JB Woodruff's Blog – Page 6 – JB's tales of his adventures and experiences around the world and at home.

Manyatta Rent Website Launched

by JBWork November 30, 2012No Comments

I finally finished Manyatta Rent’s website today. Check it out: http://www.manyattarent.com. It’s nothing amazing, but should do for Demo Day.

Great Quote that Shannon Sent Me

by JBImpressions November 30, 2012No Comments

“If we don’t offer ourselves to the unknown, our senses dull. Our world becomes small and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don’t lift to the horizon; our ears don’t hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience, and we pass our days in a routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find that we have lost our dreams in order to protect our days. This is why we travel.”

-S. Ward Harrison

Notice Anything Funny?

by JBKenya November 29, 2012No Comments

An exciting day out the windows of 88mph. First a small protest and now camels.

Matatu Drivers Hate These Leafy Sticks

by JBKenya November 29, 2012November 30, 2012No Comments

This was the sight out in front of our office for an exciting one whole minute today. Apparently the Kenyan government has passed a law that matatu drivers hate. As such, the natural reaction is to protest and walk down Ngong road with leafy sticks. After doing some research it enacts the following:

Life imprisonment for reckless driving (I believe matatu actually translates into reckless)
Physical and mental examination for matatu drivers every 3 years
Criminalizes drunk driving
UPDATE: No more overtaking (this is like asking a person to stop breathing)
UPDATE: No more cutting through gas stations to jump traffic

Now I get it.

Looking to Diversify Your Investment Portfolio

by JBUncategorized November 28, 2012No Comments

Thought i’d throw it out there that all 88mph startups are currently looking for interested investors. The company list is as follows:

– Mpepea: emergency micro-loans. Make money by charging interest.
– Manyatta Rent: Estate Management software and payment using mobile money systems. Make money by charging fee to reconcile the payment information.
– Mdundo: African music distribution using scratch cards and mobile phones. Make money by charging for the cards.
– Gamsole: Mobile games featuring African content and themes. Make money by offering freemium games.
– Drugs.co.ke: Purchase drugs and other items online and delivered to a distribution point near you. Make money by selling goods.
– Movas: airtime loans for your mobile phone. Make money by charging interest on the airtime loan.
– Closet49: online shopping marketplace for clothing and accessories. Make money by charging a fee for the sales made.

Let me know if you’re interested. Investments are in the $100K range.

88mph Startup Gallery

by JBWork November 27, 2012One Comment

I threw these posters together a month ago that provide an outline for each of the startups for the 88mph 2012 fall group. Thought I’d share and see if you can learn a bit about what each is trying to achieve.

We’ve come a long way since then and I look forward to sharing the final product from Demo Day on December 13th.

More Folks from Denmark

by JBWork November 26, 2012One Comment

For such a small country it sure seems that an awful lot of them are coming to Kenya to do business.

Last week a group of 17 Danish consultants came down to do an intense 4 day workshop with our 88mph startups. The goals of the workshop were to provide background info, focus on 3 key areas that could quickly be improved and then focus on the company pitch. I’d say it was a fairly good success.

It was a welcome addition to the team to have so many people with a professional background like mine. Very structured in the approach and clearly defining the expectations. But I then began to see a side that I had never seen before. Consultants coming in and quickly taking over the daily routines. Now I know how people must feel when I have come in in the past.

As with any consulting gig, the most important thing is proving your worth and establishing a trust that you can and will help with the clients best interest in mind. I think the team that was chosen did a great job at this and the startups were very excited to get involved and listen.

One aspect I saw was that this group was reiterating all of the things we have been telling our startups in the past two months. It was as if the cool uncle came in and validate all of the things that evil parents had been saying all along.

I made a lot of friends last week and I hope I get the chance to work with them again.

Yes You Can Drink & Drive

by JBKenya November 25, 2012No Comments

Dumbfounded? I was.

On our way to Hell’s Gate in Naivasha, we passed this sign on the highway. Turns out it’s for a non-alcoholic beer.

View of My Nairobi Home from Work

by JBKenya November 23, 20122 Comments

Yep, I live this close to work. Part awesome, part sad.

My roommate/colleague’s NGO GMin

by JBUncategorized November 23, 2012No Comments

My roommate Jacob started a NGO a few years ago called GMin. Their mission: “empower locals who wish to create and implement their own solutions to the issues that they truly understand.” They are now up to 2 million views on a youtube video and receiving over 30 emails a day regarding donations and sponsorships. Check it out and share with anyone you know who might be interested. Sponsorships welcome.

Kenya’s First Highway

by JBImpressions, Kenya November 22, 2012No Comments

The Chinese have been building Kenya a nice new highway. I’ve been told that people are having to relearn how to drive in a place where such high speeds are possible. Given the current driving habits of most Kenyans I fear that highways are more of a curse than a blessing.

Kenyan Road Safety

by JBImpressions November 22, 2012No Comments

Japanese in Kenya

by JBFood November 22, 2012No Comments

Good old Japanese Teppanyaki. By far the most expensive food I’ve had since arriving, but also the tastiest.

Happy Thanksgiving

by JBUncategorized November 22, 2012One Comment

Hope you all are getting rested and prepared for a wonderful meal. I had almost forgotten that today was a holiday. I wish I could join in. Please save some pumpkin pie for me.

Thankful for:

My loving wife
My supportive family and friends
Trying something new with my career

Not thankful for:

Mosquitoes that wake me up all night long

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Bombing in Nairobi

by JBKenya November 19, 2012One Comment

Just to clarify, I’m ok, safe and the bombing was on the other side of town.

On Sunday a bomb was placed on a public bus and as such killed 7 and wounded 30 or more. These attacks are taking place due to Kenya’s hand in fighting the Al-Shabaab terrorist group in Somalia.

This has since enflamed some local issues in the Eastleigh neighborhood which is home to many Somali families. There has been some rioting and conflict between Kenyan Christians and Somali Muslims. This was the second day of such riots. The issue has been primarily the Kenyans fighting against the Somalis because they really have no one else to attack for the bombing.

Here is a story from the local paper: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Riots-rock-Eastleigh-for-the-second-day/-/1056/1624512/-/14918h2z/-/index.html

I know the magnitude is nothing like that of 9/11 in the U.S.; however, the targeting of innocent Muslims, neighbors is very similar. How do you fight a faceless group?