Bulls n Bears Entrepreneurship Zone :: The journey so far: John Kamara, director, Global Gaming Africa

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John Kamara is the director and co-founder of Global Gaming Africa, a
gaming and gambling consultancy. Global Gaming Africa covers a broad
spectrum of services in the industry and assists clients across the
continent to operate as gaming businesses. The company advises on, and
assists with, licensing, product evaluation and regulatory policy.


1. Tell us about one of the toughest situations you’ve found yourself in as
a business owner.


Living in Africa is an MBA on its own and requires patience and strategic
realignment of one’s thought process, irrespective of your skills or
experience in other markets.

I remember trying to build a social banking platform on Facebook and other
social networks using AI for a major bank in Nigeria and Kenya. We started
with the Nigerian bank first and we got hammered with questions from the CTO
(chief technology officer), the CMO (chief marketing officer), then
compliance guys on how it couldn’t be done and what made it impossible.
Although we had submitted a detailed 50-page proposal and an outline
partnership from Facebook, it still felt like we were talking to strangers.

After getting through the management team we had to deal with the executive
committee – which was basically a number of people with little experience in
AI and digital banking solutions.

We were asked rudimentary questions and they decided, “No, this wasn’t for
the bank”. So, they started trying to attract the same target market with
SMS and other things. When this failed, our champion in the organisation was
able to convince them to see us again and allow us to make a pitch.

What we did, was simplify our proposition to the barest minimum and reduced
the use of high-value words that confused our potential clients. At the end
of the presentation, the clients awarded us the project.

Everyone asked us why we didn’t do this in the first place. The moral is
you don’t just sell a product in Africa; you must also help clients
understand or create strategies to market the product for it to make a real
impact and to acquire customers.


2. Which business achievement are you most proud of?


I am involved in gaming, fintech and health-tech using technologies like
blockchain and AI. One of the things I am proud of was the launch of ICE
Africa, the largest gaming event on this side of the world, in South Africa
and developing Afrimart, the intra-Africa trade platform that uses AI to
help drive SME growth and trade on the continent.


3. Describe your greatest weakness as an entrepreneur.


I wouldn’t really call it a weakness. But an area of less interest, to me,
is around day-to-day management. I don’t like to manage. I am a visionary,
an explorer and new market creator. I take a project and create the market,
build relationships and open new revenue streams. But managing it day to day
is a hard task for me. So, I learned how to work with other experts on my
team to bridge the gap of my shortcoming.


4. Which popular entrepreneurial advice do you disagree with?


Start small and work your way up. The current entrepreneurial market does
not wait for you to start small and work your way up. Think big and land
somewhere that allows you to galvanise your land grab.

The one thing I do say to startups is: “The only thing you know is that you
know nothing.” When that becomes your creed then you will always fill your
pot with knowledge that will allow you to be humble when required and
bullish when needed.


5. Is there anything you wish you knew about entrepreneurship before you
got started?


The patience that is required in the journey and how to pivot quickly. That
was the first lesson I learned with my first startup in Ireland in 2010.—
Howwemadeitinafrica 



John Kamara

 

Invest Wisely!

Bulls n Bears 

 

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