technology Archives - Page 2 of 2

Published on April 3, 2018

7 mins read

Tech CEO Sheena Allen on How Her App Promotes Financial Health and Wealth

Sheena Allen is the founder and CEO of tech companies CAPWAY and Sheena Allen Apps. We chatted with her to find out how she went from having no coding experience to running businesses with millions of app downloads.

sheena allen

SB: What inspired you to start your tech companies?

SA: I started Sheena Allen Apps as a senior in college. I was in school double majoring in Film and Psychology and had no plans of ever going into tech.

Even though the first app didn’t do well as far as traction, I fell in love with the process and the potential of having people from all over the world using an app that I created.

My second startup, CapWay, is financial technology. CapWay was started after visiting my hometown in Mississippi and noticing the people in my community were still using the predatory economy – payday lending, check cashing, title loans, etc.

I knew I had to create a platform that can prevent the next generation from falling into same the cycle of relying on the predatory economy. I want to provide them with a better understanding of money (financial literacy), and a financial platform that provides services they actually needed.

Traditional banking has not worked out in our favor for financial health or wealth. It was time to create something new, so I created CapWay.

SB: Not everyone who wants to create a tech business is tech savvy. What suggestions do you have for those an idea but lack the tech skills?

SA: I had no clue how to code or anything when I started, so I understand having an idea for a tech business but not being tech savvy or a non-technical founder. First thing first, you do not need to be 100% tech savvy. Some of your biggest and most well-known tech founders weren’t/aren’t technical founders.

The key is it to learn enough so that no one can beat you out of your money and time. For example, you may end up outsourcing the development. You need to learn and know enough so that if a developer tries to charge a rate at 10 hours to add a splash screen, he/she is lying and just taking your money.

Things like this happen a lot and it can be scary for those who aren’t tech savvy, and it is why I wrote my book, The Starting Guide. It’s a guide on how to get started if you lack technical skills and all in between.

SB: What are your thoughts on how to overcome the lack of diversity in Silicon Valley and still succeed?

SA: Five years ago or so, I would be the first to say make your way to Silicon Valley. When I first got started, it is where I went. However, times have changed.

You no longer need Silicon Valley to be successful in the tech world. Silicon Valley will always be Silicon Valley – the bad and the good that comes along with that reality. However, as minorities, there are other up-and-coming tech hubs that we can now take advantage of including Harlem, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and New Orleans.

SB: Since there’s a lesson in every experience, what did you learn from your most successful app and what did you learn from your least successful one?

SA: My least successful app to date was my first one, and I’m happy it worked out that way. I learned that no matter how great we may think our idea is, everyone else may not think so. It also taught me that not everything might work out the way we want but what matters is how we respond to that defeat.

My most successful app taught me to be appreciative. While some people may take millions of people using their app as a boost to their ego, it honestly humbled me. It made me appreciate the process, the hard work, and most importantly, every single person who downloaded and used my app.

SB: Where do you see your company in 5 years?

SA: With Sheena Allen Apps, we will continue to develop more apps and expand our footprint into products and other things. We are currently at a few million app downloads, but I see use reaching 30 million+ app downloads as we expand.

With CapWay, we will continue to perfect our platform and create an untraditional financial ecosystem. After all, we are using blockchain technology which is already an emerging technology and will be more advanced and understood in five years. Most importantly, we will have made an impact and see a positive impact on the financial health of the financially underserved.

SB: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs interested in creating a tech startup?

SA: There is information all around us. Use it. Google is your friend. Also, reach out to people who are where you want to be. Use LinkedIn to your advantage. People are more willing to help than you probably give them credit for. Most importantly, just start.

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson (IG @thebusyafricn)

Published on April 18, 2017November 7, 2019

24 mins read

#SHOPPE NAIJA: The Black and Bourgie Shoppe Black Experience in Lagos

I’ve wanted to attend Social Media Week Lagos for the last five years, ever since my girl Ngozi Odita founded it with a group of fellow Nigerians.

