This is a transcript from our weekly YouTube live AMA:

SPEAKERS: Anita Mlakar, Sandi Bitenc and Eric Kaigama.

About AMA: This week we’re going live with Eric Kaigama, President of the Africa Chamber of Digital Commerce, to discuss progress on bringing blockchain and crypto to African countries and upcoming events.

AMA Duration: 48:16

Introduction

Anita Mlakar: 00:07

Hello everybody and welcome to 3air’s AMA. Anita Mlakar is my name. And I’m really happy that you’re with us today. This is of course AMA that is happening every Wednesday at 5pm Central European Time. And we are happy that you are here because this is your opportunity and possibility to ask questions, to add some comments, to be with us live. And I would also like to invite you to be a part of our communities. We are on Twitter, we are on Discord and on Telegram and you can join us there if you’re not with us yet. And we are having their everyday conversations. It is opportunity also for your questions and to be aware and informed about what is going on at 3air.

00:53

This AMA is also for you. So please do click like, if you like it, do subscribe to YouTube channel if you’re not subscribed yet and do write your questions and your comments in the comment section down below. Now what we are doing 3air of course we are telling you every week you can read about it on the internet. You can also follow us on our social networks. But I am doing this short introduction every time we are together. So, let’s do it now too.

01:24

Our goal is to connect millions of people in Africa cities to the world, with our technology, we bring affordable high speed and stable broadband internet, digital TV and IP telephony to the under connected people and businesses in developing countries. So, we are doing that with two technologies, K3 Last Mile Solution and our 3air internet. K3 Last Mile technology has been refined for over a decade and has been already successfully deployed in nine countries and three continents. We are entering new markets with experience working technology and proven business model. Once you are connected to the internet, you will get digital identity from us. We also create your digital bank account, we are giving you a wallet.

02:15

The next step is providing financial services. We also have outside partners that will provide additional digital revenue streams. And once we put you through all these steps, you are connected, you’re banked, and you are empowered. You will have financial tools, the revenue streams and the knowledge and this is what we are doing and every time I’m really happy that I can also invite the CEO of 3air to be with us in this live AMA, Sandi Bitenc is also with us today.

Sandi Bitenc, CEO of 3air Joins the AMA:

Anita Mlakar: 02:46

Hello, Sandi.

Sandi Bitenc: 02:48

Hi, Anita. Hello, 3air fam.

Anita Mlakar: 02:52

Now you should say, hello I’m live from- where?

Sandi Bitenc: 02:56

I should say, “Jumbo Jumbo”.

Anita Mlakar: 02:57

Jumbo Jumbo.

Sandi Bitenc: 02:59

This is how you say hello in Kenya.

Anita Mlakar: 03:07

Sandi, Jumbo Jumbo. You’re in Kenya.

Sandi Bitenc: 03:11

Yeah.

Anita Mlakar: 03:12

How are you feeling there?

Sandi Bitenc: 03:14

It’s nice. Yeah, the weather is perfect here to be honest. It’s like constantly 27-28 degrees during the day and during night. It’s really nice. It’s raining almost every day for let’s say half an hour or so. So not so bad. The rest is mostly sunny. So, the weather is pretty nice. And the people are friendly.

Anita Mlakar: 03:41

But will you tell us what are you doing in Kenya?

Sandi Bitenc: 03:45

Well, I will have some meetings here but for the majority of the stay here we’re more or less having let’s say some working holidays. So, this means that Petra is somewhere around the pool and I’m behind the computer.

Anita Mlakar: 04:03

So, it’s working and holidays, 50/50, right?

Sandi Bitenc: 04:07

Yeah, we are both working. I don’t know if I spent more than half an hour on the pool till now. So, it is what it is. I really love working on 3air, it’s been a pleasure every minute, every hour. And we are going to the let’s say to the launch phase. I cannot say it’s the final phase because it’s actually the beginning so from that point, but it is something that a lot of us and a lot of the community and that what I mean with us is actually waiting for and of course also the whole team, I’m telling you we really are waiting for this token launch.

