Fintech, blockchain and startups in Africa and other emerging markets, 2016-2019.
Last week I wrote about the struggling Nigerian eCommerce companies. QZ had recently put out on article stating that there were several eCommerce companies either shutting down or downsizing. It’s compelling. There doesn’t seem to be product market fit yet,…
Yesterday’s post on the eCommerce success story of Indonesia sparked a lot of thought on how Africa can achieve the same success. There have been a few major eCommerce success stories in Africa, but those are mostly isolated to South…
The McKinsey report on eCommerce in Indonesia is a great read for anyone interested in how a logistical nightmare of a country is leapfrogging traditional commerce to move into the digital age. Have a read here. This year I’m doing…
I’m often immersed in the African fintech scene. There’s so much going on here. It’s the home of M-Pesa. Fintech companies are literally improving people’s lives. The products are exciting. I love it. But I think I often miss what…
JUMO raised $12.5 million to take our total fundraising to over $105 million. It’s a remarkable achievement, and a testament to the ability and work ethic of everyone I work with at JUMO. A big part of running a startup…
The Central Bank of Nigeria recently added regulation to allow Telecommunication companies to apply for mobile banking licenses and roll out mobile money. This is big. Previously, only banks were allowed to apply and own mobile banking licenses. And banks…
When it comes to digital lending in China, Lufax is the name to beat. They are backed by Ping An Insurance Group, which is now one of the most innovative financial conglomerates in China. Since they have expanded beyond insurance, they’re…
I work in digital finance. Since 2015, I’ve been focused on the ecosystem in Africa, launching four products and one marketplace. It’s clear that digital lending will continue its phenomenal growth in Africa. This has the trajectory of the Chinese…
Low-Cost Android Phones are becoming more available across Africa. I’ve seen phones for as low as $40 in Tanzania and Zambia. These are generally subsidized by MNOs, and customers are even given incentives to buy with cheap credit options. Digitization…
When you look at MTN and Vodacom’s strategic imperatives each year, for the most part, they’re really close. I’ve lined up them up below for you, and as you see, the first four are the same. Vodacom MTN Best Customer…
In Africa we like to think we are at the forefront of mobile money. Afterall, M-Pesa was developed in Kenya and Jumo was founded in Cape Town. The success stories here have attracted attention worldwide and there continues to be…
Taxify, the Estonian competitor to Uber, is making a big push in Africa. While Uber was here first, and aggressively pushed into multiple countries in Africa, their first mover advantage is being eroded quickly by Taxify. This is partly due…