Local tech mediators - a human access point to global crowdfunding platforms

• Autores: Pietari Keskinen, Niina Arvila, Heike Winschiers-Theophilus, Anton Lungameni, Asnath Paula Kambunga, Roosa Laurikainen
• Localización: CoDesign: International Journal of CoCreation in Design and the Arts, ISSN 1571-0882, Vol. 18, Nº. 4, 2022, págs. 483-502
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Despite much criticism, global digital platforms hold some promise for small-scale entrepreneurs (SSEs) in the global south. However, they are often excluded from direct participation in global initiatives, such as crowdfunding. Besides socio-cultural disparities, accessibility and adoption issues, technology usage and integration present a major challenge. To bridge those gaps we propose a workable model consisting of a local tech mediator operating on a digital platform connecting local SSE to global digital services. We have engaged a group of informal settlement SSE in Windhoek, Namibia to jointly conceptualise the roles, tasks and responsibilities of a local tech mediator, concurrently with technical skills training as well as the development of an international crowdfunding campaign. We assert that the jointly developed concepts of a local instantiation of the model as well as the co-design process have enabled us to create model, which would allow the utilisation of global digital platforms for SSEs in the global south.