Info about next week’s AMA:

Anita Mlakar: 04:57

Yes, we are. Now we have a special guest coming up in a couple of minutes, but before that Sandi, also next AMA will be, in a way a special one, right?

Sandi Bitenc: 05:09

Yeah, so the next AMA, you really need to participate. So, on the next AMA, on next Wednesday, we are announcing the date of our token launch. And it’s going to be either end of September or end of October. So, there are two dates that we are focusing on right now. And it will come up to the CPI numbers that should be published just maybe an hour before we go live. So, it’s gonna be like, looking at the CPI numbers and then deciding and then we have the AMA, so you’ll know it first. Here, live in a week.

05:52

We will make it a bit different, a bit bigger AMA, so it’ll be like the C level, AMA. So, Ruba will be with us, for the marketing and then Davor will be with us, as the CTO and Rok will be with us, he will be telling us a bit more about the development part. And how we’re handling the token launch and so on, a lot of stuff are already in place. Just figuring out the dates, just after we announced the date, we need to talk a bit with our market makers and the launch pads and then we are going to mint the tokens pretty soon after that. And we will put them in the vesting contract so that everything is on chain and traceable. So, you can see your tokens already there, they are waiting in a locked contract. And it will be already set for the token date. So, once we do that, the token will go out either way, whatever we do, once it sets, we cannot change or move the date anymore. And this will be done pretty soon, like immediately that we have everything sorted out with the exchanges, with the market makers and the launch pads that we are working with. So yeah, this is it, it’s going it’s going now to the final stage before the token launch. We also have a giveaway, so some tokens.

Sandi gives a general market update:

Anita Mlakar: 07:38

I already see some hot responses, but still, this is something that you’ve been waiting for, for so long. Asking questions, when is going to be? when is the date? and now it is really going to happen on 10th of August next AMA, Wednesday 5pm Central European Time. You should be here and of course attend the AMA to hear from the firsthand, from the first man, when will this take place. So, what do you think about that? Do write down in the comments if you didn’t write it yet?

Sandi Bitenc: 08:09

Yeah. So, we’ve been talking with a bit a lot of people, a lot with our market maker and with the launch pads, with everyone that has experience and even when I was in South Africa the last week, I talked with some influencers there and so on. And yeah, it’s still not the best time to launch a token but it looks like that we’ll get this short window, and this is what we’ve been waiting for kind of that we get at least some uptrend, and the uptrend has started right now. I think the CPI numbers will be a bit better in August and then in September. I don’t expect really the Fed to hike up the rates at least not by much. And this should then send the markets to rally.

09:08

But if we look a bit how the market sentiment performed, let me see if I can share the screen. It’s something quite amazing. What has happened, you can see my screen, right?

Anita Mlakar: 09:30

Yes.

Sandi Bitenc: 09:32

So, the fear and greed index. It’s still in the fear phase and that’s okay, but it’s going up. If you remember, just a few weeks ago we were actually down at historical level, there were like a six and we have never seen a six before that was on 18th of June. And now we have climbed up from extreme fear up to the, right now we are at 30-34 and It does go in the right direction. So, right about here, I think we can already have a quite a rally. I don’t think we’ll get to that levels before October. But you never know, can go like from zero to hero in a, just a few days.

10:19

So, what’s really interesting to me is that we are kind of, like almost halfway into the altcoin season. So, we were actually already above a bit. And what usually happens after some bear markets is that we are in Bitcoin season that means that Bitcoin outperforms the smaller caps. And when this happens, there is usually not really a lot of demand for new tokens and new projects. So, we want to launch for sure in a trend, you know, in a market like this, here is a lot of people are just going full risk on buying all the new tokens, all the small caps, we are already in this phase, like something like this, and we might get some good volume in. And if this continues to climb, maybe hopefully in September, we could be in a bit of an altcoin season till September, October. And that would be really good. And this wasn’t expected. So that’s actually an additional bonus if we get this. It’s crazy, usually just after a bear market, the first what goes up is Bitcoin. And then a few months later, maybe half a year later then people start maybe taking some profit on their Bitcoin and just distributing this into the smaller caps. And more, hopefully, we get this now sooner because that will really help us.

