How to Build a Digital Nation in 4 Phases

✨ Hi, I’m Sara, host of the Polyweb podcast. On the show, we explore how we can find meaning in the Technology Era. Join conversations with global tech leaders and entrepreneurs, navigating the intersection of business, life, and technology.

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For decades, we've built companies, communities, currencies, and more online. So why not reimagine and build new nations? And can you create a digital country in the same way you build a product?

I am incredibly excited to share this interview with Eche Emole, the founder of Afropolitan - the first digital country designed to empower Africans to lead abundant lives.

Think of Afropolitan as a borderless nation rooted in the internet, built around shared values and interests, transcending physical proximity.

Or as Eche describes it " a combination of Estonia's e - residency program, Amazon Prime, and financial services all intertwined in one."

During the episode, we explore the implications of building a digital nation, challenging the status quo, and discuss the four critical phases of developing a digital country:

1. Building a Network

2. Society as a Service

3. Minimum Viable State

4. Foundation and Land

I won't lie; this episode inspired me to dream and hope. We have the opportunity to create fluid, opt-in nations, unbound by geography or legacy systems. We could revolutionize government services, economics, civil liberties, and more for the digital age. The possibilities are truly limitless.

Key Takeaways:

• Eche was inspired to start Afropolitan, a digital nation for Africans, after reading an article about network states and realizing no African country was formed through "reflection and choice."

• Afropolitan aims to create a borderless, internet-based nation organized around shared values rather than geographic boundaries or ethnicity.

• Creating a digital nation (also known as a Network State) has 4 phases:

  1. Building a Network: Creating a private network of top talent from Africa and its diaspora, and seeding this network with Afropolitan passports.

  2. Society as a Service: Developing an app or platform to power this digital nation and facilitate its digital economy, known as Afropass.

  3. Minimum Viable State: Building credibility to be viewed as a country, including gaining recognition from other nations and providing visa-on-arrival services in several African countries.

  4. Foundation and Land: Innovating on the concept of sovereign territory, akin to combining elements of Chinatowns and embassies, to create 'Afrotowns' globally.

• Afropolitan leverages blockchain, crypto, and decentralized models as part of creating a "society as a service" - a nation run efficiently like an online platform.

• Differences and parallels between building a product and building a country

• Implementing a meticulous selection process for community members, ensuring alignment with the digital nation's vision and values.

• Embrace Long-Term Planning: Prioritize sustainability and long-term impact in your projects, focusing on strategies that ensure longevity and continuous growth.

• Eche believes good governance today should combine corporate efficiency with some necessary inefficiency, valuing transparency but also some privacy.

• The goal is to imagine a new future for Africans rather than fighting over the past or status quo.

About Eche Emole:

Eche is the co-founder of Afropolitan. With over 10 years of experience building communities within the African Diaspora, Eche has a passion for fostering connections and driving progress within the continent. Prior to Afropolitan, Eche was an executive at Flutterwave Inc., a payment technology company that helps banks and businesses provide secure payment experiences for customers in Africa and around the world. With his expertise and vision, Eche is leading the charge to elevate and support the voices and talents of the Afropolitan network.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:47 Eche introduces himself and the mission of Afropolitan

02:54 The origins and evolution of Afropolitan, from event organization to a digital nation

04:28 The concept of a network state and its potential for Africans

09:21 Eche's personal motivations for creating Afropolitan

13:03 Explaining the network state and its distinct features

17:24 The significance of digital governance and financial freedom in a network state

22:43 Steps taken from the inception of Afropolitan to its current phase

29:00 Analyzing Afropolitan through philosophical and product development lenses

39:21 The application process for Afropolitan citizenship and its criteria

52:00 - Personal growth and reassessment during COVID-19.

54:32 - Influence of Naval Ravikant's book on Afropolitan's philosophy.

57:07 - Abundance mindset and long-term thinking in Afropolitan's foundation.

59:22 - Screening process for Afropolitan citizenship.

1:01:45 - Time dedication and LinkedIn profile as part of the application process.

1:04:00 - Discussing ambition and aspirations of the African diaspora.

1:06:28 - Role of community in shaping Afropolitan's culture and values.

1:08:53 - Initial steps after deciding to build Afropolitan.

1:11:20 - Challenges in product development and lessons learned.

1:13:35 - Aligning philosophical and product development perspectives.

1:15:50 - Personal experiences influencing Afropolitan's approach.

1:18:05 - Community feedback in Afropolitan's evolution.

1:20:30 - Complexities and aspirations of building a digital nation.

1:20:30 - Discussion on the importance of a culture book for Afropolitan before a constitution.

1:23:22 - The strategy and philosophy behind Afropass, focusing on UI/UX and community engagement.

1:27:37 - Phase three of Afropolitan's plan: minimum viable state and its components.

1:33:40 - The need for a balance between government efficiency and inefficiency.

1:38:09 - Philosophical considerations in nation-building and the role of transparency.

1:43:08 - The parallels and differences between building products, communities, and nations.

1:48:19 - Final thoughts on the importance of fostering a community focused on positive, forward-thinking ideas.

Resources:

👉 CHECK OUT AFROPOLITAN: https://www.afropolitan.io/

MANIFESTO - https://www.afropolitan.io/manifesto

DISCOVER AFROPASS- https://www.afropass.io/

TWITTER- https://twitter.com/afropolitan?lang=en

IG- https://instagram.com/afropolitannation?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

PRESS: https://youtu.be/St6AGIqxO1o

📚 OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Eric Jorgenson - The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness: https://amzn.to/3SEy5aK

Charter Cities and Network States: an Introduction to the Nations of the Future with Niklas Anzinger: https://youtu.be/4RVNVWr81d8?si=XYRrEvKBWOIFbh0b

The no-BS explanation of NFT and Web3: https://youtu.be/kE0ap2SogSU?si=XIOo328Az_N33hQZ

Balaji Srinivasan - The Network State https://thenetworkstate.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH SARA:

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🪢 ABOUT POLYWEB:

Polyweb navigates through the intricate nexus of technology, product innovation, and human creativity. Engage with leading entrepreneurs and experts in uncovering how we can forge impactful companies and lead lives enriched with purpose in the Technology Era.

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