John Kamara, tech entrepreneur, changing the African narrative
BY MADUABUCHI EFEGADI
As Africans from all across the continent and within the diaspora are making a move to change the current African narrative, with the change causing a shift that will define the continent’s history, one such African, John Kamara, is eminently turning things positively. For sure, Kamara steps up the podium in a time when Africa needs bold and dynamic leaders.
A tech entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience working in new market acquisitions across various technology verticals in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, Kamara is described as one of Africa’s leading experts on how businesses can leverage key technology trends, transform organisations and drive competitive advantage for impact in industries, including finance, agriculture, health, education, gaming and start-up enterprises.
Today, Kamara goes by different sobriquets according to his different duties: a futuristic leader who promotes knowledge sharing and innovation; a pan-African renowned business leader, an entrepreneur, investor, consultant, mentor and public speaker holding multiple roles, including founder, AI Centre of Excellence; CEO, Cortex Africa (leading artificial intelligence company in Africa); director non-executive, Machine Intelligence Institute of Africa; director for strategy, Data Driven Innovation Centre under CREATES Centre of Excellence at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology; Chevalier (Knight) Ordre des Arts et des Technologies; Crypto Chain University director for Growth; Global Gaming Africa founder.
Kamara’s other companies he founded include: Jamborow (Fintech), Afrimart (eCommerce), AfyaRekod (HealthTech) Investor, eCobba (Fintech), Twaa (Mentoring & Learning), and PhermaAgri (AgriTech).
He is actively involved and heavily invested in new technologies focusing on IoT (Internet of Things), AI (artificial intelligence), blockchain and crowdfunding.
Karama is passionate about health mobility solutions using technology as an enabler to better serve the medical ecosystem, having worked in market growth leadership roles for global technology companies at Google, Sun Microsystems, eir Ireland, Digicel, BMC Software and others.
He is equally committed to seeing technology play a critical role in catapulting Africa into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) while creating critical mass impact.
Although the continent is believed as going to play deep in the incoming 4IR, some tech analysts say they believe more Kamaras are required in Africa at this time; especially to impact the 1.3 billion Africans with a dominating youth population.
Kamara is the founder of Afya Rekod, which is a health data platform that allows patients and health facilities to capture, store and access the mobility of the patients’ health data. The start-up has over 150,000 users in five countries. For providers, the platform has multiple functionalities, like hospital, patient, knowledge and inventory management. For patients, the platform enables the recording of health data, and provides access to medical intervention. Additionally, it aggregates information on pharmacies and other key resources to allow easy accessibility.
Kamara has excited audiences in many countries and continents as he shared insights on global stages like AI Expo Africa, AI for Good Global Summit, Bio2019, ICE London, Abuja Blockchain & AI Roundtable, Malta Blockchain Summit and Africa Fintech Summit.
John’s current focus is on how smart technologies can be leveraged in solving some of the most prominent and pertinent socio-economic challenges in Africa, and how various players can play a role through the empowerment of existing structures and systems to build holistic, sustainable ecosystems in problem-solving.
Having founded and successfully sold his first company, SpadeSocial, a lifestyle and entertainment focused tech start-up (2009 – 2012), John now dedicates his time to sharing his knowledge and experiences, and networking with up-and-coming entrepreneurs in tech and beyond, fuelled by his passion to see more successful tech-driven companies launch out of Africa.