself for classified meetings below the radar of open internet.
“The Transport Layer Security built into the App provides privacy and data integrity between two or more communicating computer applications. We also have the Secure Socket Layer Encryption (SSL Encryption), which is a protocol to protect data during transfer and transmission by creating a channel, uniquely encrypted, so that the user and the server have a private communication link channel over the public Internet,” he explained, adding that Konn3ct, is capable of providing one of the largest meeting rooms in the market, with as many as 250 people in one room while an unlimited number can participate via livestreaming.
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Kwik Delivery is announcing that it has closed its pre-Series A financing round. The startup successfully raised $1.7 million in equity from institutional and high net worth investors.
“Kwik Delivery has demonstrated to customers and investors alike its efficiency as well as the relevance of its bold technology-based approach during a most challenging period” explains Romain POIROT-LELLIG, Founder & CEO. “This financing round is enabling us to grow even faster and to disrupt and conquer new markets.”
Kwik Delivery is an on-demand, last-mile delivery platform that connects African businesses to independent delivery riders, dubbed Kwiksters. Launched in 2019, the Kwik platform is currently open to Kwiksters operating in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria.
Using the app, customers able to request a delivery vehicle and track their shipment in real-time. It also provides insurance for goods in transit.
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The Microsoft Leap program is announcing a Data Analyst apprenticeship cohort scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria.
Application portal for registration opens from Monday 18th to the 25th of January 2020. With selected candidates scheduled to start the 16 weeks training on the 8th of March 2020.
Microsoft will host a webinar for anyone interested in learning more about the Leap apprenticeship program. On the 18th at 1200 Noon +1UTC, kindly find webinar link here. Kindly note the link will be live prior to the start of the event.
The webinar event will also throw light on if this is going to be only virtual, physical or mixed training. So don’t miss the webinar and come with your questions.
This is a Female-only cohort. The selected ladies will undergo four weeks of skills training, followed by twelve weeks of hands-on project sessions. With Wragby Business Solutions & Technologies, 2020 Microsoft Country Partner Nigeria award winner.
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Here are some of things a candidate must possess to know if they are eligible for the program. Don’t forget to click the link to find out more details that aren’t covered here about the program.
Data Analyst Cohort eligibility requirements
A flair for numbers or basic mathematics skills.
Basic knowledge of any of Microsoft Excel, Power BI or Tableau, etc.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Written and verbal communication skills.
Must have completed the National Youth Service Corps obligation or are exempt.
Completed a tertiary degree in a numerate field.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, kindly click here to apply for the program.
The Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has hinted the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria is looking to work with Microsoft to make Nigeria the tech hub of Africa.
By collaborating with the multinational corporation to use technology to address issues affecting Nigerians and engage Nigeria’s youth.
The vice-president met virtually with Brad Smith, Microsoft President and Akin Banuso, Microsoft country manager, Nigeria. When Microsoft called on him to offer support for the Digital Transformation pillar of the Federal Government’s economic sustainability plan.
The meeting saw Microsoft disclosing plans to partner with the Nigeria FG for the benefit of the Nigerian people especially the youth. The finer details of this partnership are yet to be agreed on.
Microsoft president Brad Smith notes, the vision for Microsoft’s investment in Nigeria is one that will lead to the creation of Africa’s most viable technology ecosystem.
The vice-president has on various occasions appealed to global technology multinationals to build capacity and employ Nigerians.
I have always wondered how Microsoft can be a much more effective partner with us as a country, Prof. Osibanjo asks.
“Beginning with the African Development Center which I think is excellent, I think it shows the commitment of Microsoft in developing the digital centre here in Nigeria. And it also shows the company’s confidence in the sort of talents that we have and the commitment of the government to ensuring that we develop that talent in the best possible ways that we can.”
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The youth in Ekiti State, Nigeria, will benefit from a new collaboration between the state government and Microsoft Nigeria.
The partnership will see the youth acquire new digital skills, get certified and become employable.
Ekiti State Government will also invest about two hundred thousand dollars in two thousand participants with free vouchers to earn an industry-recognized Microsoft IT certificate.
The initiative is in tandem with Microsoft’s global skills initiative. Which plans to have about twenty-five million people gain new digital skills worldwide by March 2021.
The government notes the initiative is geared at the unemployed and underemployed. And part of the governor’s actions to mitigate the economic impact of covid-19.
The government is also working with three local hubs; GoGlobal Hub, Glimpse Solutions and Christore Hub in the initiative. These hubs will confirm competition of the selected course and issue participant with the certification exams voucher.
Here’s what to know to participate in the digital skills program.
Firstly, you’ll need to be a resident of Ekiti State to be eligible to participate in the program.
Secondly, you’ll need to have access to the internet and a device to complete the lessons.
Thirdly, you’ll need to register on the program website. Select a course to study and a hub for post training verification.
Once you have completed all the learning modules, you will download and print the issued certificate of completion. Present this at the hub to get a voucher to pay for the Microsoft certification exams. You will have about two weeks to take the exams.
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