Anita Mlakar: 11:57

I’m sure it will, Sandi. I am absolutely positive, and the way things are looking, of course it is going up. And I’m sure that this will be also the right time. And like someone wrote, you see, having a timeframe is great news. And it’s true also for that, so yeah, it’s true. Okay, Sandi, now we just did a little market update. We did talk about what will be going on in a week, time next week, this Wednesday. And now I think it’s time to invite our special guests. What do you say?

Sandi Bitenc: 12:36

Yes.

Eric Kaigama President of ACOFDC joins the AMA:

Anita Mlakar: 12:37

We’re very happy to have him here. And of course, I would like to invite him and hello and welcome to the President and CEO of Chamber of digital commerce, Erich Kaigama. Hello!

Eric Kaigama: 12:50

Hello to the community, 3air community. I am live from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the downtown Minneapolis. My name is Eric Kaigama, I currently serve as a business administrator, and also the presidency of the Africa Chamber of digital commerce, we describe ourselves as we’re in the business of other people’s business. Minnesota is known as Little Africa, because there’s a huge community of African community here, over 50 nations in all of Africa represented here. So proudly, we are an organization that understands the duality. The taking advantage of the duality, some of us that are immigrant, immigrated from Africa, or immigrants, with first generation American kids, and a huge community here, leveraging both sides, for both Americans and also all the people that see value in the continent, how we can facilitate and do much more for them.

14:00

So, from what we describe as Little Africa, Minnesota. I’m glad to be part of this AMA today to join Sandi and you as well and thank you as well, Sandi for being part of our some of the expo as well, I wasn’t there but our great team was there to make sure everything runs well. So, I’m excited. Let’s do it.

Anita Mlakar: 14:28

Yeah, let’s do it.

Sandi Bitenc: 14:34

Thanks for the invitation. Of course, we can be part of it. We gladly help out wherever we can. And the conference there at the expo was really nice. And I am looking forward for the next one.

Eric Kaigama: 14:50

Absolutely. As we’re scrambling now to put together one of the biggest diverse in conferences in the world. We want to demonstrate diversity, we don’t want to talk about it. And I’m glad 3air has been incredible both partner and supporter of just inclusivity and also making sure we have this reliable infrastructure and connectivity on the continent, where people can have access to so much now that the world is trending towards full digitization of the economies. Thank you!

Anita Mlakar: 15:29

Thank you. And we will be talking about what you’re preparing, what is coming up. But first of all, thank you for the explaining about Minnesota and Minneapolis. It’s really interesting, I didn’t know. And now I know much more. And I’m sure that also our participants. Thank you.

Eric Kaigama: 15:47

Absolutely.

What is the purpose of the ACOFDC?

Anita Mlakar: 15:48

So, Eric, let’s start by introducing also African Chamber of digital commerce, what is the why behind it? What’s the purpose?

Eric Kaigama: 15:58

The purpose we serve as most, it’s mainly advocacy and advocacy in the tech space. And also, the need for inclusion in the space, and also being part of the new emerging economy, where we don’t want the community to be left behind, our effort is to make sure participation is inclusion, and you cannot participate in an economy and take advantage of what is emerging, if you’re not part of it. So, we are an advocacy as a service organization, our business model is quite different from let’s say, the legacy chambers. COVID had a whole lot to do with it. And we are nimble, we understand the power and just the great resource that the technology provides in inclusion and wealth building as well. So, you might just describe us as an advocacy, as a service organization in a tech way.

Eric discusses his background:

Anita Mlakar: 16:04

Yes, you are. Now, before we continue this story about the chamber what we’re doing, I’m preparing. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, Eric? You’re right now in the United States, but you are not from there. You are from Africa, right?

