“Mobile connections in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 20 percent to 500 million in 2013 and are expected to increase by an additional 50 percent by 2018…The rapid pace of mobile adoption has delivered an explosion of innovation and huge economic benefits in the region, directly contributing US$ 32 billion to the Sub-Saharan African economy, or 4.4 per cent of GDP. With necessary spectrum allocations and transparent regulation, the mobile industry could also fuel the creation of 14.9 million new jobs in the region between 2015 and 2020.”

— Anne Bouverot, Director General, GSMA

Beyond Right & Wrong

The Navvi team went from one mountain town to another to collaborate with leaders in entrepreneurship, film, music, business, technology, philanthropy, and other creative endeavors in the Collective at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.

The Collective seeks to drive social change through film and technology; Navvi seeks to drive social change through information and technology - a match made in festival heaven.

While we brushed shoulders with lots of dreamy actors and talented actresses, had dinner with influential investors and listened to best-practices from some of the best social entrepreneurs in the country, the true star-struck moment came while Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Kweku, spoke on “Beyond Right & Wrong" - a film on forgiveness and justice by Lekha Singh. In an effort to turn Kweku’s inspiration into action, we sat down one-on-one with Lekha to figure out how Navvi’s mapping platform can help raise awareness for social impact filmmakers - and, most importantly, drive action. The possibilities are endless and the Navvi team is working hard to make them happen.

(More fun from the Collective here)

Introducing Robert Muigai

Robert is one of our three dedicated ambassadors in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a law student at Strathmore Law School. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the Navvi team!

Why are you excited to be a part of Navvi.com?

"Looking back at how the world has come to evolve, one thing that stands out is that information is power. And those who are able to provide this information have the power to change the mindset of thousands of people by only using their words.

When I heard about the Navvi project, I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity to provide information that could educate a lot of people. Having worked on some research projects before, I was able to understand and appreciate the hard work that goes into producing reports which many people and companies use in implementing their strategies.

Working with Navvi is also a great opportunity to interact with other users around the world. It is also a great opportunity to look at other people perspectives on contentious issues and comparing them with your own. That I think is one of the best ways of learning. When you are able to stand back and look at what is happening, not only from your eyes, but from other people’s eyes as well.”

Forbes List: 2013's Top Startups

According to Forbes, here is a list of 13 startups that proved themselves overwhelmingly successful in 2013. The range of topics these booming startups encompass is as diverse as you can get. While none of the listed startups accomplish what Navvi intends to achieve, Upworthy is certainly the most similar…their goal: “…social media with a mission: to make important stuff as viral as a video of some idiot surfing off his roof.”  

Next year, let’s get Navvi on there!

1. Snapchat
2. Uber
3. Zendesk
4. Optimizely
5. Coin
6. Dropbox
7. Lyft
8. Tinder
9. Hotel Tonight
10. Whisper
11. Upworthy
12. Quizup
13. Hampton Creek Foods

South Sudan: Featured Navvi Post

Each week, our fabulous closed beta users receive Navvi post inspiration. 

Last weeks prompt:

South Sudan is a current point of interest in the news. What are the issues that interest you? Why is this news relevant to you in Kenya? What is your insight? How does the conflict and crisis relate to food, water, energy, infrastructure, environment and/or health? 

Andrew Ruto, a student at Strathmore and one of our closed beta users, posted about the importance of South Sudan’s oil industry on Sudan’s livelihood and the effect civil war has on this vital industry.

Andrew wrote, "South Sudan produces 85% of Sudanese oil output. Oil revenues constitute more than 98% of the government of South Sudan’s budget. The current civil war going on in South Sudan means that the economy of the country has been crippled due to the civil war that came up barely a month ago." 

Closed beta users can read more here - http://navvi.com/#live-feed/article/2647

Introducing Antony Wainaina Kariuki

"My name is Antony Wainaina Kariuki. I am a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications student at Strathmore University. I am really passionate about technology and I love Navvi.com as it provides me with news that is relevant to my daily life.”

Antony is one of our three amazing Ambassadors who comes to us from Nairobi. As an Ambassador, Antony acts as a liaison between Navvi.com’s Community Engagement team and Strathmore University. Not only is Antony a Navvi Ambassador, but also a Microsoft Student Partner.

What exactly does your role as Microsoft Student Partner entail:

"The Microsoft student partner program entails being the contact person between Microsoft and my university, and assisting in hosting Microsoft events within campus, and providing training for Microsoft technologies."

How do you feel Navvi.com can help make a difference: 

"I believe Navvi.com will be a great platform to connect people with similar insights on particular sectors. It will be of great use to researchers who would love to have the view of other religions on their research scope."

@iLabAfrica features Navvi.com

@iLabAfrica featured Navvi.com in a blog post dedicated to our community engagement team’s visit to train beta test users from Nairobi’s Strathmore University, whose IT faculty founded iLab January 2011.

Their goal is “to spearhead research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the ICT for Development (ICT4D) ecosystem towards the attainment of the UNDP Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Kenya’s Vision 2030.”

@iLabAfrica has partnered with big names including Google and Samsung. Google is working with iLab to provide mobile bootcamp training across the country and with Samsung to reengineer their product to African Market conditions. 

Keep on the lookout for iLab’s feature on Navvi’s CEO, Natalie Spencer. 

