Shows
The FlipThe Future of Work Won't Look Like a JobThe future of work in the African context is going to be a lot of different things. It mimics the nature of work itself for many individuals on the continent. They're taking this portfolio approach to work. Even in more "developed markets" we're seeing work become less formal and more flexible, as work becomes unbundled from employment. And this evolution of work itself provides a whole set of new challenges and opportunities. So this episode is a retrospective on the entire season, in which we explore more of these questions about the future of w...2023-04-1344 min
The FlipThe Future of Work is StandardizationWhere there is fragmentation, informality, and a dearth of infrastructure, there are questions about what the path to formality and standardization will look like. One intriguing answer to that question is conversion franchising, where existing stores are converted into a franchise. In the future of work context, are microenterprises, their owners, and their employees better off as converted franchisees? This episode is a case study, with mPharma's Gregory Rockson. 00:00 - We begin this episode's exploration with a question - are subsistence farmers better off as employees of a commercial farm? With Twiga Foods...2023-03-2331 min
The FlipThe Future of Work is Vertical PlatformsAfrican markets are largely informal. So while our examination of workforce and training programs in the fast few episodes focused on formal and salaried jobs, we know that most Africans aren't going to get these types of jobs. So, our exploration of the future of work needs to span much further than that. Where there are no formal jobs, what does it look like to help stimulate the development of the informal sector and microenterprises? And what role does technology play?In this context, we hear a lot about platforms and their role in...2023-03-1626 min
The FlipThe Future of Work is MatchingHow do we tie interventions - whether traditional education or boot camps or training programs - to job outcomes? As we'll explore in this episode, it requires a demand-led approach and starts with employers. In this episode, we're going to focus on the platforms doing the matching - those that are explicitly working to better connect supply and demand in the job marketplace, to achieve the employment outcomes we wish to see across the continent. 4:03 - We start our exploration on matching with the traditional jobs marketplaces, with The African Talent Company's Hilda Kragha.6:26...2023-03-0222 min
The FlipThe Future of Work is RemoteWe know that local economies are not going to create enough jobs or income-generating opportunities for such a rapidly growing African population. But at the same time, for countries in the global north whose working-age population is shrinking, where's the labor going to come from?The solution to both of these problems might be the same: remote work. In this episode, we're going to explore three buckets of remote work: the sexy, high-skilled remote work for product-led technology companies, the services-based IT work and business process outsourcing, and lastly, the increase of non-technical work that's de...2023-02-2333 min
The FlipThe Future of Work Starts with FarmingHow are jobs created? While throughout the season we're going to be looking at that question primarily through a technology and innovation lens, in this episode we're going to start by exploring this jobs question through a more traditional development and economics lens. Because as we'll see, though the future of work might be remote work or the creator economy or any other nascent categories, the future of work in Africa is also a traditional development story. And it starts with farming.4:11 - Africa's population is 1.4 billion people. It will double by 2050. Where are the jobs going...2023-02-1631 min
The FlipIntroducing The Flip Season Four: The Future of WorkIntroducing The Flip Season Four. African countries will be adding more people to the workforce in the next 10 years than the rest of the world combined. Where are the income-generating opportunities going to come from? All this season, we're exploring the future of work. Thanks to MFS Africa for their sponsorship of the entirety of Season 4 of The Flip.Follow The Flip on Twitter @theflipafrica and subscribe to our newsletter The Flip Notes at https://theflip.africa/newsletter.2023-02-0902 min
The FlipThe Ownership EconomyIn this episode, we're going to explore web3 in the African context.The premise of web3 technology, and tools like NFTs, in particular, is that they can and perhaps will create new paradigms and economic models and that these models will have positive implications for creators and fans alike. And we believe that the decentralized and permissionless nature of web3 blockchains and protocols can have especially positive implications across Africa and emerging markets, as well. We're going to look at NFTs as a tool, and web3 as a technology and infrastructure that can create new a...2022-02-1730 min
