Building for Somalia: What We Learned Shipping Software in Mogadishu
Connectivity constraints, local workflows, and trust dynamics — lessons from our first enterprise deployment in Somalia.
Opening our Somalia office and shipping our first enterprise deployment in Mogadishu taught us more about building software than any classroom or conference could. Here's what we learned.
Design for Intermittent Connectivity
Connectivity in Mogadishu is improving, but it's not reliable. A web application that assumes a constant high-speed connection will fail. We rebuilt key workflows to be offline-tolerant — data syncs when connection is available, and users can keep working when it isn't. This wasn't an afterthought; it was a core architectural decision made in week one.
Trust Is Built Differently
In markets with less established software ecosystems, trust is built through relationships, not product demos. Our team spent time on the ground, meeting the client's team, understanding their environment, and being present. Remote-only delivery wouldn't have worked. The decision to have a physical presence in Mogadishu wasn't just a business decision — it was a trust decision.
Localisation Goes Deeper Than Language
Localisation isn't just about translating text. It's about understanding workflows, accounting practices, communication norms, and business hierarchies that differ from market to market. We learned to ask more questions and assume less. That shift made us better builders — not just for Somalia, but everywhere.
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