The largest innovation and technology convening on the Continent, SMW Lagos is definitely a Nigerian hot spot for the cool girls and guys representing innovation in Africa across industries.

The Busy African and I decided to introduce Shoppe Black to the masses on the other side of the Atlantic, while checking out some of the best of what the Continent has to offer.

Although this would not be my first trip to Nigeria – it’s been a minute. Tony hasn’t been back for a few years either so it would be a homecoming of sorts for him, especially since he’d have his new Iyawo [read: bride] in tow.

Considering the fact that Nigeria is home to 174 million people, with many more of her children located throughout the globe, we were both looking to Shoppe Black when we went “back home.”

What we didn’t know was how many businesses were not owned by Nigerians. We just naturally assumed everything was for us, by us. Not so. While there are countless Nigerian owned businesses, the country also has its share of businesses owned and operated by Lebanese, Chinese and other Asians.

Nobody’s here for the xenophobia that countries like South Africa are sadly exhibiting. However, in our quest to support our own, we went on a mission to experience the best Naija-owned businesses we could find.

Imagine our delight when we happened upon the #buyNigerian movement that includes businesses with great concepts and excellent customer service.

Who knew just how fun and cosmopolitan our Black and Bourgie in Lagos experience would be? Certainly not us. The two weeks we spent Shopping Naija inspired us beyond imagination.

From nail bars and rooftops to organic juice brands and museums, Lagos has a little bit of everything with lots of room left to start something new.

Hanging out with my in-loves post brunch.

So whether you’re in Nigeria for business, going home to visit the family or relocating to this bustling country, check out our personal faves from in and around Lagos.

This is only a sample that reflects our quick trip but we’re looking forward to diving into the Buy Nigerian movement as we continue to build our own brand. And watch out, #shoppenaija may be coming to the innanets near you.

– Shantrelle P. Lewis

WHERE TO STAY

La Maison Fahrenheit Hotel
While Tony and I didn’t stay at Fahrenheit, we certainly hung out there with friends on a few occasions. The rooftop is undoubtedly one of the best places for drinks and stimulating conversations in the city.

The boutique hotel has the coolest vibe and decor. The rooms are sexy and spacious. I’ve heard great things about the food at the in-house restaurant as well. We’re definitely staying here the next time we’re in town, if only for a few days.
fahrenheithospitality.com

Protea Hotel Lagos at Kuramo Waters

During Social Media Week, we opted for Protea Hotel Lagos Kuramo Waters. It’s a smaller garden style hotel owned and operated by Marriott on Victoria Island, located a few minutes away from Landmark Center.

The rooms were modern and comfortable. We stayed on a lower floor one night and in a suite on an upper floor the remainder of the trip, which was better because of the small balcony and natural sunlight.

The food at the restaurant was pretty decent. The staff was beyond accommodating and friendly. P.S. Don’t let the website fool you. The hotel is situated on a beach but not the the kind of beach you’ll have access to or where you’d probably opt to lounge. marriott.com

WHERE TO GRAB A BITE

Nok by Alara
Named after one of the world’s oldest civilizations that flourished during the Iron Age in present-day Nigeria, Nok’s ancient terra-cotta sculptures, jewelry and artifacts are preserved today in museums around the world. The contemporary Nok is a well designed concept restaurant that features a delicious modern take on traditional Nigerian and Diasporan dishes.

It’s cute for a date night or gathering with a group of friends, with both indoor and outdoor seating options, although the menus vary depending on where you choose to dine. On one occasion I had the jerk chicken and the grilled beef filet on another.

The Red Alert was my adult beverage of choice. I ate there at least on three separate occasions and they did not disappoint on any. It’s on the pricier side but well worth it. And if you wonder why the aesthetics are so supreme, that’s partially because the building was designed by internationally renowned architect David Adjaye. nokbyalara.com

Samantha’s Bistro and Grill

There’s no denying the fact that I’m a picky eater. Not only that, I’m the self-identifying Burger Queen. My love for hamburgers has nothing to do with the fact that I’m American but everything to do with the fact that I have always, always loved hamburgers.

