Venture Capital OP-ED: African Techâs Next Big ChallengeâMatching venture capital to realistic outcomes Misaligned funding models are stalling wins in African tech. Venture builder-turned-founder Sona Mahendra offers astute insights on aligning venture capital with scalable, sustainable growth.
This Is Connectivity OP-ED: From Couch to ConnectivityâBuilding a global network on a failed podcast A squawking Hadeda ibis, a faltering TV career and a failed podcast in Johannesburg became unlikely building blocks for global tech ecosystem connections.
Ecosystem OP-ED: WhatsApp's Global Dominance and Africa's Tech EvolutionâA 2024 reflection From WhatsApp eating the world to Ethiopian developers' quiet brilliance, Andile Masuku reflects on how big global tech and Africa's diverse tech cultures are reshaping our digital future.
Banking OP-ED: Beyond GrowthâBuilding digital banks that balance scale and sustainability Global shifts and regional demands are transforming neobanking, as African digital banks redefine success through delivering market-relevant financial services profitably and sustainably.
Ecosystem OP-ED: Systematic Strategies & DIY InnovationâShaking up market education in Africaâs startup investment scene A new generation of African VC professionals is reshaping ecosystem education through institutional strategy and individual innovation.
Telecoms OP-ED: Emergence Over ExtractionâWhat Africaâs telco sector teaches us about progress Andile Masuku taps Lanre Kolade's insights on patient collaboration, creative capital and ecosystem alignment behind landing Google's Equiano cable in Togo, sparking transformative regional broadband connectivity.
Digital Transformation OP-ED: Cameron John Walker AsksâIs Checkers sacrificing CX for efficiency? In Checkersâ aisles, online fulfilment staff hustle, but at what cost? Cameron John Walker unpacks South African retailâs commercial optimisation vs. customer experience dilemma.
Entrepreneurship OP-ED: African Tech Needs a New Entrepreneurship NarrativeâMoving beyond the 'genius founder' myth Oversimplification is the true enemy as Andile Masuku examines the complexities underlying popular myths in African tech entrepreneurship.
Venture Capital OP-ED: Secha Capitalâs Operator-Investor ModelâAn African VC alternative breaking the tech-first mould Amid Janngo Capital's oversubscribed final close and Techstarsâ abrupt exit from Lagos, Secha Capital champions South Africaâs traditional industries with a slow-burn, hands-on investment modelâreshaping venture capital norms.
Insurtech OP-ED: Britam's Director of Partnerships & Digital on 'Insurable Moments'âReimagining African healthcare access Andile Masuku distils Evah Kimani's insights on how Africa's traditional risk-sharing practices shape Britamâs growth strategy, striking a balance between institutional scale and grassroots innovation in insurance delivery.
Infrastructure OP-ED: Inside Safaricom EthiopiaâOvercoming terrain, 5G rollout and regulatory hurdles Andile Masuku distils key insights from Safaricom's $8 billion venture in Ethiopia, highlighting the challenges of building a new network, meeting unexpectedly high demand, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
Digital Transformation OP-ED: Empathy-Driven InnovationâDesign with me, not for me feat. Marcus Welby Rance Digital transformation specialist Marcus Welby Rance advocates for African governments to embrace citizen-centric design, emphasising empathy and co-creation to meet genuine needs and foster trust.
This Is Connectivity OP-ED: AI Meets Its MatchâHuman connection In the afterglow of the NOVACOM Africa 1-to-1 Telco Summit 2024, Andile Masuku notes that while AI continues to advance, the fundamentals of meaningful human interaction remain essential for long-term success.
Digital Transformation OP-ED: Patience and ProgressâThe elephant path to digital transformation Africaâs digital transformation mirrors the patient wisdom of African forest elephants. Andile Masuku unpacks lessons on long-term progress, sustainability and reshaping ecosystems meaningfully.
Venture Building OP-ED: Unpacking the challenges of asset-light models in Africa feat. Abderrahmane Chaoui Discover why popular "asset-light" business models, celebrated for their scalability, often falter in Africa's unique landscape, as Abderrahmane Chaoui shares his insightful analysis.
Fintech OP-ED: Is fintech truly advancing financial inclusionâor just reshuffling the deck? Andile Masuku offers a thoughtful critique on oversimplifying financial inclusion, urging deeper exploration of systemic issues beyond fintech innovations and product-driven solutions.
Climate OP-ED: Rethinking Africaâs climate finance future feat. Nchedolisa Akuma Nchedolisa Akuma tackles Africa's climate finance challenges, advocating for more assertive strategies to drive innovation and environmental resilience.
This Is Connectivity OP-ED: Unlocking InnovationâThe power of prioritising connectivity in your strategy Africa's innovation hinges on strategic, trust-based connectivity. Andile Masuku advocates for leaders to invest in continuous, intentional network-building.
Venture Building OP-ED: Inside Moroccoâs startup ecosystem with Salma Kabbaj Moroccan tech accelerator co-founder and CEO, Salma Kabbaj, offers a glimpse into the evolving startup landscape in Africa's fifth-largest economy.
Health Economics OP-ED: How health economics research is improving breast cancer care in South Africa Actuarial analyst turned health economist Sithabiso Masukuâs data-led research is driving more effective policy-making and the development of more efficient breast cancer care interventions in South Africa.
Impact Investing OP-ED: Impact InvestingâCan it really achieve social and financial goals? Industry experts weigh in on whether impact investing can truly bridge social good and commercial returns while avoiding past pitfalls of (foreign) aid.
Fintech OP-ED: Fact, Fiction and FintechâBehind the hype of Bitcoin and M-PESA Andile Masuku wades into the propaganda and conspiracy theories surrounding the origins of Bitcoin and M-PESA, uncovering how these groundbreaking technologies are influenced by myths, biases and special interests.
Fintech OP-ED: Philosophy to fintech for agro-processors feat. Ochich Magero Ochich Magero shares insights from his journey, evolving from philosopher to fintech founder, with a mission to transform financial inclusion for agro-processors across Africa.
Venture Capital OP-ED: How VC critiques are shaping tech investment in Africa As the continent's tech VC community leans into sustainable growth and impact-driven approaches, GPs face challenges in balancing long-term ambitions with immediate portfolio performance.
Mobile OP-ED: Evaluating Sub-Saharan Africa's mobile gender gap feat. Claire Sibthorpe Claire Sibthorpe unpacks GSMA's latest report, revealing that the mobile internet gender gap in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has decreased to 15%, with over 1.5 billion women now online.
