 A very good Tuesday entrepreneur shape morning to you. You are watching Why in the Morning only on Y245 TV. I hope you did catch that interview with one by Moses and now it's about time we bring the information technology gurus to studio from Axelis Tech to come and let us know just a little bit about what they do and why you should procure IT services just in case you've always wondered. Anyway, so do remember that this weekend we have a very special function here at Y254 with Katika Namash Outer. So make sure you do slide into our DM or go to our social media handles and make sure you participate in the competition. There's up to 60,000 shillings to be won. So make sure you do catch up with us this particular Saturday to win the road trip to Kedogo and make sure you do upload your videos and be part of us. But it's about time I introduced the Young Men in Studio with me today from Axelis Tech. I have one Derrick Siri and one Joseph Ikito, the programmer and the quality assurance manager. Say good morning to the Y in the morning family for the very first time. Good morning. Good morning. Yes, Karibuni Sana. Thank you. Axelis Tech, let's talk a little bit. What is the background towards this particular business venture? Axelis Tech is an IT company. So we cover all things, telecommunication, information, technology, connectivity, IT as you know it in whatever layman's language you understand it to be. That's what we do. Where did the passion to do this come from? Well, I studied IT in campus. So just followed the career. Yes. You followed whatever you studied, that's what you pursued. It is my passion. So when I went for it, I decided this is what I'm going to do until I die. Until you die? Yes. You are that passionate? Yes. Okay. Okay. Let me understand from Derrick as the programmer. Why did you express interest in this particular industry? And what gap is this that you had identified that you thought that people do need assistance when it comes to design, when it comes to connectivity? What gap had you identified in the Kenyan market? Well, the gap is that when I was in campus, there was this hotel that was around our institution. They were having an issue with their management systems and the funds were disappearing. So for my projects in campus, I did the hotel management system for them. And actually they accepted it and they paid me, it was back then it was an okay amount of money before I knew the value that I had created. So when I decided to venture out fully after employment, that is when I decided then we put the skills that I have into good use. Yes. Yes. Derrick, what's your story? I am Derrick. Oh, sorry, what's your story? Yes. I'm so sorry. Just say what's your story? For me, I have always been an entrepreneur before doing tech or whatever I'm doing now. I've always done a few businesses here and there, always looking for change, extra cash. So when I was in campus, I happened to get a job before. I had not studied computer science. Oh, you had not studied it? No. I was moving into accounting, same aspect, money, profit, all that. And then initially I came to realize that I had a skill in networking and development. And then someone just said to me, I've seen what you do and most of the people that we work with in the office are not even articulate as you are in tech. So probably should pursue the passion. Then I realized if this person can see that as a talent, let me let me try it out. And I did and I found out it was an easier way. I have the talent and the business skills and I can combine both and then I found out it was a passion I had. So yeah, I studied graphic design, started from there, development online. Here I am. And here you are today. Yes. Well, I've seen that you guys also design apps. Sorry, you create apps. And what's interesting about apps is I'd like to understand what kind of apps is this that you tend to lean towards? You tend to lean towards? What type of apps? What are those apps that as axelistic you like them or you lean towards that kind of nature of an app? Well, I wouldn't say they are types of apps. What I would say is an app is basically just what you already know. It's something a tool that you use on the phone. For us, what we do is we've centered on SMEs, SMEs and medium sized companies. So what we do, they have an idea, they have a solution, they have something they need that needs to be put on phone, iOS or Android, mostly Android, because that's a platform people use because of the costs and balance of everything. So what you do is we take the idea, we develop, we know how it's done, and then we do it for you. We help your company. You know, for there are two ways you can do an app. Either you have the idea, you can develop or you can develop, but you don't have an idea. So when we develop, we go find ideas, they pay us, we help them come into the app stores. Interesting. You know, I'm not very tech savvy, but I'd like to understand from you, especially someone who mentioned about having a passion for entrepreneurship. How did your business plan look like originally? What factors did you put into consideration? Because you know, it's entrepreneurship Tuesday and we're here to let the young people know how we ended up at this particular point. Initially, yeah, that's an interesting one. Initially, you always have the idea. You course it down half costs. You write down your cost on a piece of paper. That's what we all taught in school. That's a funny thing. So let's say it's 10,000 shillings, then you project your markup and then you imagine, okay, I'm going to get 30,000 shillings. My profit is 20. So that's the same thing. I sat down. I saw I had a skill. I would cut down on so many people, including myself. You know, Derek is is someone who's already tech savvy. I am. So that's quite the introvert. He's like a geek. So anyway, we go put out all those other elements of hiring guys. So all I'm worried about is just finding the money. What tools do I need? So when did you find the money? Because that's another question people usually say. They have the idea. They have the structure. They have a very good plan set up, but I couldn't