ABSTRACT
The recent development of smart cities in Africa has facilitated the integration of emerging technologies in developing more innovative solutions than ever before. These technologies include artificial intelligence/machine learning, quantum computing, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, blockchain, 5G, big data analytics and application programming interfaces, virtual reality/augmented reality and mixed reality, robotics and drones, clean technologies, and 3D printing. Emerging technologies create convergence and connectivity and facilitate an enabling ecosystem in developing Web 3.0 and Fourth Industry Revolution solutions whose outcome is optimum digital experience through digital transformation. A vast untapped and unexplored potential lies in leveraging emerging technologies to solve local challenges, which justify business cases and adequate technology. Many new technological solutions fail to transfer to the industry due to a number of barriers, ultimately stemming from the difficulty in maturing them through the demonstration and validation stage – a challenge alluded to by the term "Valley of Death." With the power of the open-source ecosystem, it is relatively easy for local startups to design, develop, and implement solutions beyond the “Valley of Death.” Despite all these advancements, startups need to adopt innovative design thinking methodologies or customer-centricity concepts and sustainable development goals. Due to shifts in technology and business, startup founders must be aware of the landscape of skills evolution and arm themselves with 21st-century emerging technical skills. Future-proof, sustainable, and innovative startups will need to ensure that the developed solutions facilitate liveability, efficiency, and safety, and are focused on environmental sustainability through the impact of sustainable computing in smart cities.
