Technopreneurship: notes

A technopreneur is an entrepreneur who uses technology to start a business or solve a problem, such as building a mobile app for farmers.

Intellectual capital

The knowledge-based value of a business, which you cannot touch:

• Human capital: the skills, knowledge and experience of the people.
• Structural capital: systems, software, databases, processes and intellectual property (patents, copyright, trademarks).
• Relational capital: relationships with customers, suppliers and partners.

Protecting ideas

• Patent: protects an invention.
• Copyright: protects creative work such as software code, music and writing.
• Trademark: protects a brand name or logo.

Business ethics (Unhu/Ubuntu/Vumunhu)

Run the business honestly and fairly: tell customers the truth, keep promises, pay fair wages, protect customer data, and respect the community and environment.

Marketing

• The 4 Ps: Product (what you sell), Price (what it costs), Place (where people buy it), Promotion (how people hear about it).
• Digital marketing: social media, WhatsApp groups, websites, email and online ads.
• Know your target market: the group of customers most likely to buy.

Business strategies

• A business plan sets out the idea, market, costs, and how the business will make money.
• SWOT analysis lists Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
• Start small, test the idea with real customers, then grow.