Today let’s talk about Startup Incubation, okay? Perhaps the foremost aspect our work for which we are known, C4DLab-Startup Incubation connection a mere “fleeting affair”—we could say we are “married” to it. Maybe you too know us for that. If you do not, there is no problem.
We shall try to identify ourselves briefly based on startup incubation. Although it is not all we do. We are about quite a bit more—three others to be exact, but save this for later. How about identifying ourselves first though?
Where Are We?
We aren’t from some dreamy make-believe world, not at all. We are nearer than you think. By that I do not mean physical distance, the stuff of Google Maps, like what they can do for you to find us. Being located at the University of Nairobi’s Chiromo Campus is a quick giveaway, anyway. That is too obvious.
I am talking about unity of purpose (and passion), especially if you are keen on technological developments that leverage the combined power of Information Technology and Communication (ICT) tools and business savvy. Do you know that kind of connectedness? That is what I am on about. Yet this is not development only for the fanciful sound of it—we don’t revel in “fickle” buzzwords and high-sounding canards!
Ours is a commitment to transformation; you have our word on it. It is a commitment to soar above the rhetoric to create real and rewarding opportunities for the go-getters in an enhanced tech space.
This is the Hub!
We are driven by the passion to live out our identity as a Global ICT hub fostering innovation, knowledge sharing, and societal solutions through research.
In this authentic mission, we generate and share knowledge and produce innovative technological solutions that address societal problems. We do this by nurturing and mentoring a community of researchers, understanding cutting-edge research, and forging partnerships.
Plugging into an established philosophy and ever-green attitude of excellence that the University of Nairobi fosters, C4D propels the innovation agenda. It works at the cutting of disruptive technologies that wow, inspire and compel even the most lethargic of tech slobs, or the indifferent, to begin dreaming.
A prototyping and innovative start-up incubation lab housed at the Department of Computing and Informatics, we celebrate close to ten years of existence with a calm but resolute demeanor, eyeing a bigger and better future for all. That future is here!
About Us, on the Fly
Before I get us all deep into the “deluge” of information here, let me answer an important question: What is that we do really? Here is what we are about, which you should be excited about. You really should be, assuming you are probably already bubbling with some novel idea to bring to light:
- Start up Incubation
- Ecosystem Development
- Research and Production Development
Part of a Vibrant Ecosystem
We plug into an active and vibrant community that has well over 70,000 people, including faculty students, staff and alumni; people with whom we share a common purpose of transforming lives through excellent academic, research and innovation pursuits.
C4Dlab clearly understands and appreciates that it operates in a specific national context with set digital technological objectives. I must be alive and work within it. Thus, the Lab pioneers technology aligned with national strategies, leveraging its vast talent and resources.
I am sure you do not mind giving praise where it is due. Therefore, I imagine we are rightly elated to cite some of the accolades we have earned along the way. These are accolades, which, it is important to note, go beyond mere tokenism to translate to actual support to push ideas into implementation.
Walking the Talk and Stopping for Accolade—See Where We Have Been!
Proud winners of the “Global Urban Mobility Challenge 2018”, a Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative, we are also a Huawei Authorized Information Network Academy. This is an initiative of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.,
The Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) supports cities to start and accelerate sustainable mobility action worldwide. This kind of support is broad-based. It ranges from capacity building to networking, seed funding, and leverage funding, among others.
TUMI exists principally to drive transformational change for urban mobility, with the key focus being innovative, replicable and scalable solutions.
Our Footprint
C4Dlab boasts a decent list of startups that have benefited fully from its startup acceleration program. Details of all these are available on this website, in the “Alumni” section of “About us” page.
- An Nisa Taxi
- Auto-Truck E.A. Limited
- Ecobodaa
- Kii EV Ltd
- UgaBus now Treepz
- Twende Mobility
Currently, three start-ups are onboarded in the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) Accelerator program and are actively engaged in developing their prototypes. These include Roisum (Roads Insights for Sustainable Mobility), Appen Softwares and Flips Org.
ROISUM is an AI and crowdsourcing-powered tool for road surface condition monitoring.
Flips is an integration of Machine Learning and Remote Sensing System (MLRS) that does real-time flood monitoring and provides a platform for flood incidence early warning.
Then, there is Appen Softwares with its Self-Aware AIoT-Informed Digital Twin Bridge Maintenance and Operation System (SADMOS), aims at building the resilience of bridges against the impact of climate change through the use of ICTs.
It’s Your Turn!
With your heart in the right place and your thinking cap on at all times, oh, maybe except when the “sun is too hot,” you can never get too ambitious to find like-minded partners. We are one of such partners.
As a partner for growth, we now turn to one of the core objectives of this post. We are highlighting startup acceleration to show you how the Lab can help you.
Here is how the Lab helps you tap such an opportunity. C4DLab’s Startup Acceleration Program is designed to turn your wild (even what they think is “inane”) idea into a scalable business. That’s right! Our team of experts will positively challenge and inspire you on your idea’s market readiness.
We help you design your business model and find investment for it, but that is not all. We also link you up with mentors for business advice and networking opportunities.
If you haven’t talked to us yet, what are you waiting for?