Promoting Impact Technology | Spotlighting on Neurotech Africa
Meet Mr. Kalebu Gwalugano, the Founder and CEO of Neurotech Africa, an AI firm that helps businesses revolutionize their customer experiences through conversational AI (chatbots) across various platforms, including Telegram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Mr. Gwalugano’s journey began with seeking advice from his dorm-mates for a school competition, and today, he has built a pioneering tech Startup.
Establishing Neurotech
Kalebu shares that a movie inspired him to learn about AI, and thus had to practice it during his college education. During that time, he developed an offline search engine that helped people search for the materials, summarize them and share them in text form. He explains that to further build on his understanding, he had to do different works with different companies, which helped him hone his software development knowledge. “After quitting my job, I decided that I no longer wanted to be employed and wanted to do something of my own, and that’s when I decided to start my own Startup, this time with what I termed as enough knowledge for my desires and passion in AI.” Explains Kalebu. Kalebu adds that when he and his friends started the Startup, they did not have a clear vision of what they wanted it to be. Still, all they had to do was create something that would make a difference in technological communications. He explains that because they could not compete with other digital communication platforms, they decided to create something that could be used alongside those platforms, which is when they started “SARUFI” an AI Conversational AI platform that allows developers to build and deploy chatbots easily; He claims that chatbots have assisted businesses in bringing their services to digital communication platforms, allowing them to provide communication services more conveniently, answer FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), and respond to queries, allowing them to retain customers and increase sales.
According to Kalebu, he bootstrapped the Startup with money earned from various jobs he was doing. We were able to attract potential investors interested in what we were doing by sharing a prototype and how things were running. As I previously stated, we did not have a clear picture of how things would turn out at the time, which caused us to reconsider because there was an opportunity to obtain funds.” Shares Kalebu.
“However, I can say that those who provided the funds expected too much of us and presented us with some challenging themes that we felt might impair our decisions. Of course, we wanted the funds, but the demands they had were too much for us to take, considering the fact that we still had not planned how to use those funds and be able to fulfill their demands” Kalebu expands.
He further shares that, at times, money may come. Still, since you need to develop a business model of how you will unfold the business, it becomes difficult considering your operating environments. “So, we decided to focus on first developing the product itself and make sure it is ‘something, then have people use it, collect feedback on what is working and what needs refining, and then we can be ready for whatever has to come in terms of financing. It is always important to ensure that the ones you target to be your customers are well aware of the product or service you offer before you can find funds for further traction in the market.” Adds Kalebu.
The business process
Kalebu shares that they target small, medium, and large enterprises that want to automate conversations and make good use of their available unsorted data. He explains that after rethinking their strategy in the innovation market, they came up with two options: consultation and the product itself. He explains that, while they are still developing the product, consultation is the service that generates revenue to fund the operational processes. “And when a potential customer comes in, we usually sit down with them to find out whether they want a chatbot service or a data consultation service” he adds.
He explains that they offer consultation on AI conversation experiences across digital communication platforms, data analysis, and data strategy to help businesses use their available data better. Concerning the product, he states that SARUFI is already performing miracles and is working around the clock to ensure that it meets expectations. He explains that they have used digital and traditional marketing strategies to attract and meet new customers, explaining how they can benefit from using their AI communication service and that one of their largest clients has come from a networking event, which has helped them build confidence in what they do.
Competitive advantages
Kalebu believes that, as Tanzania embarks on a digital and technological transformation, he and his team are making a significant difference in how businesses interact with their customers by leveraging AI communication experiences. “Everyone knows about software development, but AI communications are something different, and being able to do that means a lot to us,” added Kalebu. He adds that the experience he and his term had in working with different developers, knowing what they think and want, has been a key to designing beautiful solutions and transforming how businesses operate.
Kalebu believes that, as Tanzania embarks on a digital and technological transformation, he and his team are making a significant difference in how businesses interact with their customers by leveraging AI communication experiences. “Everyone knows about software development, but AI communications are something different, and being able to do that means a lot to us,” added Kalebu. He adds that the experience he and his term had in working with different developers, knowing what they think and want, has been a key to designing beautiful solutions and transforming how businesses operate.
Challenges faced and Achievement
Trust, according to Kalebu, is the most daunting problem for most startups. He says that being young and new to the market, people are always hesitant to work with you; thus, it may take some time for you to have an actual client whom you can use as a reference for your product. He adds that the experience becomes easier with clients who at least understand what your product looks like and those who have already begun using a product or service similar to yours and would like to test yours to see if it performs better than what they have on hand. Kalebu shares that the significant accomplishment he is proud of is the Startup’s ability to generate revenues and stay operational while delivering business-revolutionizing solutions. “This, to us, is remarkable because it demonstrates the Startup’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve and bringing innovative products to its customers.” He added.
Enhancing operations and the Long-term goal
Kalebu has a clear vision for Neurotech Africa’s future, with the long-term goal of becoming the most trusted and outstanding AI solutions-providing Startup in Africa. In pursuing this goal, the Startup is not just focused on its own success but is also investing in the development of the wider developer community in Africa. To this end, they have created a platform that developers can use to equip themselves to help businesses. According to Kalebu, the platform is currently free, but the Startup plans to monetize it once they have established the standards and have enough developers on board. This will create a win-win situation, where businesses can get access to the best AI solutions provided by the most qualified developers in Africa.
The use of AI in business is growing at a rapid pace, and Neurotech Africa is positioned to play a key role in shaping its future in Africa. The Startup’s focus on providing solutions that are accessible across multiple platforms makes it a valuable partner for businesses seeking to improve their customer experiences. With its visionary leadership and commitment to excellence, Neurotech Africa is set to revolutionize the business landscape in Africa.
Advice to innovators and Final thoughts
Kalebu stresses the importance for young people to differentiate between innovators and entrepreneurs. He believes that while both are complementary, they require distinct sets of skills that, when used together, can lead to tremendous benefits. Understanding these differences, he argues, can significantly aid in the journey towards becoming successful technopreneurs. Moreover, he emphasizes the significance of learning and acquiring knowledge to achieve one’s goals. Kalebu believes that having access to well-organized and high-quality information is crucial in gaining the right experience and resilience to overcome obstacles along the way. When setbacks occur, such information can guide individuals on how to restart and ultimately perform better the next time around.
To read more about our reports featuring Startups in Tanzania https://bit.ly/ImpactTechTZ2021-Report and http://bit.ly/TECHTZ2022