Betting On Tech: Where The Likely Innovations Might Sprout From

The human population has grown at such dazzling a pace, thereby stimulating discussions on where the next innovation in tech could come from. That is the task of the curious mind. Bloomberg Business said our population has doubled over the last past 50 years and could double again, to 14 billion, in the next 50 years.

This human population will lead to increase demand for food, energy, and other stuffs with resources receding at a grave pace. It is for this reason experts have argued that emerging trend will boost a gamut of industries in the areas of water, alternative energy and clean tech too.

For a nation that suffers the twin blight of only technology consumption and inept leadership, we will do well to start seeing the next horizon. So what do we do? See the potentials of emerging trends and distributed patterns around us and the globe.

For agriculture, farmers are now demanded to grow more crops in an efficient manner as global food security looms and food scarcity threatens the horns of Africa.

Here then follows the digital demographics, the segment of the human population that has shown mastery in the use of the internet are the connected demographics-youths who understand the 360 degrees approach in relating the online/offline experience of the new age. For the old generation, they will need people who can help them take the leap into the online world. And here a tutorial site for this could be a big sale.

Welcome Google to sub Saharan. Although Google ambitious drive to take Nigerian businesses online has been hailed, web developers are smarting from the whole process that has seen the crashing of web building and domain name cost with implications for reduced clientele and jobs too. But that is the market dynamics.

With Google’s effort, we might see more Nigerians and their businesses online. But we will be seeing more lives being lived online and woven in an unprecedented online experience. This will flow online, through entertainment online, to communication and commerce.

Welcome to a world with a deluge of data. Tech gurus are advising companies to use this data to make a difference at their bottom-line. Growing data available in mind-blowing sums have to be used wisely.  For the public sector, we have to find a way to harness this data pool in a manner that delivers public value both for the now and tomorrow.

How should investors tap into this?

They have to look deep into these trends.

1. They should cast a wider net over likely start-ups in these areas.
2. Watch the financials, ideas are not enough!
3. Doubt the figures, and then verify them.