The FlipThe Creator EconomyAfrican culture and content is taking over the world - from Afrobeats and amapiano, to Nollywood and Netflix originals, to fashion. To what degree can Africans monetize their creativity not only on the continent but globally? To what extent can Africans, as owners of culture and intellectual property, participate in the upside? And if content has been largely an export product, to date, how do *we* develop the local creator ecosystem, as well?05:11 - A brief history of the creator economy. From aggregation theory to 1000 true fans.07:59 - We start with the platforms, and TikTok's Boniswa...2022-02-1038 min
The FlipFrom Farm to TableFood prices are disproportionately expensive in African markets. In some countries, consumers spend 50% or more of their income on food. It's a logistics problem and a retail fragmentation problem, and it's also an agriculture and processing problem. So in this episode, we explore the agriculture and processing value chains on the continent. [04:44] - Lack of processing capabilities is a problem in African markets. But processing capabilities are hampered by inconsistent supply from smallholder farmers, as we discuss with ReelFruit's Affiong Williams.[08:33] - We speak with Releaf's Ikenna Nwezi about the company's interventions in the palm oil v...2021-11-2536 min
The FlipBuilding a Healthier AfricaHow can Africans receive greater access to quality healthcare? That's the problem we'll attempt to explain in this episode, and it's a wicked problem.In this episode, we go deep into the healthcare value chain from diagnostics to labs to clinics and pharmacies, to better understand how it all works and how those we speak to in this episode are working to get improved care to Africans across the continent.[04:49] - Today, there is a greater trend towards reactive, not proactive medicine, due to high out-of-pocket spend for medical care, as 54gene's Dr. Jumi Popoola...2021-11-1845 min
The FlipMaking Borders Matter Less - A Conversation with Dare OkoudjouAs MFS Africa announces its $100 million Series C, The Flip's Justin Norman and Sayo Folawiyo sit down for a conversation with MFS Africa's Founder and CEO, Dare Okoudjou.[02:34]- First question, on MFS Africa's recent acquisition of Baxi, and their expansion into Nigeria.[05:36] - Why Nigeria? And why now?[09:15] - On MFS Africa's expansion capabilities. [12:49] - Beyond remittances. - on trade clusters and markets.[18:05] - How does MFS Africa think about collaboration in the ecosystem while keeping the discipline to focus strictly on a B2B service? [22:26] - On sexiness and fundraising.2021-11-1144 min
The FlipProblem Solving for Fragmented RetailAs we began our exploration into retail and the so-called B2B commerce platforms, we kept asking about the nature of last-mile retail. Why is it so fragmented? And can we expect retail consolidation? In this episode, we explore why retail looks the way that it does in African markets, and how B2B commerce platforms are working to empower retailers in the context of the way in which last-mile retail works to meet the demands of their customers, the mass-market consumers across the continent. These platforms aggregate demand at the fragmented last mile, to en...2021-11-0441 min
The FlipJourney to the Last MileAs we continue our season on value chains, in this episode, we explore logistics. The cost of goods and food is disproportionately higher in Africa than anywhere else in the world, with consumers in some markets, spending 50% or more of their total income on food alone. A major reason for these high prices is logistics. So how do we fix this? How do we improve the efficiency of logistics on the African continent, and ultimately drive down the cost of goods? [04:20] - On the role of containerization and efficient ports, with Jet...2021-10-2840 min
The FlipAfrica StackThis episode concludes our three-part fintech series this season. In the first two episodes, we tackled payments. In this episode, we explore the other layers of the financial services stack - namely, identity and data. Africa Stack is a play on India Stack - India's pioneering platform of open APIs and digital infrastructure that underpins the country's rapid move towards a paperless, cashless, and digital future. But whereas India Stack was built in one market, with one currency and one regulator, and with significant government investment, how does Africa Stack get built across a fragmented continent? ...2021-10-2133 min
The FlipFollow the Money, Part TwoIn episode one of this season, we explored how money moves within borders in Africa. In this episode, we explore how money moves across them. [01:27] - Africa is the most expensive region in the world to send money to, according to the World Bank's Remittance Prices Worldwide report. [07:26] - Why are there such limited cross-border payment options within Africa?[08:30] - And why is sending money across borders in Africa so expensive? AZA Finance's Elizabeth Rossiello tells the story of investment in infrastructure and liquidity, or lack thereof.[13:39] - How do you create liquidity across ma...2021-10-1431 min
