Jack Ma invests in Kenya’s Taxify

[Nefertiti]

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Seems Ma sees more opportunity in the sharing economy. I had thought he'd start with e-retail -what he's known for. I wonder how Safaricom Smallcab is coping with competition from global behemoths Uber, Lyft and now Didi Chuxing.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001250249/jack-ma-invests-in-kenya-s-taxify

[Nefertiti]

Does MOON Ki still think the sharing economy is little more than "apps"?

[RV Pundit]

Taxify is Estonian if I am wrong

[Nefertiti]

Yes it is Estonian. Only Safaricom's Smallcab is partly Kenyan in the taxi network space.

Taxify is Estonian if I am wrong

[MOON Ki]

Does MOON Ki still think the sharing economy is little more than "apps"?

MOON Ki does not recall ever giving an opinion on such matters ("sharing economy ... apps".)   He has, however, given opinions on the idea that the solution to mass unemployment in Kenya is to put hundreds of thousands of people through 1-week training programs (Ajira Digital) and then unleash them to develop "apps" and do "BPO".

As for Mr. Ma's investment, Estonians must be very pleased.

[Nefertiti]

Does MOON Ki still think the sharing economy is little more than "apps"?

MOON Ki does not recall ever giving an opinion on such matters ("sharing economy ... apps".)   He has, however, given opinions on the idea that the solution to mass unemployment in Kenya is to put hundreds of thousands of people through 1-week training programs (Ajira Digital) and then unleash them to develop "apps" and do "BPO".

As for Mr. Ma's investment, Estonians must be very pleased.

Yes of course the Estonians are happy - because some of the profits may stream back into their country. Still both Taxify and Ma's Didi Chuxing are what we call FDI, which is good for the country. The works apply - competition improves service quality (safer, cheaper, more convenient transport), consolidation by a few MNCs formalizes the sector, yields more taxes, supports a bigger supply chain, etc.

The sharing economy and apps... this came in the context of the power of apps - a concept or idea you watered down in previous discussions on Silicon Savannah, laptops for kids and Ajira Digital. These are initiatives that will lead to a more "digitized" society - and some once-faceless geniuses or inventors or entrepreneurs here and there will crop up - supported by the growing ecosystem of training, capital, policies and consumers. Unicorns - high-potential tech startups that may grow up into Alibaba or Amazon or Google - will only spring up from such a fertile environment that is slowly building up.

This is what excites me when I read that Jack Ma has invested in a local company - it's an indicator of confidence and progress in this journey of economic growth. So "apps" - basic tech components of the sharing economy - need manpower which is made of Ajira Digital, laptops for kids, Silicon Savannah, etc - culminating in Taxify, Alibaba and such big achievements.

I really am waiting with bated breath to read about Kenyan-born unicorns from all these efforts - which is what Silicon Savannah is - a springwell of unicorns.