Eric Kaigama: 17:27

Absolutely.

Anita Mlakar: 17:28

What’s your story?

Eric Kaigama: 17:31

My story is, I am Nigerian American. I came to the United States a little while ago, came to school in a Business Administrator, I majored in Business Admin. And, and then ventured into basically, as we call it, the grind, you know, in America, the grind is jobs you work with corporate entities, and then later on transition to ownership, part of my family’s business, I decided to extend it here, and then seeking opportunities, working with corporate entities here, and seeking and looking at, and helping them through partnerships, with opportunities in Africa.

18:17

So, I’ve always been, you know, the time that since I came to school here, while ago I was, what can I valuable get here, and how can I help my people living on the continent. So, it has always been a passion of mine. So, I describe myself, you know, kind of like taken from Obama. I’m not by any means, comparing myself to Obama, but the whole, describing myself as a community organizer, so I’ve always looked at myself as this community organizer, trying to see what else can we do to add value to the continent. And I’m glad this time around what we’re doing, we’re partnered with the Brand Venture Group, it’s a $50 million fund, here that focuses on brown and black, entrepreneurs and founders to basically show how we can collectively do things altogether to host the emergent Africa forum. This is year two for us. And we’re looking to make it bigger, and also the support we’re getting from the 3air. Also, the Federal Republic of Nigeria going to be presented by two ministers, and in turn of all the dignitaries that were working in around the clock to make sure, they show up here.

19:34

So, my story is about just a man whose curiosity was triggered by shortwave radio and wanting to live the American dream, and then finally got here and then I begin looking at opportunities after college on how to leverage what I’ve learned, to have my people back at home So I’ve always been an entrepreneur and I’ve always love and always been inspired by my dad being a private sector person himself. And now left me, so rest in peace, JD, but I’ve always been the type that, I wanted to contribute significantly to the continent, while making this home as well. And I’m a father of two kids, a nine-year-old, a son, who is getting geeky and geeky every day. And then his sister that keeping him lovely, a seven-year-old and married as well, their great mom. So just the line of a serial entrepreneur, it’s nonstop, it’s around the clock. And in addition to that, I’m also building what is called a Liquid Sell, I own the QNTM BLKCHN Inc, which formed in three years ago, but this part of the chamber is a nonprofit part of me to contribute significantly to my community, economically, thank you.

Anita Mlakar: 21:00

Very inspiring, in a way, you are also a role model, you were following your dreams, you had a goal, you achieved it, and now someone could look up to you.

Eric Kaigama: 21:12

Absolutely and it started from a shortwave radio now I told you, I used to listen to the Oscars, and I used to listen, that was when internet you know, a KB for you to transmit a KB of something was quite a big deal. And then came the email and I still have my first email that I activated in Yahoo from a while ago. And that gave me really nostalgic, there was a Yahoo email. And that kind of every time I look at it, if I go back there, it brings us back to the memories. So, I went from when I cannot even able to transfer just one KB of data, even communicate via the Internet and now is ubiquitous and we’re talking about 4g, we’re talking about 5g And then even 6g. And then and now came the blockchain technology. And then what 3air is doing. This is just amazing, this is good. This is an amazing time to be alive. I describe it.

Entrepreneurs in Africa:

Anita Mlakar: 22:20

Yeah. It is. Now, talking about startups. talking about entrepreneurs. You know, someone who’s starting a business, has an idea he wants to go out to the world, connectivity is very important. Being connected, getting information, being educated and stuff like that. So how is the situation with entrepreneurs, I’ve read about it. I’ve heard about it. I’ve heard people talking about, how great entrepreneurs and great startups you also have in Africa?

Eric Kaigama: 22:52

Absolutely! Africa, it’s in the DNA and I think even Sandi can talk on that. It’s an idea in DNA to build entrepreneurship is in our DNA, what we lack is mostly in a resource, who can invest in you, and how can you scale and things like that. And I’ve always been a person that for whatever reason, I think it also largely inspired by my dad as well. To be where I can build something from scratch and from zero level to just building has been part of something I felt was inbuilt in me. And I’ve been passionate about it.

