2017年-世界发展银行全球_Tech_Start-up_Ecosystem_in_Dar_es_Salaam___Findings_and_Recommendations_40页_3mb

Summary of the Tech Start-up Ecosystem in Dar es Salaam

Core Content

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the tech start-up ecosystem in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, focusing on its development stage, key components, and challenges. It is part of a broader research initiative by the Global Entrepreneurship Research Network (GERN) Ecosystems Connection Project, which aims to map and understand global start-up ecosystems by collecting data on founders, their educational background, and their connections with key stakeholders.

The analysis is based on a survey of 221 entrepreneurs conducted between July and September 2016, which collected data for 159 relevant start-ups and 239 founders. The report highlights the nascent nature of the Dar es Salaam ecosystem, the presence of highly technical founders, and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in terms of funding, mentorship, and operational constraints.

Main Findings

• Growth Rate: The tech start-up ecosystem in Dar es Salaam is in its initial growth phase, with a 33% compound growth rate in startup creation since 2009.
• Founder Characteristics: Most founders are in their first venture, with limited serial entrepreneurs and few successful scale-ups. About 80% of founders have a university degree, and 15% have additional qualifications such as a master’s or professional certification.
• Business Acumen: While the founders are highly technically skilled, their business acumen is lacking, which may affect the sustainability of their ventures.
• Successful Founders: Founders who have successfully obtained funding tend to have higher levels of business education.
• Community: The community in Dar es Salaam is still in a nascent stage, featuring a small cluster of entrepreneurs with low-density connectivity. Events and meetups are limited, and the ecosystem lacks a strong network of mentors and investors.
• Supporting Infrastructure: Accelerators are the key connectors of the ecosystem, but they do not produce a high number of start-ups that can sustainably obtain further funding. The quality and capacity of support services are questionable.
• Investment: Investment options are limited, with a lack of mature infrastructure to support early-stage funding. The process for obtaining loans and funding is lengthy and bureaucratic.
• Constraints: There are significant constraints in the incorporation process, access to loans, and the overall maturity of the investment landscape.

Gap Analysis and Policy Recommendations

The report identifies gaps in the Dar es Salaam tech start-up ecosystem across four key components: skills, finance, entrepreneurial supporting infrastructure, and community. These gaps are compared with more mature ecosystems such as Cairo or Medellin to understand the relative maturity of the ecosystem.

Policy Recommendations

Key Components of the Ecosystem

1. Skills

• Founders in Dar es Salaam are highly educated, with 80% holding a university degree and 15% having additional qualifications.
• However, there is a lack of business acumen among founders, which could impact the long-term sustainability of start-ups.
• Successful founders are more likely to have business education.

2. Supporting Infrastructure for Entrepreneurship

• Accelerators and incubators are the primary connectors in the ecosystem.
• Mentors are scarce and lack practical experience.
• The quality and quantity of support services provided by accelerators are limited.
• There is a need for increased mentorship and capacity building within the ecosystem.

3. Investment

• Early-stage funding is limited, with few options available for start-ups.
• The investment infrastructure is not mature, and the process of securing funding is slow and complex.
• Private sector investment is beginning to emerge, but it is still not sufficient to support scale-ups and exits.

4. Community

• The community is still in a nascent stage, with limited connections and few clusters.
• There is a need to expand the community of entrepreneurs through the creation of shared spaces and events.
• The ecosystem lacks strong international connections and a robust network of mentors and investors.

Development Stage of the Ecosystem

The ecosystem is classified as nascent, indicating that it is in the early stages of development with limited growth in terms of community, skills, infrastructure, and investment.

Conclusion

The tech start-up ecosystem in Dar es Salaam is growing but remains in a nascent stage. While the number of start-ups is increasing, the ecosystem lacks the necessary components for long-term sustainability, including business acumen, quality mentorship, and mature investment options. The report recommends targeted interventions in these areas to foster a more robust and sustainable tech start-up ecosystem.