Translations

VMK TECH nurtures future African entrepreneur by making technology accessible.

6. Clients and consumers

Access to basic services

Sector Telecommunication, Medias, ITC

Year 2014

Country

Transmitter

Context

VMK TECH (founded in 2009 by Verone Mankou) is a Congolese company specialized in mobile technologies. The company was the first to design and manufacture smartphones and tablets in Africa to sell d them to Africans at a low price. It also develops useful applications for African entrepreneurs.
The main objective of the company is to provide Africans with internet and new mobile technology which are very expensive in Africa. The company also wants to develop mobile applications, nonexistent in Africa due to the lack of adapted system.

Objectives

Providing updated and current knowledge to future African professionals
Recruit skilled workforce
Produce African-made goods, adapted to African constraint
Offer a better standard of living for the African society

APPROACH

In October 2014, VMK TECH set up the VMK academy, a center which finds the best talents in Congolese schools and teaches them technical skills in order to reduce the gap between school knowledge and necessary skills to work. For the company, it’s a costly but necessary investment to attract the best student of the country.

In January 2015, VMK TECH relocates the assembly of tablets and smartphones in Brazzaville with the creation of a factory it co finances with the Congolese State. Hence, the company hires local workforce to put its product together but also hires local programmers to develop its applications.

VMK TECH also invested $2Million in an incubator located in Brazzaville to help African entrepreneurs who don’t have access to technologies. This incubator aims to transform young people with ideas into entrepreneurs and to create jobs in Africa. This will also contributes to reduce Africa’s social issues by giving a chance to young entrepreneurs without funds.

VMK TECH currently develops a tablet dedicated to education with constantly updated data and aims to sell it at a price of $70.

Even if VMK TECH is now a famous company in Africa and worldwide, it has often faced issues due to the lack of help from financial institutions and because of the strong competition on this market.

Best Practice identified by the World Forum for a Responsible Economy 2014.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Worldwide awareness
Skilled workforce available through the VMK academy

Benefits

Boost innovation through the incubator
Create jobs
Make the continent more attractive
Sell products at adapted prices