Afridigest

Afridigest provides in-depth analysis and insights into Africa's tech ecosystem, focusing on fintech trends, startup culture, and investment activities. It covers significant events like funding rounds, strategic moves by major companies, and the evolving landscape of startups across the continent, aiming to inform founders, investors, and executives.

Fintech Trends Startup Culture Investment Activities Corporate Strategy Market Analysis Digital Transformation Economic Impact

The hottest Substack posts of Afridigest

And their main takeaways

Is focus a luxury African startups can't afford?

23 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
💼 Business Startups Finance Investing Entrepreneurship Technology
  1. African startups often diversify their services early, which may be driven by limited market options or investor demands. This means they can't always concentrate on one area.
  2. The reasons for expanding services can be both opportunity-based and necessity-based. Sometimes, businesses need to adapt due to market constraints rather than just chasing new opportunities.
  3. Determining how closely related new services are to existing ones can be tricky. The distance from a startup's core business affects its growth strategy.

Sometimes you have to slow down to speed up

63 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Media Health Innovation Community
  1. Slowing down can actually help you make better decisions in the long run. Taking a pause gives you time to reflect and avoid mistakes.
  2. Health challenges can lead to new perspectives and changes in plans. Overcoming such experiences can open doors to new opportunities.
  3. Creating a community and collaborating with others can enhance your projects. Listening to feedback helps improve your work and connect with your audience.

Afridigest Intelligence: The era of E2E expansion is here

15 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Market Trends Startups Acquisitions
  1. Companies are shifting from a pan-African strategy to an emerging market-to-emerging market (E2E) strategy. This means they focus on expanding into other developing markets instead of just neighboring African countries.
  2. Recent examples show African companies entering markets in Mexico, the Philippines, and Brazil through acquisitions and partnerships. This demonstrates increasing global ambitions for African entrepreneurs.
  3. To succeed in building large businesses, it's important for African startups to adopt a multi-country mindset right from the beginning. This approach can help them tap into new opportunities effectively.

The top Africa Tech stories of 2024

39 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Tech news Startups Innovation Investing Market Trends
  1. 2024 highlighted important tech trends in Africa. Many startups grew and changed how people work and live.
  2. Investment in technology increased, showing that people believe in Africa's potential. This support could help build a strong tech ecosystem.
  3. Looking back, the stories shared valuable insights for future growth. They set the stage for exciting developments in 2025.

Afridigest Intelligence: Nigeria's Bamboo acquires a US broker-dealer license

11 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Fintech Investing Startups Operations Regulations
  1. Bamboo, a Nigerian investment platform, recently got a US broker-dealer license. This is an important step for their growth and credibility in the market.
  2. The license will allow Bamboo to operate more effectively in the US financial space, which can help attract more investors.
  3. This achievement reflects the hard work of the Bamboo team and shows the potential of African fintech companies in the global market.
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Going cashless in Nigeria: How startups are digitizing payments in the country's trickiest verticals

15 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
💼 Business Payments Fintech Economics Startups
  1. Nigeria is a leading fintech hub in Africa, receiving a significant amount of funding in the sector since 2022.
  2. Despite fintech activity, cash remains prevalent in Nigeria, especially in everyday transactions like public transportation, informal economy vendors, and fuel purchases.
  3. Startups in Nigeria are innovating to overcome challenges in digitizing payments in tricky sectors, offering solutions like digital payment systems for transportation, mobile money for informal vendors, and e-wallets for fuel payments.

The complete list of African unicorns today

31 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
  1. The post discusses the complete list of African unicorns in the tech ecosystem.
  2. It provides a clear explanation of what 'unicorns' are.
  3. The article highlights seven African tech unicorns of today.

Exclusive: The economics of Jumia Food exposed for the first time

7 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Tech Finance Food & Drink Economics Investment
  1. The post explores the financial dynamics of Jumia Food, revealing insights into its performance and challenges.
  2. It highlights the shutdown of Jumia Food and the impacts on Jumia's financial results, shedding light on the tough economics of the food delivery business.
  3. The historical adjustments made by Jumia offer an opportunity to study the financial performance of Jumia Food separately, emphasizing the competitive and challenging nature of the industry.

