Listen to this articleBelow is our recent interview with Nalumbikya Mgana, CEO and Founder at SENN Software:
Q: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to SENN Software?
A: Sure! Initially we started off making mobile apps at SENN Software and that was a great experience. Then we started becoming more and more interested in OTT/streaming technology so we shifted over to smart TV development, which wasn’t too difficult a transition considering our background in mobile development.
So now we are in this amazing world of OTT which stands for ‘over-the-top’. That basically means that we make it possible for media such as video content (film, TV, etc) or audio content (podcasts, audio streaming, radio) to be distributed over the internet to smart TVs so audiences can view or hear that content.
The interesting thing about OTT is that it allows media content to bypass traditional cable providers and pay TV providers, so now literally anyone can have their own ‘channel’ on a smart TV, whether they are a network, a studio, or even someone’s aunt.
Q: Tell us something more about your background. How did you get the idea for SENN Software?
A: After University I ended up going to an Institute of Technology on the west coast, specializing in Client-Server programming. While in my final year I was approached by a friend of a friend who was looking for someone to develop an Android app, and looking back at it now it seems that first app was appropriate to what I do now because that app also involved video content.
But yes, that’s essentially when SENN Software was born, from making that first Android app.
Q: Why is now the time for a technology solution like SENN Software?
A: The barrier for entry has been significantly lowered for original rights holders to distribute their products, so in that sense using OTT technology has immense potential in delivering content to a larger market. And that’s where we come in, providing the ability to distribute that content.
With the ongoing trend of cord-cutting, people are signaling that they are looking for content that is more in line with their own needs, so whether it is a certain lifestyle, hobby, or even entertainment preference, the shift seems to be trending away from the established traditional cable/broadcast provider and heading to a place where content can be accessed by a broader audience.
OTT essentially provides opportunities to get into larger markets.
Q: What makes you stand out from your competition?
A: Two things. The first is design. We are absolutely crazy about design here; to me it is very important that a product not only has a certain look to it that surpasses anything that is out there, but also has a user experience flow that just makes sense on every level.
I know I have been caught in some apps where I have had to guess where to go next, and it wasn’t a great experience at all! So at SENN Software, we make it a priority that both the aesthetics of the product and the user experience are second to none. Yes, I’m a fan of Jonathan Ive.
The other thing involves customer satisfaction. This is an area in which we strive for excellence, whether that is the client we provide the container for, or whether it is the end user’s engagement experience. With OTT new technologies are constantly emerging, such as video compression standards or video resolution, that permit content to be delivered to end users not only more rapidly but also achieving the highest quality possible, so for us it is imperative that these technologies end up enhancing the client’s product and the consumer’s experience.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: It’s interesting because at the moment we are in the process of collaborating with a local creative group to come up with a platform to showcase dynamic, diverse content – essentially where a person of color is not only being represented positively on screen, but is also the lead.
I believe in a better, more inclusive world and I think it is important to have this sort of content available because as it is currently, people of color and women are massively underrepresented, so we are trying to work on that.
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