KenyaBuzz is a leading provider of event and lifestyle information in Kenya. It has a website, magazine and e-newsletters, and provides the most comprehensive information about what’s happening around the country in sports, nightlife, music, theatre, movies, the arts, kids’ events and more. It also provides business listings, movie reviews and updates, buy and sell information and a wide range of lifestyle information.
Alix Grubel, is the founder of Kenyabuzz. Ms Grubel had been in Nairobi for 10 years at that point in 2007 and was tired of reading about all the great events that happened the previous weekend in the Monday newspaper. So, she decided to launch a website that would compile all that information so people could find out about events before they happened. She was later joined by Marta Gloserova as a partner, who has since moved back to Europe.
Ms Grubel, the former public health specialist at USAID, said in an interview published by Techmoran in 2013 that the beginning was humble but the future is great. How prediction has come to pass with the acquisition of KenyaBuzz by Nation Media Group, Kenya’s leading media house.
When was KenyaBuzz launched and where?
In 2007 on my dining room table in Nairobi (yes, we struggled along for a couple of years before the fiber optic cables).
What problem do you solve?
Knowing what events are happening, what movies are playing, what restaurants to go to and so much more.
Related >> Why NMG is buying KenyaBuzz
Why events? There is health, education etc.
This was a personal decision based on my frustration described above. But also, I wanted to promote the arts in Kenya. So, I made listing events free so that every artist, photographer, musician or anyone else, big or small, could afford to advertise their events to a large audience and I think KenyaBuzz has succeeded in helping to develop a vibrant arts scene in Kenya. Also, we launched a movies newsletter early 2012 and it’s amazing to see the movie industry growing and attracting interest and we are really proud to support that.
How many users so far so far?
Website has 63,000 visits per month and is the now the 14th biggest Kenyan website (Currently Alexa.com ranks it 635 in Kenya)
What is your business model?
All free listings. Paid advertising.
Any competition in Kenya?
Yes, but there is enough audience for all and nobody is very similar.
Any funding yet?
A Tandaa grant from the ICT board to develop our app (received in 2010).
Challenges?
SO MANY! Never enough money. Never had any money for marketing. All the problems associated with running a website before the fiber optic cables and when telecoms were super expensive. Using Joomla, being hacked. Being on the wrong servers – slow, expensive, bad security and bad service. Trouble getting good developers. Then getting good work out of them in good time.
Could literally talk your ear off here. Name a problem and we have had it!!!
Any upcoming developments, like this month, next month or in a few months?
Yes, we have an app out and more exciting versions of the app to be delivered by Sept 2013.
FYI, we have a website, two e-newsletters (events and movies), a monthly newspaper, and now our app.
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