Interview, Fireside Chat, Podcast
a16z Podcast | Technology and the Opening of Myanmar
- Internews plans to launch the Myanmar Innovation Greenhouse, a physical space transitioning from international coaching to locally owned and run operations.
- The market is experiencing a connectivity revolution driven by four well-funded telcos and two new international entrants in the last eight weeks, with a third imminent.
- Smartphone adoption is accelerating as SIM card costs dropped from $250 to $1.50, positioning 51.4 million people to access the internet primarily via mobile devices for the first time.
- The government's regulatory decisions on mobile payments and money within the next few months are critical for determining if a flourishing tech ecosystem emerges.
- Independent media faces survival challenges regarding revenue generation and product distribution across a large country with poor infrastructure.
- The advertising market remains early-stage, potentially shifting toward a revenue model based on modest payments if payment systems gain traction quickly.
- Burmese developers face uncertainty regarding the ability to list apps on the Google Play Store or iTunes Store using a Burmese address, despite store availability.
- Public discourse may be constrained by continued government monitoring of the press, creating risks for free discussion of public issues.
- There is uncertainty regarding the success of innovation hubs in every country, as they require a strong pre-existing tech community and local ownership to replicate models like Nairobi's iHub, which has spun out over 50 startups.
- Cultural communication norms are shifting toward less formal expression as the population adjusts to new digital interactions.
- The company founded by A. Moe intends to continue donating to educational projects and aims to host an education-themed hackathon during the next visit.
- Viber is establishing a country representative to compete with existing platforms like WhatsApp, Line, and Skype.