Afridigest Fintech Review: FairMoney's 'unfair' offer to buy Umba

7 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Nigerian neobank FairMoney made an offer to buy Umba, which includes a healthy premium.
  2. The South African Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group is examining stablecoin use cases and might respond with regulations this year.
  3. Nigerian governmental authorities have temporarily blocked access to global crypto exchanges to combat the rapid depreciation of the Nigeria naira.

Follow the value: How to sanity check startup ideas

7 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💼 Business Startup Ideas Value Creation Entrepreneurship
  1. Value creation is crucial for business success - make things that people want to create value.
  2. Many startups fail because they do not provide value to their customers, leading to issues like market need, product-market fit, and market adoption.
  3. Avoid the mistake of building something only based on what you think users want - ensure that your startup idea plausibly creates value.

Afridigest Fintech Review: On boldness, Brass, and Binance

3 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
💼 Business Fintech Africa Finance
  1. One fintech financing transaction and two fintech M&A deals were announced, showcasing growth and activity in the African fintech space.
  2. Significant news of the week included M-Pesa celebrating 17 years, Binance stopping Naira services, Lemfi's move to China, and Flutterwave streamlining its product offerings, indicating shifts and changes in the industry.
  3. Key companies and executives highlighted in this Fintech Review include Binance, M-Pesa, Brass, Flutterwave, Interswitch, Mastercard, and more, offering insights into the major players and leaders shaping the African fintech landscape.

Afridigest Week in Review: Jumia's year of transformation

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Market Update Executives
  1. Afridigest provides updates on tech in Africa, focusing on organizations like Jumia and executives in the industry.
  2. The Week in Review discusses notable organizations such as BII, EdVentures, Flutterwave, and others, as well as key executives like Jumia's Francis Dufay and TLCom Capital's Eloho Omame.
  3. Subscribers are encouraged to sign up for a Lagos meetup and certain content requires a subscription for access.

Afridigest Fintech Review: Carbon captures Vella to bring about business banking breakthrough

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Fintech Banking Investments Mergers & Acquisitions Market Update
  1. Two fintech financing transactions and two M&A deals were announced recently in the African fintech scene.
  2. Tunisia joined the Pan African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS), becoming the thirteenth central bank member and the first from North Africa.
  3. Notable companies like Carbon, Vella Finance, Flutterwave, and executives from various fintech organizations were highlighted in the Fintech Review.

The inaugural Africa Fintech Market Update: January 2024

0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investment Trends
  1. The inaugural Africa Fintech Market Update report provides a monthly overview of key fintech developments across the continent, making it easier for followers to stay informed.
  2. In January 2024, eleven Africa-focused fintech startups collectively raised $25 million, showcasing continued investment trends in the sector.
  3. Notable highlights include Nigerian neobank Kuda's impressive customer base growth and South Africa's Ukheshe leveraging an acquisition to expand its market reach.

Afridigest Week in Review: What's happening at Gro Intelligence?

0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
💼 Business Tech Africa
  1. Afridigest Week in Review provides insights on organizations and executives in Africa's tech industry like Gro Intelligence, Jumia, Moove, Umba, and more.
  2. The Week in Review mentions notable executives such as the CEO of Tingo, Marketforce, Moove, Nigeria's minister of digital economy, and others.
  3. The content is aimed at keeping readers informed about recent developments and key players in the African tech ecosystem.

Afridigest Week in Review: Africa to the world

0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Tech Payments Startups Investors Economics
  1. Afridigest provides a Week in Review focusing on Africa tech, sharing exclusive reports on Jumia Food and startups digitizing payments in Nigeria.
  2. The Afridigest Week in Review highlights organizations like Partech, Gro Intelligence, and executives like Cyril Collon, Tayo Oviosu, and others.
  3. The content is curated for paid subscribers, offering in-depth insights into the African tech ecosystem.