Here is something you might appreciate. This is recorded after an impressive talk by a Chinese product sourcing expert. First, we talk about the word ecosystem and what it means and why we chose to define it with Silicon Valley in mind. Then we pan out to regional and continental perspectives of the same. Here we are interested in how Ecosystems express themselves in the big four, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria. We also add in some thoughts about Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. We explore what lessons we can learn from the Chinese model much older entrenched and successful.

Brad Slingerlend shows up again with this piece. This time he sheds light on a genre of film that explores time travel and helps us understand the complex world of investment and key features of the same especially prediction of trends and the identification of patterns. We also share a supplement from a new event called Tech Con held at the ICT Hub in Nakawa, Uganda. With a major focus on #Web3 and a useful place to mold as well as identify the next breed of leaders. We also share a movie and series review with something that will help us perhaps see into the future as new forms of government emerge and corporations become mainstreamed. MTN Uganda's report for 2024 is also looked at with some suggestions. Founders Freedom helps us understand why listening is so important.

We get help from Perplexity in coming up with an investment thesis for small community-based businesses.

In the month of November, we continued our discussion of the elite overproduction hypothesis from the work of Noah Smith. Perhaps the most crucial take away from me, was the need to manage expectations. All the planning and work that goes into the creation of courses and program for various directions of study often stems from what we perceive as needs in the years that will follow but it is still very difficult to predict what the future will be like.

The equation Happiness=Reality-Expectations

is an adequate representation of these challenges. Reality in our days has been affected by the rise of Artificial Intelligence, concerns about peace in the Middle East, The Russian-Ukrainian War, Upheaval in the Markets, Mushrooming Movements around the globe led by youth which seek radical change in governance and more.

We also share the MTN annual report from 2024 with some insights about what we view as key areas. Finally, I make some suggestions about what it would involve, to create a decent course for those interested in the world of Venture Capital.

For this month's read we recommend a Ganda classic called Zinunula Omunaku by Edward Kawere. We also share a blessing by one of the characters in the book translated into the English Language. Those who like movies and TV series might also like our summary of one of the episodes of the Sopranos where Chris and the leadership core of the crime family have to deal with a major transition.

In this issue we complete the piece that was written by Noah Smith on the Elite Overproduction Hypothesis. The key takeaway from this is the need to be sensitive about how we address the challenges that many in this generation are facing with lack of jobs and opportunity and to stay away from using humor that belittles their choices and circumstances.

We also begin a conversation about MTN Uganda's 2024 report and what we see as takeaways.

Finally, we share the contents of a course in VC Investment as created by AI in particular Chat GPT-4. You can read more of our perspectives here on this and other issues.

In this episode we share in brief the contents of the September Magazine. We start with the discussion that Noah Smith started on the Elite Overproduction Hypothesis. He talks about what happens when the hopes of one or more generations to not match the market conditions. The first a generation of those who are planning for the future and deciding what we learn and those who register in top schools to gain knowledge with aspitations for the future.

Next we share a supplement from our friends and partners-Founders Freedom who have become famous for providing a strong base in leadership and management of organizational structure.

We also have a piece originally written by Brad Slingerlend of NZS capital LLC. he tackles important areas in the Crypto and Web3 and helps explain why many are putting their hopes in Stable Coins.

Finally with Farouk Mark Mukiibi of Gatsby Marketing Agency and Author of the African Startups Playbook we have a Q and A to gain some insights into his scholarly work and research around what he called MVR Minimum Viable Relationships.

Here is a conversation that was supposed to preface a podcast episode devoted to a completely different subject. The show was summarized by Doris Acheng Odit of Odit Frontier Partners into about 6 major sections.

1. Polymaths, focus and identity

2. Purpose and profit

3. Adaptive Muscle vs. Static Dogma

4. Opaqueness and Access

5. AIs, LLMs and the Architecture of Thinking

6. Legacy and Continuity

We revisited these and other issues with the aim of helping shed more light on these subjects.

Shelton Jackson 'Spike' Lee needs no introduction. He was educated in America's leading Colleges-Morehouse and New York University Tisch School of the Arts. According to Wikipedia he thrives in the space where he explores themes about African American life and culture.

This is where we find him in this adaptation of the Japanese film from the sixties.

David King is the central character although his later revealed rival also has a major role to play. In this episode we explore the biblical ideas present in the choice of names with relations to the famous King of Hearts. His relationship to his sons Solomon (one who rises after asking for Wisdom) and Absalom (which is often attributed to the lack of peace).