So put me in any city or country and I’ll find the best burgers there. In Lagos, Samantha’s might be it. Also, their grill had some of the BEST tilapia I’ve tasted in my life. And I’ve had some great tilapia. I couldn’t stop talking about this tilapia though. It was grilled to perfection. You should also check out their brunch. IG: @samanthasbistro

Hans & René
With locations at the Radisson Blu hotel in Ikoyi, Palms Shopping Center and Ikeja City Mall., Hans & René is a very cute, Black-owned bakery and gelataria.

They serve traditional flavors of gelatos and sorbets that you’d find anywhere in the world but also a variety of local concoctions that were quite delicious. My personal favorite was the Agbalumo – a sorbet made from a popular indigenous fruit affectionately called “African cherries.”

Hans & René also offers a selection of other sweets and baked goods. This is not the place to go if you’ve kicked your sugar habit but most certainly the place to visit if you have a sweet tooth. hansandrene.com

Craft Gourmet by Lou Baker
This may be bit of a faux pas, considering we are all Black everything but I be remiss if I didn’t recommend Kraft Gourmet located on the upper floor at Mega Plaza. Why? Because although not Black, they are of color and their customer service was EVERYTHING.

Plus the food is good. I dined there for a late brunch twice. The chicken and waffles were tasty. The $10 mimosa came in a carafe that allowed you to squeeze out at least three mimosas, which meant I was pretty tipsy both times but I didn’t complain.

The owner’s husband was very sweet and extremely accommodating. I believe they’re Indian, which in this case, is good enough (brown enough) for me. Great service goes a long way. IG: @craftgourmet

So Fresh
One afternoon after quite a hot and dramatic visit to the National Museum, Tony and I were looking for a quick bite en route to our next appointment.

I saw the signage from the road on our way to the museum and asked the driver to pull into the parking lot for So Fresh. We were pleasantly surprised by the neat juice bar that also had a variety of salads, wraps and smoothies.

It’s not only nutritious and but is an an ideal haven for Nigerian veggie lovers. We love their branding and customer service as well! sofreshng.com

Simply Green
So Fresh isn’t the only health conscious brand in Lagos. Once again, my girl Tayo put me on to several great Nigerian businesses in the area. She and her husband are huge supporters of the #buynigerian movement.

During a visit to her home, she offered me a refreshing and nutritious Simply Green cold pressed juice. I was in love! The owners of Simply Green have mastered the art of branding. Additionally, their products come from a Nigerian owned farm where they grow their fruits and veggies.

Their juices can be found at various stores throughout the country as well as at their own location in V.I. If you’re really committed to cleansing and giving your system a break after stuffing it with fufu and pounded yam, you can order a cleanse which ranges from 3 to 6 days.

The Simply Green staff delivers your fresh juices directly to your door. How cool is that? simplygreenjuice.com

BEAUTY

Scratch and Social
It’s no secret that I have a picky palate. I’m even pickier when it comes to my pedicures. I decided to check out Scratch and Social at the end of SMW when it was time for my nails to get touched up.

Someone told me that the uber cute nail shop also had a bar so I figured it was the perfect answer to cure our need for happy hour and tackling my manicure at the same time. The vibe is super chic.

The place is owned by a millennial from Texas who returned home to try her hand at Nigeria’s booming start up sector. I absolutely loved the place. I loved the service. What I didn’t love was the four hours it took to get my nails done. (Neither did Tony or Yaba).

I think it had more to do with the fact that it was a Friday night and that it takes at least an hour for each service and there was at least one person ahead of me. In MY opinion, it might be better if the owner just makes everything by appointment only to alleviate the wait unless she hires more staff to meet her growing demand.

