State of Play Report Web Version

STATE OF PLAY
A review of the leading technology

2017
ecosystems and opportunities
across Africa
ECOSYSTEM SCAN
STATE OF PLAY
A review of the leading technology ecosystems
and opportunities across Africa
State of Play is an ecosystem publication by the African Technology Foundation under the
Lions@frica Partnership, an initiative of the Oce of Global Partnerships at the U.S.
Department of State.
LIONS@FRICA (Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations) is a partnership program that

seeks to mobilize the knowledge, expertise, and resources of leading public and private
institutions to strengthen and deepen Africas innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The program provides African entrepreneurs with access to capital, enhanced capacity-
building, as well as greater connectivity and credibility in the global marketplace.
Visit the State of Play page at www.africa.co/stateofplay
Lions@frica Copyright 2017 by the African Technology Foundation.

All rights reserved.
www.africa.co/stateofplay StateOfPlay 01
Investment | Innovation | Internalization
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CONTENTS
Preface 3 SECTION II: REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM SCANS 31

Acknowledgments 5 2.1: The Northern Africa Region 32
Partners 6 2.2: The Eastern Africa Region 43
Contributors 7 2.3: The Southern Africa Region 52
Overview 9 2.4: The Western Africa Region 61
SECTION I: EVALUATING AFRICAS TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEMS 14 SECTION III: INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT 71
1.1: The infrastructure divide Is Africa ready for change? 16 3.1: Silicon Valley: The Africa Connection 73
1.2: A mobile rst continent Telcos as ecosystem catalysts 19 SUMMARY 84
1.3: Talent is universal Bridging Africas talent gap. 22 REFERENCES 86
1.4: Made in Africa Localizing design and manufacturing 25
1.5: The anatomy of venture deals in Africa - Opportunities and risks 28
PREFACE
Stephen Ozoigbo
CEO
African Technology Foundation
Across a variety of sources, recent data on African goods and services, and consumption patterns are evolving
entrepreneurial ecosystems have presented an impressive and all over the continent. The last of these forces is the
aspirational picture of the new Africa, and catalyzed a myriad of burgeoning pan-African startup investment ecosystem.
economic diversication activities on the continent. There are a While there are now a considerable number of foreign
number of platforms, initiatives and publications that represent investments in African ventures than ever before, the
the interests of the African entrepreneurial ecosystem, and on venture capital ecosystem still requires a lot of work to
behalf of Lions@frica, we are glad to add our voice to the successfully attract local investors and venture catalysts
broader narrative through this State of Play report. across all tiers of funding, and ultimately transact on a
global stage.
This publication represents an aggregation of data and research
from a variety of sources. It provides a regional and sectorial Africas entrepreneurial ecosystems have seen an upward
assessment of the leading entrepreneurial ecosystems on the tick in investments, innovation and internationalization over
continent, as well as industry perspectives oered through a the last few years. From Nairobi to Capetown, Lagos to
selected network of specialists that have authored sector Rabat, through the nancial networks of London and Paris,
specic essays as contributors. and unto the innovation mecca that is Silicon Valley, African
business ventures have slowly inuenced the globalization
The Report begins with an analysis of four of the economic
narrative and broadened the scope of direct investment
forces that are shaping the continents entrepreneurial future.
opportunities into the region. This report highlights some of
The rst of these is infrastructure. Africas infrastructure
these transactions and celebrates the notable successes.
readiness for 21st century engagements remains a critical
concern for investors, innovators and the continents evolving We are grateful to all our sta, researchers, sector
citizenry. The second force is the continents talent gap. Africa specialists and partners that have contributed to this report.
has over a billion people, and the median age in most countries Special thanks goes to Helen Anatogu, Lianne DuToit,
is below 24. Productivity has grown by 3% annually from 2007 Kwame Osei and Samuel Gicharu for their regional
to 2017, but skilled human resources and human capital contributions. We also thank our wonderful group of sector
management processes remain major constraints for the next specialists, who authored the opinion pieces within the
generation of African entrepreneurs who need to ll the talent report, and joined the movement to highlight the immense
gap. The third force is the proliferation of mobile and internet opportunities on the continent. Africa is open for business.
penetration. Data available from the Economist Intelligence Africas time is now. The continent is thriving, and young
Unit estimates that there are 600 million mobile phone users, entrepreneurs are reinventing Africas future one venture
and 345 million people with access to the internet. With at a time.
increased digitization, there is a growing appetite for digital
AFRICA POPULATION OVER MEDIAN AGE BELOW ANNUAL PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
1B 24 3%
B: BILLION YEARS FROM 2007 - 2017
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Constance Tzioumis
Director of Partnerships
Secretarys Oce of Global Partnerships
U.S. Department of State
Technology and innovation. We cant seem to escape these program provides African entrepreneurs with access to
two words, especially in todays world where were capital, enhanced capacity-building, as well as greater
enveloped in the internet, mobile phones, and the soon-to- connectivity and credibility in the global marketplace.
be reality of self-driving cars not to mention the quickly
evolving research around clean energy, space exploration, In the last ve years, LIONS@FRICA launched DEMO
human health and education. It wasnt too long ago that the AFRICA, its agship partnership that has touched over 3,000
act of owning a mobile phone was considered a luxury in African start-ups, showcasing and incubating nearly 200 of
developed countries. the best and brightest from the African start-up scene.
Through the LIONS@FRICA Innovation Tour organized by
But in 2017, technology and innovation enables farmers in the African Technology Foundation (ATF) in Silicon Valley,
rural areas to text each other about diseases threatening California, these start-ups are given exposure to world-class
their crops, allows healthcare workers to analyze data in networks, mentorship, possible funding opportunities, and
real-time to determine where dangerous outbreaks are global markets. And through our support of the launch of
occurring, and gives all people access to modern tools, investor networks like ABAN (African Business Angels
better enabling them to solve local, regional, and global Network) and afriCoderDojo, which is working to cultivate
challenges. the next generation of African coders and tech
entrepreneurs, the LIONS@FRICA partnership is on the
And nowhere is this happening more quickly than in Africa. leading edge of deepening Africas impact through
With faster growth in internet usage over the past decade technology and innovation.
than in any other continent in the world, and unique mobile
subscriptions projected to rise to nearly three-quarters of a The beauty of modern technology rests in its ability to
billion by the end of 2020, its no wonder that the African increasingly democratize access to information; keep people
technology and innovation ecosystem is making its mark on connected; and lower barriers to entry for new forms of
the world. For this reason, in 2012, the U.S. Department of entrepreneurship, social impact, and innovation. And as
States Oce of Global Partnerships, together with LIONS@FRICA looks to the future, we seek to foster new
founding partners such as Microsoft and DEMO AFRICA, and creative partnerships that embolden and empower
launched LIONS@FRICA (Liberalizing Innovation individuals, communities, and African innovation in an ever-
Opportunity Nations). A partnership program that seeks to increasingly tech-driven world.
mobilize the knowledge, expertise, and resources of leading
public and private institutions to strengthen and deepen
Africas innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The
MOBILE SUBSCRIPTION RISE TO LIONS@FRICA TOUCHED OVER LIONS@FRICA INCUBATED
.75B 3K 200
BY END OF 2020 / B: BILLION AFRICAN STARTUPS IN 5 YEARS AFRICAN STARTUPS IN 5 YEARS
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Harry Hare
Executive Director
DEMO Africa
It has been said in some quarters that Africa cannot

innovate itself out of its own problems. A statement that
attracted both praise and criticism in equal measure. It is a
known fact that Africa faces many challenges, but my view is
that all these challenges provide entrepreneurial greeneld
opportunities that the continents technologists and
innovators are now exploring more than ever before, and
investors are taking note. This report highlights some of
these opportunities and celebrates a number of uniquely
African innovations.
When we started running DEMO Africa ve years ago, we

knew that there was enough talent and opportunity to
innovate around the challenges that Africa faces, and create
big technology businesses that would in turn create wealth,
contribute to the continents economic renaissance, create
meaningful employment opportunities to the continents
youthful population, and improve lives. This vision is true
today as it was ve years ago. We have witnessed rst-hand
African entrepreneurs building businesses that are making
their mark at the global stage and attracting attention from
some of the largest venture capital rms in Europe and the
United States. From ShopSoko in Nairobi to SpacePointe in
Lagos to TracBytes in Cairo and GoMetro in CapeTown. All
these companies that launched at DEMO Africa are stirring
up their market segments and competing with the best in
the world.
Hardware products have started showing up in pitches just

within the DEMO Africa community. We have LiGE building
what could possibly be Africas solution to the global energy
generation and storage challenge. Strauss Energy on the
other hand is busy turning ordinary roofs into beautiful solar
farms with their photo-voltaic roong tiles. This is why we
are passionate about African startups. They are innovating
to solve big problems, global problems. And that is why we
seek to work with partners that support entrepreneurs
across the continent and help to make the entrepreneurial
and innovation ecosystem in Africa even stronger.
PARTNERS
David Van Dijk
Director General
African Business Angel Network
It is still early days for angel investing in Africa. Capital

deployed is marginal and the number of deals closed every
month is in the 'tens' and not in the hundreds or thousands.
At the same time, we can only get excited when we see how
the number of angel groups, investor networks and
initiatives has grown from a handful (when we started two
years ago) to over 50 today. Now, most of these networks
have not made investments yet, and some probably never
will, but the point here is that angel investing - deploying
mentor capital to help entrepreneurs start and grow their
companies - has become part of our everyday vocabulary.
And we are just getting started.
Every strong and stable economy requires a vibrant private

sector; and entrepreneurship is a critical component in
private sector growth. Yet, in most African countries - it
remains incredibly dicult for entrepreneurs to attract any
nancial or vocational support. In promoting a culture of
angel investing across Africa, we strive to see more smart
capital being deployed in ways that will help African
entrepreneurs drive private sector growth across the
continent - and we strive to see more local African investors,
and investors in the diaspora, support the next generation
of African leaders. Africans investing in Africa.
Promoting a culture of angel investing means engaging with

key stakeholders - both on the continent and abroad. The
ABAN team is on a continuous mission to speak about what
entrepreneurship and early stage investing means in an
African context and why we invest in African entrepreneurs.
We are incredibly excited about the current state of aairs
and we should applaud the pioneering investors that are
leading the way. That being said, it is way too early to
declare any kind of victory. Every promising African
entrepreneur deserves a ghting chance to start and grow
his or her company - and deserves a committed business
angel to open doors, share wisdom and provide funding.
The time to invest in Africa is now.

CONTRIBUTORS
Stephen Ozoigbo Kwame Osei

CEO Associate
African Technology Foundation African Technology Foundation
Aliesha Balde Adia Sowho

Communications Manager Director, Digital Business
Lions@frica 9mobile
Oluseye Soyode - Johnson Harry Tomi Davies

Regional Partner, Africa President
African Technology Foundation Africa Business Angel Network
Samuel Gicharu Maina David Van Dijk

CEO Director General
Insight Wells Research African Business Angel Network
Lexi Novitske Kasope Akindele

Principal Investments Ocer Legal & Regulatory Manager
Singularity Investments Africa MainOne
Bert Bruggeman Maria Pienaar

Business Executive Partner
Gera Solutions Blue Label Ventures
Alissa Orlando Hugh Molotsi

Managing Director CEO
Dynamo Advisors Ujama
Harry Hare Doug Galen

Executive Director Co-Founder
DEMO Africa RippleWorks
Constance Tzioumis
Director of Partnerships
Oce of Global Partnerships
U.S. Department of State
Lianne Du Toit
Regional Partner, Africa
Jinmi Olanuiga
Managing Director
Business Unusual Consulting
Helen Anatogu
CEO
iDEA
LIONS@FRICA
The U.S. Department of States Oce

of Global Partnerships launched
LIONS@FRICA (Liberalizing Innovation
Opportunity Nations). A partnership
program that seeks to mobilize the
knowledge, expertise, and resources
of leading public and private
institutions to strengthen and deepen
Africas innovation and
entrepreneurship ecosystem.
In the last ve years, LIONS@FRICA launched DEMO AFRICA, its agship partnership that has touched over 3,000 African start-
ups, showcasing and incubating nearly 200 of the best and brightest from the African start-up scene.
Through the LIONS@FRICA Innovation Tour organized by the African Technology Foundation (ATF), these start-ups are given
exposure to world-class networks, mentorship, possible funding opportunities, and global markets.
LIONS@FRICA INNOVATION HAS

GIVEN STARTUPS PROPER EXPOSURE TO
LAUNCHED IN
2012
WORLD CLASS NETWORKS
MENTORSHIP
POSSIBLE FUNDING
BY THE U.S. DEPT. OF STATES OPPORTUNITIES
OFFICE OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

GLOBAL MARKETS
OVERVIEW
Across leading technology ecosystems in Africa, technology
continues to positively aect the way that people live and
work. A variety of mobile communication devices can be
found in nearly every corner of the continent, and urban
teenagers smartphones are constantly lighting up with
message exchanges across popular apps and platforms.
Behind the scenes, massive investments in infrastructure
have allowed for cheaper and more reliable data
connections, and entrepreneurs are battling for their share
of the continents greeneld markets. That said, there are
signicant dierences in how individual African countries
are promoting and experiencing the proliferation of
technology and innovation.
This report highlights the leading technology and innovation

ecosystems on the continent, and our research indicates nancial reform, have also been known to positively aect the
that these ecosystems have a few common characteristics: quality and diversity of investments in technology ecosystems
across the continent.
PRIVATE SECTOR ADVANCEMENTS
We nd that the most vibrant tech and innovation TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
ecosystems across the continent, such as Egypt, Kenya, PROGRAMS
Nigeria, and South Africa, are private-sector driven. For To close the talent gap, an increasing number of African
commercially viable enterprises to continue to emerge from countries are recognizing the need for high caliber, sector-
these ecosystems, they need to be supported by specic education in the technology space. In recent years,
commercially-focused investors and entrepreneurs. there have been a proliferation of coding schools on the
continent, including Andela in Nigeria and Kenya, Moringa
SUPPORTIVE GOVERNMENT POLICIES School in Kenya, Gebeya Academy in Ethiopia, WeThinkCode in
Although the leading ecosystems are driven by the private South Africa, and GeekFactory in Egypt. Furthermore, an
sector, there are a number of smaller nations that are increasing number of African startups, especially across the
supported by progressive government policies and direct Northern, Western, and Southern regions of the continent, are
public sector investments into all forms of infrastructure. While connecting with world-class accelerators based out of Silicon
regional economic leaders have enjoyed major private sector Valley, such as Y Combinator and 500 startups and receiving
investments, their national governments have also catalyzed training and guidance on global best practices for venture
economic development activities, and promoted foreign direct creation. All of these factors are combining to support Africas
investments by creating enabling environments through new knowledge economies and ensuring that the continents
progressively designed policies. Other governmental actions, youthful population is primed and ready for 21st century jobs
especially around immigration, tax breaks for investors, and and entrepreneurial opportunities.
SUPPORTIVE GOVERNMENT
POLICIES
PRIVATE SECTOR
ADVANCEMENT
TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

EDUCATION PROGRAMS
REGIONAL SUMMARY
Northern Africa
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
ALGERIA LIBYA
EGYPT
NORTHERN AFRICA EGYPT

90million (total population)
31million 51million
internet users mobile users
65%
35%
1million Trips
in Cairo weekly
Northern Africas ecosystem growth Egypts
after the Arab Spring mobile users against
internet users
28
Active Tech hubs
The Largest city for
Uber in Africa
in Cairo
Further cementing its Technology sector driven

leadership position in the region by well educated youth
Northern Africas entrepreneurial ecosystem has ourished as Due to the countrys predominant Islamic banking regulations,
the region stabilized after the Arab Spring. The region has and the inability of local banks to charge interest, there are very
strong mobile penetration but low internet penetration. In a minimal incentives for banks to expand their footprint, or
country like Egypt with a population of about 91 million people, digital lenders to emerge. The rise of the technology sector is in
a seemingly small internet penetration rate of 35% translates large part driven by well-educated youth, who are constantly
to 31 million Internet users, which creates ample opportunities innovating around the high rate of unemployment across the
for digital entrepreneurs across the country. For example, Uber region. A majority of the national governments in North Africa
does over one million trips weekly in Cairo, about quadruple approach technology with caution, particularly social media,
Johannesburg, the next largest city for Uber in Africa. since it played such a key role in the Arab Spring.
Furthermore, Cairo has cemented its leadership position in the
region through its extensive network of 28 active tech hubs.
REGIONAL SUMMARY
Eastern Africa
ERITREA
SUDAN
ETHIOPIA
SOMALIA
UGANDA
KENYA
RWANDA
TANZANIA
Kenyas progressive economy

is seen as a preferred destination for Kenya
investors and multinationals due to its:
Kenya Rwanda
1 2
Relatively advanced
economy
Good ICT infrastructure
Favourable Immigration
Policy
Leaders of the technology space Success in Mobile money was
in the East African region due to driven by regulations that
their adoption of Mobile money promoted its adoption
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
is a notable catalyst for Rwandas Rwanda
progressive economy.
The East African region has two leaders in the technology ICT infrastructure and favorable immigration policy. It also has
space, Kenya and Rwanda; two nations that have taken very the greatest number of startups and incubators in the region.
dierent approaches to building their technology and Rwanda, on the other hand, has built its ecosystem in
entrepreneurial ecosystems. The massive adoption of accordance with the governments vision. The Rwanda
mobile money and related technologies has cemented Development Board(RDB) has successfully partnered with
East Africas reputation as an innovative region. Mobile international stakeholders to build the necessary infrastructure
money, led by the likes of M-Pesa, has driven nancial to support the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
inclusion and e-commerce in the region. The success of
mobile money in Kenya was driven by regulations that There is a distinct contrast between these two countries and
promoted its adoption, and a remarkable tripartite the others in the region. Ethiopias protectionist policies have
relationship between the regulators, nancial institutions closed the country to a wider variety of foreign investment.
and the dominant mobile operator. Tanzania's acute skills shortage in the ICT sector aect the
countrys ability to scale local ecosystem resources at the same
In Kenya, the progressive development has been largely pace as her neighbors. Burundis recent political instability, and
driven by the private sector. However, Rwandas progress Ugandas insucient public sector support for information and
has been predominantly government driven. Kenya is seen communication technologies, have inadvertently resulted in
as the preferred destination for technology investors and underdeveloped technology and innovation ecosystems in both
multinationals due to its relatively advanced economy, good countries.
REGIONAL SUMMARY
Southern Africa
MALAWI
ZAMBIA
MOZAMBIQUE
ZIMBABWE
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
SWAZILAND
LESOTHO
SOUTH AFRICA
ZIMBABWE
South Africa
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
A Technology powerhouse that

