From  Irish Times

Terms such as “tech start-up” and “developing world” are not frequently heard in the same sentence. Irish companies looking to go big usually aim for our closest neighbor, the UK, or perhaps the European Union mainland or the United States, to scale.

Not every Irish tech company has its sights on traditional markets such as the US or Europe, but labeling regions with the “developing” banner often undermines their potential as innovative business hubs.

Differences in culture, business approach and regulation may put many people off the possibility of growing into places such as Africa or Central and South America. That doesn’t mean there aren’t major opportunities there. Just look at Denis O’Brien in the Caribbean.

Low-power computing

John Murphy has been quietly building a customer base for his web-based management system Multi-Spot in places as far flung as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and even Pakistan. Providing low-cost and, more importantly, low- power wireless units and computers, his company Mandac is fast becoming a major player, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Our growth has been organic,” he says. “We started in Dubai. From there we moved into Kenya, and from Kenya we went to Tanzania and so on.

Murphy offers a number of services: low-power computing, usually for schools, as well as prepay and metered internet access. The computers are manufactured abroad with one design focus at the heart: power efficiency. They run off about 10 per cent of the standard power requirement we’re accustomed to in the West. They also run off 12 volts because “everyone in Africa will have access to a car battery,” says Murphy.

“They are fit for purpose and can do almost anything,” he adds. “They run email, YouTube, spreadsheets and all the standard office products.”

Read more at Irish Times