Also a free drink for the wait would have been a nice gesture. All in all, she was very sweet and I’d still go back because you can’t beat the vibes. scratchandsocial.com

House of Tara
There was a House of Tara booth during SMW and I picked up two lipsticks. I loved the colors! So after I discovered that it was in the neighborhood when we drove by one day on the way back to my in-laws, I stopped in to pick up a few more lipsticks and a few things for my mother-in-love.

House of Tara has a full line of cosmetics. You can book appointments to have your makeup done as well. Since I purchased my colorful hues, I’ve been wearing them almost daily.

They’re not very big tubes so I’m not sure how long they’ll last in comparison to larger brands but I love the way the purple and bright pink shades highlight my complexion. shop.houseoftara.com

WHERE TO SHOP

Alara
Located in Victoria Island, Alara is very chic, very modern, very ultra-dope concept store boasting of luxury brands from around the globe. The four – five story locale has anything and everything a couture loving fashionista/o would ever need in their wardrobe or home.

I don’t do red bottom shoes (my ankles and size 10s/41s were not set up for stilt walking unfortunately) but they had plenty pairs of Christian Louboutins if that’s your thing. The store also functions as a gallery that is curated by my good friend Temitayo Ogunbiyi.

After working up an appetite spending hard earned money at Alaro, you can go its sister restaurant in the back for some good bites. IG:@alaralagos

Grey Velvet
I have to credit my play cousin-in-love for turning me on to Grey Velvet. Kemi’s an it girl who comes home frequently. Because she highly values more modern twists on traditional wear versus Western name brands, she shops at Grey Velvet.

We checked it out before flying back to the States. Kemi was right! I wanted to buy half the store but only left with an Ankara Agbada, a few tops and a pair of shades.

It’s a cute boutique located in the Lekki shopping center and has a variety of colorful dresses, blouses, pants, skirts, accessories including the local made high end Femi handbags. greyvelvetstores.com

Lekki Market
I posted a status on facebook about my experiences in Balogun Market hunting for fabric. I handled it like the O.G. professional Diasporic haggler that I am.

But battling the sheer excited chaos and heat that is Lagos’ largest street market is not for the faint of heart or inexperienced. So if you want to purchase some small items for the home or friends, go to Lekki Market.

In addition to sculptures, masks and jewelry, there are also vendors with nice traditional paintings. You still can bargain, don’t just take someone’s last price. But even if you do, you’ll still come out with some good finds. Find out more about Lekki Market here.

WHERE TO FIND ART AND CULTURE

In my head, Fela was my uncle. Which means, Seun is my play cousin. Hanging out with my boy, the Crown Prince of Afrobeat.

Kalakuta Republic Museum
For years Kalakuta Republic was a place that lived in my imagination. The actual home of one of my patron saints, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Kalakuta Republic was the socio-political and ideological headquarters and living quarters for the late great father of Afrobeat and contemporary Pan-Africanism.

In 2012, the home was converted into a museum, to preserve not only his remains but Fela’s legacy and serve as the family’s headquarters for Felabration. Today, it also plays host to the rehearsal spot for Fela’s youngest son and my good friend, Seun Kuti.

Seun and Egypt 80 practice there weekly for hours. Upstairs is a local hangout spot and bar for neighborhood youth. We had the opportunity to hang out with Seun and crew and got a tour of his dad’s home turned-museum.

The museum is in Ikeja, in the heartland of Lagos City, about an hour’s drive from the island. Click here to learn more about the museum.

CCA Lagos
Another place I’ve been wanting to visit is the Centre for Contemporary Art in Lagos. Founded by curator Bisi Silva in 2007, the center preserves, exhibits, and discusses contemporary Nigerian art and visual culture.

In addition to its gallery space, the center houses one of the largest visual art libraries in Africa. When my friend Tayo took me there, she introduced me to brilliant young artist Kelani Abass, whose exhibition If I Could Save Time was on view in CCA’s galleries.

