Oluwaseun Kolade, Victor Atiase, William Murithi & Natasha Mwila (2021) The business models of tech hubs in Africa: implications for viability and sustainability, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, DOI: 10.1080/09537325.2021.1947492
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FRESH FROM THE PRESS: In this latest paper published in Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, with co-authors Dr Seun Kolade, Dr Victor Y. Atiase, Dr William Murithi PhD. FHEA. CMBE.and Dr Natasha Katuta Mwila (PhD, FHEA, CMBE), we draw from two case studies of tech hubs in Nigeria and Kenya to investigate the importance of innovative business models to the hubs’ viability and sustainability as economic and social agents.
Highlights
1. African tech hubs need to focus more attention on business model innovations, along with technological innovations, in order to better capture value from both domestic and international markets.
2. A triple-layered orientation can enable hubs to combine social and environmental impact with economic value creation and value capture.
ABSTRACT
The paper draws from two case studies of tech hubs in Nigeria and Kenya to investigate the importance of business models to the hubs’ viability and sustainability as economic and social agents. Adopting the triple-layered business model of economic, social and environmental value creation, the study finds that the advanced, and growing, technological capabilities of the hubs are not matched with enough attention on innovative business models that can enable them to better capture value, expand the domestic markets, and compete at the international stage. We argue that a triple-layered orientation can be a win-win, integrated and mutually reinforcing model in which the hubs’ social and environmental impact can enable them to better capture economic value through the development and deployment of advanced technological capabilities and innovative business models.