have a say. So what did you guys do to get some money? In my case, I jumped all that because I was already having a laptop that I require. Most people right now young guys. Oh, so you just need a laptop? Yes. I just need a laptop and a good phone and bundles, which if I wasn't using for chatting, I would, that's what I'm using for. That's how I started because either way, I would be chatting. Most people chat a lot. Make sure you hold the microphone up. Most guys chat a lot. So I was just inspired. Let me just use this tool. I started with web and graphic design tutorials. So what I would do is I would use all the bundles I would use by tutorials offline. Oh, so you actually did train yourself like you said. You also didn't study the computer science. Yes. That actually came in for the money aspect. I had to eliminate that with that. But I saved up a little bit of money for the extras when a client calls, use your own fare instead of just going hanging out on Fridays. Yes, start out like that. Yeah. And then I ended up lucky for me because I'm the skill set. I don't need to hire a lot. So I didn't have to spend as much. I see. I'd like to understand Derek now. Am I correct? Yes. How was the experience like when you first ventured into the business world? Well, I was employed actually for about five years before I decided to venture out full time for my household. Well, while I was employed, I got two clients. Two clients? Still employed. Yes. They needed IT support and somebody referred me to them. So when I went and I provided my services, they were quite happy and decided to retain my services. And that is how I started off. Interesting. So I didn't hustle as much. Yes, because I had the skills and the resources. You had the skills and the very few resources required. Yes. I think also maybe if you imagine in tech, it's a bit different. So says are more what you know. It's a solution I can offer. If the money went down, if there was no connectivity, I don't need to get a lot of money to get the solution. I like that. It's the skills that you have. So this money thing is just an attitude. It's just a skill. It depends. Different fields. Different fields. Different strokes for different folks. Yes. Okay. Okay. Let me understand. What was the highlight of Axelis Tech? What has been the highlight so far? I know this is probably the first time that you're here on Y254. And we'd like to understand what was the highlight of your career? What keeps you guys going? For me, I'd say the inspiration of sharing what the ideas that I have, you see tech is not just a business. It's also innovation, creativity. And that creativity, sometimes guys won't fly us. They won't post us. They want mini animations. So for me also, it's something I already have inside of me. I am looking for someone I can showcase to. So having that platform where I can do that, maybe sometimes like Derek being the geek in the cables. He can flex his skills. He sees something going down. He's like, no, no, no. Let's just sort this out. Let's find out where the package issue is coming from. It's the inspiration of what you really know. I want to share it out. Okay. So for you, it's about the sharing. You know, you want to flex a little bit. Derek, what is it about for you? Well, I enjoy how amazing it is when you solve an issue that somebody is having with their computer. And they look at you with a lot of surprise as like you are performing some magic trick there. You see that, that gratitude that you get from my client is what inspires me to keep on going. Okay. Yes. So can let's talk about global trends. You know, this is the time when technology keeps changing and advancing and diversing. And I'd like to understand here in this country, what are some of the tech, the trends that you have noticed that are affecting your particular industry, especially when it comes to tech and new apps and new phones and new softwares. I'd like to understand what the experience is like for someone who is green in this new market. What's the technological field looking like right now? Well, technology is changing big time. Yes. Like Google the other day just said that they're going to close down some of their affiliate accounts, the likes of Google Plus. Oh, which are the ones that do? They're closing Google Plus page. They're also charging. They're closing out Google Maps for free. So they're going to charge it. Those are changes. And also if you look at the Kenyan terrain, so many people are accessing devices like you said, using apps. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. About apps. Now they are also now charging guys using apps. We are way behind that part of using the apps. And already the network is catching up. Everyone is catching up with what is there already in the market. Now there's farmers who are already doing agribis and they want a platform where they can sell. They can get money in a remote village. That's connectivity using an app and finding out on web and internet technology. Some farmers are developing websites. I have a couple of friends. Are you developing any for any farmer? Yes. Yes. Yeah. So what they do is they develop it's Oonga. They come package. Of course they have done everything nicely. They want to be on online platform. They want to teach people how to use Oonga. It's cassava. After they teach people how to use a cassava, they want to go and okay, find a customer base. They want to inspire their clientele by assuring them that we actually are available anytime you need us where we are. We have flyers for marketing and they also want to do social media marketing and online advertising so that they can reach themselves because it's another alternative to having flyers and sales guys. Interesting. So what can the Kenyan government do? Because now I'm hearing a lot of agribusiness is going tech. It's going what can I call it soft. It's going soft. A lot of the agriculture of business here in Kenya. I like the fact that you talked about that. What can the government do better when it comes to improving your industry? Well, the main challenge that we are currently facing is, you see for those