Most Industrialized
Economy
boasts of
in the South
Good infrastructure
South Africa
Fast and aordable internet
CAPE TOWN Widespread card payments and

sucient data centres
JOHANNESBURG
2017 Raised
$69.4
Raised
Million
$100 2017
Million acquires for
60% 30% from

From Tiger Global
$103
between Million
700 -1200
Active Tech Startups
Active startups in the Southern African ecosystem

Active community of Tech Startups in South Africa
with notable exits
The Southern Africa ecosystem is one of contrasts. While Town and Johannesburg, with about 60% of South African
South Africa has the most industrialized economy, the startups being based in Cape Town and 30% in Johannesburg.
other countries in the region still show small, Cape Town is a popular destination for startups, as they can
undiversied economies that are far from being enjoy both the vibe of a big city and the relaxed vibe of a
innovation driven. Other indicators such as small coastal city. It is estimated that Cape Town alone has between
population sizes, the absence of an enabling public 700 -1200 active tech startups, supported by an extensive
sector, insucient infrastructure, and low levels of network of angel investors, including the South African
nancial inclusion have also aected the competitive Business Angel Network(SABAN), and the favorable regulations
growth of these smaller economies, leaving South Africa that provide tax breaks to venture capitalists. The South African
as a nation in a league of its own. startup environment has produced some really high prole,
commercially attractive startups. For example, Takealot raised
South Africa is a technology powerhouse. The country $69.4 million from Naspers in 2017 and $100 million from Tiger
boasts of good infrastructure, fast and aordable internet, Global in 2017. GetSmarter enjoyed a notable acquisition from
widespread card payments, and sucient data centers. 2U in 2017 for a reported $103 million cash transaction.
There is an active community of tech startups in both Cape
REGIONAL SUMMARY
Western Africa
NIGER
CHAD
SENEGAL
BURKINA
FASO
GUINEA BENIN
TOGO
GHANA
NIGERIA
SIERRA LEONE COTE
DIVOIRE
LIBERIA
CAMEROON
Anglophone
West Africa
4million
Diverse new internet users
Consumer market annually
base
Nigeria between
400 - 700
Active Tech Startups
IVORY COAST
16 Hubs Francophone DAKAR, SENEGAL
Accelerators
West Africa
GHANA
4% 8% 10
ACTIVE TECH HUBS
ANNUAL GROWTH
In the early 2000s
Tech & Entrepreneurship clusters
Ghanas consistent GDP spending
on ICT investment
including including the World Bank-funded CTIC,
home to the Jambar Tech Lab.
In Western Africa, Nigeria remains an attractive country to technology ecosystem is consistent. Ghana has been spending
investors largely due to its massive and diverse population. In an average of 4%of its GDP on ICT investments. Furthermore,
absolute terms, the consumer market is massive. It is there is a strong community of 16 hubs and accelerators in
estimated that four million new Internet users come online Accra, including the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of
in Nigeria on an annual basis. Nigeria has positioned itself as Technology.
the tech hub of West Africa, with an estimated 400 - 700
active tech startups. The country has had its fair share of Within Francophone West Africa, Ivory Coast and Senegal
macroeconomic peaks and troughs, and this has allowed risk- remain prominent. Ivory Coast is emerging strongly from
averse investors to embrace their Anglophone neighbors, numerous political conicts in the early 2000s. The economy
Ghana, a country that continues to position itself as an has been growing at an average of 8% annually, and foreign
alternative gateway into West Africa. Ghana has a stable investors are ocking into the country to make investments.
political climate and has continuously sought to diversify The city of Abidjan is also positioning itself as a hub for tech
from an agricultural economy to an industrialized one. conferences and competitions. Dakar is building out its
Fluctuating cocoa prices in the world market have caused technology and entrepreneurship clusters, currently hosting 10
major disruptions in income for the country, and its oil active tech hubs, including the World Bank-funded CTIC, the
industry is still young and unexposed to current rst accelerator dedicated to IT entrepreneurs in Francophone
macroeconomic shocks. Public sector support for the West Africa and home to the Jambar Tech Lab.
Evaluating
Africas
Technology
Ecosystems
AFRICAS PRIVATE SECTOR
The infrastructure gap in Africa is a

critical concern across the continent.
Africas private sector is showing its

commitment to bridging infrastructure
gaps across the continent with eorts
that are often many steps ahead of the
national governments eorts, and in
deance of the tough nancial and
political climates across the continent
In the age of digital entrepreneurship, sustainable economic development across the continent will depend on adequate
infrastructure including transportation and communication networks.
Young African entrepreneurs are developing frugal digital products and service delivery platforms that are slowly permeating
rural areas across the continent because of their simplicity, and creating markets in regions that were previously inaccessible.
Private
sector
BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS DEVELOPING DIGITAL PRODUCTS &

PERMEATING RURAL AREAS
ACROSS THE CONTIENT SERVICE DELIVERY PLATFORMS
ACROSS THE CONTINENT
New Internet users

The Infrastructure Divide:
Is Africa ready
for change?
ASSESSING DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS
Kasope Akindele
Legal & Regulatory Manager
MainOne
The infrastructure gap in Africa is largely reective of the state

of the various industry segments across the continent. From
basic internet access and aordability, to nancial inclusion for
millions of unbanked across the continent, to providing
sustainable power generation and distribution models for the
urban and rural regions, to upgrading obsolete and inadequate
physical infrastructure; the infrastructure challenge is a
consistent index of much needed development across the
continent.
Using the communications sector in West Africa as a reference

point, it appears that Africa is underserved. Each segment of
the communications value chain struggles with infrastructure
deciencies, and there are critical resources needed to close
these gaps - ranging from regulatory support for passive and
active infrastructure sharing, public infrastructure funding and
subsidies for infrastructure development, public and private
sector investment in access and distribution infrastructure,
provision of security (including physical security) for critical
infrastructure, and many others.
While it does appear that the gaps far outweigh the

commitment to ll the gaps, with major private investments in
communications technology infrastructure (such as Main One
Cable Companys privately owned international submarine cable
system and its Tier III Data Center) providing international
standard connectivity, colocation and cloud services, Africas
private sector is showing its commitment to bridging
infrastructure gaps across the continent. These private sector
eorts are often many steps ahead of the national
governments eorts, and in deance of the tough nancial
and political climates across the continent. The ubiquitous
deciencies in all segments of African life provide abundant
opportunities for investment and the continent is ready, waiting
and expectant of coming change.
With two out of the three largest economies in Sub-Saharan

Africa entering into recession in the last year, and slow growth
generally across the region, the continent requires major
investments in infrastructure to drive growth in diversied
sectors of the economy. The question ceases to be if Africa is
ready for change, rather can Africa really aord not to
embrace change?
Kasope Akindele is a legal and regulatory professional with

over a decade of relevant experience in the law, regulation
and policy of telecommunications and technology. His primary
focus areas covers legal and policy issues of connectivity, co-
location and cloud services, with interests in Information
Technology Law, Internet Governance, Mobile and Electronic
Commerce, Data Protection and Privacy and Competition Law.
He currently heads the Legal & Regulatory team of MainOne.
PRIORITIZING INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETS
Jinmi Olanuiga
Managing Director
Business Unusual Consulting
In the past decade, delivering on large scale infrastructure

projects has been our core passion. The Infrastructure Divide
across Africa is still gaping, and tomorrows Africa is very ripe
for infrastructure developments that will help it leapfrog the
industrial mistakes and lessons of the past, and jump right into
the 4th and 5th industrial revolution. While the developing
world races ahead with cutting edge technologies like
autonomous driving and electric vehicles, machine learning, the
Internet of Things, and Blockchain technology; many African
economies are still saddled with the development of basic
infrastructure. But their young citizens are not waiting. Many
young entrepreneurs across the continent are building
programs for smartphones, and thriving as digital
entrepreneurs.
In the age of digital entrepreneurship, sustainable economic

development across the continent cannot happen without the
adequate infrastructure of transportation and communication
networks. Young African entrepreneurs are developing frugal
digital products and service delivery platforms that are slowly
permeating rural areas across the continent because of their
simplicity.
Aordable Internet is a campaign that we passionately support

because of its transformational possibilities. As governments
expand infrastructure spending, and more bridges get built,
more roads get paved, and more independent power plants
get commissioned, we advocate that they must come with ICT
infrastructure readily installed, and integrated. Strategically
planned urbanization is critical to stem the continued wave of
rural to urban migration, and essential to that is the provision
of infrastructure across all societal spheres.
As individual African countries struggle with economic booms

and busts, sustainability issues will arise. The cost of successfully
executing and managing some of these projects are
considerably high, and require a myriad of capital sources.
Is Africa ready for change? We could argue that Africa has been
ready. Now more than ever, it has become mission critical to
Africas progressive development that stakeholders across the
continent prioritize infrastructure development as a key
economic target.
Jinmi Olanuiga is the Principal Consultant for Business

Unusual Ltd, a boutique technology, media and telecoms
(TMT) consulting rm that focuses on large scale
infrastructure projects that sustainably develop Africa. His
primary role is in the implementation of projects and
businesses that signicantly improve broadband penetration
and Internet access in Nigeria. His rm wrote Nigerias rst
ever Broadband Plan, and specializes in Project Execution and
Management.
A Mobile First Continent:
Telcos as
Ecosystem
Catalysts
SCALE - THE ELUSIVE ACHIEVEMENT FOR ENTERPRISES
Adia Sowho
Director Digital Business
9mobile
Across Africa, the mobile telecommunications industry has

consistently delivered progressive scale and growth in country
after country, under uniquely challenging economic
circumstances. With almost 600 million mobile subscribers, the
continent now presents a cross-continental mechanism for
scale, leveraging the strength of mobile operators brand,
reach, customers insights and infrastructure. This level of
mobile connectivity ushered in digital economies across Africa
and produced business models that were uncommon in
developed markets. Mobile operators have become enablers
for economic building blocks like identity management,
nancial services and advertising; key ingredients for scale that
allow home grown innovators to nd and connect with
audiences across Africa.
Ive been uniquely privy to view some of the issues that

challenge mobile operator partnerships for small businesses.
These entrepreneurs are trying to leverage mobile operator
assets for their businesses, and while the obstacles can seem
insurmountable, the pathways to success really depend on
perspective and approach. The magic usually happens when the
right proposition meets the right opportunity. Historically, the
partnerships that work have a few distinct commonalities, the
consistency and convergence between what both parties know
and how both parties think. Without a clear understanding of
these factors, negotiations will continue to falter.

Before approaching a telco for partnership, businesses need to
know how their product will make money, and learn to express
this by drawing parallels with the revenue models of their
target telcos. In the current African context, I would advise that
any proposed technology (product or service)leverages SMS
and USSD in its design. Once youve identied a telco partner,
businesses need to think about (or maybe rethink) their
approach in terms of risk. Firstly, they must understand that
mobile operators have surmounted this risk to achieve scale,
and that current operational processes cannot be completely
abandoned to enable the partnership. Stakeholders across the
ecosystem need to support their digitization strategies with
these perspectives, and all parties to these transactions need to
change and grow, to overcome the collective threat of
obsolescence that will constrain African ecosystems in the
absence of constant and rapid innovation.

Adia Sowho, is the Director of Digital Business at 9mobile
Nigeria. She started her career as an engineer with a mobile
telecom operator in the United States. After obtaining an
MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a stint at
Deloitte Consulting, she returned home to Nigeria. In her
current role, Adia works on developing mobile content,
technology and nancial services products through
partnerships with 9mobile.
TELCOS AS CATALYSTS, OR NOT?
Maria Pienaar
Partner
Blue Label Ventures
Since the early nineties, mobile network operators have been

one of the biggest catalysts in introducing new distribution and
resell models into the markets by connecting remote
communities with main stream markets. In the early days, text
messaging and the introduction of prepaid airtime enabled a
plethora of premium rated value added services, and
accelerated the distribution and sales of mobile phones, mobile
accessories and prepaid airtime vouchers.
Today Africa is still the leading market globally in how small

businesses and large retailers are using USSD, text messaging
and now mobile applications to connect and transact with their
customers. As the penetration of smart phones and access to
higher speed Internet, e-commerce, payment and nancial
services accelerate on the continent, the question remains
whether mobile network operators will remain the key catalysts
for growth and adoption of new digital and transactional
services.
Mobile operators have great infrastructure to enable

e-commerce transaction through the charging, collection and
billing of various services because of the vast points-of-presence
they have built in their markets, and as such could remain key
catalysts in enabling the digital economy in their markets. That
said, with new payment solutions and services and other virtual
currencies starting to emerge that are allowing more merchants
to transact with their customers via traditional Internet and
digital models, mobile operators may nd themselves
disintermediated sooner than later in the value chain.
The models introduced by these operators that served the

growth of new services well in the past are slowly becoming
obsolete and have become costly to deal with. A key barrier for
adoption of digital services and digital commerce still hinges on
the ease of transacting as a merchant and customer. This is no
longer the domain of operators, and a number of newer players
are emerging that are solving these problems. Armed with a
mobile website or application and integration into these newer
players, merchants no longer need the mobile operator apart
from providing connectivity. Other players are becoming better
positioned to be catalysts in the African markets for the digital
economy. Unless operators are opening up their network and IT
platforms as open platforms to enable innovative services in
partnership models with innovative companies, they may soon
lose the position of catalysts in their markets.
A former CIO at Cell C, Maria Pienaar brings two decades of

experience working in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley tech
industry to Blue Label Ventures. Over the duration of her
career, Maria has helped launch over 30 successful wireless and
Internet applications and services for enterprise and consumer
markets. As Cell Cs CIO, she launched the rst Wi-Fi Calling
service in Africa as well as innovative partnerships with the
likes of Facebook.
Talent is Universal:
Bridging Africas
talent gap
BRIDGING THE 21ST CENTURY TALENT GAP
Hugh Molotsi
CEO
Ujama
Todays developed nations attained their economic status by

riding the wave of industrialization that began with the
Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century, when workers
moved from farms to factories. According to conventional
wisdom, the path for todays developing nations to grow their
economies and increase per-capita-income is to follow a similar
pattern of industrialization. Thats why most economic
development programs for developing countries involve large
capital projects and luring large multinational corporations to
build factories on their soil. In fact, countries like China, South
Korea, and Brazil made signicant economic gains in the second
half of the 20th century by embracing industrialization.
However, in the 21st century, we are witnessing the shrinking of

manufacturing jobs across the globe. Simply put, factories are
becoming more productive while employing fewer people, and
this trend will only continue to accelerate. While job losses are a
sobering problem for developed nations, they present an
existential crisis for developing countries that must now
reimagine their brighter futures. The appeal of cheap unskilled
labor will continue to diminish going forward.
21st century jobs require 21st century skills.
However, not enough people in developing countries are

getting a tertiary education. In Africa, there is a signicant talent
gap for 21st century jobs. For example, in South Africa, which
has a relatively well-developed economy compared to other
African countries, only 7% of 25-64 year olds have completed a
tertiary education compared to 50% in the US (OECD data). Big
chasms in the education of a countrys workforce do not bode
well for the ability to compete in the 21st century.
But there is good news! The rise of coding boot camps is

providing faster and more aordable ways of preparing young
adults for 21st century jobs. Motivated students with access to a
computer and the Internet can now learn 21st century skills and
in many cases attain certication on completion. In the same
way the advent of the cell phone allowed developing countries
to leapfrog land line technologies, coding boot camps and
online courses can provide a much needed opportunity to
leapfrog traditional tertiary education. This new approach to
educating the populace does not come a moment too soon,
and provides hope for developing the talent required for a
brighter future Across the African continent.
Hugh Molotsi is the founder and CEO of Ujama, a

neighborhood ride sharing service for families. Hugh also
advises and invests in startups and is an active practitioner and
teacher of Lean Startup Methodologies. In 2015, Hugh
concluded a 22-year career at Intuit where his last position was
Engineering Fellow and Vice President of Innovation.
TALENT-AS-A-SERVICE
Doug Galen
Co-Founder
RippleWorks
Entrepreneurs throughout Africa are facing remarkable

challenges as they build and grow innovative startups.
As startups scale, they need to have specic skills and expertise
on their teams to tackle specic issues, but with limited hiring
options in ultra-competitive markets, startups face a talent
gap between the skills they need to hire and the skills they are
able to access. StateOfPlay
05
In order for entrepreneurship ecosystems across the continent

to keep thriving, solving this talent gap is crucial. 75% of
funded, early-stage companies in emerging markets say their
inability to access the talent they need will have a high or
critical impact on their growth . Whereas all other challenges
such as fundraising, logistics, regulations get more
manageable for entrepreneurs as their startups mature, hiring
talent is the only challenge that gets increasingly dicult.
Solving the talent gap will require both long-term and short-
term solutions. Long-term solutions will systematically solve
the reasons why this talent gap exist, such as improving
education, increasing skills development programs, and
developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem. But long-term
solutions take time, and todays entrepreneurs need solutions
now.
Thats where short-term solutions like RippleWorks come in. We

help rapidly growing social ventures solve their most critical
scaling challenge, with most of our portfolio supporting African
startups. By connecting leading technology and management
expertise from the US tech sector with high-growth ventures
on the continent for short-term, high-impact projects, we are
unlocking African startups capacity for growth and playing our
part to ll the talent gap.
In two years, we have worked on 35 projects, 21 of which are in

