Umuntu Media has proven this concept to work with their extraordinary uptake of iNamibia and iZambia. The success comes down to truly local content: Umuntu Media employs on the ground journalists and encourages citizen journalism to publish world class local and hyper local news on their platforms.

Umuntu means ‘person’ in Ndebele and people are the core of the strategy. “We want to be the one stop content and information shop for our readers. So far we’ve established a news and entertainment section, offer the largest database of accommodation establishments in Namibia and Zambia, showcase the latest music and events and have integrated a property and job board. All this information is locally produced to create relevance, as we believe it’s the local content that counts.” explained Johan Nel.

Brian Hirman of eVA Fund: “Quality local content is still a gap in the market in Africa. It is a massive challenge, but we have the vision, we have the team and we have the guts to make this happen. We have great confident in Johan Nel and his team. That is why we are happy to invest a second round in Umuntu Media today and will continue to invest and actively support the team in the future.”

For our new office in Nairobi, Kenya we are looking for a FUND MANAGER

ABOUT EVA FUND

eVentures Africa Fund (eVA Fund) is launched in January 2010 by Vincent Kouwenhoven and Brian Hirman. Both founders form the board of directors of eVA Fund and combine years of experience in  business development, management consulting, online business, digital marketing and venture capital.

The ultimate goal of eVA Fund is investing capital and knowledge to strengthen small and medium sized internet related enterprises thus securing and creating jobs and income for large African communities and with that, generating attractive financial returns for investors.

Currently eVA Fund has invested in companies like ExplainerDC (Ghana), Umuntu Media (SA), Pesapal (Kenya) and Jumuika (Kenya). More investments are expected on short term. Please check out the eVA Fund  website for more information: www.eva-fund.com.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Representation of eVA Fund in sub-Saharan Africa
• Manage the portfolio of investments of eVA Fund
• Report results and management issues of the investments to the board of directors of eVA Fund
• First intake of potential digital media companies to invest in
• Generate new leads (potential digital media companies to invest in)
• Legal Compliance – Ensure compliance with all local law

PROFILE

• Young ambitious professional with academic level / degree
• Digital and mobile savvy
• Good organizational and leadership skills
• Good marketing / communication skills
• Financial management experience
• Proactive and entrepreneurial personality
• Good social and presentation skills
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Excellent computer skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Available as from Q4, 2011

WHAT WE OFFER
An inspiring working atmosphere in an international environment where rapid digital developments, entrepreneurship, professionalism and innovation are combined. We offer a challenging job with a lot of room for individual initiative and development.

INTERESTED?
E-mail your CV and motivation letter to Brian Hirman before 1 August 2011: brian@eva-fund.com.

The year 2011 could not have started any better for Umuntu Media as Umuntu this week announced ambitious plans to improve internet media in 19 African countries with eType handling the media sales.

Africa’s time is now, says Johan Nel, CEO of Umuntu Media. “We all know it, all the signs are there. Investments are starting to flow into our beautiful continent. Africa is about people, it’s about connecting people with information and it’s about localism. Gone are the days where African traffic goes to just international website. We need to stand up and be counted; we need to create African media companies.

“We need to create online communities, make relevant information available for the masses. We need to educate, create marketing opportunities and empower the man on the street. The cost and connection speed issue for most of the African countries are still  present, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The growth in numbers is already there, the cables are coming and more connections will need more relevant local content. ”

Nel – a former digital executive with Naspers – says Umuntu Media is “going to change the way Africa communicates, accesses information, stays informed and transacts online.  It’s our reason for being.  The name Umuntu means “person ” in the Ndebele African language”.

He adds that Umuntu is not trying to reinvent the wheel, but rather put “African treads” on those wheels. “In 2011 and 2012 we will be launching 19 internet portals across Africa. Each portal will be branched out into loads of brand extensions, mobile apps, WAP sites and online communities. This gives Umuntu Media a market of 96 933 300 internet users to play in. ”

The first portal for Zambia (www.izambia.co.zm) went live on January 1, 2011 with already almost 2 000 ‘likes’ on the iZambia Facebook page.

“All the portals will be branded with the familiar “i” brand and have a local URL extension.  For example, iNamibia.co.na, , iGhana.com.gh etc. Local staff will be employed to add the local editorial flavour to each site, a local marketing/sales presence will also ensure we educate organisation about digital marketing and drive traffic and commercial success for the portals,” Nel said.

Umuntu Media is supported and funded by eVentures Africa Fund, one of the first VC’s active in digital media in sub-Saharan Africa.

eType will handle the media sales on the sites in the different countries.

“It is very exciting for us,” says Daan du Toit MD of eType. “Especially as we are seeing a considerable increase in demand for media in the other African countries. The Umuntu sites allow us to offer our clients’ quality media in countries where there are very limited local content available. The sites are all well-structured and of high quality with different sections appealing to different audiences.  These sections will offer great variety for marketers on the sites.”

Kouwenhoven is founder and owner of the Dutch venture capital firm eVentures Europe and Hirman recently resigned as CEO of Isobar Netherlands (Isobar is the world’s largest full service digital agency network) and is now founder and owner of Forventures, a Dutch incubator of digital business ideas.

The first investment of eVA Fund is in the full service digital agency Explainer DC in Ghana. eVA Fund is currently investigating possible other investment opportunities in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda.

Vincent Kouwenhoven: “It’s now time to invest in digital Africa. The penetration of (mobile) Internet is increasing rapidly. Furthermore a lot of enthusiastic and highly skilled young IT entrepreneurs are eager to start new digital businesses, but lack the right support and financial possibilities for growth.”

Brian Hirman: “I am convinced that there are major opportunities in Africa with regards to digital media and e-business. I have almost 20 years of experience in the international digital media and marketing business and I am excited to share this experience with talented African digital entrepreneurs.”