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Insights & Analysis
News stories, hot takes and weekly breakdowns on tech, markets, and business across Africa, UK, and beyond.
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The Multi-Million Dollar Customer Everyone’s Too Scared to Call: Why Governments Are the Ultimate Startup Client (And How to Actually Sell to Them)
Let’s talk about the customer you’re ignoring. Not because they lack money—governments have bigger budgets than any enterprise client. You’re avoiding them because someone said it’s impossible. Too slow, too bureaucratic, too gate-kept. But here’s what nobody tells you: B2G is the last defensible moat in tech. While startups chase virality, governments sign multi-year contracts worth millions. Terra Industries raised $12 million for defense tech. Ozow bought a compliance company. They’re not chasing trends—they’re learning procurement. The question is: are you avoiding government contracts because they’re impossible, or because you haven’t learned the language yet?
When Ozow Buys RelyComply, It's Not Boring,It's a Warning Shot
You know what's not sexy? Compliance. You know what doesn't make for exciting headlines? Regulatory technology. You know what South African payment...
When Silicon Valley Finally Checks Its Voicemail from Africa
The Gates Foundation and OpenAI just launched a $50 million AI health initiative in Rwanda, while Africa's agrifood sector quietly transforms through digital innovation. But here's the catch: infrastructure gaps and policy shortfalls threaten to slow progress just as things get interesting. The real question isn't whether Silicon Valley is finally paying attention to Africa. It's whether you're building something that would work just as well in Lagos as it would in Los Angeles. Because if you're not, maybe you're solving the wrong problem.
Ethiopia Just Decided to Speedrun the Digital Revolution (And We Should All Be Paying Attention)
While most of us were figuring out New Year's resolutions, Ethiopia dropped a five-year digital strategy that's basically saying "We're doing AI, cybersecurity, and making sure everyone gets online, and we're starting yesterday." The Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy isn't just another government buzzword festival. It's prioritizing inclusive digital services right alongside AI and cybersecurity, recognizing that getting people online is easy but keeping them safe is where things get real. The real innovation isn't in having the most advanced technology. It's in making sure that technology actually works for everyone. So are you building for the future you want to see, or just the future that's easiest to imagine?
A Nigerian Startup Just Raised $12 Million to Build Drones, and Silicon Valley Is Suddenly Very Interested in African Defence Tech
A Nigerian startup just raised $12 million to build drones, and Silicon Valley is suddenly very interested in African defense tech. Terra Industries, based in Abuja, convinced Joe Lonsdale's 8VC to back their vision of autonomous systems designed for African security challenges. Long-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, uncrewed ground vehicles—all built by young Nigerian founders tackling problems that exist right now, not someday. If someone in Abuja can raise $12 million for defense tech, what sector is actually off-limits anymore?
Africa's Tech and AI Boom
Africa is entering a historic digital moment. Everywhere you turn you can feel the shift. More smartphones. More data being consumed. More AI tools being tested by both governments and startups. More data centres rising from Lagos to Nairobi to Johannesburg.
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