Africa. We have worked with startups like Andela to create a
data science strategy, O Grid Electric to scale its customer
support, and M-KOPA to strengthen its data security. The
projects average 19 expert recommendations, and 99% are
adopted by the venture. The reality is that entrepreneurial
expertise is not evenly distributed around the world yet.
Our end game is for top entrepreneurial talent to exist
everywhere, and solving this talent challenge will be the key to
Africas continued entrepreneurial success.
Doug Galen is the CEO and Co-Founder of RippleWorks

Foundation, which connects leading expertise from Silicon
Valley and the larger tech sector with high-growth social
ventures around the world. Previously, he served as Chief
Revenue Ocer at Shopkick, a mobile app startup that was
bought by SK Telecom, and SVP of Business and Corporate
Development at Shuttery, where he helped grow revenue
from $50 million to $500 million.
Made In Africa:
Localizing design
& manufacturing
ACCELERATING HARDWARE INNOVATION
Bert Bruggeman
Business Executive
Gera Solutions
Tremendous challenges and opportunities exist in Africa today,

ranging from signicant shortcomings in education, healthcare,
and agriculture, to energy and basic infrastructure. Culturally
ingrained, low-tech inventiveness has started to coalesce with
the exposure to, and inclusion of, high-tech platforms. However,
it is self-evident that Africa cant app itself out of all its
problems, as the underlying infrastructure is simply not
pervasive enough. This is being recognized by a wave of future
leaders who will be known for intelligent and interconnected
hardware, rather than just software solutions, made in Africa,
designed by Africans.
Deep necessities and natural limitations in communities across

the continent have exposed numerous opportunities to design
and make products. By employing a strategy of importing basic
technology platforms and employing design thinking
methodologies, the African entrepreneur will conceive,
prototype, scale, and manufacture products that solve unique
problems by engineering these platforms into innovative and
value-added customer hardware solutions. Africas strategy
should be one of applied engineering versus fundamental
research, one of leapfrogging versus re-inventing.
To risk mitigate Africas self-driven interconnected hardware

strategy, the continent has to focus on deepening its university
curriculums with applied science topics, sophisticate its incubator
models, enrich market research and design abilities, prototype
building infrastructure, and augment its appeal for international
technology partnerships. Governments will have to play their
role by creating stable environments, facilitating attractive
international business exchanges, and providing meaningful
incentives.
Over the next decade, Africas youthful population will embark

on solving its human development needs through innovative
and interconnected hardware solutions. This will be enabled by
their unmatched proximity and understanding of the needs of
local communities. Along the way, these innovators will expand
peoples choices for living their lives in ways that are equitable,
participatory, productive, and sustainable, giving them the
opportunity to export these solutions globally and capitalize on
Africas global relevance in the 21st century.
Bert Bruggeman is senior-level executive with a 20+ year

Silicon Valley track record of successful technology product
development, operational excellence, general management,
and C-level leadership for a broad range of high-tech industries.
His successful engineering and management career has
included positions with Cypress Semiconductor, SunEdison,
SVTC Technologies, IMEC, Avogy, and Gera Solutions.
SPACE SCIENCE AND MANUFACTURING
Oluseye Soyode - Johnson
Regional Partner Africa
Can space science spur African manufacturing? I think so.
Over the last decade, African investment in space technology

has progressively increased, driven by the frequent
implementation of earth observation development programs.
On a regional scale, much has been said about the Nigerian
Space Sector and the promise it holds - both as a driver for
African space innovation, as well as a platform to accelerate
advances in local industries such as telecommunications, media,
agriculture and security.
Although the continents capabilities in building satellite

technologies have advanced (Nigeria has launched ve satellites
since 2003, with three Earth Observation and Communication
Satellites, currently in operation), opening up opportunities for
better understanding of the countrys rapid urbanization,
population growth and food security issues, incremental
progress could be accelerated even further. Classic space
economies such as the US and Europe, have grown due to
governmental programs aimed at spurring innovation via public
grants and funding instruments, taking greater risks as well as
supporting open-ended research activities. This has inspired
private sector actors to follow suit and further catalyzed
innovation cycles in these economies.
Across Africa, a new space industry is emerging. It is

characterized by bottom-up innovation and driven by passionate
ecosystem stakeholders, supported through a community-led
approach. With major barriers to global space participation
lowered over the past decade (driven largely by the
commoditization of space technology and other factors), this is
the right time for strong platforms that inspire not just the
community and the next generation, but ultimately provide
lessons and examples for the African governments to catalyze
their manufacturing sectors.
NASAs Space Apps programs have played a leading role in

galvanizing local space stakeholders and inspiring community-led
projects with local application. On the continent, these sorts of
initiatives are building awareness and inclusion for new
technologies that are disrupting the space sector while
supporting local manufacturing.
Oluseye Soyode - Johnson is the African Technology

Foundations Regional Partner for Africa. He is also the Country
Facilitator for Space Apps Nigeria, and has been responsible for
implementing nationwide training and development programs
since 2014. Space Apps Nigerias mission is to infuse cutting-
edge capacity-building programs into the fabric of Nigerian
society, and drive global innovation participation that leads to
massive economic growth and youth empowerment, in the
short-to-medium term.
The Anatomy of
Venture Deals in Africa:
Opportunities
and risks
THE POWER OF SEED STAGE SYNDICATES
Harry Tomi Davies
President
African Business Angels Network
The African continent boasts an abundance of human resources

and huge potential for accelerating technological change.
However, corporate Africa needs to step up its performance to
make the most of these opportunities, and African governments
will have to play a stronger role in unleashing renewed dynamism.
Across the continent, many of the worlds fastest growing
economies are home to a number of promising and investible
tech-enabled start-up companies. These same countries are home
to decent higher education (business, engineering & science)
institutions but no real research centers. Their economies are
driven by growing populations, business activities and
public/private sector development. In Africas most populous
country, organizations like the Lagos Angels Network (LAN), a
network of business angels that provide funding and mentorship
to early-stage Lagos-based ventures, are bridging the venture gap
and kick starting investment opportunities at the seed stage.
Deal sourcing by LAN is carried out proactively. Ventures are

sought through the membership network, and reactively through
inbound requests that originate from the website, social media or
email. Ventures that pass our initial screening process are
coached regarding the expectations of LAN investors and how to
best present their venture. Selected ventures are then invited to
present to members at a LAN Deal Day Pitch event, normally
held once a quarter. Typically, 5-6 companies pitch their ventures
and face a variety of questions. The investors then discuss aspects
of the company and potential deals in a closed session. Formal
due diligence is carried out by the Angels as well as professional
service providers. The process includes: a competitive analysis,
validation of product and IP, an assessment of the companys
structure, nancials and contracts, a check of compliance issues,
and reference checks on the team. Reports are provided to the
LAN investment syndicates who review and declare interest or
decline.
If member syndicates declare sucient interest, term sheets are

prepared and the companys valuation is negotiated by the Lead
Angel investor. The venture may be also be requested to present
to the investing members a nal time. After the investment, the
Lead Angel monitors, mentors and assists the venture with
expertise and connections through LAN. In addition, it becomes
the Lead Angels responsibility to work closely with the venture to
facilitate an exit for the LAN investment at the appropriate time.
Harry Tomi Davies (TD) is a versatile technology business leader,

keynote speaker and advisor with over two decades of
outstanding experience building large-scale, national and region-
wide IT infrastructure projects across Africa. Over the last decade
TD has looked after a growing portfolio of Africa-based tech-
enabled early stage businesses and is the Founder of the Lagos
Angel Network (LAN). He is also President of the African
Business Angel Network (ABAN).
LOCAL ADAPTATION, LOCAL NAVIGATION
Lexi Novitske
Principal Investments Ocer
Singularity Investments Africa
As tech hubs from Silicon Valley continue to attract investment,

copycat companies across Africa have attempted to mirror these
successeswith mixed results. Replicating a foreign business
model has been the strategy of some successful African ventures.
But for every one of these recent successes, there are a
considerable amount of failures. While imitation may be a starting
point for Africas most promising start-ups, early-stage ventures
must also adapt to their local environments. Here are a few
nuggets of advice that have guided me across my investments on
the continent:
The success of an African startup has a greater dependency on

the on-the-ground implementation rather than the ingenuity of
a high-level idea, especially since replication does not equal
success, and execution is often hindered by basic infrastructural
and logistical problems. On teams look for strong team
members that will demonstrate creative and authentic thinking,
integrity, and a willingness to admit mistakes and take calculated
risks in the face of dicult implementation situations. Because
Africa remains a wide-open space in terms of opportunity,
talented middle managers often decide to leave and create their
own businesses when facing internal headwinds and managerial
challenges. Traditional incentives like stock options may not
provide enough of a draw, so retention strategies must be as
innovative as the newest ideas.
In the high-risk, high-reward African start-up ecosystem, good

ideas (especially those with social impact) may attract a lot of
investment. However, too much cash too soon can lead founders
to overlook the steps required to build a self-sustainable, quality
business that can pass the stress test. Focusing on raising funds
at the expense of focusing on actually growing the business is a
recipe for failure. Beyond the early-stage capital, there is also a
gap in local funding before companies reach the traction that
would attract middle-market private equity. Businesses that have
built their growth and survival on the availability of outside capital
will not make it through the valley of death. Dont discount the
value of local investors. In Africa, local partners are a key
component to any deal. They have the relationships necessary for
due diligence, access and execution, they know the local talent,
and they understand local market dynamics. They also know how
to navigate problems inherent in the local environment. Likewise,
foreign investors play a key role in providing global context,
operational best practices, and often times access to capital or
relationships for follow on investments.
Lexi Novitske is the Principal Investment Ocer at Singularity

Investments. Ms. Novitske joined Singularity in 2014 and is
responsible for managing investments in the rm's Africa
portfolio. Prior to joining Singularity, she worked for Verod
Capital Management. Ms. Novitske has also spent her career
developing an expertise in nancial services through her time at
Sandler O'Neill Asset Management.
Regional
Ecosystem
Scans
THE NORTHERN AFRICA REGION
The Northern Africa region has a total

population of about 180 million
people, with a median age of 25 years.
This presents a long-term opportunity
for product and service oerings to
young, tech-savvy consumers.
Politically, this region has faced
instability over the last seven years.
Specically, the Arab Spring, which
toppled established regimes in the
region, was rooted in the youths
frustration with the lack of
professional opportunities
These political changes led by the regions large youth population channeled a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and
helped make entrepreneurship more appealing as a way to solve the youth unemployment problem in the region. National
governments have identied the ICT sector as a key economic growth area, and plan to implement digital and innovative
programs locally.
TOTAL POPULATION MEDIAN AGE OF ICT SECTOR IDENTIFIED AS
180 25 million
IN THE NORTHERN AFRICA REGION YEARS OF ITS TOTAL POPULATION KEY ECONOMIC GROWTH AREA
New Internet users

NORTHERN AFRICA
Country Summary
TUNISIA
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
ALGERIA LIBYA
EGYPT
Tunisia
The Arab Spring began in Tunisia in 2010, and spun the country Startup incubators such as Flat6Labs and
and the region into an economic tailspin with the budget decit Boost have greatly contributed to the
reaching 8.5% of the GDP in 2011. Although Tunisia went success of young companies in Tunisia, by
through a political transition, economic activity has remained helping early-stage companies gain the
very slow since the revolutionary period. Data available from capital and training they need to scale.
the World Bank shows that in 2013, Tunisias real GDP grew at Though the outlook remains positive for
a rate of 2.4%, and in 2014 it grew at 2.3%. Unemployment is Tunisia, it still faces various challenges in
currently at 15%, and a third of jobless youth are university its quest to become a tech hub. These
graduates. Tunisias innovation space has beneted from challenges include, but are not limited to,
civically-minded youth turning to entrepreneurship as an foreign investors concerns around political risk
employment alternative and having increased access to a freer given the recent history of civic unrest and
internet post-revolution. violence.
Egypt
Egypt is the second largest country in the announced the Africa Together initiative in partnership with the
region with a population of approximately International Data Corporation (IDC). This initiative was aimed at
91 million people, of which 50% are supporting growth in the country's ICT sector, and transforming
below the age of 30. It has strong mobile it into a key contributor to Egypt's economy. With economic
penetration at 103%, and internet growth and foreign investment increasing across the continent,
penetration is on the rise with a 22% Egypts IT-skilled workforce can help position the country as
increase in broadband connectivity Africas tech hub in the years to come, provided the country can
from April 2015 to April 2016. As of 2016, Egypt had at least manage political risk and reduce government bureaucracy.
28 tech hubs partnering with local and foreign investors to According to Disrupt Africa, there has been a trend towards
support entrepreneurs that are building digital products and investment returning to Egypt and other North African
services. Some of these partners include Accel Partners and countries as their governments stabilize. For instance, eight
AfricInvest. Egyptian startups raised $9.7 million in 2016, compared to $4.7
million in 2015, the largest increase of any country that had
In addition, the Egyptian government is committed to more than ve startups secure investment for the year.
developing the tech industry through partnerships with key
industry players. In 2014, the Egyptian government's
Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
New Internet users

Morocco
Compared to the rest of the North Africa region, Morocco is has been signed with the Chinese government to develop an
relatively stable. It has a population of 34 million and over 57% industrial and technology hub in Tangiers,
internet penetration. In recent years, the startup scene has further emphasizing Moroccos mission of
developed rapidly, and there are 21 active tech hubs and developing a digital economy.
accelerators, such as Innov Invest and Numa, providing support
to entrepreneurs. As foreign investors continue to take
interest in the tech space, it is
Morocco aims to position itself as a strategic digital hub in the important to note that funding
region. The government launched a Digital Program for 2020 remains a signicant challenge
with the aim of reducing the countrys digital divide by 50% by for startups. Crowdfunding is illegal, and angel investors are
oering free Wi-Fi in public spaces and launching digital literacy few and far between.
programs. Additionally, a nancing agreement worth $10 billion
MACROECONOMIC FACTORS
The region has a total population of about 180 million people States Institute of Peace, Tunisias democratic transition
with a median age of 25 years. Politically, this region has faced remains at a critical juncture of conict and peacebuilding.
instability over the last seven years, and the Arab Spring, which After years of unrest, Egypts political and economic climate is
toppled established regimes across multiple countries, was improving, and the government targets growth of 5.2% in
rooted in the youths frustration with the lack of professional 2017 and 5% in 2018.
opportunities. The use of technology, particularly social media,
was instrumental during the Arab Spring as it helped organize These political changes led by the regions large youth
the revolutionaries in the various countries. population is channeling a culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship, and has helped make entrepreneurship
Moroccos political climate is currently stable as the newly more appealing as a way to solve the youth unemployment
formed coalition government intends to pursue problem in the region. National governments have identied
macroeconomic and constitutional reforms, upgrade social the ICT sector as a key economic growth area, and plan to
services and promote job creation. As noted by the United implement digital and innovative programs locally.
NORTHERN AFRICA POLITICAL CLIMATE
+5%
Egypts Estimated Growth rate (%)
TUNISIA +5.2%
2018
MOROCCO
2017
MOROCCOS STABLE POLITICAL CLIMATE TUNISIAS UNSTABLE POLITICAL CLIMATE EGYPTS IMPROVING POLITICAL CLIMATE
(After the Arab Spring) (After the Arab Spring) (After the Arab Spring)
EFFECTS OF THE POLITICAL CHANGE
A LARGE YOUTH POPULATION

INNOVATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP
IS CHANNELING A CULTURE OF
New Internet users

Population in Millions (2015) GDP ($bn) 2015
91 330.8
95 300
34 100.6
50 200
11 43.02
100
Egypt Morocco Tunisia Egypt Morocco Tunisia
Population, total. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?end=2014&locations=EG-MA-TN&start=2014
GDP growth (annual %). (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?end=2015&locations=EG-MA-TN&start=2010
North African Economic Growth Rate (%) 2010-2015
6
5 100.6
Morocco 100.6
Egypt
100.6
4 TUNISIA MENA
3
annual %
2 100.6
Tunisia
1
0
-1
-2
-3
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2015&locations=EG-MA-TN&start=2015
New Internet users

EDUCATION
Governments in the region have made signicant investments in the
education sector. There has also been a rapid growth in the number of
universities founded over the last few years.
In line with the mission of positioning the region as Africas tech hub, the
governments of Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are working with leaders in
the ICT space to develop and sponsor technology programs that are
geared towards increasing youth interest in the science and technology
elds.
Tunisia recently launched M-Dev Tunisia, a national mobile application

development program. The number of organizations supporting
entrepreneurs, such as incubators, co-working spaces, investor circles and
seed funders, have also increased substantially in recent years.
Number of Government sponsored

Coding schools/
Country chartered programs in the
boot-camps/labs
universities technology sector
ESPRIT, Time, Centrale, Ministry of Communication, Technologies &

The WeCode Land, Digital Technology
Young Tunisian Coders Academy,
Go My Code, Technovation, M-Dev Tunisia - Skills development program
Microsoft Innovation Center, focused on of mobile applications development
Tunisia 14 Tunisie Huawei Innovation Center
Samsung Lab, Evertek lab, Tunisia 2020 - The Digital School Project -
Google Developers Groups, and focused on the integration of digital education
Microsoft Student Partners* in educational institutions at all levels.
Tech Girls (US Embassy Initiative) The project has started with primary schools.
Ministry of Communications & Information

Technology
Software development
Information Technology Institute courses
29 Geek Factory, Almakinah ITIDA partnership with the International Data