Bisi is as brilliant as she is sweet and CCA is a much needed institution. CCA is located on the mainland in Yaba. ccalagos.org

Lekki Conservation
If you google what to do in Lagos, one of the top tourist attractions is Lekki Conservation. Since the in-loves lived in Lekki, I naturally assumed that it was right down the road (that’s also how far away our driver described the distance). It was a little further than down the road but it was worth the trip.

Growing up a five minutes drive away from the swamp, I’ve always been enamored with nature and botanical landscapes. The conversation is a quiet walk into local fauna, an oasis away from the urban hustle and bustle that is Lagos.

For whatever reason, I encouraged my brother-in-love to trek up the six suspension bridges that took us on a journey into the sky above the trees. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be, perhaps testament that I’m slowly overcoming my fear of heights.

We saw some local wildlife including peacocks and had a meditative, peaceful good time. ncfnigeria.org/projects/lekki-conservation-centre

Jazzhole

Jazzhole was yet another socially hip place that we got put onto by friends. This time, it was a suggestion by Afrobeat queen Wunmi. A group of us headed there after treating ourselves to post-brunch sorbet at Hans & Rene.

The place was fantastic! There were all kinds of classic vinyl albums from all over the continent. There were also loads of books, magazines and cds.

Between browsing and listening, you will probably engage in profound conversations with the founders or one of the Jazzhole’s intellectual patrons.

There’s also a cozy cafe situated in the back that carries assorted teas and small bites. Check out this Black Fabulousity post about Jazzhole and its owners here.

The New Afrika Shrine
The first time I went to the Shrine was in 2007. It felt more like a dream than something that actually happened in real life.

Femi performed, I probably had my share of African cabbage and cried. LOL. I was so overwhelmed at the idea that I was at Fela’s shrine. Granted, it wasn’t the original edifice, but the spirit of Fela lives there.

We missed Seun’s show, which is the last Sunday of each month but we were able to catch Femi live. The show was nice and laid back.

I’m undoubtedly a bigger fan of Seun’s than Femi but it’s well worth the trip. The Shrine is in Ikeja. It’s a must do for any true Fela disciple. thenewafrikashrine.com

Published on December 19, 2016April 5, 2020

7 mins read

Husani Oakley of Goldbean speaks Candidly about the Need for Diversity in Tech & More

Husani Oakley is the Chief Technology Officer at GoldBean, an online investing platform that helps people start their investment journey with companies and brands they love, know, and buy.

This week, he will soon be joining technologists and community leaders at the White House to discuss the Obama Administration’s TechHire initiative, and how we can continue to work towards a more inclusive workforce after “he-who-shall-not-be-named” takes office.

I caught up with him to discuss his work at Goldbean and the issue of diversity in the tech industry. This is what he had to say:

SB: You’ve been dubbed a Technologist. What does that mean to you and how did you develop an interest in technology?

HSO: As nerdy as it sounds, my technology interest came from being seriously into Star Trek as a child. My friends, who were also into Trek, wanted to be Captain Kirk, but I wanted to be Scotty. I liked being the person with his hands on the keys, on the buttons making things work.

SB: Goldbean is a tool that helps people learn about investing. Why do think there’s this idea in the Black community that investing in stocks is hard?

HSO: I think the resistance of people in the Black community to being a stock investor comes mainly from being unfamiliar with the terminology. When you make a Goldbean account, you plug in your bank account details and we pull your transactions and we analyze where you spend your money.

Then, we are able to put together a recommended profile for you that includes companies that you know. You might not know what a P/E ratio is, but you certainly know Nike versus Adidas, you know Whole Foods versus Trader Joe’s. We’re trying to show people that this stuff is easy to learn.

Imagine if, right when the iPhone was launched, you saw that suddenly, all of your friends were buying iPhones. That might’ve given you an indication that maybe Apple is an interesting investment target for you as an investor. We want to help people grasp that you can participate in this economy as more than just a consumer.

SB: What is the target demographic for your product?

Husani: Our average age is 29, we have a 50/50 split, male-female, which is great, and the average deposit in an investment account is about $4000. We’re actively talking to young people, particularly women and particularly people of color. The underserved groups who the large financial institutions, frankly, don’t give a shit about.

