Venture Capital OP-ED: Why ‘Venture Capital’ in Africa Is a Misnomer—And what to do about it Africa’s startup funding landscape is often mislabelled as venture capital, but the reality is starkly different. It’s time for honest, context-driven investment models that truly fit.
Market Intelligence OP-ED: Awkward Investment Realities—The case for backing 'boring' business in Africa As African tech investments plateau, Balloon Ventures' $14 million SME portfolio reveals an uncomfortable truth: 'boring' traditional businesses might be outperforming venture-backed startups in real economic impact.
Impact Investing POD: Impact Theatre Check—Balloon Ventures' contrarian sensibilities to SME financing in East Africa Joshua Bicknell, co-founder of Balloon Ventures, discusses how the financial institution is challenging conventional investor logic by backing "boring businesses" to create sustainable employment in East Africa.
Impact Investing OP-ED: Impact Investing—Can 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.