Egypt Cairo Hackerspace, Lamba Labs
Corporation (IDC) aimed at supporting growth
Tech Girls (US Embassy Initiative)
in the country's information and communications
technology (ICT) sector
Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center -

Aims to stimulate innovation among students as
well as within Egyptian ICT rms.
Moroccan government developing an industrial

d|Bootcamp and technology hub specializing in sectors
Moroccan Cyber Security Camp
Morocco 17 Devoxx Morocco
including aeronautics, automobiles,
Tech Girls (US Embassy Initiative) telecommunications, renewable energy, and
transport equipment
UniRank. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from http://www.4icu.org/ma/moroccan-universities.htm

UniRank. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from http://www.4icu.org/eg/egyptian-universities.htm
New Internet users

INTERNET AND MOBILE PENETRATION
Mobile phone penetration is strong in all the
three countries, with each country above 100%.
133%
In contrast, internet penetration is much lower
Tunisia
45.82% but steadily increasing.
The growth in internet usage has catalyzed the

103%
Egypt growth of the regions digital entrepreneurship
35.90% landscape. Freedom on the internet is quite
limited. As of 2017, Egypt has the most
126% restrictions, with news sites and VoIP blocked on
Morocco social media platforms. Morocco and Tunisia
57.08%
have slightly less restrictions, and the latest
blocks were lifted at the end of 2016.
% with % with
mobile mobile
phones internet
Internet Users Statistics for Africa. (2017, March 30). Retrieved May 29 2017, from
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions. (2017, January 30). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS.P2?end=2015&locations=EG-MA-TN&start=2015
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Financial inclusion in the region is comparable to the rest of classications for non-bank nancial institutions, such as online
the continent, with the exception of Egypt, where only 16% of payment companies. Credit and debit cards are most
the bankable population has a bank account. Mobile money commonly used in Morocco, with more than a quarter of their
has not taken o in the region due to strict regulations, which population owning a card. This has led to a proliferation of
are slowly changing. In Egypt, the Central Bank has established online payments, totaling about $171 million annually. Card
a new package of regulations and procedures allowing mobile use in Tunisia and Egypt remains low, at 14% and 5%
money operators to accept deposits and facilitate withdrawals. respectively.
In 2016, Morocco and Tunisia introduced new regulatory
% of Adults with Bank accounts
30
22.5
Financial Inclusion
15
7.5
0
Tunisia Egypt Morocco
Account at a nancial institution (% age 15+). Retrieved May 29 2017, from

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/WP_time_01.1?end=2014&locations=MA-EG-TN&start=2014
New Internet users

FINTECH
According to a recent report by Wamda, ntech startups raised $17 million in Egypt, $8 million in Morocco, and $3 million in Tunisia
over the last decade. In 2016, two ntech-focused accelerators, the 1864 Accelerator and AUC Venture Lab Fintech Accelerator,
opened in Cairo. The number of ntech startups in the region more than doubled from 2013 to 2015, and is expected to grow 2.5X
by 2020. Despite this rapid growth, there are still notable challenges for ntech startups in the region, including government and
nancial sector regulations, hiring and retaining talent, and funding.
GAMING AND BETTING

Sports betting is illegal in Egypt. In Tunisia, casino gambling is allowed in four designated casinos. Online gaming is prohibited in these
two countries and, as a result, there are no local betting sites. Citizens may place bets through foreign betting companies, as the
online gaming sector is not well regulated. Morocco does not have any laws prohibiting sports betting by individuals but it enforces
strict laws for gambling site operators, requiring a business permit signed by the Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, and Minister
of Finance.
The video game industry is on the rise in North Africa. Expected gaming revenues for 2017 in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia are $193
million, $84 million and $29 million respectively. Tunisia has one of the largest League of Legends communities in Africa, boasting
over 30,000 players. Moroccos telecommunications rm Inwi develops mobile video games such as Trombiya, and local game
developers, such as Instinct Games in Egypt or Tunisian Game Developers, have sprouted up across North Africa. Events, jams and
expos such as Global Game Jam Tunisia are organized to foster industry collaboration in the Tunisian gaming community and help
gaming enthusiasts hone their skills.
E-COMMERCE
E-commerce growth in the region has been driven by growth in internet penetration. Souq has been the leading online marketplace
in the MENA region with 60-90% growth per year in some countries. In March 2017, global e-commerce retailer Amazon acquired
Souq for an undisclosed fee.
2016 1864
ACCELERATOR
AUC
VENTURE 2.5x
FINTECH STARTUPS RAISED
$17m
EGYPT
$8m
MOROCCO
$3m
TUNISIA
2
FINTECH ACCELERATORS
OPENED IN CAIRO
ESTIMATED FINTECH STARTUPS
GROWTH RATE IN THE REGION BY 2020
EXPECTED GAMING REVENUE FOR 2017
60-90%
TUNISIA
$193m $84m $29m 30,000+ Players
EGYPT MOROCCO TUNISIA E-COMMERCE GROWTH

GAMER COMMUNITY RATE IN THE REGION
New Internet users

DATA CENTRES
There are several data centers in the region, with the majority of them being in Egypt. With the region experiencing an increase in IT
based services, international companies such as IBM and Fujitsu have recently established data storage facilities and cloud computing
service platforms to serve local businesses.
Coding schools/
Country Data Centres Cloud storage Companies
boot-camps/labs
Fujitsu Tunisia, EO Data Centre, IBM Tunisia, Tunisie Electronique,

Tunisia Nouvameq, Carthage, EO Data Centre, Orange Tunisia,
Meninx Technologies, Dataxion Fujitsu Tunisia
IBM Egypt, Fujitsu Morocco ECC Solutions,

IBM Egypt, NileWeb,
Link, CityNet, Egypt Network,
Egypt Orange, GPX Global Systems,
CityNet, Linux Plus,
Fujitsu Egypt
CloudFlare/Telecom Egypt,
IBM Morocco, Fujitsu Morocco,

Morocco Fujitsu Morocco, MTDS, N+One, Devoteam, Business Centre
Solutions
Global directory of colocation data centers and service providers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from
https://cloudscene.com/market/egypt/all
https://cloudscene.com/market/morocco/all
https://cloudscene.com/market/tunisia/all
ACCELERATORS AND CO-WORKING SPACES

There are over 64 accelerator and co-working spaces in the region, with more
64 Accelerators (region)
than half of them spread across Egypt (28), Tunisia(15) and Morocco(21). Similar
to other regions across the continent, some of these co-working spaces also
serve as incubation and acceleration hubs. In addition, a majority of them amplify 28 21 15
community collaborations and host unique events for their members.
Egypt Morocco Tunisia
New Internet users

ACCELERATORS AND CO-WORKING SPACES IN
NORTHERN AFRICA
There are several data centers in the region, with the majority of them being in Egypt. With the region experiencing an increase in IT
based services, international companies such as IBM and Fujitsu have recently established data storage facilities and cloud computing
service platforms to serve local businesses.
Coding schools/
Country Physical co-working space
boot-camps/labs
Tunisia
Egypt
Morocco
Source: Dynamo Advisors
New Internet users

VENTURE CAPITAL
Several funds have started to take interest in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region as the economies within those
countries begin to stabilize. For example, 500 startups, a US-based early-stage venture fund and seed accelerator, recently closed a
$15M fund focused on MENA tech startups. These types of venture activities have been prompted by the fact that the region has a
growing, young population eager to pull the region from lingering political and economic uncertainty, to technology enabled regional
prosperity.
Funds Location Description Sample Portfolio Companies
Carthage Angel network for startups.

Business Tunis Provide support through
early stage investment
Angels
Financing of innovative
Innovest Tunis technological projects
Not available at this time
Manages USD 1 billion

AfricInvest Tunis across 16 funds
Yunus Social BioPam, Medwatch

Tunis Non-prot venture fund CIFEA, NextGen
Business
Intilaq
(Supported by Qatar
Friendship Fund Tunisia,
Tunis $10M investment fund
Microsoft & Tunisiana)
Equity based accelerator for established

companies and/or entrepreneurs
Boost Tunis with track record, MVP,
patent or working demo
Flat6Labs/
Meninx Holding/
Tunisian American Startup accelerator and provision
Enterprise Fund/ Tunis of early stage seed funds, $10K - $15K
Not available at this time
Banque Internationale
Arabe de Tunisie
Startup accelerator and provision

Flat6Labs Tunis of early stage seed funds, $10K - $15K
New Internet users

INDUSTRY EVENTS AND LEADING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
Across the region, industry events oer an opportunity for people in the industry to connect with like minds, meet investors, and
showcase innovation. As the tech startup scene continues to evolve, more events are being organized to highlight the development
of the technology and entrepreneurship arenas. The media attention to these events also helps to attract potential investors and
ecosystem stakeholders. Furthermore, socially conscious entrepreneurs are also discovering new and innovative ways to aect
change across dierent sectors..
Coding schools/
Country General industry events Idea competition
boot-camps/labs
IDC IT Forum 2017

Technovation Tunisia
International Conference on
Tunisia Digital Economy, Emerging Technologies
Seedstars World
Minbar
and Business Innovation
Conference of Digital Economy

RiseUp Summit
and Technology General Division
Techne Summit
Digital Transformation and
Orange Social Venture Prize
Egypt New Models of Innovation
Challenge Cup Cairo
IDC Egypt CIO Summit
The Hult Competition
eLearning Africa
Seedstars World
Cairo ICT
Global Entrepreneur Summit

Cloud Tech Maroc Startup Cup
Devvox Morocco Seedstars World
Morocco International Conference on Education 1776 Challenge Cup
and E-Learning Tech-I competition
CEED Annual Conference
Sources: Dynamo Advisors
AlloTabib - Doctor appointment booking platform

Hippocrate - Medical consultation platform
YallaRead - Book sharing platform
Tunisia Secure Drive Company - Car accident detection software
DabaDoc - Medical appointment booking platform

CasaBlaZbel - project that aims to help citizens launch initiatives aimed at
preserving the city of Casablanca
Egypt Echec & Mat - Civic engagement content platform
Safa - Clay and wood water lter
Green Alafco - Aluminium recycling

Napata - Palm waste recycling
Morocco Bassita - Crowdsourcing platform used to provide access to clean
drinking water for households in need
Veezeta - Doctor appointment booking and site review
Tagaddod - Renewable energy and waste management
Ekshef - Online social directory of doctors
New Internet users

THE EASTERN AFRICA REGION
Eastern Africa continues to show

signicant growth. Over the last seven
years, all the countries except Burundi
have been growing faster than the Sub-
Saharan African average. General
political stability in most countries in
the recent years is one of the key
drivers for the economic growth the
region has been experiencing. Again,
with the exception of Burundi, all the
countries have had peaceful
democratic elections since 2010.
Governments in the region have made a lot of investments into education. There has been a rapid growth in the number of
universities founded over the last few years. Despite this massive investment in education, the number of institutions that
teach information technology remains very low, and nding globally competitive technology talent remains a considerable
challenge in this region.
RAPID GROWTH IN THE

POLITICAL STABILITY NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES
PEACEFUL ELECTIONS SINCE
OVER THE LAST
2010 7
IN EASTERN AFRICA REGIONS
EXCEPT BURUNDI
YEARS
FOUNDED OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS
EASTERN AFRICA
Country Summary
ERITREA
SUDAN
ETHIOPIA
SOMALIA
UGANDA
KENYA
RWANDA
TANZANIA
Kenya
Kenya continues to be a regional leader in technology, and this community, evidenced by 27 active
is driven by a number of factors. The rst factor is the political tech-focused innovation hubs and
stability in the country, which has created an environment that co-working spaces, such as iHub,
is attractive to investors. Secondly, Kenya has a high penetration Metta, and Nailab, and several
of mobile phones (90%), internet (75%), and mobile money specialized training schools, such as
(55%). There is also an active technology and innovation Moringa for coding and Brave
Ventures for data science.
Uganda
Despite lagging behind Kenya, Uganda has been Backbone Infrastructure project, which involves laying bre
making strong progress over the last few optic cables in major towns to increase internet availability and
years. The country has made immense aordability. However, low network coverage and low levels of
progress in internet and mobile money rural electrication, as well as limited access to nancing for
penetration, which has grown by 89% from technology entrepreneurs, poses a challenge to continued
2015 to 2016. Government driven initiatives have growth
contributed to this growth, such as the ongoing National
Tanzania
Across Tanzania, mobile penetration has nearly doubled from Furthermore, the cost of accessing
25 million in 2011 to 40 million in 2016. Mobile money the internet remains high, with patchy
penetration remains behind Kenya, largely due to the countrys connection outside of major towns.
fragmented telco industry and the new tax on mobile money There is also lack of political and
transactions. However, the government is laying SEACOM public will in making investments in
cables which will signicantly improve internet penetration and technology. The government remains
price. That said, companies are struggling to nd tech talent, as heavily focused on the extractive,
very few institutions teach computer science courses. healthcare, education, agriculture, and
infrastructure sectors
New Internet users

Rwanda
Rwanda has also positioned itself as a leading technology and Mellon University, a US-based university, to establish a
entrepreneurship hub in the region. The government has Kigali campus that teaches computer
adopted business-friendly policies that have made it easy to science and engineering management.
open and operate a venture in the country. Rwanda was Despite the government's narrative
recognized as a top reformer, and is ranked second after and attention, there are few
Mauritius as the best place in Africa to do business by the commercially viable tech startups in the
World Bank Doing Business report. Furthermore, the country, and most of the country,
government has formed strategic partnerships with private including Kigali, still operates on EDGE
sector players, notably Olleh, a South Korean company, to network.
establish 4G infrastructure around the country, and Carnegie
Ethiopia
With a population of 100 million, the second infrastructure and mobile penetration remains at 25% versus
highest in Africa, Ethiopia has a lot of the regional average of 62%. Internet penetration is only 5%
potential. However, the country is held versus the regional average of 33%. Recently, the government
back by protectionist policies made some investments into technology infrastructure, such as
advanced by the government. The constructing EthioICT Village to host tech companies, an
entry of foreign companies into the innovation hub and a data center. There is also an ongoing
country is dicult. Key sectors like banking and project to connect more than 950 districts to the internet,
telecommunications are dominated by either local players or increasing penetration and reducing cost of access.
state-owned enterprises. The country lags behind in
The region has a total population of about 162 million people, with a population growth rate of more than 2.7% a year. The
population is very youthful with a median age of 17-21. Economically, the region is among the fastest growing on the continent. Over
the last seven years, all the countries except Burundi have been growing faster than the Sub-Saharan African average, as the graph
below shows. General political stability in most countries in the recent years is one of the key drivers for the economic growth the
region has been experiencing. All the countries except Burundi have had peaceful democratic elections since 2010.
New Internet users

GDP ($bn) 2015 Population in millions (2015)
63 62 99
60 120
45
50 100
40 27 80
53
30 60 46
39
20 8
40 11 11
10 20
Kenya Ethiopia Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Ethiopia Tanzania Kenya Uganda Rwanda
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2015&locations=TZ-KE-UG-RW-ET-BI&start=2015
Population, total. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?end=2015&locations=TZ-KE-UG-RW-ET-BI&start=2015
East African Economic Growth Rate (%) 2010-2015
14
12 100.6
Ethiopia
10 TUNISIA 100.6
Tanzania
100.6
8 Rwanda
100.6
Uganda
6 100.6
annual %
Sub-Saharan
Africa
4 100.6
Kenya
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
-2
-4
-6
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?end=2015&locations=KE-RW-ET-ZG-TZ-UG-
BI&start=2010&view=chart
New Internet users

EDUCATION
Governments in the region have made a lot of investments into education.
There has been rapid growth in the number of universities founded over
the last few years. Despite this massive investment in education, the
number of institutions that teach information technology remains very low.
Finding globally competitive technology talent remains a challenge in this
region, especially in countries like Tanzania and Burundi. While traditional
Universities oer diplomas in IT, short-term employer-sponsored programs
in specialized skills such as software engineering and data science have
become more common. Government programs designed to equip students
with skills or career placement remain limited in the region.
Number of Government sponsored

Coding schools/
Country chartered programs in the
boot-camps/labs
universities technology sector
Presidential digital talent programme - training

Moringa School, Andela , and placement of IT interns
Nairobi Dev School, Ajira Digital programme - introducing young people
Kenya 22 Institute of Software Technologies, to online work
Brave Ventures Tandaa grant - seed capital for companies creating
and distributing local content on digital media
-National Information Technology Agency

Code Girls Uganda (an initiative of WITU),
Girl Geeks (boot camp), to provide standards oer guidance in the sector
Uganda 39 Outbox.co.ug -National ICT policy masterplan - setting the agenda
(Ruby on Rails boot-camp for young women)
for government initiatives in the sector
Tanzania 30 LearnIT Tanzania commission of science and technology
Government created an E-ICT training center

Smart Africa manifesto - putting ICT at the center
Kepler Tech Lab
Rwanda 30 Carnegie Mellon University of national economic agenda
One laptop per child policy by the Rwanda
Education Board
WoredaNet - will connect 950 districts to the internet.