SB: In terms of diversity in tech, do you see things getting better?

Husani: I think it is getting better, if getting better is defined as the number of people who are not straight, white dudes who are in the field. If you look at the big brand names and look at their diversity reports, it’s fucking awful.

Facebook has two Black designers globally. It’s insulting and ridiculous, but I don’t look at diversity in tech on that level because tech is so much more than Google, Facebook and Apple.

There’s hundreds of thousands of startups alone on the East Coast of the US. We’ve got to count for something in terms of diversity in tech. Everyone at the large companies seems to use the excuse of the pipeline. “It’s a pipeline problem, there aren’t enough applicants.” Of course there aren’t, you’re only looking at Stanford. Have you been to Howard?

Have you been to Morehouse? Did you send your senior engineers to sit there and talk? Do you give money to these computer science programs? No, of course you don’t. So don’t blame the pipeline when you’re not doing shit about it.

SB: Well, damn. Tell us how you really feel.

Husani: I’m just the kind of guy who says this stuff. I’ve been in this field for 20 years and I’m senior enough to not give a shit what anybody actually thinks. You can’t blame the pipeline and then not do anything for real to solve what you blamed. You can find women, and you can find Black people, and you can find gay people. We’re out here, we’re all everywhere.

I really do think it’s getting better, if only because there are so many interesting startups doing really interesting things, and I see more and more people of color realizing there’s an opportunity here, whatever here means. AirBnB is a great example of, “All of your people are racist bastards? Ok, we’ll just start our own.”

That’s what I love about this country, the ability to say, “Screw you guys. I’m going to to make my own thing and I’m going to put social progressivism in the DNA of my startup.”

It strikes me as so obvious. It’s a blind spot. If we can walk on the moon and make self-driving cars, we can hire some Black people.

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on December 3, 2016April 5, 2020

2 mins read

8 Tech Related Non Profits Focused on Black Youth

In this digital age, the importance of having tech related training and skills cannot be stressed enough. These amazing organizations are training and grooming the tech savvy leaders of tomorrow.

Tech Related Non Profits For Black Youth

Code2040 is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways to educational, professional, and entrepreneurial success in technology for underrepresented minorities with a specific focus on Blacks and Latino/as. Co-Founders: Laura Weidman Powers and Tristan Walker

Gameheads is an organization that trains low-income and first-generation students ages 15–24 in video game design and development to prepare them for careers in the entertainment and tech industries. Co-founder: Damon Packwood

Black Girls Code is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on providing technology education to African-American girls ages 7–17. Founder: Kimberly Bryant

Coded by Kids is committed to providing free tech education, tech industry exposure and career mentorship to children who lack access to these opportunities. Founder: Sylvester Mobley

Telegraph Academy is a wearable computing learning platform that makes computer programming accessible and fun for young learners. C0–Founder: Albrey Brown

#YesWeCode is a national initiative to help young women and men find success in the tech sector. Founder: Van Jones

Qeyno Labs is an inclusive innovation company committed to transforming children’s lives, their families, and community through the magic of play, empathy, and discovery. Founder: Kalimah Priforce

CodeNow is a nonprofit that encourages high school students from inner city neighborhoods to pick up coding skills. Founder: Neal Sáles-Griffin

–Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on September 30, 2016November 8, 2017

1 min read

Beyoncé is the Latest Celebrity Tech Startup Investor

Beyoncé aka Queen Bey isn’t a stranger to the business world. She owns the “athleisure” brand, Ivy Park, and has an investment in music streaming company, Tidal as well as a beverage brand, WTRMLN WTR.

Now, she has joined likes of Carmelo Anthony and Nas, becoming an investor in a technology related startup. Her management company, Parkwood Entertainment has invested $150,000 into Sidestep, an app that allows you to pre order concert merchandise, skip the line and either pick it up at the show or have it delivered to you.