23:42

So, Africa, I would say genetically, the folks are just entrepreneur, if you look at the days of the trade and barter, and just even the agrarian communities or artisan communities, the hustle has always been there, but the challenge is transitioning to the modern world in a way things are done in a more structured and accessing finance to do certain things is a bit of a challenge. And just to let you know, the power of the diaspora Africa, it supports Africa every year with $70 billion a year. So, a lot of people as per economy and an economy that exists outside it is a huge economy that sustains the continent significantly. And as a matter of fact, the chamber as the initiative to train 3.5 million Africans and local technology and we’re glad we’re partners within 3air as well, ought accomplish that. They have the infrastructure, where people can have sustainable like broadband, and also, in addition to the laptop, banks want to introduce for rural dwellers, and just make this global economy, this digital economy pretty inclusive, really inclusive, both here outside it, and also, especially on the continent as well. Thank you.

What is laptop bank?

Anita Mlakar: 25:10

Yeah. You mentioned laptop bank? Could you tell us a little more about it?

Eric Kaigama: 25:16

Yeah, it’s an initiative of kind of a laptop on demand for rural dwellers, that don’t have the capacity to pick up, it will cost you probably over $200 to pick up a good decent laptop, even if it’s like, pre-owned or used, not a lot of people can afford that, people are struggling, the number of unemployment is significantly high. In most parts of Africa, if not even all we feel how can you accomplish digitally, or how can you establish a digitize economy, talking about digital economy, when 70-60% of your population don’t even have access to, first the infrastructure and connectivity, and also, importantly, the device to connect and build in order to connect to that and get hubs and other low code, no code and visual techniques, visual coding, programming, like, tools that we’re working with some of this government.

26:18

Proudly, we have the partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Communications and digital economy, the Ministry has done incredibly, and they seem as well. And so those are things that we’re doing is basically laptop on demand, where you have a bunch of a secure location, where people can kind of like, what do you do at the library in Europe, or even in the United States, to some extent where you go, you use it for a couple of hours, then you make way for others. And having those in deeper, in the hinterlands of Africa, I think was significantly will be valuable to what 3air and other companies are doing, through their products and services that they currently providing in major cities. And the next wave of the economy, the next wave of it is how can we convert the 70% of the rural dwellers into what have them included, and also have them be part of that opportunity that companies that already have launched and you cannot sustain a business, just doing it and just 25 or 30% of the urban cities, the greater opportunity lies in those rural areas. And that’s where we really want to put in those infrastructure infrastructures and people be included, and part of inclusion is given them the tools to fundamentally pursue whatever entrepreneurial thing. Hopefully, that makes sense.

Anita Mlakar: 28:15

Yes, absolutely. Sandi, do you want to ask something because you just came in?

Eric Kaigama: 28:24

Hey Sandi. Thank you. Thank you for joining, interrupting, no kidding.

Expanding the economy is bound to connectivity:

Sandi Bitenc: 28:30

What I’ve been thinking is, I had a conversation last week when I was in South Africa. I had a meeting with some at the governmental level, actually. And we were talking about how they’re trying to kick start, expand the economy and everything and what they are, what they’re trying to do it literally every single thing that they’re trying to do. It’s bound somehow to internet connectivity, they cannot do it efficiently without the internet connectivity, it just doesn’t go.

Eric Kaigama: 29:08

Absolutely. And without a doubt, if you don’t have anything that you talk about, you know, it’s not going to come to full manifestation if you don’t have the connectivity. So that is why the next future, that’s why you see even the Google, the Facebook or whatever are investing in telecom infrastructures, right? Because they know that’s where the future lies in. And that’s basically I describe it as a vessel of the global digital economy is no longer having an application but the infrastructure that basically connects in all and also what we use to access. I think that dramatically changes the global economy.