SchoolNet - a project providing educational satellite TV
Gebeya to high school students.
Ethiopia 30 Addis Coder
The construction of an ICT park to attract technology
Girls Can Code (ET)
companies to the country, and the setting up of
hubs and incubators.
New Internet users

Mobile and internet penetration rates are strongest in
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Internet penetration in
Kenya has been driven by massive investments in
90% infrastructure, specically the East African Marine
Kenya 75% Systems and the laying of ber cables in major cities,
both by the government and Safaricom. Similarly, the
70%
Uganda Rwandan government has invested over $830 million in
51%
its ICT infrastructure across the country. These
75% investments in infrastructure have led to increased access
Tanzania 40% and a drop in prices of internet access packages. The
picture is dierent for Burundi and Ethiopia. Ethiopia lags
70%
Rwanda behind in both mobile adoption and internet penetration
25%
despite its massive population. The main telco is
133% government-owned Ethiotel, and the market is closed to
Ethiopia 5%6% outside telco players, reducing competition in the sector.
Burundi has lagged behind in mobile and internet
penetration in part due to the lack of political will to
invest suciently into these sectors.
% with % with
mobile mobile
phones internet
Internet Users Statistics for Africa. (2017, March 30). Retrieved May 29 2017, from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions. (2017, January 30). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS.P2?end=2015&locations=KE-UG-TZ-RW-BI-
ET&start=2015
Communications Authority of Kenya. (2016). Second Quarter Sector Statistics Report for the Financial Year 2016/2017. Retrieved from
http://www.ca.go.ke/images/downloads/STATISTICS/Sector%20Statistics%20Report%20Q2%20FY%202016-17.pdf
Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority. (2016). Quarterly Communications Statistics Report. Retrieved from
https://www.tcra.go.tz/images/documents/telecommunication/CommStatDec16.pdf
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
With regards to nancial inclusion, there are considerable
variances across the region. Kenya is a leader in nancial
inclusion, driven largely by the widespread use of Safaricoms
M-PESA product. Today, 77% of Kenyans live within ve
minutes of a mobile money agent. Despite Tanzania having
the highest number of mobile money accounts registered
(38 million), only 8 million (25%) of these accounts are active,
and the average transaction value in Tanzania is $19 versus
$29 in Kenya. Overall, Kenya is an outlier in nancial inclusion
(59% of adults over the age of 25 years have an account with
a nancial institution), ahead of both Nigeria (44%) and Egypt
(17%). Burundis access to nancial services remains low (8%). by the dominance of Safaricom, which is 40% owned by Vodafone
and 35% owned by the Treasury. Card penetration is still low and
While Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda have multiple players dominated by Visa and Mastercard. That said, Visa is venturing
active in mobile money, such as MTN, Tigo, and Vodacom, into the digital space with the launch of its mVisa product in
the widespread use of mobile money in Kenya is facilitated Kenya.
New Internet users

DATA CENTRES
There are 22 data centers in the region with more than half of those in Kenya(13). Government regulation that required banks and
nancial institutions to have data stored locally led to the proliferation of Kenya-based data centers. While some banks invested in
data centers, most institutions procured space from companies in the telecommunications sector. Other countries are making
investments into data centers either through government initiatives, such as EthioICT Village, or through private sector players. There
is also an advent of cloud storage companies into the region.
Coding schools/
Country Data Centres Cloud storage Companies
boot-camps/labs
Safaricom, Kenya Data Centers,

Colocation Limited, Liquid Telcom, Microsoft Azure, Salesforce,
Access Kenya Group, KOOBA, Icolo, Angani, IBM East Africa, Node Africa,
Kenya Westwoood Management E.A Limited, Crimson Technologies,
East Africa Capital Partners, SAP Kenya, InfoConnect
Altech Sameer East Africa, (a Cisco, Dimension Data and EMC partnership)
Kenya National Oceanographic Data Center
Government owned data center Sofgen - Temenos T24 (banking),

Uganda to centralize all government data MTN Group cloud computing,
related operations, CenterServ, Infocom Twenty Third Century Systems (TTCS)
TTCL - Tanzania Telecommunications Company Ltd,

Tanzania TIX, Vodafone Data Center, Microsoft Azure, Vodacom, Solverforce
CenterServ, AICC Habari Node
Rwanda Rinex Microsoft Azure, Vodacom, Solverforce
IPCOM Technologies Trading, EthioICT Village,

Ethiopia Teraco (planned), Southwest Technologies (planned)
EthioCloud, ZeethioCloud
Global directory of colocation data centers and service providers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from https://cloudscene.com/market/kenya/all
Global directory of colocation data centers and service providers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from https://cloudscene.com/market/uganda/all
Global directory of colocation data centers and service providers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from https://cloudscene.com/market/tanzania/all
Global directory of colocation data centers and service providers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from https://cloudscene.com/market/rwanda/all

There are over 46 accelerator and coworking spaces in the region, with more 46 Accelerators (region)
than half of them in Kenya(27), Uganda(12), Tanzania(4), Rwanda(2), Ethiopia(2),
and none in Burundi. The majority of these hubs only oer a co-working space, 2 4 27
but a few of them go beyond just space and provide consultancy and capacity
development services. For example, Metta houses participants of Mercks Ethiopia Tanzania kenya
accelerator program, and mLab will host a World Bank-funded one-year Traction
Camp aimed at helping mobile and digital entrepreneurs attract nancing. 12 2 0
Uganda Rwanda Burundi
New Internet users

Hubs by
Country Physical co-working space
and type
Kenya
Uganda
Tanzania
Rwanda
Ethiopia
VENTURE CAPITAL
There is a massive discrepancy in how much funding startups in each country receive. According to a 2016 report by Partech
Ventures, Kenyan startups raised $92.7 million in VC funding, compared to $16M in Rwanda, $12.9M in Tanzania and $270K in
Uganda. That said, several Ugandan startups, such as SafeBoda, have raised millions in grants. Several funds have started oces,
mostly in Nairobi, to fund and support early and growth-stage tech companies. A sample of such funds is shown below.
Despite its blockbuster success with M-PESA, Safaricom has struggled to build the next generation of mobile innovations internally.
Recently, the company launched the Safaricom Spark Fund, a $1 million fund that invests in tech startups that heavily leverage
Safaricoms core SMS, data, and mobile money services. The Safaricom Spark Fund is an interesting example of how a corporate VC
can work in the region.
2016 $1m
Partech Startups Report raise
$92.7m $16m $12.9m
Kenya Rwanda Tanzania
270k
Safaricoms activities
Uganda
in Nairobi
Funds Location Description Sample Portfolio Companies
$80M in committed capital to

Novastar Nairobi fund early-stage ventures
with social impact
Safaricom $1M to fund mobile startups

Spark Fund Nairobi in Kenya (~$200K average investment)
$25K-500K investments
Savannah Fund Arusha in early-stage tech companies
Seed stage investments

Zephyr Acorn Nairobi for early-stage tech
companies in East Africa
E-COMMERCE
E-commerce growth in the region has been driven by the growth in payment platforms and internet penetration in the region. While
Jumia is denitely the biggest player in terms of funding received and range of services, no company has emerged as a true leader in
the space to date, as the majority are smaller than their West African counterparts.
FINTECH
Due to the widespread use of M-Pesa in Kenya, ntech has become a major focus for both entrepreneurs and investors in East Africa.
Across the continent, the sector is accountable for 24% of total VC funding, and several funds and accelerators are dedicated solely
to ntech including Accion Venture Labs, and Visas ntech bootcamp.
Financial services platform, Mkopo Rahisi recently relaunched as Tala, and the holding company secured an additional $30 million USD
in funding from a variety of investors to expand their operations in East African and Southeast Asia. In April 2017, Kenyan ntech
startup Alternative Circle also raised $1.1 million USD in funding from international credit risk management company, Creditinfo
Group, to expand their services into other markets. The companys mobile app, Shika, allows users to access mobile loans using a
decision engine that identies creditworthy borrowers.
In June 2017, venture capital rm Village Capital released a research report on startup investments in the region. One of the key
insights from the report was that despite a few well-known Digital Financial Services (DFS) companies operating at scale, like
Safaricoms M-Pesa in Kenya, investment in the sector are still disproportionate and most other ntech startups in the ecosystem are
not receiving the investment they need to scale. Specically, the report questions why a majority of ntech investment in East Africa
goes to American and European founders, and highlights that local startups that successfully secured investment in the ntech sector
are those that have followed specic patterns.
GAMING AND BETTING

The widespread use of mobile money has also led to the proliferation of online and mobile betting sites, focused largely on football.
In Kenya, online bets are expected to grow to $50 million annually by 2019. However, the Treasury has threatened these companies
by proposing a 50% tax on all gambling revenue, a steep increase from the current 5-15%, to discourage gambling among Kenyans.
THE SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION
Besides South Africa, other countries

in the region of Southern Africa are
progressively developing their ICT
infrastructure. While mobile
penetration is strong, internet
penetration remains low in the region.
In Zimbabwe, for example, internet
penetration is 17%. One of the major
reasons these countries have lagged
behind is lack of government
commitment towards technology
driven infrastructure.
The region has a population of more than 90 million people, and South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe account for 86 million.
South Africa is the most industrialized economy in Africa. The other economies in Southern Africa are small and undiversied,
and there is a stark contrast between South Africa and its neighbors in terms of broader economic infrastructure including
education.
Zambia
South Zimbabwe
Africa
ESTIMATED POPULATION ZIMBABWE
90 86
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
Most Industrialized
Economy
in the South
million million
South Africa
IN THE REGION OF ITS ESTIMATED
TOTAL POPULATION
SOUTHERN AFRICA
Country Summary
MALAWI
MOZAMBIQUE
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
SWAZILAND
LESOTHO
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa
South Africa is the most advanced economy in Africa. It is an South Africa also attracts signicant venture
economic powerhouse with a population of 55 million people. capital investment because of
Cape Town, known as the Silicon Cape is considered the nations tax breaks given to investors, the
startup capital. Cape Town has very good infrastructure with attractiveness of 900 to
more than 785 kilometers of bre cable, 300 free wi hotspots, 1,700 active tech startups
and a population of about four million people, with 60% of in the country, and a
them below age 35. Cape Town is home to many high-caliber record of successful exits.
schools and colleges, such as the University of Cape Towns In 2016 alone, $96 million
Graduate School of Business, so there is a lot of business and owed into South Africa,
engineering talent available. It is often said that Africas digital second only to Nigeria, and,
economy started around 1995 in Cape Town. there were more than 300 events listed on startup websites
highlighting the vibrancy of South Africas startup community.
Zambia
Zambia has maintained a steady pace penetration is strong (75%), but internet penetration remains
of economic growth but the nations very low (21%). Investment into internet infrastructure has
economy has a heavy reliance on been spearheaded by the private sector, mainly MTN and
copper. Due to declining copper Huawei. Financial inclusion is low in the country at 30%, and the
prices from 2014 to 2016, economic legislative framework has not paved way for innovation in the
growth has been weak. The ICT sector in nancial sector. The country still has high levels of poverty and
Zambia remains nascent and there is little the World Food Programme estimates that 60% of the
investment in the sector by the government. Mobile countrys population still lives in poverty.
New Internet users

Botswana
Botswana is a small country with a population of 2.2 million and investment in the Botswana Innovation Hub, a science and
underdeveloped infrastructure. Only one in four people have technology hub, which oers companies a
access to the internet. In terms of technology, Botswana 15% corporate tax rate, exibility
remains relatively underdeveloped. There are only two in importing labor, a competitive
programs that teach computer science (University of Botswana telco package, and eligibility to
and Botswana International University of Science and access the $1.15 million USD state-
Technology), so the level of technical knowledge in the country sponsored Innovation Fund.
is still low. That said, the government has made a signicant
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwes economy has struggled over the last two decades. unemployment soared, and commodities were in short supply.
Economic output and investor condence The Zimbabwean technology sector has grown very slowly, and
were greatly undermined when the the ICT ministry has created several policies aimed at spurring
government seized white-owned growth in the sector. Telcos in the country were recently
farms and transferred ownership to mandated to contribute to a fund that will be used to nance
locals. With greatly diminished startups in the country. That said, basic ICT infrastructure
agricultural output and export levels, remains poor, as only 17% of Zimbabweans can access the
the country was hit by hyperination, internet.
Namibia
Namibia is also another tiny country with a small population of government set out to do is establish
2.4 million. Basic ICT infrastructure is still underdeveloped. Only ICT centers of excellence, which will
one in ve people has access to the internet. In 2008, the include coworking spaces for technology
government came up with a policy document laying out the companies, but there has been very little
way forward for the technology sector. One of the things the progress on this front.
The region has a population of more than 90 million people, and South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe account for 86 million. The
other economies in Southern Africa are small and undiversied. South Africas economy is diversied with 68% of the GDP being
from services, 30% manufacturing and 2% agriculture. The South African economy has slowed down recently due to falling
commodity prices and persistent labor strikes, resulting in higher production costs for the mining sector.
Notably, South Africas economy is also growing at a rate slower than the SSA rate, including other large markets such as Kenya and
Nigeria, but remains larger in absolute terms. South Africa also has a high unemployment rate of 25%, and this rate is even higher
among black youth. There is also signicant inequality with 35.9% living below the poverty line. South Africa has generally been
politically stable, as the ANC has been in power since the end of the apartheid rule in 1994.
New Internet users

314
350 55
300 60
250 50
200 40
150 30
16
100 20 15
21
50 14 14 10 2.2 2.4
11
0 0
South Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana Namibia South Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana Namibia
Africa Africa
GDP growth (annual %). (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2015&locations=ZA-ZM-ZW-BW-
NA&start=2015
Population, total. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?end=2015&locations=ZA-NA-ZM-ZW-BW&start=2015
South African Economic Growth Rate (%) 2010-2015
14
12
10
annual %
8 100.6
Namibia
6 100.6
Zambia
100.6
4 SSA
100.6
South
100.6
Africa Zimbabwe
2
100.6
0 Botswana
-2
GDP growth (annual %). (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?end=2015&locations=ZA-NA-ZM-ZW-
BW&start=2010
EDUCATION
There is a stark contrast between South Africa and its neighbors in education. Other countries
in the region do not have a sucient number of institutions that train students on computer
science. Botswana, for example, has only two computer science programs with no coding
schools or boot camps. South Africa invests 6% of its GDP into education every year, more
than any other African country. Despite these massive investments into education by both
the apartheid and post-apartheid governments, quality education remains a challenge in
South Africa among the poor and black demographics. One reason for this poor performance
is the quality of teachers; strong teacher unions are not willing to tackle absenteeism and
knowledge of English. Furthermore, fees remain out of reach for many poor families.
Therefore the government has an incentive structure for schools that waive fees for poor
students. Coincidentally, South Africa has a generally higher caliber of higher institutions of
learning compared to elsewhere in the continent. In a 2016 ranking of universities by the
Economist Intelligence Unit, eight of the top 10 African universities were in South Africa. The
ranking was based on the amount of original research work produced by the school (theses,
patents, articles published in industry journals) and the budget devoted to research and
development.
INTERNET PENETRATION
Most of the countries in Southern African countries
are in the process of setting up sustainable ICT South Africa 52
infrastructure. While mobile penetration is strong,

internet penetration remains low in the region. For
Botswana 28
example, Namibia has never implemented its National
ICT Policy originally made in 2008, and Zimbabwe is
struggling with public corruption, as evidenced by its Namibia 23
ranking as 156 out of 176 countries in Transparency
Internationals 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Zambia 21
The few investments into the sector are made by

private players. In Zambia, MTN is rolling out a massive
Zimbabwe 17
investment into broadband internet to improve levels
of access from the current 21%. In Zimbabwe, Econet
Wireless, the countrys largest telecommunications 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
provider, has in the past secured $460 million USD for
expansion and renancing. In February 2017 the internet
company raised $130 million USD to service its loans. Internet Users Statistics for Africa. (2017, March 30). Retrieved May 29 2017, from
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions. (2017, January 30). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from
In contrast, South Africa has strong ICT infrastructure.
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS.P2?end=2015&locations=ZA-ZW-ZM-BW-
Mobile phone penetration is at 160%, internet NA&start=2015
penetration is at 55%, and smartphone penetration is

at 40%. South Africa has a long history with ICT; the city community networks, such as JAWUG - Johannesburg, PTAWUG -
rst major internet cable connecting Africa was Pretoria, CTWUG - Cape Town, and rural community networks.
launched in 2001, connecting Johannesburg and
Lagos. Since that time, major investments have been The National ICT White Paper which was developed in September 2016,
made into laying cables. In 2010, several more cables provides a structure for the public sector to collaborate with private
were laid in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, and sector stakeholders and accelerate, but avoid duplicative investments, in
in 2012, the South African Express cable was ICT infrastructure. As of April 2017, MTN SA and Huawei have partnered
announced. Today, there is near ubiquity of high to bring the rst LTE Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) network to Africa,
speed broadband internet connections in South and provide South African customers with an enhanced network
African cities. Furthermore, there is a proliferation of experience.
wi providers, such as AlwaysOn, Wapa, Wibre,
Hotwireless, Ispot, Skyrove, and G-Connect, as well as
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Financial inclusion in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia is still very low. Across these countries, traditional branch-based
banking has very low penetration in the rural areas, where the majority of the population lives, so only 30% of the population is
nancially included. Governments are reluctant to pass legislation that frees innovation in the nancial sector. In Zambia, for example,
MTN is still in talks with the Central Bank to allow mobile banking.
South Africa has the highest level of nancial inclusion on the continent. 77% of adult South Africans have access to a formal nancial
institution. There are more than 3 million credit cards and more than 50 million debit cards in South Africa.
Vodafone piloted M-Pesa in the South African market, but cancelled the service after getting only 76,000 users. Some of the reasons
why M-Pesa failed include the prevalence of cards, a low dependency ratio, (meaning that people rarely need to send money to
dependents in the rural areas) and a strict central bank regulation framework that required operators to partner with a bank,
essentially making incumbent banks the gatekeepers to the technology.
DATA CENTERS
South Africa is home to a majority of the data centers in the region and also serves as a hub for many international technology rms
such as Google, IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, and Oracle. The country is also the founding home of Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading
secure cloud services platform that helps global businesses scale and grow. The South African government actively promotes the
establishment of data centers in areas other than the main cities where most of the centers already exist. In addition, the
government also supports the creation of new centers by utilizing their services across various tiers of government.

