Technology gaps aren’t stopping Navajo entrepreneurs

This article was written by Stacy Thacker for Change Labs and was republished with permission. Click the link below to read this article on Change Lab's website.

When Eddie Kaibetoney left for a Sunday walk, his internet was working great. When he returned shortly after, he noticed it was out. This is an all too common problem for Kaibetoney, who lives on the Navajo Nation. One day his internet works fine, and the next day it’s out and he has no idea when it will come back on.

Kaibetoney waited four months to have the internet installed in his home, but he knows that living on the Navajo Nation means limited services. Despite living on a plateau with a clear view of a cell phone tower seven miles away, he isn’t guaranteed reliable coverage.

However, Kaibetoney is counting on the internet to help him get his business idea off the ground. An experienced mechanic, he is planning to open a mobile oil change shop that would allow him to bring the oil change service to customers in Window Rock area on the Navajo Nation.

“You have to think outside the box,” he said about being an entrepreneur on the reservation. “We’re really limited out here.”

Kaibetoney said the Navajo Nation isn’t an ideal place to be an entrepreneur because of the lack of technology infrastructure. According to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, only 46% of households on tribal lands have basic broadband access. The rural nature and size of the Navajo reservation leaves many without access to the internet, cell phone services and even electricity.

For entrepreneurs like Kaibetoney, the internet is critical. He wants to create a website where people can book their oil changes a day or two in advance, giving him a competitive advantage. If the internet goes out, he counts on a mobile hotspot, but wants a more reliable solution for his business.

Bridging the technology gap

In Winter 2021, Change Labs helped Kaibetoney get setup with a new internet service through its technology and digital literacy program for members of its business incubator and lending programs. Funded by grants from LISC and the Better Business Bureau, the goal was to help Navajo business owners access the technology and training needed to support their businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo from Nez Technologics

Joe-Elliot Nez, owner of Nez Technologics, a Navajo-owned IT company, was a key program partner. He helped Kaibetoney, a member of Change Labs’ business incubator, find an internet provider with faster speeds.

To support Change Labs entrepreneurs, Nez distributed a technology assessment survey to understand their knowledge, skill, and comfort working with various software and technology devices. The survey included basic skills, like using email on a computer, to moderate and advanced skills, like using specialized marketing software, as well as internet speed tests.

“Some of them didn’t have internet at all and some did have other internet providers but it wasn’t providing them the efficiency they were needing,” Nez said.

Based on the results, Nez was able to identify and purchase equipment and software for 21 Navajo business owners and install and improve internet speeds for seven business owners. For some business owners, it was their first time getting access to critical business tools like Microsoft Office. For others, it was an opportunity to access equipment previously out of their price range, like specialized printers.

In addition to providing access to technology and installation support, the program also had Nez deliver digital literacy workshops for those who wanted extra help. The workshops quickly garnered more than 100 views on Change Labs’ YouTube channel.

Photo from Nez Technologics

Setting the stage for long-term solutions

Despite its achievement, the program had its own technical and logistical challenges. Nez says finding the right signal spot to make sure a system would work was difficult, because most Navajo homes are remote and if something were to go wrong, a quick fix requires more than 100 miles of driving. Similarly, Change Labs Executive Director, Heather Fleming shared that they were lucky to already have Nez in their network.

“Part of the problem of reliable internet service is that we don’t have enough Navajo-based IT service providers,” says Fleming. “We were lucky that Joe was available to partner with us. We need more Navajo IT shops supporting local businesses and schools around the reservation.”

Despite the challenges, both Nez and Fleming believe the program results were more than worth the effort.

“I felt like it was vital,” said Nez. “Especially where they were located and being on the reservation, living on the reservation, having that accessibility to the internet is pretty much vital for their company and business to be successful. They need to process payments and communicate with their clients and even have storage in the cloud. They’re more at a disadvantage than companies and businesses that are off the reservation in border towns.”

Nez said bringing access to the small businesses on and off the reservation is why he does what he does.

“I just wanted to provide my knowledge and skill to help,” he said.

While Kaibetoney still struggles with internet from time to time, it’s an improvement. He, along with other members of Change Labs business incubator, was able to join online workshops, attend Zoom meetings with his Change Labs business coach, and successfully graduate from the program. In addition, Kaibetoney now has Nez to text for help when the internet goes out. But most importantly, he knows that the technology gaps he needs to bridge in order to achieve his business goals are being filled by a fellow Navajo business owner who believes in Kaibetoney’s success, and the success of other entrepreneurs on the reservation.