Has apple gone too far? Let me make this clear: I think Apple makes some of the slickest technology around. Despite my (generally) being a PC/Linux user, I have had loads of respect for Apple from the early days, and particularly since the Return of Jobs, heralding the original iMac, the shift to mach-based OSX, [...]

Whole person education I am not really a fan of sports. I was a drama and computer geek all through high school and university, and never really bought into the “whole person” education argument, at least until I could see the link between team dynamics in rowing and in companies.
I grew up in New Orleans, [...]

I had the pleasure to speak at the Africa Gathering in London this morning. (twitter feed here).
There were a number of emerging themes through the conference, and not necessarily the ones you might think– access to finance, more capital, education.
Nope. What came up again and again was:
TIA This is Africa. Sometimes problems can seem overwhelming. [...]

The Hub, York Way King’s X, London
9th-10th Oct, 2009.
I’ll be speaking about, in general, the challenges that investors and entrepreneurs face in Africa, with a specific focus on my partner organisation Appfrica Labs. Come out if you can.
Details at Africa Gathering and on the EventBrite page.
I’m on at 11 AM on Saturday– and to be [...]

My final post from (10000km and a two weeks after) SoCap.
Sorry this is late– I’ve just been indundated by the types of things that inundate your life at the end of five months on the road: I hadn’t slept in the same place (and mostly in the same country) for more than three weeks between [...]

The Bottom Line One funny thing about business is that everything that your uncle told you from your early days is wrong– I was told by most adults as I grew up that the bottom line is what counts. It’s true… to a sense.
Strategy professionals take a different tactic: Profits and the bottom line is [...]

We’ve seen a lot of shifts in the last few dozen years– my parents lamented that I would never live in a world where a job was something you could have for a lifetime, and people of my parents’s age were tarred with the worst of both– they wree promised a lifetime job but, mid-career, [...]

ExpectationI had the fortune to go to Sardegna recently for a friend’s wedding. Everything about this place is pretty awesome. The service is attentive yet chaotic– it’s hard to instil a strong series of values when you have four hours off in the middle of the afternoon in 40 degree (C) heat. When there’s a [...]

Zimbabwe, six months later…
I took another trip to Zimbabwe last week to meet with a number of people about a voucher programme for African Enterprise Partners’ first investee, Mobile Transactions.
The difference in Zimbabwe from the last time I was here six month ago is palpable. And the country is, quite simply, beautiful. It’s not the [...]

I wonder what, exactly, is my job title sometimes. My card says “Partner — East Africa” but that doesn’t say much.
I’m working with Mike on his pitch for SBSVC. He don’t exactly need capital, but it’d make AEP move faster, further, and achieve profitability sooner.
The early-stage companies that I’m working with, has got me thinking, [...]