South Africa leads the region and the continent with 54 accelerators and coworking spaces, far ahead of second-place Egypt (28).
These hubs are concentrated in either Johannesburg or Cape Town. Cape Towns startup scene, aptly called the Silicon Cape, is home
to somewhere between 700-1,200 startups, and continues to rival Johannesburg as the top destination for startup innovation and
investments in the country. The citys youthful, vibrant culture is also appealing to foreign innovation actors that are entering the
region and utilizing the services of local incubators and co-working spaces.
Type of hub Co-working space Accelerator
Johannesburg
and Pretoria
Cape Town
Durban
Midrand
VENTURE CAPITAL
South Africa is home to a number of venture capital rms and angel investors. In 2016, South African startups accounted for 26% of
all the funding owing into Africa ($97 million USD, only behind Nigerias $109 million USD). South Africa has access to various types
of funding from banks, corporates, VC rms, PE funds, grants, and social impact bonds. 58% of venture capital rms in South Africa
are headquartered in Cape Town, and the city is home to a number of venture capital and accelerator programs. In 2016, ntech
startup, Zoona, completed its series B funding round of $15 million USD backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC),
Omidyar, Cape Town-based venture capital rm, 4Di Capital, and Quona Capital. South Africa's YOCO and AllLife have also raised
signicant funding from Quona Capital.
Firm Committed capital Sample of portfolio
4Di Capital $16.8m in a dedicated tech fund
Action Hero
Maximum of $250,000 ticket size
Ventures
Seed and early stage investor,

Angel Hub focused on disruptive technologies
Ventures with at least 2 years of operation
Blue Garnet Mobile application driven new businesses

Investments
Manages a $30 million ESD

Edge Growth fund on behalf of FNB
Silvertree
$10m - focused on internet
internet and e-commerce companies
holdings
Invests in innovation-driven
ventures with proven traction.
Knife Capital Some of their past investments have
exited to GE, Garmin, Visa
Fully invested their eVA fund

into internet based companies in SSA,
eVA fund now fundraising for eVA II.
ACQUISITIONS
There is ample precedence of larger global rms acquiring South African companies. The following represent some of the top exit
deals for South Africa startups over the past ve years:
Acquirer Company Acquired Year Price ofof

Sample acquisition
portfolio
2015 $445 million
Swiss based Cape Town based

medical company biotech company
May 2017 $123 million

US based 2u is a provider of Cape Town based Edu tech company
digital education through
partnerships with universities partnering with leading universities
such as Yale School of Medicine, to oer online short courses
Northwestern and Berkeley
2013 $110 million

Cape Town based cloud
US based technology company computing startup
2014 $54 million

US based payment technology South Africa based
solutions company virtual gift card service
2014 $40 million

Johannesburg based technology
Commonwealth Bank of Australia company that designs, builds
and operates digital banking
INDUSTRY EVENTS
There is a vibrant startup scene in South Africa. Most of the hubs and co-working spaces have very well attended monthly events and
ecosystem activities. Last year alone, there were more than 300 industry events, most of them happening in Cape Town.
Johannesburg served as hosts for the 2016 edition of DEMO Africa, and joined Cape Town as one of the cities visited during the
Geeks on a Plane tour organized by 500startups and USAID, with the support of the African Technology Foundation and Lions@frica.
E-COMMERCE
South Africas e-commerce market is the most advanced on the continent, and this is largely due to the high penetration of the
internet and nancial inclusion. A systematic physical address system also makes delivery easy while reducing logistical constraints and
improving customer experience. With 70% of South African internet users shopping online and constantly looking for deals, new
market entrants, such as local startup Hyperli, are focusing on providing relevant, well-priced deals to satisfy the growing market.
Naspers, Africa's biggest e-commerce and digital company, recently invested about $69.4M into Takealot Online, South Africa's largest
e-commerce company. Naspers noted that the investment underlined the companys continued commitment to Takealot and
condence in the potential of South Africas e-commerce sector.
In Zimbabwe, the growth of local ntech platforms has not directly translated to the growth of ecommerce activities. The recent
struggles of platforms like 10ngah show practical examples of the diculties that startups face in scaling ecommerce operations in
the country.
FINTECH
There are more than 20 payment companies in South Africa, driven by the success of e-commerce in the region. The South African
ntech is also very attractive to a host of foreign investors. Sectors such as mobile payments, remittance and alternative nance have
been massive growth areas for South African ntech start-ups. Traditional sectors like online trading, wealth management and
insurance are also witnessing new start-ups with disruptive technologies that are creating competition for nancial institutions in
those sectors.
As Zambia continues to build its economy, the ntech market is progressively growing with a few notable players. MTN Zambia and
Barclays Zambia have recently launched a Bank to Wallet (B2W) service that allows clients to store, send and receive money using
their MTN mobile money accounts and Barclays accounts. The service provides enhancements to the existing Barclays Strategic Hello
Money (SHM) and Barclays Internet Banking for Retail (BIR) platforms.
There are about fteen ntech companies operating in Zimbabwe. Within the Blockchain markets, services like Bitmari allow people
outside the country to send money to local recipients using Bitcoin through a Bitcoin wallet. Other notable ntech providers include,
but are not limited to, Ecocash, Paynow, Zimswitch, Bitnance. Getbucks, Zapper and Zing.
South NOTABLE FINTECH STARTUPS

Africa Zimbabwe
IN ZAMBIA
20 Payment Companies
MTN
Zambia
(B2W)
Barclays
Zambia
15FINTECH COMPANIES
IN OPERATION
Bank to wallet
service
Bitmari Ecocash Paynow
DRIVEN BY THE SUCCESS OF ALLOWING CLIENTS TO ALL WITHIN THE

E-COMMERCE IN THE REGION STORE, SEND AND RECEIVE MONEY BLOCKCHAIN MARKET
THE WESTERN AFRICA REGION
Although Nigerias economy has

slowed down over the last two years
because of oil price instability, the
West African region remains one of the
fastest growing in Africa. Ivory Coast
has been making big infrastructure
investments as it seeks to lay the
groundwork for vibrant manufacturing
and service sectors. Ghana, which has
been showing strong performance, is
seeking to diversify its economy by
investing into services and the oil
sector.
General political stability in most countries across the region in recent years has been one of the key drivers for the economic
growth. For example, amidst the economic slump, Nigeria had a peaceful transition of government in 2015, and the security
situation in the Northern region of the country is improving.
COTE
NIGERIA DIVOIRE
Zambia
GHANA
FASTEST GROWING TECHNOLOGY

& ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM
WEST
AFRICA
LAYING DOWN MANUFACTURING GENERAL ECONOMIC

IN THE REGION
AND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE STABILITY IN MOST COUNTRIES
WESTERN AFRICA
Country Summary
NIGER
CHAD
SENEGAL
BURKINA
FASO
GUINEA BENIN
TOGO
GHANA
NIGERIA
COTE
DIVOIRE
CAMEROON
Nigeria
Nigeria is Africas most populous country and an economic foreign investors as part of
powerhouse, with a population of about 186 million people. the Geeks on a Plane tour.
Nigerias economy was growing steadily before the 2008 Mobile penetration in the
nancial crisis, and then again until the drop in oil prices and country is at 77%, and 50%
consequent depreciation of the Naira in 2016. Despite the of the population has
economic challenges on the wider economy, the technology access to the internet,
and entrepreneurship sectors remain very attractive and making it a very
continue to draw signicant attention from local and attractive market for a
international investors, including Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg. variety of digital services.
According to the 2017 Global
Nigerias technology sector is among the most active in Africa. Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER), the Lagos startup ecosystem
In 2016 alone, the sector received about $109 million in is worth over $2 billion, making it the most valuable startup
funding for startups, the highest on the continent. The country ecosystem on the continent. It has also been reported that at
is home to a number of larger-scale tech startups like Konga, 59%, the Lagos ecosystem has the 9th highest rate of founders
iROKOtv, and Mall for Africa. There are 23 technology and with undergraduate degrees while 93% of them have a
innovation hubs in the country including iDEA, CcHub and technical background, the third highest rate in the world.
Wennovation hub, and Lagos was one of the cities visited by
Ghana
Ghana is a fast-growing country in terms of Ghana has positioned itself as a great place to do business. The
GDP (7.5% annual growth), thanks to its startup scene in Ghana is quite active with numerous startup
sustained political stability and industrial and hubs, such as the Meltwater School of Entrepreneurship (MEST)
services sectors. The oil sector in Ghana is and Impact Hub in Accra. The city of Accra was also part of the
still small, and remained largely unaected Geeks on a Plane tour co-hosted by Lions@frica. Startup
by the global price shocks in the sector. The funding remains low, with only $8 million owing into the
country has a population of 27 million countrys startups in 2016. Like its neighbor, Nigeria,
people and a median age of 20, signifying a infrastructural development still trails economic and population
massive source of human resources, as well as growth.
a signicant consumer market. With a mobile phone
penetration rate of 115% and an internet penetration rate of
65%, Ghana remains an attractive market for technology
innovations.
New Internet users

Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast is rapidly emerging from years of political turmoil. The country is seeking to position itself
The economy has been growing at an impressive 8% annually. as a hub of innovation for Francophone
Mobile penetration is at 119%, while internet subscription is at West Africa. There is an active startup
25%. Economic growth has been driven by considerable multi- scene in Abidjan, an impressive feat for
sector investments into infrastructure. Notable private sector a small country like Ivory Coast, which
investments include power generation company Ciprel, which has earned it a place amongst Africas
invested $560 million in capacity improvements to maintain the KINGS. (KINGS is an acronym coined by
growth of the power sector at an annual rate of 10%. Ghanaian investor Eric Osiakwan, which
represents the leaders in Africas digital economy: Kenya - Ivory
Coast - Nigeria - Ghana - South Africa)
Senegal
Like its neighbour Ivory Coast, Senegal is also the countrys economy is still largely dependent on extractives.
positioning itself as a destination for direct Unlike Nigeria where the progress is driven by the private
foreign investments that are targeted at sector, the progress in Senegal is largely catalyzed by the
francophone West Africa. However, the government. The major technology hub and accelerator CTIC is
country has a much smaller backed by the government and has been home to 91 startups
population with only 11 million since its inception in 2015. The Senegalese government is also
people. Senegal has posted pursuing a diversication strategy with emphasis on the
impressive economic growth of 6% over the last year, although services sector as a key enabler.
The region has a total population of about 248 million people,
with a population growth rate that is among the highest in
Nigeria
the world at over 2.6% annually. The population is mainly Ghana
young with a median age between 18 and 21. While this

Senegal
presents a long-term opportunity for tech-savvy consumers Ivory
248
and a skilled workforce, it puts increased pressure on job Coast
opportunities, thereby making entrepreneurship an
increasingly attractive option.
Economically, the region is among the fastest growing in Million

Africa although Nigerias economy has slowed down over the
last two years because of oil price instability. Senegal has had
strong growth over the last four years. Ghana, which has been
showing strong performance, slowed down due to uctuating
cocoa prices, but is seeking to diversify its economy by
General political stability in most countries in the recent years is
investing into services and investing in its oil sector. Ivory
one of the key drivers for the economic growth the region has
Coast has been making big ticket investments into road
been experiencing. Nigeria had a peaceful transition of
networks and power generation as it seeks to lay the
government in 2015, and the security situation in the North of
groundwork for vibrant manufacturing and service sectors.
the country is improving steadily.
New Internet users

200
181
600
486
500
150
400
300 100
200
50
37 27
100 31 13 23 15
0 0
Nigeria Ghana Ivory Senegal Nigeria Ghana Ivory Senegal
Coast Coast
GDP growth (annual %). (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2015&locations=NG-GH-CI-SN&start=2015
Population, total. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?end=2015&locations=NG-GH-CI-SN&start=2015
West African Economic Growth Rate (&) 2010-2015
14
12
Ivory Coast
10 Ghana
annual %
100.6
Senegal
8
100.6
6 SSA
Nigeria
4
2
0
-2
GDP growth (annual %). (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2015&locations=NG-GH-CI-
SN&start=2015
EDUCATION
Governments in the region have made a lot of investments into education. Across West Africa, there has been rapid growth in the
number of universities over the last few years. There are an increasing number of government and private sector led initiatives
tailored to preparing computer graduates for the job market. The Nigerian government, for example, has set aside funds to train
65,000 youth in hardware and software skills. On the private sector side, companies like Andela are providing vocational training in
technology and producing graduates ready for the 21st century job market.
Number of Government sponsored programs in the

Country chartered Coding schools/ boot-camps/labs
technology sector
universities
- The government views technology as a job creation strategy for the youth.
Andela
- The government announced that 65,000 youths will be trained in hardware
Wi Combat
CK Digital Academy and software technology from this year.
56 Audax - The government is running a program to provide grants
WAAW Education Foundation to 100K STEM students.
Nigeria CCHub Coding Camp (annual)
- The government is building two hubs in Abuja and Lagos.
- The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) was established in 2008

Ghana Code Club, ISpace Ghana,
NIIT Ghana, Codecan.org as the governing body supporting the national ICT for Accelerated
17 Vogue Innovative Coding
Boot Camp (MEST),
Development (ICT4AD) Strategy and National Telecom Policy (NTP).
- The government leads by example in Ghana - part of ICT4ADs mandate
Coders Hive Camp (MEST)
Ghana is to ensure government services are internet-enabled.
- 10% of GDP investment into ICT - the highest of any African country.
Five universities interconnected with very high bandwidth allowing for
UpForSchool initiative videoconferencing and exchange of content.
5 (run by the Jiguene
Tech Senegal - an innovation hub) - The government is constructing a technology park, Diamniadio,
Senegal to host tech companies. The project is estimated to cost 70m USD
and the rst phase will host more than 60 companies.
- The government has a target of educating 30,000 engineers

in computer science courses every year in its 11 universities
11 Africa Code Week
- The government is setting up 3,000 cyber centers in the rural areas
Ivory Coast to enable the population and students learn and interact with ICT

Mobile phone penetration is strong in all the three countries, with each country currently above 75%, however internet penetration
has lagged behind mobile penetration. Mobile data prices in Nigeria, for example, were quite high until two years ago when the
Nigeria Communications Commission(NCC) removed data oor prices. For example, for $5 USD consumers can buy 1.5 GB of data
today, compared to only 0.25 GB of data in 2015. Investment in undersea cables by the government and other parties has also
helped to bring down the cost of internet. Before 2015, the only internet cable system was the West Africa Submarine Cable. In
2016, MTN Nigeria began rolling out its 4G LTE service to provider faster broadband services to its customers.
Innovations in the internet space are also playing a role in increasing internet penetration in the region with a number of private
sector players leading the way. Wi.ng provides internet to residential and small business customers by using solar powered wi
hotspots in Nigeria. CSquare, a Google initiative that seeks to provide aordable internet, is already operational in Ghana, and
MainOne remains a market leader in communication services in the region.
The eect of government policies in the region are mixed. Ghanas 2008 Branchless Banking Guidelines did not establish the desired
framework for mobile money or e-commerce as many had hoped for. The Nigerian mobile money legal framework takes a bank led
approach that empowers banks to oer mobile money services rather than mobile operators, thus oering no incentives to telcos to
build or support mobile money networks. In Ivory Coast, the government has started issuing 17-year LTE (Long Term Evolution)
licenses to telcos in the country. This development will improve access to the internet from the current 25% and also improve
aordability. When 3G was rolled out three years ago, the cost of data dropped by 40%. Foreign investors are active in the region.
San Francisco-based Zeno Ventures backed Tizeti, the wireless broadband internet services provider based in Menlo Park, California
and Lagos, Nigeria. The company counts the Wi.com.ng among its brand oerings, which oers Lagosians unlimited Internet for
$30USD monthly.Tizeti has already acquired over 3,000 subscribers and raised a total of $2.1 million in venture funding following their
graduation from Y Combinator.
Ivory 119%
Coast 25%
Mobile and Internet Penetration
115%
Ghana 65%
98%
Senegal
50%
77%
Nigeria
50% % with % with
mobile mobile
phones internet
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Internet Users Statistics for Africa. (2017, March 30). Retrieved May 29 2017, from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions. (2017, January 30). Retrieved May 29, 2017, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS.P2?end=2015&locations=NG-SN-GH-CI&start=2015
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Financial inclusion in the region varies widely from country to country. Almost six out of ten Nigerians have no access to formal
nancial institutions. The picture is even worse in Senegal where 9 out of 10 citizens do not have an account with a formal nancial
institution. Unlike East Africa, mobile money has not taken o in Nigeria due to regulations that give mobile money licenses to banks
rather than telcos.
Nigeria also has a fragmented telco market, with MTN owning 43% market share, followed by Globacom (21%), Airtel (20%), and
Etisalat, now 9Mobile (16%). Ghana continues to have a far better adoption rate of mobile money among the leading West African
countries.
DATA CENTERS
There are several data centers in the region, with the majority of them being in Nigeria. Nigeria ranks number 61 on Cloudscene (a
site that ranks countries based on ratio of population to data centers and cloud service providers). Investment into data centers in
Nigeria has slowed down in part due to the unreliability of the national grid in the country, which means that data centers have to
invest in alternative power generators, driving up the operational costs.
The Ghanaian government has recently nished constructing a data center in partnership with Millicom, Tigos parent company.
These recent developments will raise the number of data centers in the country, laying the infrastructure for further technology
development.
Country Data centers Cloud storage companies
Lagos Rack Center, Lagos Netcom, SAP, SS- Limited, MDX-I cloud,
Lagos Medallion Communication, MXDI Data Center, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud Computing,
CenterServ Lagos Data Center, Globacom MTN
Nigeria
Rack Africa, Tigo Ghana,

CenterServ Accra Data Center, IS Ghana, Ghana Yello, SS Limited
National Data Center (Govt owned)
Ghana
Millicom (to support Tigo's West African operations),

Etix Dakar (under construction), IPI Solutions, RegioSIS Group, Isolux Corsan
Orange data center
Senegal
CNS Data Center, Flexenclosure, MTN Data Center MTN, SAP Africa, IBM
Ivory Coast

