IHub
Encyclopedia
iHub is a coworking
space and business incubator
in Nairobi that was started in March, 2010 by Erik Hersman
a renowned blogger, TED fellow and entrepreneur. Situated on the 4th floor of the Bishop Magua Centre on Ngong Road, the iHub provides a space where young entrepreneurial members can receive mentorship, Internet connectivity and the possibility of venture funding through connections with the international venture capital community. The iHub has been called the "unofficial headquarters of Kenya's tech movement"
The space is a tech community facility with a focus on young entrepreneurs, web and mobile phone programmers, designers and researchers. It is part open community workspace (co-working), part vector for investors and VCs and part incubator.
Funding for the iHub comes from the Omidyar Network
and Hivos
. The lease is covered by Ushahidi
and the 20mb internet connectivity is covered by Zuku. Wazi WIFI has also installed free WIFI.
& Ushahidi
internal staff, who have unrestricted access to the space.
Mobile Monday
RHOK
Water Hackathon
Mentorship Program=
iHub has runs one of the most innovative mentorship programs.It is designed to build the business acumen of the mentees and share of information and knowledge between mentee and mentor.Mentees will attend fortnightly meetings during which Ihub's network of mentors give talks and tackle different issues on business, leadership, life and entrepreneurship. The Mentees have access to iHub's network of business, leadership and technology experts locally and globally.
., Larry Wall
and Vint Cerf
.
Coworking
Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared working environment, sometimes an office, yet independent activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually not employed by the same organization. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent...
space and business incubator
Business incubator
Business incubators are programs designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services, developed and orchestrated by incubator management and offered both in the incubator and through its network of contacts...
in Nairobi that was started in March, 2010 by Erik Hersman
Erik Hersman
Raised in Sudan and Kenya and a graduate of Kenya's Rift Valley Academy, Erik Hersman is a widely respected technologist, blogger and commentator who specialises in the impact and application of technology throughout Africa. He runs two popular websites - and , a multi-author website dedicated to...
a renowned blogger, TED fellow and entrepreneur. Situated on the 4th floor of the Bishop Magua Centre on Ngong Road, the iHub provides a space where young entrepreneurial members can receive mentorship, Internet connectivity and the possibility of venture funding through connections with the international venture capital community. The iHub has been called the "unofficial headquarters of Kenya's tech movement"
The space is a tech community facility with a focus on young entrepreneurs, web and mobile phone programmers, designers and researchers. It is part open community workspace (co-working), part vector for investors and VCs and part incubator.
Funding for the iHub comes from the Omidyar Network
Omidyar Network
Omidyar Network is a philanthrocapitalist investment firm established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam. To date, Omidyar Network has committed more than $290 million to for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations that foster economic advancement and encourage individual...
and Hivos
Hivos
Hivos is a Dutch organization for development co-inspired by humanist values. Hivos provides financial and political support to over 800 partner organizations in over 30 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Southeastern Europe...
. The lease is covered by Ushahidi
Ushahidi
Ushahidi, Inc. is a non-profit software company that develops free and open source software for information collection, visualization and interactive mapping....
and the 20mb internet connectivity is covered by Zuku. Wazi WIFI has also installed free WIFI.
White
These are people who wish to be part of the *iHub_ community virtually as they cannot be physically present. They are be part of iHub's online community and members within the iHub will be able to interact with them on their Membership Site. This level of membership is free. White members can apply for green membership.Green
Green members meet basic pre-requisites as well as provide additional information on the current projects they are undertaking. This membership level allows one to use the iHub space, hold meetings and work on their projects there as well as have free internet access within the iHub space. . The call for Green Member's is currently open and will lapse on the 6th of November 2011.Red
Red members have a semi-permanent desk, a locker and priority on the meeting room space. There are 10 spaces available at any one time, and these Red Card seats go for about USD 100 per month.Black
Black Members are iHubIHub
iHub is a coworking space and business incubator in Nairobi that was started in March, 2010 by Erik Hersman a renowned blogger, TED fellow and entrepreneur...
& Ushahidi
Ushahidi
Ushahidi, Inc. is a non-profit software company that develops free and open source software for information collection, visualization and interactive mapping....
internal staff, who have unrestricted access to the space.
Physical space
iHub is located on the 4th floor of Bishop Magua Centre, George Padmore Lane, Nairobi in the Upper Hill/Kilimani area. It is in the same building with the MLab and NaiLABSustainability
The iHub is also tinkering with various sustainability models. Currently, sources of revenue (outside of funding are:Notable Events held at the iHub
BarcampBarCamp
BarCamp is an international network of user-generated conferences . They are open, participatory workshop-events, the content of which is provided by participants. The first BarCamps focused on early-stage web applications, and were related to open source technologies, social protocols, and open...
Mobile Monday
Mobile Monday
MobileMonday is an open networking organisation for mobile industry professionals fostering cooperation and cross-border business development through virtual and live networking events to share ideas, best practices and trends from global markets...
RHOK
Water Hackathon
Mentorship Program=
iHub has runs one of the most innovative mentorship programs.It is designed to build the business acumen of the mentees and share of information and knowledge between mentee and mentor.Mentees will attend fortnightly meetings during which Ihub's network of mentors give talks and tackle different issues on business, leadership, life and entrepreneurship. The Mentees have access to iHub's network of business, leadership and technology experts locally and globally.
Notable Speakers
Notable people to have given talks at the iHub include: Marissa MayerMarissa Mayer
Marissa Ann Mayer is Vice President of Location and Local Services at the search engine company Google. She has become one of the public faces of Google, providing a number of press interviews and appearing at events frequently to speak on behalf of the company.-Education and career :After...
., Larry Wall
Larry Wall
Larry Wall is a programmer and author, most widely known for his creation of the Perl programming language in 1987.-Education:Wall earned his bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific University in 1976....
and Vint Cerf
Vint Cerf
Vinton Gray "Vint" Cerf is an American computer scientist, who is recognized as one of "the fathers of the Internet", sharing this title with American computer scientist Bob Kahn...
.