Running a technology based business in Africa can be a tough call, as technology changes so rapidly that it could render your innovation or service redundant in a flash. There is the proverbial build, buy, integrate or adapt conundrum. Business models for technology companies, more so those offering services are not as straight forward as one would think. There are numerous permutations to think of as consumers are a tough lot to please or convert. The debate for free, paid or freemium shall not be concluded soon, in as much as there are stellar examples of each out there.

While the above issues are pertinent to developing robust technology based businesses, I think the reason for not seeing big “indigenous tech based service ” companies in Africa, is that we are yet to nail the philosophy and ethos of our businesses. What do our technology services companies exist to do?  Google for example seeks to organize the world’s information, Facebook seeks to connect the world and local poster child Ushahidi seeks to map out crisis information to aid in decision making.

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