This document summarizes a panel discussion on opportunities for tech startups in Africa. It includes pitches from startups in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Belgium, and Belgium. The document then discusses challenges and opportunities for startups in Africa, focusing on the need to understand differences between countries and target hubs like South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Senegal. It notes opportunities in fintech and the potential of addressing the large unbanked population. The final section discusses pillars of entrepreneurship in Africa, emphasizing agility, understanding the market, accepting risk and change, and having a backup plan.
1. 1. King Baudouin Foundation - African Development Prize, by Hervé Lisoir
2. BetaGroup asbl by Julie Cruyt
1. « Africa & Belgium : sharing common challenges?» By Khadijat Abdulkadir
« How mature is the African Market & what are the opportunities? » By Tonee Ndungu
1. Startups’ pitches
- Kytabu (Kenya), Tonee Ndungu
- BarefootLaw (Uganda), Gerald Abila
- FarmerLine (Ghana),Alloysius Attah
- eWala.co (Belgium), Stephane Ugeux
- Be You & Shop (Belgium), Umba Junior Tandu
Live Tweets
Networking drinks
BetaGroup @BetaGroup Betagroup
@KB_PrizeKing Baudouin Foundation
2. You can learn some entrepreneurial skills, but the entrepreneuria
cannot be taught.
~Ludwick Marishane
3. Quickly About Me ;)
• BSC. Environmental Engineering and
Anthropology
• Masters in Business Engineering and
Management Science.
• Software Technical Engineer. Specialized in SAP
ERP Implementations/configurations.
• Previous experience- CareFusion, Accenture and
Microsoft
• Currently consultant with Apside Belgium and
fulltime entrepreneur!
• Founder and CEO of Digital African Woman and
EAmi Global solutions
• Country Manger and alliance member Startup
Europe Belgium
• Executive Board of G20 YEA and ELEDF- among
others
• Business Dev Vice president Europe @
Gebeya.com
4. The
Challenge
! Africa is
a
Continen
t- over
53
countries
.
As a continent of almost a billion people living
in 54 countries spread across the world's
second largest continental land mass, one can
not simply assume that there is any kind of
uniformity or consistency from region to
region, nor country to country. While I believe
Africa is ripe for tech businesses to thrive,
startups need to be based in certain key areas
to access the skill set, funding, infrastructure,
tech, support and other resources needed to
see their startup through to fruition.
The most notable of these hubs are located in
South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya
and Senegal. Outside of these countries,
most tech startups are going to struggle to
gain traction.
5. Myth VS Reality
WHAT WE THINK ABOUT AFRICA
1. They are full of needy people ☹ -
FALSE!
2. You must only do business if its social!
FALSE! (We love making money) ☺
3. They live in the slumps! FALSE
4. South Africa is the only business
interest (Debatable)
5. They need aid ☹ FALSE! –
WHAT THE CONTINENT
REALLY HAS!
1. HIGHLY INNOVATIVE & BOLD
ENTREPRENEURS
6. SUCCESS IN AFRICA
STATUP MARKET
(NOTE: This is by no means implying
Africa is the same. But as a general rule and
convenience I refer to Africa)
• LOW OVER HEAD
• A HACKER ETHOS!
WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW
• ACCESS TO FUNDING
• FEWER RESTRICTIONS
• FEWER LEGACY
TECHNOLOGIES
• AN EMERGING ECONOMY
• FAVOURABLE EXCHNAGE
RATES
• HUNGER!!
7. • What's interesting for you!
• FINTECH startups attract 29.6 per cent of total
investments over the course of a year. Only
second to solar with(over 30%)
• Research by KPMG and CB Insights found 2015
was a record year for investment in fintech
startups, with US$19.1 billion invested globally.
(Disrupt Africa 2017)
8. • What's interesting for you!
• Traditional banking has failed on the continent, with 330
million adults, around 80 per cent of the continent’s
population, lacking access to formal financial services.
That’s a huge gap that fintech startups can fill with
innovative solutions.
• M-Pesa (Kenya) has been a huge success, with transactions
reaching US$656 million in 2014 and projected to double
over the course of the next four years. (Disrupt Africa 2017)
9. • Understanding the African ecosystem is not a simple matter.
• It is as complex as the different languages spoken in each
country
• Working in any part of the continent can be a fun and
rewarding experience. However, the most important thing
to keep in mind generally is that your plan A-Y will likely
fail
• KEEP Z handy.
10. Pillars of ENREPRENEURSHIP- AFRICA
BE READY FOR
SHOCK AND
CHANGE
BE AGILE-
ADAPT
QUICKLY
ZED IS A
CHARM!
BE
DYNAMIC
UNDERSTAND YOUR
MARKET
BE SMART!!
RISK AVERSION=
(NO NO)
ACCEPT CHOASCLEAR
EXPECTATIONS
FEEL FEAR!
UNDERSTAND
HUNGER
BE A RISK
TAKER &
TRUE
ENTREPRENUE
R