Sandi Bitenc: 29:49

It already really did and in Africa is still a bit lacking, but we talk about Google and Apple and those tech companies and everything, but where we don’t do actually realize it usually that, also, if we’re talking about simple agriculture, it’s really important to be connected to get the information, to get the connection to the supply chain, and you need to deliver this, you need to need reach customers and it’s just because you cannot do business anymore really.

Eric Kaigama: 30:27

Absolutely. to add to your point Sandi, you’ll be glad by this, here in the chamber, we have what we call the data monetization, where at some point we want in a rural dwellers, when the infrastructure and the connectivity, kind of like what you’re providing as provided into rural dwellers, you know, they can monetize their data as an additional income to them as well. And then able to streamline and streamline the activities around production, farming and then even export and have them kind of fit up well into that supply chain and give them all the right tools. And it sounds just as simple as just getting information via the Internet and an implementing.

31:20

So, we are really bullish on the fact that the future lies in rural Africa, or, as a matter of fact, any place in the world that is rural, you know, that is the future of the country’s economy, and we feel access to the internet should be a fundamental human right because if you don’t have that it feels like you’re largely in a cave, honestly, you don’t have the access. And we’re glad in September, the emergent Africa, we’re going to be doing the global launch of our initiative with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a pilot, and also the partnership with 3air, we’re quite excited. And to demonstrate the economics of the blockchain technology itself, the value it adds, the value we can all extract from it. And then the value it provides, in an economy, nothing so superficial. But these are things that fundamentally changing how businesses are done in Africa, and also especially, or particularly, like the rural parts.

Sandi Bitenc: 32:25

Yeah, it changes the business, and it changes also your personal life and the people. And there, I again, remember a story. When we came here in Kenya, I was literally with you on the call in Twitter spaces, Eric, when I was leaving Kenya last time, and I was at the airport. And there I think I was explaining somebody that somebody behind me is just on a phone and needed to go through this metal detectors. And they didn’t let him through with the phone. So, he actually put the phone on the side that was still on the call and put it through that metal detector. And then this actually happened now again, at the same place is people here are using their phones and internet more. I always see people on their phones here. And there literally not cutting the line. It’s like, all the way. And I didn’t see that anywhere else in the world. And I’ve travelled quite a lot. So, I think internet is really important for personally for people here not just for business also for staying connected. And I don’t know, so maybe you can tell us a bit more about how important it is for you people in Africa to really stay connected with their with their peers, family and so on. When they travel.

Anita Mlakar: 34:09

Do we still have Eric here?

Eric Kaigama: 34:15

Absolutely, you have me here some. I decided to come here and give you a sight but meanwhile if you can repeat that question, that would be great, Sandi?

Sandi Bitenc: 34:33

Yeah, I was telling that. People here in Kenya in particularly, are using their phones more and it seems like they’re really hooked up to it. And I think it’s just because they really, you know, staying connected to their families through the homes when they travel. It’s really important to them. They literally don’t cut the line when they’re calling for anything.

Eric Kaigama: 34:59

I’m having a bit of connectivity issue but I did get the last question and get, but I really want to add quickly, just being what we’re planning for the year is the reflection of what you just talked about now, we intend to do, the days of just talking about doing this or doing that, this is the time we feel solutions, we just have to identify the types of solutions that are ideal for Africa, and then we’re able to, you know, I work with those founders and also work with adaptive solutions, and deploy and I’m glad we have this partnership going as well.

Anita Mlakar: 36:09

Okay, Eric, do you still have time to answer a couple of questions? And the connectivity?

Eric Kaigama: 36:18

Can you hear me? I want to make this special. Let me let me give. Okay. Can you see this? Absolutely. I have time for a few questions.

Anita Mlakar: 36:40

You do. Okay. Thank you for showing us. It looks very interesting. This is the center where you are working, right? Yeah, absolutely.

Eric Kaigama: 36:51

Yeah, absolutely, this is a downtown Minneapolis.

