The goal of NexTech is to help Microsoft play a role in empowering African creators and innovators by bridging the gap between Microsoft engineers and executives, global business leaders and entrepreneurs on the African continent. As many Africans have lacked useful platforms to support and empower them, Microsoft as a company has been committed to provide the best technology solutions for African technologists. Since February 2013, Microsoft has been actively engaging on the ground to better understand and help shape African innovation for the world. They began with 4Afrika Initiative which was launched to help people achieve more by giving them the best possible tools and skills to make the most of any moment in the mobile –first, cloud-first world. To make all this possible, Microsoft has been liaising with African governments in the digital transformation process. One popular social impactful form of technology in Kenya has been the M-KOPA Solar that provides a pay-as-you-go, off –the-grid-solar energy to over 400,000 homes. Using Microsoft Azure, they manage over 10 million mobile transactions per year. Their main agenda is to tackle most of Africa’s social problems using technology so we can have a smooth transition to the digital world. For more information on NexTech Africa, visit www.nextechafrica.net
