Erik Hersman

I was really glad to get this email from TED about their new TED Fellows program, especially because I saw many friends and tech innovators working in Africa among the first group of 40 TED Fellows. Wonderful things are indeed emerging from Africa! Congratulations, friends!

Intriguingly, there is an open application process to join so anybody between 21-40 years old, even you, can apply!

Here are the TED Fellows working in Africa that I already know and  admire: 

• Bola Olabisi: Founder of Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network; Nigeria/U.K. 
• Erik Hersman: Cofounder of Ushahidi.com -- a site providing online visualization of conflict areas; blogger for Afrigadget.com and White African; organizer, Maker Faire Africa. Kenya/U.S.
• Joshua Wanyama: Founder of Pamoja Media -- the first African online advertising network; founder of African Path -- an African Huffington Post. Kenya/U.S.
• Katrin Verclas: Mobile trends analyst and founder of Mobileactive.org -- a global network of people using mobile technology for social impact. U.S. (not focussed on Africa but mobileactive.org is still very influential in Africa)

And here are the fellows working in Africa that I don't know (yet) but look forward to learning about: 

• Gerry Douglas: Founder of Baobab Health -- an NGO creating eHealth systems to address health care crises in the developing world with particular emphasis on HIV care and treatment. Malawi/U.S.
• Juliana Rotich: Cofounder of Ushahidi.com -- a site providing online visualization of conflict areas; blogger, Environmental Editor of GlobalVoices. Kenya/U.S.
• Patrick Awuah: Founder and President of Ashesi University. Ghana
• Rye Barcott: Marine Corps Captain; Founder of Carolina for Kibera; Student, Harvard Busines School/Harvard Kennedy School. Kenya/U.S.
• Sheila Ochugboju: Operational Director of Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network; science educator. Nigeria/U.K.