WIRED2015 Innovation Fellow Alisée de Tonnac is searching for startups all over the world. Through her international startup competition, Seedstars World -- which she describes as a business "Olympics" -- she is focused on building companies in emerging markets.
Seedstars World provides a platform to build cross-border networks and gain knowledge in more than 50 countries.
Alisée will be speaking on the Main Stage at our flagship event, WIRED2015 on October 15-16. She will take part in the session, "Startups with impact", alongside algae cultivator Fredrika Gullfot and Arthur Kay, creator of a coffee-powered bio-fuel.
Bringing the WIRED world to life, WIRED2015 showcases the innovators changing the world and promoting disruptive thinking and radical ideas. There will be more than 50 speakers over the two-day event, presenting stories about their work in science, design, business and many other fields.
Can you give us a hint about what you are going to speak about at WIRED2015?
Yes! So I am with Seedstars World, we are now in 58 countries in emerging markets. I want to show the WIRED audience what is happening in emerging markets and how the unexpected can happen there in terms of innovation technology and even consumer behaviours that we know nothing about.
Do you have any specific aims you want to achieve by speaking at WIRED2015?
My aim is really to educate Europe on the tech and innovation scene in these markets. In most conferences we talk about leap-frogging the movement of skipping a technology phase -- such as when we all went from desktop directly to mobile phones. We always use M-PESA in Kenya, yet still today when I'm in a conference I think only 5 percent of people know of M-PESA. If they don't know about M-PESA they have no idea about what’s happening in terms of leap-frogging and renewable energies and consumer behaviours and how we monetise online through social media, through mobile.
I would really like it if when you think of Nigeria you think of the latest tech happening there rather than Boko Haram. When you think of Indonesia you think of the latest clean tech company rather than of forests being burnt*.* There are realities that are shocking and terrifying, but [to focus on them] really diminishes the potential and the power and the talent on the spot.
You're the recipient of a WIRED2015 Innovation Fellowship for your work in developing startups in emerging markets. What does that mean to you?
Well first of all WIRED to me, it represents specialised quality news in terms of technology and innovation. I think very few media publications have been able to keep the power of its brand as much as WIRED so for me it's even a reference in terms of how you do branding and marketing. I know the prestige behind WIRED and having this fellowship makes me very proud.
Is there anyone that you're specifically looking forward to hearing or meeting at WIRED2015?
Everyone! Not a good answer I guess, but really everyone is quite impressive and we are all from around the world, and every different background, so I'm really looking forward to it.
Can you give us a glimpse of what you think your corner of the WIRED world might look like in five years' time? Where do you see startups in emerging markets? "Startups" has been a very trendy word for a couple of years now because the young generation sees being an entrepreneur as trendy, soon maybe as trendy as being a footballer, but so in terms of startups and the ecosytems I think they can only grow.
I think in emerging markets they are going to specialise themselves. Today there is a big buzz around wanting to become the next Silicon Valley but they are all really obsessed with the idea of building this melting pot in their region because we know it's an important indicator in sustainable growth for an economy.
I think more and more startups are going be more educated and they're going to find solutions for their local populations. The potential in terms of profitability but also in terms of impact is huge. We're starting to see the specialisation now, but more and more each hub will be specialised by industry, or will be specialised in the supply chain of a product, or specialised in terms of the market. I see it becoming more and more specialised.
What do you think are the greatest challenges facing entrepreneurs in emerging markets? What do you see as the biggest hurdles?
The biggest hurdles will still be funding and the risk linked to their markets, their economy and their infrastructure, so they'll still need to manage and change that. I hope to see new models of funding, and we're at the beginning of crowdfunding in terms of equity.
I still think lack of opportunity will be a big challenge and these countries still have a problem with economic stability, but today which country can we say is safe from that?
What's your next challenge?
Our next biggest challenge? We're there in terms of scope. We are in 50 countries, we'll be in 60, maybe 70, I don't think reaching double figures is now of value. Now we need to be valuable continuously in each of these regions. Because today we come in, we support, we push, we give them visibility, we really support. We're still very close with our winners, with our alumni, but how we can multiply this to more entrepreneurs?
That's our challenge of scaling in terms of impact and in terms of touching more entrepreneurs in these regions. We also hope to bridge the gap between corporates, governments and entrepreneurs.
WIRED2015 takes place on October 15-16 at Tobacco Dock in London, E1. Last year's event sold out, so secure your place now. WIRED subscribers save 10 percent on tickets. We also have a limited number of half-price tickets available for startups and registered charities. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.wiredevent.co.uk/wired-2015.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
