Speaker introductions at the Computer Society of Zimbabwe ICT Entrepreneurs function

1. Facilitator: Emerging ICT Entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe
Introduction to the Panel
There are a few problems that can be solved in a small way with the solutions you already have. These
small numbers when they see value in what you are doing, they are going to push you to greater
numbers, numbers which will eventually get you to move mountains.
Thank you I now introduce you to our panel
While some wait for venture capitalists to give them thousands of dollars to start up we have some who
are starting where they are with whatever resources around them. The story of Silicon Valley which is
home to inspirational stories on the foundations of technology giants and individuals is full of stories of
people who started out from their college dorm rooms, parents' garages etc. Moving across to India and
Asia, the bigger giants also carry similar stories with venture capitalists coming through to already
successful projects. We are saying in Zimbabwe we have that class, the class that only needs exposure to
the market.
But a class that is already doing something in the prevailing conditions. The class that does not look at
the past, and say things should have been this way, our predecessors erred, no, this is a class that does
not look into the government, politics or society and cry for everything to be in place. This is the class we
have today, we wish just to help expose this class to their colleagues who are waiting for some help
somewhere, to say wherever you are, this is the right time and you are at the right place and this is the
time to start up.
Some who are supposed to be scholars with this class have chosen to hibernate hoping the environment
will change and one day it shall be easy to start up. Maybe some have great ideas, not just in their
minds, but probably on paper, maybe hidden in their emails, laptops or mobile devices. Some have been
rejected and discouraged and decided to shelf what could have been the greatest innovations of our
time. Your colleagues on the podium are here to show you that you can do it, that it is possible to
dream again!
Richwell Phinias,
QDS (www.qds.co.zw)
CSZ Harare Chapter