Eric discusses the upcoming ACOFDC event:

Sandi Bitenc: 36:57

This is where the venue will be?

Eric Kaigama: 36:59

No, this is where we’re doing the production, but the venue is going to be at the Venice Minneapolis Convention Centre, and other awards are going to be at one of the hotels here. The close one.

Anita Mlakar: 37:19

Okay, let’s just talk a little bit about the venue because we’ve mentioned it a couple of times, a part of what you’re doing in African chamber is also the events and one of them is coming up at the end of September emergent Africa forum. So, what will be happening there? who should attend?

Eric Kaigama: 37:43

Thank you, it’s a great question. It is an event for everybody. We’re talking about newbies, we’re talking about pretty much everyone, founders, people that are looking to increase their visibility in Africa, the diaspora as well. But as an event basically for everyone. Especially our focus on the economics of, of the technology beyond the superficial. So, it’s for everyone, part of inclusion is we have to bring people that don’t even know what blockchain is. And if we don’t do that, then there’s a problem. And then we want to kind of exit what we term as the crypto interface to an inclusive technology space and inclusive blockchain space, inclusive in the crypto space. I have about two minutes. So sorry, I have to run but it was an amazing experience.

Anita Mlakar: 38:43

Okay, yeah, absolutely. Just tell us how can we attend? How can someone attend this event?

Eric Kaigama: 38:50

Awesome. Go to emergentafricaforum.com or go on twitter handle “EA forum 22”. That’s the handle and my email is Eric@ACOFDCIC.org and that is how you can contribute, you can contribute in different ways you can be part of it. If you’re able to secure visas if you need help with Visa letters or something, just reach out to us. If you need help with how to get those tickets, the ticket is about $150 not too expensive, you know, or if you want to sponsor a couple of African kids or undergraduates or something you can do it if you want full sponsorship. We can also send as the package away as well. But hopefully what we see Sandi here and others when they come to Minneapolis, we’re going to show them the Minnesota nice. We are going to give them a good tour of the city and then able to hear from people, able to hear from Sandi shares experience what he is building and also how we are supporting in that quest to fully digitize the economy of Africa, providing the services and also what is building 3air. So, we’re really proud of what he’s doing.

Anita Mlakar: 40:21

Thank you very much, Eric, thank you for taking the time and being with us giving us all the information Have a nice day. And of course, a great conference, I hope we will speak again.

Eric Kaigama: 40:30

Absolutely. And to the community to the 3air community, we love you, and keep on supporting 3air and make sure I know the token launch is going to be soon. This a project that helps lives, that changes, the effect of it, it’s going to be amazing and incredible, continue to support and this is one of the projects, one of my favorite, not because I’m involved with 3air because I’m all about the economics and how it adds value to Africa and its people, and I feel this is one of them. And I continue to support 3air and Sandi, you’re amazing. And your team and everyone. Just we hope to see some of you here in September. And keep doing what you’re doing.

Sandi Bitenc: 41:18

Thank you!

Eric Kaigama: 41:20

Thank you. Okay, see in Minneapolis in September.

Anita Mlakar: 41:26

Okay. Bye.

Sandi Bitenc: 41:27

Bye.

Anita Mlakar: 41:29

It’s amazing. He’s so full of energy, right?

Sandi Bitenc: 41:33

Yes.

Anita Mlakar: 41:34

Really a positive one. I had some more questions. And I do see that there are also some questions in the comment section. But there will be another opportunity, of course, for him to answer them. Sandi, you will be a part of this conference, this event in Minneapolis. What will you be talking about?

Sandi Bitenc: 41:53

Something about 3air.

Anita Mlakar: 41:55

Really?

Sandi Bitenc: 41:56

I don’t know yet. I don’t have the exact topic yet. We’re still figuring that out.

Anita Mlakar: 42:06

Yeah, you have enough time.

