Why US startup rules don’t work in Africa and what can we learn from them?
Event Information
About this Event
The following event will take place virtually via zoom.
About the event:
Taking a two-year sabbatical to live in Zambia, Maggie Shih immersed herself in the Zambian startup scene. While working with entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs she learned one major lesson: Don't apply your know how to a market that is vastly different from yours. Sure, in theory, everyone knows that, but how do we really put this into practice and why is this insight relevant in the U.S. start-up world?
Join international serial entrepreneur, Maggie Shih as she imparts valuable wisdom on how to quickly recognize red flags so you can reduce unnecessary risks and avoid time and money wasted while trying to build your start-up.
About the Speaker: Maggie Shih
Maggie Shih is a technology veteran as a co-founder, executive, advisor, and product leader. Maggie has over 20 years of software and mobile product development and business management experiences with companies ranging from start-ups to multi billion dollars.
Maggie’s prior experience includes serving as a co-founder of a venture backed mobile SaaS company, Embrace.io, VP of Product Management and Technical Services teams at Datapop (acquired by Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO), Chief Operating Officer and VP of Product at RSSGraffiti (acquired by Demand Media/Leaf Group (NYSE: LEAF), and a Product lead at Overture (Acquired by Yahoo! now Verizon NYSE: VZ).
In 2018, Maggie took a 2-year sabbatical, moved to Zambia, initiated an essential oils project that established new agriculture markets to local farmers and co-founded MentorMe, a mentorship start-up advising and investing in purpose-driven or social impact companies. In December 2020, Maggie and her Zambian co-founder, Elias Chipmio, partnered with Africa Business Angels Network (ABAN), BongoHive, a Zambia technology and innovation hub, and Prospero Zambia, a UKAid backed entrepreneurial empowerment program in Zambia, to establish ZBAN, the first business angels network in Zambia. Maggie is now back in Los Angeles, CA working as a consultant, adjunct professor, and advisor.
Maggie studied Management Information Systems as an undergrad and has an MBA at University of Southern California. In her free time, you can find Maggie hiking, snowboarding, playing computer games, reading, and spending time with friends, family, and her cat, Bodhi.
