Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later

Re:Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later by nicpottier on Wednesday August 28, 2013 @12:36PM (#6291066)

No, no, that is the wrong takeaway! It is not a brave thing at all, that is the point I'm trying to get across. The end result may seem big, but it was from many small steps, no bigger than you are capable of. My advice, just take that first step, get involved in software taking place in the developing world, see what you can do to help. It's just a matter of small steps from there.

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Re:Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later by jacquesm on Wednesday August 28, 2013 @12:39PM (#6291081)

Right. But from where I'm sitting I see the end result of all your little steps and that end result blows me away. I know that you can do stuff like this (Emigrated to Canada, not exactly the developing world but you'd be surprised at the poverty there in some places, worked and lived there for 5 years to mixed effect).

The brave bit to me is to leave your comfort zone in such a decisive way. Feel free to disagree, I'll call you modest and brave ;)

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Re:Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later by nicpottier on Wednesday August 28, 2013 @02:36PM (#6291828)

Just do it! I really can't imagine regretting it, even if everything goes South.

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Re:Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later by jacquesm on Wednesday August 28, 2013 @04:10PM (#6292306)

Are you entertaining visitors? If so that's something that I just might do. Long term move is right now out of the question due to other commitments.

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Re:Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later by nicpottier on Wednesday August 28, 2013 @04:47PM (#6292543)

Hah, sure! shoot me an email (username @gmail) and we can talk. It isn't cheap flying here but you can definitely crash at mine.

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Re:Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later by jacquesm on Wednesday August 28, 2013 @05:13PM (#6292722)

Ok, mail sent.

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Re:Building a Software Company in Rwanda, 3 Years Later by kfk on Thursday August 29, 2013 @08:05AM (#6295347)

I agree that you guys are brave. I have been thinking of making an important step for a while now, basically moving into software development/startups from a finance/accounting job, and I just can't wrap my head around such a change. I lived in many places, so that is not my silver bullet, but gosh leaving my 9-5 life seems so risky.

How do you do it? What scares the hell out of me is the future. What happens if things go sour? How do I know I can actually be a good programmer or entrepreneur? How do I save up for my pension (I am 27, that might seem premature I know) if things go bad?

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