A Look Back at 2013

2013 - A momentous year for the BBXG team abound with accomplishments:

1.   Secured a fabulous home base in Jackson, WY.

2.   Launched the Navvi.com product in Sub-Saharan Africa.

3.   Hired a group of driven super heroes to our world-class team.

4.   Completed pre-pilot research with strategic institutional partners in Kakuma Refugee Camp.

5. Onboarded over 100 Navvi.com beta users in Nairobi.

6. Managed to fit in some quality days on the mountain (well deserved, of course).

With 2013 behind us, the BBXG team is thrilled for an adventure-filled, busy, and exciting 2014!

Vava Coffee: Sourcing Green Coffee in Kenya

Vava Coffee empowers coffee farmers around Kenya by sourcing the best beans, providing training to the farmers and helping the farmers transition to organic farming using best farming practices. As a social enterprise, Vava Coffee  provide employment and sustainable revenues with the various self help groups we work with that make some our packaging materials. Vava will be adding profiles of their projects to the map as part of Navvi beta!

Photo-Activism

Boniface Mwangi gave us some great insight on citizen journalism in Kenya when we visited his office, Pawa254, a creative coworking space not far from Central Nairobi. A self-described “photo-activist,” Boniface gets how the power of a citizen’s perspective has the potential to make waves. 

Our latest group of students were trained last week at Strathmore University’s iLab Africa in Nairobi. Their contributions to Navvi.com so far include posts on everything from undernourishment in Kenya to the effects of domestic tourism to flamingos fleeing Lake Naivasha due to high water levels. And their feedback on Navvi beta has been extremely helpful. Keep up the great work!

Welcome aboard Care!

Care International's Central and East Africa team joined Navvi.com's closed beta last week. Organizations like Care can leverage Navvi's location and subject filtering technology to better manage communications and put reports on the map such as this one, which makes recommendations for sustainable drought risk management in Kenya. 

Welcome aboard Care!

BRCK: Internet-in-a-box

We recently had an impressive demonstration of BRCK from its CTO Reg Orton in Nairobi. A standalone powered “hub for all local devices,” BRCK also serves as an internet-in-a-box connectivity solution. As the BRCK website declares, “If it works in Africa, it’ll work anywhere.” We look forward to testing these for posting to Navvi.com in remote areas. 

Empty Hospital Alleys: Kenyan Healthcare Workers on Strike

A health workers strike at public Kenyan hospitals entered its tenth day today and Nairobi-based Navvi.com users are voicing concerns. “The crisis affected public hospitals as the workers protest against devolution of health services, which will see their salaries paid by governors,” according to the Daily Nation.

Strathmore University graduate student Machanje Daniel wrote on Navvi.com:

How long this tussle will go on will remain a mystery, but the FACT is that its the Kenyan citizen is the one under the shackles to bear the brunt of poor health delivery. The hospitals’ alley will continue being lifeless until a resolution is made by responsible parties to settle Health Workers’ pleas. 

This is part of a series of blog posts highlighting Navvi.com contributors’ best entries.

1 Cell Phone Connects Maasai Village to the World

The people of Lemongo Village in southeastern Kenya live in earthen huts made of branches, sticks, grass and mud. They live off the land as pastoralists in the Rift Valley and create fire by rubbing sticks together. But at least one mobile phone — and persistent 3G data service — connects this Maasai village to the rest of the world. This is how the Lemongo Maasai will bring their perspective to Navvi.com.

Navvi Partners With Nation Media Group

Last week, our team met with Vincent Ng’ethe, Syndication Editor at Nation Media Group, our first East Africa-based news partners.  He is looking forward to streaming the Daily Nation right next to Reuters and Bloomberg on Navvi.com.

Innovation to Impact Forum

Kenya’s top social entrepreneurs are making a real impact. Not just in the technology space but on the ground, using innovation to increase access to energy and agriculture, infrastructure and health care. Many of the same subjects that are the focus of Navvi.com.

At last week’s 2013 Innovation to Impact Forum in Nairobi, hosted by VillageCapital and GrowthHub Africa, we met several startups with inspiring concepts including: Cocon Africa - a soilless growing medium; SolarKiosk - providing sustainable energy to off-grid regions; and the forum’s two winners — Wanda Organic Limited and Continental Renewable Energy Company.

We look forward to seeing some of these companies track the progress of their projects on the ground using Navvi.com!

Navvi Beta Testers

Dozens of Strathmore University students joined Navvi as beta testers this afternoon in Nairobi. Morning and afternoon two-hour training sessions with Navvi staff were at full capacity in the university’s high tech iLabAfrica. And the students’ posts are streaming in!

The Turkana Population depends on the same water table as the 150,000 strong, Kakuma Refugee Camp. Navvi.com (organizations pilot) will explore the microcosm as a platform for larger place-based dialog.

Africa Launch

The R&D Trip to Africa was a success! BBXG commenced onsite, technical research and partnership cultivation in Ghana and Kenya. Natalie attended Africa-specific mobile development conferences, tested smartphone connectivity and access in rural areas, validated systems architecture assumptions, and interviewed over 30 professionals working in relevant navvi.com industries. She set-up beta user programs with 3 African Universities and solidified relationships with regional news agencies: The Daily Nation (East Africa), The Graphic Group (West Africa), and the African Media Council (Nairobi, Kenya).