Several innovation hubs have come into existence in West Africa over the past ve years. Currently there are 23 hubs in Nigeria, 16 in
Ghana, and 10 in Senegal. These hubs bridge the gap between the knowledge of technology and its appropriate application, and
have also supported the local entrepreneurial ecosystems through the provision of mentoring, coaching, business advisory and
operational assistance to startups. Yabacon Valley is famously touted as Nigerias version of Silicon Valley. Yaba is home to many of
Nigerias most promising startups. It is attractive to tech startups due to its central location, aordable real estate prices, and
proximity to Yaba College of Technology and University of Lagos. There is an ongoing development of the Egbin Tech Park, a
technology park which will further boost Lagos as a major force in technology innovation in the continent. Founded in 2010, Nigerias
Co-Creation Hub is the countrys rst open living lab and pre-incubation space. CcHub also launched an impact investment arm in
2012 and has provided 16 early-stage companies with access to state-of-the-art workspace, mentorship, networks, and a pool of
some of Nigerias best software engineers. At the end of 2015, in partnership with Bank of Industry, Venture Garden Group, and
Omidyar Network, CcHub launched Growth Capital, a $3.2 million USD initiative targeting social tech ventures. Furthermore, CcHub is
partnering with Google for Entrepreneurs to bring 15 elite African tech startups on a three-week, ve-city tour of Europe to raise
over 20 million Euros.
The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is the pride of Accra. With an accelerator model that is second to none
in the entire region, MEST has advanced its operations to Nigeria and Kenya and continue to graduate stellar groups of African
startups. In neighboring Abidjan, there is also an active co-working and hub community including, but not limited to, Jokkolabs, Colab,
Ovillage and Dignited. Foreign investors are also actively participating in the development of the ecosystem. In June 2017, Orange
launched a 50 million Euro initiative to support their existing open innovation initiatives in Africa, such as the Orange Fabs in Cte
dIvoire, Cameroon and Senegal. The network of partner incubators for implementation include CTIC in Dakar and will support
initiatives such as the Orange Social Venture Prize that recognizes social entrepreneurs in Africa.
Country Hubs Cloud storage companies
Nigeria
Ghana
Senegal
Ivory Coast
VENTURE CAPITAL
The amount of venture capital funding owing into Nigerian based startups is also noteworthy. One of the reasons Nigerian startups
are so attractive is the sheer size of the Nigerian market. Industry data shows that $109 million owed into Nigerian startups in the
year 2016, far ahead of Ghana ($8.6 million) and Senegal ($6.5 million). Some of the most notable Nigerian venture rms are listed
below:
Country Location Sample of portfolio companies
Tlcom Capital LLC Lagos
Venture Garden
Lagos
Group
Echo VC Lagos
The West African VC ecosystem also includes investment banking, private equity and asset management players that have been
involved in a number of the more advanced funding rounds across the ecosystem, and are recognized as industry catalysts .
Organisation Location
Idea competition
Blue Capital Limited Lagos
Cordros Capital Limited Lagos
Henshaw Capital Partners Ltd Lagos
Kord Capital Ltd Lagos
Lighthouse Investments Ltd Abuja
Unique Venture Capital Limited Lagos
Treasure Capital & Trusts Ltd Lagos
Adievo Capital Lagos
Althela Capital Lagos
First funds Lagos
Source: ATF
INDUSTRY EVENTS
Across West Africa, industry events oer multiple opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect, share knowledge, meet investors, and
showcase innovation. Nigeria has a vibrant event environment with at least seven annual events across major cities.
Country General industry events Idea competition
CyberXchange 2017 Conference Lagos Startup Weekend Disruptive Africa Week

Nigeria Innovation Summit Mobile Money Nigeria ReCode Nigeria
TechPlus2016 Developers Parago ISDEV2017 Hackathon
SpeedUp Africa Startup Kaduna HackJos
Nigeria Tech Circle Nigeria Startup Grind
AfriLabs Annual Gathering

TEDxSpintexWomen Tigo Digital Change Makers Competition
Barcamp Accra 2016
Ghana
Startup Weekend - Dakar and St. Louis

Senegal
Abidjan Data Science Forum

Forum Economique des Startups Africaines 2017 Seedstars Abidjan (2017)
Alpha Code 2017
Ivory Coast
FINTECH
The ntech sector remains very attractive to investors and funders alike due to the low levels of nancial inclusion across the region,
particularly in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. The sector is accountable for 29% of total VC funding into Nigeria, while only 1 in 20
Nigerians has access to a formal nancial institution.
According to a recent report by AsokoInsight, investor appetite for Nigerian ntech rms has grown signicantly in recent years.
Nigerian digital payments company, Interswitch processes the bulk of the countrys government and corporate nancial transactions.
Interswitch itself was a startup with backing from Helios ($96 million), IFC ($20 million) and Adlevo Capital ($14 million). With such a
strong command of the ntech space, Interswitch has now started a $10 million fund to invest in tech startups. Specically, the fund
aims to promote innovative and disruptive business concepts within the digital payment and commerce industry across Africa. In
2015, Paga raised $13 million in series B nancing. The round was led by Adlevo Capital with participation from Omidyar Network,
Goodwell West Africa, Acumen Fund, and Capricorn Investment Group.
E-COMMERCE
E-commerce growth in the region has been driven by evolution of payment platforms and the steady increase of in internet
penetration in the region. Companies like Jumia, MallforAfrica and Konga are the biggest players across the region, but other
companies like Yudula, DealDey, Payport, VConnect, and Kara are also popular general merchandise sites.
In March 2016, Ringier Africa, a subsidiary of the Swiss media and e-commerce company Ringier, acquired Dealdey, a Nigerian online
shopping startup for an undisclosed amount. In July 2016, a groundbreaking partnership between EBay and MallforAfrica.com
launched the eBay Powered by MallforAfrica dedicated platform that enables the sale of inventory from all eBay U.S. individual and
business sellers (with a 300+ star rating ) to buyers in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya
MEDIA
As internet and mobile penetration numbers increase, African media companies are now shifting their focus to the digital space. The
convergence of technology and media is beginning to provide the best platforms for African consumers to engage with their
products. Recently in Nigeria, Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) partnered with PublicVine, a Nigeria-based platform-as-a-service (PaaS)
technology provider, to power its media streaming platform of artists such as Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts. Ghanaian startup, OMG
Digital recently closed a US$1.1 million round from international investors as it looks to target more millennials across Africa with
tailored digital content.
No mention of media in Nigeria is complete without a mention of Nollywood. According to a report by the UN Africa Renewal, with
more than a million people, Nollywood is the countrys second largest employer. Startups such as iROKOtv and Afrostream have
taken advantage of the popularity of the movie industry across West Africa to build platforms that enable media content to be
shared online. Both platforms have been able to raise considerable international capital, and continue to grow their customer bases.
iROKtv has raised $40 million over ve years from investors including Goldman Sachs and CanalPlus of France.
Infrastructure investments into the media space continues to grow considerably. In 2015, IMAX entered a collaborative partnership
with FilmHouse Nigeria for the development of the rst IMAX theater in West Africa. Across the regions, the local media sector
continues to be supported by industry engagements and lm festivals such as the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in
Nigeria, and the Pan African Film Festival of Ouagadougou(FESPACO) in Burkina Faso.
Lions@frica, in collaboration with the African Technology Foundation and Relativity School in Los Angeles, also launched the
Hollywood in Focus initiative in 2016 to train and equip the next generation of African media entrepreneurs with world class tools
and resources.
International
Engagement
INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Across Silicon Valley, accelerators and

incubators are admitting more African
entrepreneurs into their esteemed
programs, as local and international
venture capitalists look to invest on
the continent. Participation in top
accelerators such as Y Combinator, 500
startups, or Techstars is extremely
helpful to African startups when
raising funds internationally, and
universities in Silicon Valley and across
North America are graduating more
African students who work for
technology rms before returning
home to start businesses on the
continent.
While there are a few challenges to overcome in connecting Silicon Valley to the African startup ecosystems, they are far
outweighed by the encouraging signs of growing interest in the continent. More and more young Africans in the diaspora are
investing in startups and providing critical advisory and mentorship support to young entrepreneurs on the continent.
INCREASE IN NUMBER OF
STUDENTS ADMITTED
ACCELERATORS & INCUBATORS LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL INTO NORTH AMERICA

ADMITTING MORE AFRICAN INVESTORS ARE INCREASING UNIVERSITIES
ENTREPRENEURS IN CONTINENT
New Internet users

SILICON VALLEY
The African Connection: Overview
Africa
San Francisco
Silicon Valleys growing interest in African innovation investments on the continent. For these African startups,
ecosystems, albeit slow and delayed, is very exciting. The participation in top accelerators such as Y Combinator, 500
data from the continent has been improving progressively startups, Google Launchpad or Techstars provides a measure
buoyed by a growing consumer class that desires digital of validation when raising funds internationally.
products and services, and aspires to keep pace with their
western counterparts. Over the last ve years, Lions@frica There are also a growing number of Africa-focused technology
has remained committed to scaling programs and initiatives venture capital and advisory rms such as the African
that support African entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, by Technology Foundation, EchoVC and DraperDarkFlow based in
building venture bridges and fostering awareness of African Silicon Valley. Social impact investors are also investing a large
startup ecosystems globally. Organizations like the African amount of capital in impact projects on the continent. From
Technology Foundation (ATF), through programs like the San Francisco, to Palo Alto to San Jose, global entrepreneurship
Lions@frica Innovation Tour, have been at the forefront of events are creating rich convenings, where the story of African
catalyzing venture relations between Silicon Valley and the entrepreneurship can be shared with an international audience
continent. of investors and innovation stakeholders.
On a quasi consistent basis, innovation actors in both regions Coincidentally, universities in Silicon Valley and across North
are forging relationships through a combination of events, America are also graduating an increasing number of African
corporate partnerships and the development of bilateral students who work for US based technology rms before
networks of investors and entrepreneurs. On the African starting businesses or supporting innovation activities on the
continent, the innovation hubs are a critical resource for local continent. Institutions such as Stanford, and Santa Clara
startups that are looking to raise funds or scale their University oer academic fellowships to African applicants
business internationally. They also help global corporations under various programs. Newer entrepreneurship schools such
or investors make connections to potential partners or as Draper University and Singularity University are also
investees in Africa. Across Silicon Valley, leading accelerators accepting many entrepreneurs from Africa into their Silicon
and incubators are recruiting and admitting more African Valley-based education programs.
entrepreneurs, as venture capitalists look to expand their
SILICON VALLEY
Building Networks
For foreign investors that are considering deals on the entrepreneurship on the continent. As African startups close
African continent, conducting due diligence is still a daunting more deals with Silicon Valley investors and scale their business
task and transactions often breakdown during this phase, for globally, investors will feel more condent investing or setting
a number of reasons. There are numerous ecosystem tools up operations in the region.
and resources to annul this eect. For example, the Toniic
investor network allow investors to share resources and For an African startup that has received initial support from the
collaborate on due diligence, while the GSBI accelerator top accelerators in the Valley, this usually goes a long way in
introduces impact investors to vetted African companies. increasing the likelihood of securing capital from international
These organizations make the due diligence process easier investors. However, these programs are highly selective and
for investors and entrepreneurs, and increase the likelihood admit very few startups even on a global scale. Innovation hubs
of closing a deal. African angel networks such as the LAN and accelerators across the continent are also building
(Lagos Angel Network) or SABAN (South African Business relationships with lesser known accelerators or investor
Angel Network) also strive to build partnerships with networks in Silicon Valley, to foster high-quality deal ow
international investor networks, encouraging them to co- outside of the elite programs.
invest in Africa, and assisting them in vetting target startups.
Within the diaspora, more and more young Africans are
While there is still a relatively low level of awareness of the returning home to start businesses, and transferring knowledge
African startup ecosystem in Silicon Valley, it is more and valuable experiences from studying or working in Silicon
pertinent than ever before to share the stories and Valley. Others stay in Silicon Valley and serve as connectors
successes of African startups within global networks as a between Silicon Valley and Africa by promoting
means of attraction to the ecosystems that produced them. entrepreneurship activities on the continent. With stronger links
Recent stories, engagements and investments in leading between the two regions, deserving African entrepreneurs will
African startups, and notable events like Facebook CEO Mark have the support required to continue driving economic and
Zuckerbergs visit to Nigeria and Kenya, and the Geeks on a social change on the continent, and around the world.
Plane trip to four African cities, have generated an incredible
amount of publicity and interest in technology
EDUCATION
Silicon Valley is surrounded by world class institutions oering a wide range
of programs, from general computer science degrees to highly specialized
coding programs. These institutions have contributed immensely to the
ubiquity of world class talent in the valley.
Additionally, there are corporate initiatives such as Googles digital skills

program and Microsofts Africa Open4Business initiative. Googles program
oers free training to Africans on fundamental digital skills, while
Microsofts initiative is geared to transform the delivery of services to the
investor community via digital tools. Other major Silicon Valley technology
companies including SAP, IBM, Salesforce, Amazon and Evernote have a
series of ecosystem development programs tailored to emerging markets,
with a specic focus on Africa.
Institutions Programs
Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (SEED)

Resilient Africa Network
Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship
Stanford African Business Forum
Stanford Technology Ventures Program
Haas Africa Business Forum

Philanthropy University
BIT-AMENA Center | Center for Building Innovation Economies
Miller Center GSBI
STARTUP SCHOOLS
Institutions Programs
Various entrepreneurship programs taught by successful entrepreneurs. They oer

startup bootcamps and crash courses in business and entrepreneurship.
Organizes entrepreneurship conferences and accelerator programs focused on

exponential entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship programs for investors, entrepreneurs, and corporates. These programs

can focus on scaling a startup, matching startups with corporates, and other topics in the
entrepreneurship space.
3.5 month entrepreneurship programs with chapters in 60 countries. Each course is

$2,000 USD.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Institutions Programs Institutions Programs
GA has courses on in-demand skills in 12-week immersive bootcamp

coding, data sciences, design, business
and technology.
Boot camps in web development, data Full-stack development training

Galvanize science and data engineering. programs for aspiring developers.
Product management program that Full stack web development immersive

runs for eight weeks program, teaching Ruby, Rails,
JavaScript, HTML, CSS and database
systems such as SQL and PostgreSQL.
Software engineering program for 12-week program focused on Ruby on

women rails
Software engineering for African- 12-week immersive software engineering

American girls school focused on JavaScript and
associated technologies including the
MEAN stack, React and Backbone

As the heart of the startup world, Silicon Valley has a multitude of co-working
spaces. Flexible memberships at shared workspaces allow startups to keep their
costs low and accommodate their exible schedules. The co-working ecosystem in
San Francisco is much more advanced than in Africa, however, there are quite a
number of transferable best practices and contextual learnings. For example, some
hubs in the greater Bay Area are organized around shared interests and specialties,
including knowledge clusters and proximity to industry partners.
Type of Hub Description Example of Spaces
General These spaces oer an aordable facility for

co-working spaces entrepreneurs to work from and are industry agnostic
These seek to build a community around a certain

theme. For example, Impact Hub and Toniic establish
Specialty hubs communities of social entrepreneurs and impact
investors. GSV Labs focuses on verticals of edtech,
entertainment, sustainability and mobility.
Accelerators and incubators oer access to capital,

mentorship and networking to entrepreneurs. Some
accelerators have a focus area, while others are
generalists. For example, Singularity focuses on
Accelerators/
healthcare and biotech, Kicklabs focuses on digital media,
incubators
Angelpad and Tandem focus on mobile technologies,
Acceleprise on SaaS, NewMe on diversity and inclusion,
and Miller Center on social entrepreneurship.
Africa Technology Foundation focuses on providing

African entrepreneurs with tools, knowledge and
resources to succeed.
FUNDRAISING IN SILICON VALLEY
African startups generally have the option of following one of connect these African entrepreneurs with a truly global investor
three directions when trying to raise venture funds from network.
Silicon Valley. They either only attract seed funding from
accelerators both in the Valley and their home markets, use
Silicon Valley based accelerators as an entry-point to VC rms, Nairobi based ntech startup, Branch, initially raised an
or approach VC rms directly. The path chosen by an undisclosed amount from Formation 8 in a seed round, and
entrepreneur largely depends on the stage and size of went on to raise $10m USD from Andreessen Horowitz in its
funding, their product development costs, and the nature of March 2016 Series A round. One of the companys founders,
existing relationships with investors. The following examples Matt Flannery, formerly with Kiva, had pre existing
show companies that have executed at least one of the relationships with Silicon Valley funders, which played a role
aforementioned approaches: in helping Branch access funding without going through
traditional accelerators.
Dropi, a startup founded in Ghana raised seed capital from
both Accra and Silicon Valley-based accelerators. In 2011, Waystocap from Morocco gained prominence as one of the
Dropi co-founders, David Osei, Kamil Nabong, and Philip African startups for the winter batch of Y Combinators
Eah Mensah, left the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of accelerator program in Silicon Valley. The company raised $3
Technology six months into the two-year curriculum to join million in a funding round following their graduation in June
500 Startups after a meeting at a conference. They were the 2017 to expand their operations across Africa. Following
rst African startup to join the Silicon Valley accelerator. their lead, another YC backed company Tizeti, a Nigeria
based broadband internet startup, closed a $2.1m funding
South African Sweepsouth raised its seed round in May 2015
deal. Backers included international investors Western
from 500 startups, Africa Angels Network, and South Africa-
Technology Investment, Social Capital, Vy Capital, Picus
based CRE Venture Capital. In its follow on seed round for
Capital, Ace & Company, Lynett Capital Partners, Zeno
$600K USD in January 2016, the company focused on South
Ventures and a number of angel investors including Y
Africa-based Vumela Fund, Newtown Partners, and internet
Combinators Michael Seibel and Gabriel Hammond.
entrepreneur Vinny Lingham. Sweepsouths seven-gure
Series A in 2017 was led by Smollan, a leading South African In addition to attracting VC funding, African startups are also
retail solutions company, with support from the Africa Angels acquisition targets by larger rms based in Silicon Valley.
Network, South African DJ Black Coee, and Silicon Valley- Examples of recent African acquisitions by Silicon Valley
based Draper Dark Flow. companies include:
After participating in Y Combinator(YC) in the summer of

