SpeechNet Recognized in the East African Shores

SpeechNet won the Best Existing ICT Business award at Kenya's ICT business plan competition. The award was open to individuals and organizations with innovative ICT-driven business ideas looking for venture capital and strategic partners. The competition was sponsored by Deloitte Touche, ICDC Investments, NIC Bank and c4IDEA.com. It was divided into five categories: Start-up ICT business, existing ICT business, women-owned ICT business, rural-based ICT business and ICT business for people with special needs— there were no entries for the latter.

SpeechNet is now benefiting from one-year of free offsite business incubation services from the sponsors of Kenya's first ICT Business Plan competition. The award comes in the form of planning services, mentoring support, investment support, infrastructure support, administrative services, management support, strategic partnering and marketing services. The main sponsors of the competition were c4IDEA.com, Deloitte and NIC Bank.

The winners in each category were given the opportunity to meet and present their business ideas to investors.

"The committee was impressed by SpeechNet's commitment in their business. The Business plan indicated as much," Peter Kimacia, CEO of c4IDEA.com, pointed out.

"Business plans are essential documents required to ensure that start-up and existing businesses grow and improve themselves successfully. That is why this business plan competition is the ideal way to facilitate the rapid growth of productive and profitable ICT driven business ventures in Kenya." he added.