NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Blockchain Summit Hong Kong is the leading blockchain for business event in Asia.

Connecting over 200 industry leaders, business decision makers and tech innovators, Blockchain Summit Hong Kong is a one-day conference and exhibition dedicated to the business of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT).

Based on unrivalled content, 60 visionary speakers and exceptional networking opportunities, Blockchain Summit Hong Kong is a must-attend event to understand the challenges and opportunities of our blockchain future.

Nest is excited to announce the third edition of the #WhatsGood series- a thought leadership and education series, facilitating thought-provoking panel using deep learning techniques such as case studies and curated in-depth presentations.

This event will be geared towards answering the question ‘How do you make money from the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP)’ Sub-topics include:

• Strategies to reduce the costs of last mile distribution in rural areas.
• Strategic partnerships to reach and service customers.
• Marketing strategies to differentiate and spread awareness in areas where internet penetration is low and customer education is low.

The panelists include:

1. Claire Mongeau– Founder & CEO, M-Shule

2.  Stephen Njenga– Agribusiness Expert, BoP Innovation Center

3.  Lindsay Stradley– Co-Founder, Sanergy

4.  Irene Hu– Associate Partner, Open Capital Advisors

5. Benjamin Njenga– Co-Founder, Apollo Agriculture

The conversation will be moderated by Arman Moussavi who is the Head of Business Development, Azuri Technologies.

Small merchants in emerging markets are increasingly adopting digital commerce to expand their customer base and market their goods and services on online marketplaces. These merchants are using digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Jumia and WhatsApp to promote their businesses, sell their goods and services, communicate with clients and suppliers and to receive payments.

At FIBR, we have been researching superplatforms to determine their value proposition to micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs). What value do these platforms provide directly and indirectly to merchants? How are these superplatforms helping merchants to build and grow their businesses? Who are the merchants that sell online and what is the role of trust in these interactions?

Our latest research shows that small, informal merchants are using social media and messaging platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram to advertise their business, market goods and services, and communicate with clients. The uses, interactions, and workarounds by micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME) in Africa to sell online through these platforms offer insights into 1) personas 2) needs such as for financing their business, and 3) product and service concepts that could help small merchants close gaps in skills, working capital, and business intelligence.

Join FIBR’s webinar and panel discussion to learn how merchants benefit from superplatforms and digital commerce. The webinar covers how merchants are using digital platforms and how superplatforms can better serve merchants.

When: 28th February 2019, 9am-10:00am EST