Talk abut a come up. In two weeks this company went from selling t-shirts and other Beyoncé related merchandise during her Formation World Tour, to receiving an investment that is more than likely about to make them a multi million dollar company.

Smart move on their part. In this digital age, the user data you collect is just as valuable as the product or service you sell. Sidestep is in a position to collect this data and provide artists with a better idea of who is buying and what they are buying. It’s also a win for the fans who don’t want to spend time waiting in ridiculously long lines just to get a band t-shirt.

Looks like Bey isn’t gonna lose her Forbes spot any time soon.

–Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on June 25, 2016November 8, 2017

5 mins read

23 African Startups to Keep an Eye On

African startups are are taking the continent by storm. This new generation of entrepreneurs is not satisfied with sitting back and hoping someone will give them a job or create the goods or services they want and need. They are doing it themselves and the world is taking notice. Last year, African tech startups received over $185M in funding from sources within and outside the continent.

Here are some of the startups to keep an eye on:

African Startups

54artistry is a Nigeria-based company that empowers thousands of creative Africans by leveraging technology to connect creatives to paying clients (vice-versa).

Eat.gm gives you an authentic local Gambia Experience by connecting you to local Gambian families that will cook for you and host you for home-cooked food.

Paystack helps Nigerian businesses accept payments via credit card, debit card, money transfer and mobile money on their websites or mobile apps.

NerveFlo , a Nigerian startup, allows digital content creators to rapidly distribute their work to the ever-growing African market. Here you can find anything from short films to music to comics, lectures and e-books.

RoundBob is an online travel agency created in Uganda to provide varied travel content built across key demanded areas such as sports, health, leisure and education.

Abacus is a Kenyan startup that builds web and mobile software to help investors across the globe access African financial markets.

Hotels.ng is the largest online hotel booking agency in Nigeria, with over 7000 hotels registered on their platform.

ogaVenue.com.ng solves the problem of venue booking: by aggregating variety of event venues, making it easy to search, check availability and book venues for weddings, meetings and other events online. Screen Shot 2016-06-27 at 10.33.07 PM

Farms.ng helps Nigerian farmers get a good price for their produce and, at the same time, to allow buyers get fresh produce from the farmers.

Codulab is a talent matching platform from Nigeria that connects projects to talent and expertise. Their aim is to facilitate a smooth working process, while ensuring great creative output.

RecycloBekia is an electronic waste recycling company based in Egypt and serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

MeQasa is one of Ghana’s leading online real estate classifieds businesses. It provides a free service that helps property seekers, brokers and landlords conduct business efficiently online.

MedRX app was created in Ghana. It connects users to health personnel from various fields of practice including hospital, pharmacy, laboratory and academia.

CaringHand is a Ghanaian company that provides health and non health homecare services for the elderly and patients with immediate needs.

Coliba is a waste recycle company that began in Côte d’Ivoire. It was built with the purpose of solving African waste and sanitation challenges as well as providing employment and an alternative source of income for waste collectors.

Talking Bookz is a publisher and an online retailer of audiobooks that allows its customers to download books in digital format for use on their laptops and portable devices with focus on unique African content and other international bestsellers.

Video Moja is an online platform where you can watch your favorite Nollywood movies for free and also stay updated on the new and latest releases.

DIYlaw.ng makes the registration processes and legal services more efficient and available to entrepreneurs seeking to do business in Nigeria.

Kiro’o Games, also known as Kiro’o Studios, is a Cameroonian video game, animation, development and publishing company.

Slatecube is a Nigerian startup that helps job seekers develop industry-relevant skills, gain work experience, and land well paying jobs through world-class up-skilling courses and virtual internships.

Flippy campus out of Ghana, puts your entire campus experience in your pocket. The app allows users to connect with friends on campus as well as friends in other schools.

Gamsole is a Nigerian mobile game production company. Their goal is to “make games that are fun to play; plain and simple.”

Kadi Energy of Ghana is the producer of the Kadi Mobile Charger, a portable, solar-powered charger designed to deliver reliable and affordable access to energy.

– Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on January 13, 2016August 20, 2021

6 mins read

Introducing INNERACT PROJECT: Educating the Next Generation of Design Gurus

Everyone knows there is a huge diversity gap in design and tech fields. What is important to note is that there is very little work being done with underserved youth at a young age to help prepare them and to combat this disparity.

Therefore, exposure at a young age is essential. My goal with Inneract Project is to provide minority parents from underserved communities with valuable opportunities for their kids to enter design fields.

I am dedicated to making sure kids (particularly underserved minority youth) get the best chance in life to be successful. This is REALLY important to me.

I was raised in Richmond, California, where, like most young people in urban communities across the nation, I was primarily exposed to sports and music. I ran into design via a scholarship to play college ball but not every kid in the community will get this opportunity.

While I was in college, I randomly picked design as a major. This was because I liked to draw when I was a kid. Through this random act, I was exposed to a new world. I think every kid in the community deserves to know about design.

There are a TON of career options for youth in these fields. I work in the Bay Area where design is an important skill in the tech industry. Design careers are in demand, and as a result, pay well.

Creative fields are projected to be one of the most promising new opportunities for employees over the next 7 years. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

Design in Context

In today’s world, design is all around us – logos, architecture, furniture, packaging, websites, technology, fashion, and endless other places. Even so, few people really understand what design is.

Design “process” encourages creativity and innovation, which drives our global marketplace. It takes into account; function, human values, social conditions and aesthetics. It makes our lives efficient, informed, sustainable, and more productive.

It is deeply embedded into our culture and is used to move our nation forward. Yet, it is a missing piece in K-12 education and most underserved communities have little knowledge of its existence.

Inneract Project is trying to change this. We know from studies that academic achievement by 8th grade is one of the largest predictors of college readiness.

We want to start working with young minority students at an early age, to give them the proper exposure, education and preparation to enter fields in design.In 2015, only 6% of African American graduates received Art/Design bachelor’s degrees from U.S. degree granting institutions. (Higher Education Arts Data Services (HEADS)

As our nation focuses more on innovation, we must educate our youth on what design can offer and develop their problem-solving skills to prepare them for jobs that meet the needs of our changing world.

We must also educate parents and the broader community so they can support this new generation of design thinkers. We believe parents are the key and invite them to not only sign their kids up for our classes and workshops but pass the word around, be involved, and help us build a network of parents dedicated to improving the quality of life and future for our young people.

We are working on an expansion model, testing Inneract Project programs in other cities as well as entrepreneurship for youth. We are empowering them through design and providing opportunities for them to create products that they believe the world needs.

About Maurice Woods:

Maurice Woods is the Executive Director/Founder of the Inneract Project (IP). Maurice graduated from the University of Washington with a BFA and MFA in Visual Communication Design. He played basketball as an undergraduate and professionally worldwide for 7 years. Since graduating, he has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at multiple colleges, lectured nationally and internationally and contributed to various media outlets including the Wall Street Journal.

Maurice served as Co-Chair of Education for the AIGA San Francisco and nationally as a Board of Advisor for the Diversity Archive Collection Exhibition. Currently he sits on the board for Design Ignites Change. Professionally, Maurice worked as a designer at the world’s largest independent design consultancy, Pentagram Design. He designed extensive identity, retail, exhibit and interactive programs for clients such as Nike, Greyhound, Symantec, Priceline.com, and Google. He has won multiple design awards, featured in publications and is also a Jefferson Award winner. He currently works as a Experience Design lead at Yahoo.

If you’re looking for a Retail Design Agency to help you with the launch of a product or with a company campaign, consider checking out Mynt.

For specific questions or to get involved to help our mission, email us at info@inneractproject.org. We are currently looking for fundraising board members.

Contact Inneract Project on Social media:

website: inneractproject.org

facebook: inneractproject

twitter: @InneractProject

– By Guest Contributor: Maurice Woods