Sandi Bitenc: 42:09

That will be something interesting. Yeah. I usually, to be honest, I don’t do a lot of preparations on any of the talks. I just try to do it naturally. Yeah, maybe I should do some more. So, if it’s going to be something really heavy, I’ll do some preparations.

Anita Mlakar: 42:29

Okay, you are a natural, you know. And this is what I’m always saying about public speaking and presentations. If you’re talking about the subject, that it’s yours with your heart and your soul, and you’re working on it, and you know everything about it, then you do not need to fear that something will go wrong. Okay, preparations are always good, you know, just to have a few pointers, what you will be talking about, but otherwise, it just comes out of you. And people really believe it because you believe it. And I know you will do an amazing job.

Sandi Bitenc: 43:01

Yeah, for sure it will be good.

E-commerce growth in Africa:

Anita Mlakar: 43:03

Yeah, I’m sure. Okay, is this for you? Yeah, this is a question for you Sandi, just answer it, connecting Africa to internet or promote E-commerce for sure. Sandi, do you have any insights on E-commerce growth in Africa?

Sandi Bitenc: 43:20

I don’t have any numbers there. I know that Amazon was recently really expanding faster. And what was interesting is that they’re using the E-commerce Store as a form of remittances. You know, if people go out to work and they want to send money back home, it usually takes a lot away from that. So crypto is one of the solutions to this. It’s really fast to send funds, and it’s cheap to send funds, if you want to do it through banking. And this is not like our banking that you send from one bank account to the other, it’s sending abroad, and usually also through different banking systems. And then remittances, usually they take away around 30% of what is sent back and that’s huge. So, those shops allow you to buy something abroad, and then they deliver it just at home and there is literally zero fees on that in that sense. So, there was a lot of, let’s say remittances buying in, in Africa, and it is for sure it is going up more and more.

44:51

The problem here that I see a lot of time is that the big companies cannot do deliveries, home deliveries. With E commerce they are all about home deliveries, the problem is that a lot of streets don’t have street numbers. And it’s sometimes it’s impossible to figure out an address here. So maybe some bigger cities work well, but everything else still does not work. And there’s a lot of work to be done before it is at the level as we see it in either Europe or the US or maybe even Thailand.

Anita Mlakar: 45:36

Okay, thank you for the question. Thank you for the answer. For all of you who are here right now you are the first to know that the next AMA will be a special one and that you should attend. Others will of course find out when we give the announcement, right Sandi?

Sandi Bitenc: 45:53

Yes.

Anita Mlakar: 45:55

And we’re looking forward to that. So, Sandi, I think we have covered everything for today. Is there something else you would like to add?

Sandi Bitenc: 46:04

I’ll give you just one sneak peek. So, I told you that. I went for a special dinner. I needed to cut my previous AMA short, right?

Anita Mlakar: 46:23

Yes, you did.

Sandi Bitenc: 46:24

Some interesting people. This is actually the premiere of the South Africa part where I was. And yeah, I met with the mayor and everything and everyone was so friendly. So, a lot of talks are going on also.

Anita Mlakar: 46:54

Well, thank you for sharing that. I knew you had something sweet for the end. Okay, Sandi, I would really like you to enjoy Kenya, together with Petra. See as much as you can, of course do the work you have to do there but do enjoy it also, you know, take some time at the pool or discovering it like you’re doing it on other parts of Africa. And then of course, don’t forget to be with us next week our live AMA.

Sandi Bitenc: 47:27

No worries. I haven’t met one yet. It’s gonna be a year now that we were on our amas each week, not missing one.

Anita Mlakar: 47:41

In October is gonna be a year. We’ll do a special celebration then. Okay, maybe we’ll be singing Sandi. I’m just joking. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you for being with us. Stay tuned be, of course a part of our channels on Twitter, Discord, and Telegram. Do join us on our AMAs here on YouTube. Subscribe to YouTube channel, recommend us to a friend. We are here to tell you more about our project and about 3air. Sandi, thank you very much. And thanks all for being with us. Bye.

Sandi Bitenc: 48:15

Bye.

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