We are interested in succession and leadership and the decisions one has to make in the present day while searching for a true heir. We attempt to grapple with filial relationships and those in the corporate space, concerns about going and looking back and returning to the places where we first started and the challenges that many of us face with our past.

You are educated now but what will you do in a time of crisis when danger arises, and you are tempted to resort to less than honorable traits that once defined you.

This is a conversation we had regarding volunteering and the possible transition between executive roles to voluntary roles and positions. I was curious about how to think about a life that is designed around giving back to communities especially after years of making money (even this is service within itself). Key takeaways are the importance of Depth verses Breadth, Team composition and Placing Value in Locals and their structures.

Kimberly Haley-Coleman is the founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, a US & Canada based nonprofit that leads and mobilizes volunteers for short-term service projects in over 25 countries (since the year 2000). With a background in international business development and finance, she previously held leadership roles at global firms including CNBC.com, Space Services International, and Investtools. Kimberly holds an MBA in International Business, an MA in Art History, and a BA from Emory University. A multiple patent holder, SMU Guest Lecturer, and recipient of the Texas Business Hall of Fame Award and long-time Hall of Fame member, Chairman of the Executive Board for the International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA) and actively engaged with organizations like the Building Bridges Coalition and United Nations ESOC Consultative Status Committee and variety of other nonprofit boards focused on international service, community development, and environmental improvement.

Here is a great conversation about the quite a number of subjects but with one underlying idea. #Fashion, #Technology and #Innovation and how to merge these ideas into creating great looks while also managing the vast amount of waste that is generated to make these clothes. The guest Julia K. Dietmar also talks about tools that they have developed to make you dress smarter as well as some really interesting ideas about how she #transitioned into #Fashion. Those who follow us know that we have a soft spot for people who make these transitions seamlessly.

#SoftwareEngineer and #coder to #MBA. Working for Large and small companies.

How she entered into #retail and #apparel angle almost accidentally. The company she was working with got #acquired by Walmart where she got to learn more from about the retail space. Major challenges regarding selling apparel and #forecast #demand. Entrance

Now #circular economy and 2nd hand apparel. #Computervision to find pictures and items in catalogues. Foray into #AI.

Then deep tech focus. AI for retailers to find customers.

Generative AI in 2017 (early adopters).

90% of the customers were apparel brands. Two major approaches that her company has.

1. Mindful dressing...consumers empowered to make better decisions about how to dress when buying or using what you already have. Digitize the wardrobe by taking a picture. Then use AI to be more creative. Spark creativity to increase utilisation.

2. Tools around education. Preferences style #personalities, #bodyshape and others to aid in #decisionmaking.

Did you know that

a) Every year 11.3 million tonnes of textiles.

b) Today we have already produced enough clothes to dress 6 generations of humans.

c) 30% items manufactured are never sold.

Here is another piece where we cover BBC's coverage of Finland as a DefenceTech Superpower.

Definitions of Ecosystem and the use of these definitions to break down the success of Finland as an amazing DefenceTech Space.

We also look at the historical case and geographic influence and the effects of proximity on its pivot towards DefenceTech.

What role does government, business and Educational Institutions play in the DefenceTech space and how is the government in Finland directing its efforts to improve it effectiveness.

How to balance the needs of the public (and their taxes on startup and SMEs and their development) given the timeframes though which innovation takes place in typical defence related projects.

Here is another well done piece from the BBC which we mine for content. Some of the major ideas that stand out are seen in almost all stories that were done with the BBC where they always start with a country summary. This may be useful because these characteristics often form the basis or foundation upon which the innovation is built or the platform upon which development will be based.

The show covered the Nordic spirit and culture of Finnish people in general. It talks about the size of the ecosystem and the benefits that this brings to the startups here.

While there is a focus on Maria 01 (Zero One), the nationwide drive to improve the country and its local and international role in startup development is visible. Whether this is by incentives in immigration for builders, great English language skills, communal feel or the hub spaces, focus on growth and expansion, mentorship across all circles and a merger between local and foreign founders (internationalization).

The episode also deals with the geopolitical lssues that may prove to be pain points in the future as well as taxation especially with the Right Wing Pro Business Party desire to improve the economy.

We continue a review of material as presented by the BBC. We think it will be useful to compare our coverage of the Innovation and Technology Space with what some of the giants in Media are saying. Here we talk about India's approach with view of capturing lessons that can be used in other third world countries. This episode is a timely conversation when many potentially profitable businesses are struggling to fit into the molds that are created by predominantly by American VC and Angels. This podcast shares the example of a porter, farmer and botanist and tackles questions such as government funding and educational gaps that exist in rural areas and the marginalized populations that should be harnessed to solve the massive employment challenges in our countries.