2015, Afrostream raised their Series-A for an undisclosed
amount from ve investors namely YC, Berlin-based
accelerator TheFamily, Silicon Valley based Cross Culture VC,
Automaticc is a holding
ACQUIRER
Paris-based Orange Digital Ventures, and South Africa-based company that owns a variety of
ACE & Company. Similarly, Paystack from Nigeria also secured web plugins and customizable
funding from several other local and global investors upon templates. The plugins/
templates in their portfolio
graduating the YC program. The investment round was led include Wordpress, Gravatar,
by SV-based Comcast Ventures and involved venture capital Simplenote, etc.
rms (SV-based Spark Capital, Mauritian M&S Capital Partners,
and Nigerian Singularity Investments), internet entrepreneurs
and angel investors (American YC partners Justin Kan and
Michael Siebel, Nigerian Bluechip founder Olumide Soyombo,
South Africa based
and European Ringier Africa GM Leonard Stiegler), and
TARGET
Woothemes is a customizable
corporate investors (Chinese Tencent Holdings and Japanese website theme for personal ad
Souq is an e-commerce e-commerce websites.
Toyota Founders Fund). platform based in Dubai
and operating in both
Following their footsteps, Nigerias Flutterwave raised an the Middle East and
North Africa
initial round from South Africa-based CRE Venture Capital and
ACQUISITION
Arkansas-based VCFintech accelerator. The companys follow

PRICE OF
on seed round was funded by YC, Arab Angel Fund, and $580 million $650 million
ntech-focused and SF-based Green Visor Capital. Other
investors in Flutterwave include, but are not limited to, Social
Capital, Salesforce Ventures and Omidyar. As evidenced from
YEAR
these examples, YC and 500 Startups served as a launchpad to March 2017 May 2015
LIONS@FRICA INNOVATION TOUR
The LIONS@FRICA Innovation Tour is a agship initiative that introduces DEMO Africa winners to a variety of leading Silicon Valley
stakeholders. Since its inception in 2013, the Innovation Tour has welcomed the twenty (20) winners of DEMO Africa to Silicon Valley,
and oered them an international platform to showcase their technologies and globalize their services.
INNOVATION TOUR
HAS WELCOMED
SINCE INCEPTION IN
2013 20 WINNERS
OF DEMO AFRICA TO
SILICON VALLEY
THE SELECTION PROCESS

DEMO Africa is a launchpad for emerging technology and The objective of the tour is to present these entrepreneurs with
trends. Each year, the event attracts over 2,000 people from the networking opportunities that will yield deeper engagements
around the globe to experience the nest of Africas between the LIONS and their target partners. Through curated
innovations at their birth. During the annual DEMO Africa meetings and a series of targeted engagements and innovation
events, a hand-selected class of new technology products are activities, the participating companies are immersed in venture
introduced to the world through an audience of global creation communities of practice, and are equipped with best
innovation stakeholders. Over the last ve years, the DEMO practices for building sustainable companies. Members of the
Africa platform has developed a reputation for consistently participating cohort also have the unique opportunity to gain
identifying new African innovations. These innovations have rst hand interaction with global innovation leaders and
been acknowledged on various platforms for causing ecosystem giants, and are exposed to potential investors and
disruptions to various markets and changing the views and stakeholders that can provide nancing, referrals, and access to
uses of technology across the continent. industry networks.
From an application pool of over 600 startups annually, 30 All of the participating companies get multiple opportunities to
nalist are chosen to showcase their technologies in a major pitch their products, services, and technologies to select groups
city on the continent. The top 5 companies are selected on a of investors, industry leaders, diaspora groups and expert panels.
weighted scale that includes an assessment of the team,
technology, product-market t, unit economics and potential
to scale globally.
Company Year of
Logo Country Description
Name Participation
BambaPOS helps retailers access point of sale and

inventory management automation via an Android app.
Bamba POS 2015 Kenya The Kenyan-based company also aggregates multiple
payment channels through its platform.
Chura allows interoperability between dierent mobile

networks in a multi-SIM environment. With more than 80% of
mobile service users having two or more sim cards, inferior
Chura 2014 Kenya inter-network mobile service delivery is a problem many
people face on a day to day basis. Chura helps solve this issue
using four services, namely switch airtime, buy airtime, bulk
airtime and airtime for cash.
SpacePointe is focused on helping African Small-to-

medium enterprises (SMEs) increase their bottom line
SpacePointe 2014 Nigeria revenue in their Oine and Online market channels by
providing them with an online marketplace and an
innovative POS system.
PaySail is the easiest way for businesses and accountants

to run payroll, le tax and social security, and pay
Paysail 2014 Ghana employees via Mobile Money or through the Bank. With a
keen focus on simplicity of design and ease of use, PaySail
automates every aspect of the payroll process.
Nerve has developed Nerveo, an API driven platform

marketplace for digital content. NerveFlo is the place to
Nerve 2014 Nigeria nd awesome content & media from African creators.
Anyone can subscribe to stream or buy/download works
from top creators here.
Qabila is a media content creator that capitalizes on

crowdsourcing and digital media to provide clients with
Qabila 2013 Egypt cost-eective content that reaches their target audience,
in the most engaging and eective way.
Flowgear is a platform for application and data

integration which allows rapid development of
integrations. With built-in support for a wide range of
Flowgear 2013 South Africa software products and technologies, developers can
easily build and manage integrations without hand-
coding custom software.
SOKO is a social enterprise that connects micro-

manufacturers and entrepreneurs to global markets
through their proprietary mobile technology. The
ShopSoko 2013 Kenya technology allows vendors to sell their goods directly to
global consumers through their personal mobile phones,
despite access to a computer, the internet, & a bank account.
Maliyo Games is a Nigerian company that creates casual

Maliyo Games 2013 Nigeria mobile games to share the experiences of everyday
Africans with a global audience.
Company Year of
Logo Country Description
Name Participation
ConnectMed is an online platform that provides quality,

ConnectMed 2016 Kenya aordable and convenient healthcare through video
consultations with expert doctors.
MediaBox is a video-on-demand content aggregation

platform that gives viewers the easiest way to watch
Mediabox 2016 South Africa international and local content, both on demand and live
over the internet.
Solstice uses the Internet-of-Things to help African homes

Solstice 2016 Nigeria & small businesses manage energy simply, use it eciently
and nd clean, money-saving solutions.
Strauss Energy is a solar energy and manufacturing

company that produces innovative BIPV Stima solar
Strauss Energy 2016 Kenya roong tiles. Strauss energy oers a cost ecient
alternative to modern solar roof panels and distributes
and sells energy at a signicantly reduced price.
Sortd is a smart skin for Gmail that enhances the overall

experience by providing a seamless and intuitive way to
Sortd 2016 South Africa plan and prioritise email and tasks in a single Gmail
workspace.
Nigerias Simbapay oers people the ability to make fast,

convenient and cheap money remittance to Africa. The
SimbaPay 2015 Nigeria platform also enables the diaspora to pay merchants
directly from abroad using the popular mobile money
service, M-Pesa a world rst.
Zuvaa 2015 Nigeria Zuvaa is an online marketplace for African fashion.
Similar to the likes of Click n Compare, InsureAfrika.com

InsureAfrika 2015 Kenya enables people to compare quotes across insurance
categories online.
CarParts Nigeria is trying to overcome the challenges of

shopping for auto-parts in Nigeria. The search platform
CarParts Nigeria 2015 Nigeria aggregates the best deals of auto parts and technicians
based on the location of the user.
AFRICA-FOCUSED STARTUPS SUPPORTED BY BLACKBOX
Blackbox Connect, a two-week residential program in Silicon Valley, has admitted a number of African startup founders that are
seeking to hone their craft of entrepreneurship, amplify their drive, and fortify the foundation of their startup. Together with a hand-
picked cohort of startup founders from across the globe, Blackboxers are hosted at Fact0ry, a San Francisco-based innovation hub
where talent from around the world gathers to disrupt their thinking and create the future. The following African startups are alumni
of the Blackbox Connect program:
Startup Name Industry/description Batch Country
Turns your SmartPhone into

a re-congurable Arduino shield . 7 Egypt
Auction platform that provides you

with exible ways to acquire and sell products 8 Egypt
Matches talent to opportunities

using AI and localized soft skill evaluations 18 Kenya
Web-based emailing marketing platform

for your newsletter with the highest deliverability 13 Morocco
Social platform to explore events 9 Egypt
Marketplace for performing artists 10 Uganda
Self diagnosis kit for reproductive health 17 Uganda
Health information app 11 Uganda
Instant bug reporting for mobile apps 5 Egypt
Digital address book 5 South Africa
Record keeping app 17 Uganda
Healthcare 13 Uganda
Making informed investment decisions 9 Kenya
Social club that encourages

in-person interactions 7 South Africa
AFRICAN STARTUPS BACKED BY Y COMBINATOR
Y Combinator is a Silicon Valley based startup accelerator that launched in March 2005. Twice a year the company invests in a number
of global startups that have to move to Silicon Valley for 3 months, during which they work with them to get the company into the best
possible shape and rene their pitch to investors. Each cycle culminates in Demo Day, when the startups present their companies to a
carefully selected, invite-only audience. Over the last two years, Y Combinator has increased their interests in African innovation and
more African startups have been successfully admitted into their esteemed program. The following startups represent the current crop
of Y Combinators African alumni:
Logo Industry Class Year Country
Healthcare YC W17 2017 Nigeria
Electricity YC W17 2017 Nigeria
Internet YC W17 2017 Nigeria
Payments YC W17 2017 Nigeria
E-commerce YC W17 2017 Morocco
Expert marketplace YC F3 2016 Kenya
Social haircare YC F3 2016 Ghana
News YC S16 2016 Ghana
Payments YC S16 2016 Nigeria
Payments YC W16 2016 Nigeria
Bug-reporting YC W16 2016 Egypt
Healthcare YC F2 2016 Kenya
Payments YC S15 2015 Kenya
Solar YC S15 2015 Senegal
Cameroon
Media YC S15 2015
(founder living in Paris)
AFRICA-FOCUSED VC FUNDS
Several of the worlds premier venture capital rms are based in Silicon Valley. There are a few venture capital rms, such as Echo VC
and Draper Dark Flow, which have an explicit investment thesis of investing in African startups. These two companies have
completed a number of notable deals and transactions, while supporting co-investment activities between African and Silicon Valley
based venture rms. Some of their portfolio companies are listed below:
Name Description Sample of Portfolio
Stage-agnostic venture capital fund focused on technology I

n sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and North America.
Founded by Nigerian investor Eghosa Omoigui,
previously of Intel Capital.
Locations: Palo Alto, California; Lagos, Nigeria
DraperDarkFlow is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital

rm that invests in African startups that can scale globally.
It was founded by billionaire Tim Draper and
Managing Partner Toro Orero.
AFRICAN STARTUPS SUPPORTED BY GOOGLES

LAUNCHPAD ACCELERATOR
Googles Launchpad Accelerator is a program to empower founders by supporting their startups through mentorship and equity-free
support. The Accelerator leverages all that Google has to oer, to help participating tech startups reach their true potential. The
program is currently running in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, and the following African startups represent the inaugural class of
African startups in the 2017 class of Googles Launchpad accelerator.
Startup Name Industry/ description Batch Country
Retail Class 4
A mobile-based supplier Accepted Kenya
for retail outlets May 2017
Class 4
Data management system for
eld sales teams and real time reporting
Accepted Nigeria
May 2017
Class 4
Payments Accepted Nigeria
May 2017
Class 4
Mobile based learning
and personal development application
Accepted Nigeria
May 2017
Class 4
Payments Accepted Nigeria
May 2017
Fintech - Algorithms that determine

Class 4
a customer's credit
score based on their airtime
Accepted South Africa
May 2017
and mobile money spend.
AFRICAN STARTUPS BACKED BY 500 STARTUPS
500 Startups is an early-stage venture fund and seed accelerator founded in 2010. The fund admitted a rst cohort of twelve
startups to its incubator oce in Mountain View, California in February, 2011. Since 2014, the company has admitted the 13 African
startups listed below and recently conducted the inaugural African edition of the Geeks on a Plane tour in March 2016 with stops in
Lagos, Accra, Capetown and Johannesburg.
Startup Name Industry/ description Batch Country
Printing B20 Nigeria
Credit B19 Nigeria
HR management B19 Nigeria
AI Seed Investment Egypt
E-commerce B18 Nigeria
E-commerce B16 Nigeria
On-demand cleaning B14 South Africa
Obituary services/ family tree mapping Seed Investment Egypt
E-commerce Seed Investment Egypt
Media Seed Investment Egypt
Payments B11 Kenya
VC LP Investment Kenya
Job board Seed Investment Egypt
Summary
STATE OF PLAY
Progress is good. investment opportunities to ensure that Africa lays the
foundation for sustained economic growth through
This State of Play report comes at time where the African entrepreneurship, and providing regional development
continent must acknowledge incremental progress in its snapshots that will dispel the view of Africa as a monolithic
entrepreneurial and technological ecosystems, and celebrate continent. The Report also discusses possible solutions around
the short run successes of the regional champions notable innovation constraints such as infrastructure, human
highlighted in this report. The incremental progress resource capital and venture funding. As curator of the
referenced through the pages of this report is benchmarked Lions@frica Innovation Tour in Silicon Valley, the African
against the continents geopolitical, socioeconomic and Technology Foundation continues to present a unied vision
technological history, and the sheer ambition and aspiration towards accelerating the continents most promising
of Africas youth as they retake the narrative and reinvent technology startups, and demystifying the venture creation
the continents technological and entrepreneurial future. labyrinth that is Silicon Valley.
Africas GDP is growing steadily, and across all regions of the
continent, individual nations can count on a young and Africas future is bright. The growth and development of the
expanding population to catalyze the growth of their ecosystems highlighted in this publication is reported on a daily
economies. basis across multiple independent news sources and social
media handles that celebrate Africa. This does not trivialize the
Africa is open for business. The continent is at its most threats and constraints to successfully doing business on the
politically stable period in its history, and is reaping direct continent, but rather sheds more light on the upside potential
benets of globalization. Many African economies are of a region that was only ever associated with poverty and
diversifying from traditional extractive industries and political turmoil.
becoming better integrated into the global knowledge and
innovation economy. The State of Play report is a progressive snapshot of current
entrepreneurial ecosystems across the continent, and presents
Through our leadership of the Lions@frica initiative, and with a useful tool for venture capitalists, diaspora actors, policy
the support of the Oce of Global Partnerships of the U.S. makers, impact investors, development partners, and other key
Department of State, the African Technology Foundation has innovation stakeholders, as well as essential reading for all
published this report to achieve multiple goals including, but those with an interest in the entrepreneurial activities on the
not limited to, highlighting progressive policy actions and African continent.
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1510 Page Mill Road Tel: +1 (818) 660-5676 info@thea25n.com
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STATE OF PLAY

A review of the leading technology

LIONS@FRICA (Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations) is a partnership program that

Visit the State of Play page at www.africa.co/stateofplay

Lions@frica Copyright 2017 by the African Technology Foundation.

TERMS OF USE AND DISCLAIMER

Preface 3 SECTION II: REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM SCANS 31

AFRICA POPULATION OVER MEDIAN AGE BELOW ANNUAL PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH

MOBILE SUBSCRIPTION RISE TO LIONS@FRICA TOUCHED OVER LIONS@FRICA INCUBATED

It has been said in some quarters that Africa cannot

When we started running DEMO Africa ve years ago, we

Hardware products have started showing up in pitches just

It is still early days for angel investing in Africa. Capital

Every strong and stable economy requires a vibrant private

Promoting a culture of angel investing means engaging with

Stephen Ozoigbo Kwame Osei

Aliesha Balde Adia Sowho

Oluseye Soyode - Johnson Harry Tomi Davies

Samuel Gicharu Maina David Van Dijk

Lexi Novitske Kasope Akindele

Bert Bruggeman Maria Pienaar

Alissa Orlando Hugh Molotsi

Harry Hare Doug Galen

The U.S. Department of States Oce

LIONS@FRICA INNOVATION HAS

OFFICE OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

This report highlights the leading technology and innovation

TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

NORTHERN AFRICA EGYPT

Further cementing its Technology sector driven

Kenyas progressive economy

Good ICT infrastructure

A Technology powerhouse that

CAPE TOWN Widespread card payments and

60% 30% from

Active startups in the Southern African ecosystem

The infrastructure gap in Africa is a

Africas private sector is showing its

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS DEVELOPING DIGITAL PRODUCTS &

New Internet users

The infrastructure gap in Africa is largely reective of the state

Using the communications sector in West Africa as a reference

While it does appear that the gaps far outweigh the

With two out of the three largest economies in Sub-Saharan

Kasope Akindele is a legal and regulatory professional with

In the past decade, delivering on large scale infrastructure

In the age of digital entrepreneurship, sustainable economic

Aordable Internet is a campaign that we passionately support

As individual African countries struggle with economic booms

Jinmi Olanuiga is the Principal Consultant for Business

Across Africa, the mobile telecommunications industry has

Ive been uniquely privy to view some of the issues that

Since the early nineties, mobile network operators have been

Today Africa is still the leading market globally in how small

Mobile operators have great infrastructure to enable

The models introduced by these operators that served the

A former CIO at Cell C, Maria Pienaar brings two decades of

Todays developed nations attained their economic status by

However, in the 21st century, we are witnessing the shrinking of

21st century jobs require 21st century skills.

However, not enough people in developing countries are

But there is good news! The rise of coding boot camps is

Hugh Molotsi is the founder and CEO of Ujama, a

Entrepreneurs throughout Africa are facing remarkable