people, yes, they agree. The farmers who want to use technology, they have one limitation, connectivity. That is to the internet. In those multiple places, you get the connection is very slow. Mostly it's edge or it's not even there. So you see that limits the farmer to the use of technology. So they have to use now a medium, a broker and they end up losing more instead of earning more from their business now. So there's a broker issue and connectivity issue as well? Yes, mostly the connectivity. Yes, the connectivity is the root of this which causes now for the farmers to look for a broker to sell. And this is expensive? Yes. Okay, thank you for mentioning that Derek, what are some of the challenges that you have observed in your particular line of duty? I would say subsidizing the cost for young guys. Like you said, how did we start up? For us, we didn't spend a lot of money just because of our industry. Maybe we were lucky you had a laptop you're already using, converted it to something that's equivalent to capital. But if you think about it right now, someone who is out there in a remote place, that's still Kenya, they want a laptop. They have to go buy a laptop. Where do they get money from? No one considers giving young guys subsidies. No one thinks about. So you wanted to subsidize the cost of electronics? No, no, no. Actually, the government can say like they're already saying they can use funds and all that. They can partner with, let's say Dell and say anyone who's between this age and younger, they can get maybe a certain percentage of discount or payment platform. They will not say we are used to handouts and we want them to make our life easy. Because the government has at least, it's the same way they were giving out laptops to the schools. That's an outreach which can help that young person jump a hurdle by the time they want to become an entrepreneur, other than they start it by themselves. Because they will have to start way back in other countries like Europe. A nine-year-old is already developing and programming. Why? Because they have access to these facilities. As a third world country, we are limited. So someone has to go through uni and then now after you finish, then you're told, okay, I've already paid fees. And then you realize, you know, I need money for something extra. Not so many people have that capacity. But here in Kenya, I don't think they recognize talent. Because if you really know someone is talented, you know, they'll give you back whatever you give them. If you give them 20K, and it's a talent, talent will sell itself. Okay, talent will sell itself. I like that way of thinking. So let's talk about diversification. When it comes to diversifying, in the future, what other services is Axelistic be offering? I said from this web design, graphic design, do you plan to diversify or do anything aside from what you're doing, maybe in the next two years or so? Already we are looking to do virtualization. Virtualization? Yes. Virtualization of already if you have space, online space, and you don't need to buy extra. So in this case, talk about servers and extra equipment. Servers. Yeah, instead of buying the servers. Yeah, that's the name I think of IBC. Exactly. If IBC, instead of buying huge gadgets, I keep talking about expensive budgets all the time. They can virtualize the system and utilize mini compartments. I'm trying to explain it as simple as I can. Yes, please. In the layman's language. Yes, please. Yes, that's one. And also we are looking to train younger people. Like we said in our area. Are you looking to train like that? Yes, because young people are not accessible. There are kids out there. I have nephews and nieces. So you can see this one really loves tech gadgets. You know the way you give a kid something and they really love it. You can spot the talent. Yes. So in guiding and leading them and also partnering with, you know, online, there are also platforms like MIT. MIT. They have development, developers platform. What's MIT? Say it again in full. MIT. Massachusetts. Oh, Massachusetts. They are already encouraging everyone to be a developer because you have ideas. As you sit down, you have ideas that I will never know unless you code yourself. Code. So everyone is unique. Yes, develop and code. Even the times being used here. So for that in that essence, if you start now helping and nurturing these kids, whatever talent they will have afterwards, they will come and showcase it now. We can reach out to schools. Yeah. I like that. What's your plan? What's your individual plan when it comes to diversification? Yeah, you see as a company, we cannot have an individual plan. We have a company plan. Yeah. Okay. Because we want to grow as a company, not as an individual. Yes. Okay, I like that answer very quick and very simple. So I'm not going to tell you anything. Okay, so where can people find you on your social media handles? At social media, we are at Axelis Tech. Everywhere. On Facebook, Instagram, Klamal. Axelis. Don't confuse Alexis. Guy, by the way, yeah. Axelis.th. At Axelis Tech, Facebook, everywhere. Being tech, we are we are in all these places. Okay, so let's go to our parting shots. Let me make sure this time that it says something for an entrepreneur outside there who is interested in joining the world of technology. What words of advice have you collected over the years that you can give them at home? Well, the thing about tech is very diverse. So just find that one feel that you're good at and keep at it. Find that one feel that you're good at and keep at it. Yes. Plus, it feels good to be the magician in the room. Yes. Thank you guys for coming to studio today. Thank you very much. I hope to see you again here on Y-254. But this time now, taking us deeper through these particular things. Anyway, my name is Hilda Wadidi. Please do not go anywhere. Please remember Katika Namash Auto is still on this Saturday. In case you're wondering what that is, slide into our social media. I try to Y-254 channel on Twitter. The hashtag is by in the morning. Hashtag entrepreneurship Tuesday. Please do not go anywhere. Joy Muchacha is coming up next.