In the second installment of our coverage of BBC's Startup Focus, we present Armenia. What are the historic and geographic challenges she has faced and what opportunities exist in overcoming them? How does Armenia plan to use Education and Technology to Its advantage both locally and globally. We look at the devotion to early stage education and give examples of about three pre-teens and the aplications that they have developed. We examine the pipeline of talent and allows former students in the Armath System to become instructors. We also look at the importance of Public Private Partnerships. We also look at the international linkages between Armenia and SV through purposeful engagement. We also look at the success of the Armath Model Internationally.

After quite a while of not seeing Mr. Bwire we connected a few months ago at a Corporate Venture Capital Training Event. Our conversation on that day was filled with life changing insights on growth and longevity which in my view can benefit Startups in Uganda and young founders. Ancel's encyclopedic knowledge of the Ecosystem and its success and failures form some of the basis of the conversation in this podcast as does his experience in varied fields. From leadership in a continent wide Accelerator to Mentorship to Leadership and direction in marketing and branding companies, Mr. Bwire will help you learn how to naviage the employment landscape as you transition to the possibility of self empployment and entrepreneurship.

Several ideas are discussed in this issue. The first is a piece by Noah Smith about what he called the Elite Overproduction Hypothesis. He takes a deep dive into the Education Sector in the US and the decline and uptick in certain courses and sites few reasons why this is the case. This has relevance for those in Uganda especially with the decision to focus on Arts courses in some of our leading Universities. What are the implication of these pivots? The second piece is something that i have struggled with for quite a while when trying to deal with three terms Trend, Fad and Pattern. Mr. Slingerlend talks about what he refers to as the noise between the signals and eloquently presents some ideas that can help you navigate this mess. Finally we share What TechBuzz Hub and its CEO Keneth Twesigye are doing with their new organization which aims to increase funding flows by building local capital and empowering potential investors.

In the month of July we shared the last piece from the conversation covering Africa Reimagined. Africa Reimagined was put together by Included VC and was put together to help shed some light on continent wide tech and innovation ecosystem. This particular article discusses presentation given by Brad MacGrath of AHL Ventures who helps shed light on all the different insight that we can glean from the different people in the board orbit of the founder. The Second piece we share is about Balaji's Srinivanasan's Networking School where he makes the case for a possible shift away from SV towards Asia at least for him. The third is a conversation about the implications of the exit of Standard Chartered from Personal Banking to make room for more Corporate Banking in quite a number of markets south of the Sahara and what this means for the rest of the players.

This long awaited conversation with Grace Miller Lead of Echo Community In Nothern America is finally here. We talk about the importance of the work they do and the broad areas that they focus on. We also share a snippet about some of their very important events including some of what is coming up towards the end of the year. You can visit Home - ECHO

as well as ECHOcommunity.org

We see several major areas of focus and discuss them in brief from Agricultrual Practice, To Appropriate Technologies ,To Development, and Animals. We were also keen to explore the subject of genetically modified seeds and crops. Mrs Miller Shares interesting thoughts about the implications of GMO adaptation on Seed Storage.

A few weeks ago, the BBC Business Daily Program had a series of episodes devoted to the subject of Startups. In the next few programs we share some of these highlights just to give you a perspective from a different source and how we see this coverage. Here we share insights into the Biotech Startup System of Argentina how the country has faced the challenges of Brain Drain and Inflation as well as a history of Military Governments to becoming a regional powerhouse in the Biotech Industry. Equally interesting is how the use of a sub sector can drive a whole ecosystem. What lessons can other countries learn about collaboration between government and private business, science and technology focus as well as policy.

It’s been almost 12 years since I published a post called Apply No More My Son. It was a slight jab at the system and the process that many of us have to go through and bother with even if sometimes we realize that the whole thing is rigged against us.

Fast forward a few years and I did it again. This is therefore an exploration of the same subject and two different areas where I have directed my attention in the last weeks.

We explore areas of improvement and failures as well as possible direction steps for the next few months for me as well as my company.

For those who want to read our piece written years ago but just a relevant use this link https://telcomwatchuganda.blogspot.com/2015/06/apply-no-more-my-child.html

In this episode of the podcast we wanted to share some useful insights from someone in a different ecosystem about some of what they think Uganda is doing right. This is great coming from a country that ranks amongst the top four in terms of VC fund attraction and investment.

We are calling it a Vote of Confidence to the Uganda Tech and Innovation Ecosystem.

What are we doing well? Where are the challenges in the current state of things? What does the big picture look like and what practical examples exist to support the approach Uganda has?