The FlipFollow the MoneyWe hear a lot, in the African tech ecosystem, that the competition is with cash. Virtually every country in the world is on some form of a journey to move from cash to cashless. Many African markets, however, are quite far on that journey. And to understand how to accelerate this trend on the continent, we first need to understand how money moves.[04:55] - For most Africans, the mobile money experience starts with agent networks, like TeamApt's MoniePoint, in Nigeria.[09:47] - Though increasingly, people are getting paid by employers directly into their mobile wallets. Bulk disbursement...2021-10-0733 min
The FlipIntroducing The Flip Season ThreeIntroducing The Flip Season Three. This season is about value chains - we pop the hood across sectors and take an in-depth look at what's going on underneath. 2021-09-3007 min
The FlipMiddlemen as a Service - A Retrospective with Sayo Folawiyo and Justin NormanEach episode during our narrative episodes, The Flip's b-mic, Sayo Folawiyo, and founder, Justin Norman, sit down for a retrospective conversation on the topic explored in that episode. However, our current series of conversational episodes explored one theme across the series - digitizing analog and fragmented industries - we opted to have one retrospective conversation that reflects on the entirety of our 10 episode series.In this episode, Sayo and Justin talk about people-centric tech startups, market segmentation, interoperability, specialization, and they may have even invested a new as-a-service category. 3:54 - After a full season of e...2021-03-1820 min
The FlipAccessible and Affordable EdTech with Eneza Education's Wambura Kimunyu In this episode, we talk edtech with Wambura Kimunyu, the Group CEO of Eneza Education.Throughout the series of episodes, we’re exploring the entrepreneurs in start-ups digitizing informal and fragmented industries on the continent. And for Eneza Education to remain affordable and accessible, it means distributing text-based content to basic mobile phones via SMS, and acquiring customers via radio advertising. We talk to Wambura about building a product for low-income students - 70% of whom live in rural areas, the content development and distribution process, balancing available technologies with the needs of their customers, how to price for l...2021-03-1132 min
The FlipMass-Market Media with StarNews Mobile's Guy KamgaingIn this episode, we explore entertainment for mass-market consumers in Africa with Guy Kamgaing, the Founder and CEO of StarNews Mobile.Throughout the series of episodes, we're exploring the entrepreneurs in start-ups digitizing informal and fragmented industries on the continent. And in the media space, that means building a product fit for the realities of mass-market consumers. In a world of abundant free content on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and other "data guzzling" platforms, StarNews is building a business selling a la carte microcontent bundled with telco data, and they're selling it to millions of African consumers, while...2021-03-0427 min
The FlipThe Case for Crypto with Bundle's Yele BademosiIn this episode, we talk about cryptocurrency with the Co-Founder and CEO of Bundle, and the Founding Partner of Microtraction, Yele Bademosi. Beyond trading and price volatility, what is it about crypto that excites Yele and so many others on the continent?Throughout the series of episodes, we're exploring the entrepreneurs in start-ups digitizing informal and fragmented industries on the continent. And despite the technological underpinnings of cryptocurrency as a whole, many of the buying and selling processes and use cases of crypto today are still quite informal and fragmented. In this episode, we hear from Yele...2021-02-2540 min
The FlipDigitizing Community Banking with Kwara's Cynthia WandiaIn this episode, we talk about savings and credit cooperative societies, or SACCOs, and the outsize role these member-owned community banks play in African and emerging markets. While millions of Africans belong to SACCOs, it's an industry that Kwara's Cynthia Wandia calls "as analog as it gets". Kwara is a Kenyan startup building software to digitize SACCOs, and in this episode, we talk to Cynthia about the role SACCOs play in these markets, the product and design principles employed to ensure proper utilization of the platform, Kwara's impact for members, the company's origin story, and more. 4:23 - Fi...2021-02-1846 min
The FlipFintech for Cash-First Markets with Nomanini's Vahid MonadjemIn this episode, we continue our exploration of the entrepreneurs digitizing informal and analog markets, with Nomanini's Vahid Monadjem. Nomanini is a fintech platform for informal retail merchants in cash-heavy economies, and Vahid, the company's Founder and CEO, believes the best "way to move beyond cash is for us to be really interoperable with it." In this episode, we talk about specialization and interoperability, B2B partnerships, lessons from the last-mile, and much more.3:41 - First question, what is the market environment in which Nomanini is operating?7:42 - We dive deep into Nomanini's products.15:25...2021-02-1142 min
The FlipTechnology for Informal Trade with MarketForce 360's Tesh MbaabuIn this episode, we open the black box of last-mile retail distribution with MarketForce 360's Tesh Mbaabu. 90 percent of trade in Africa is informal, and MarketForce's software-as-a-service platform to better manage their field sales agents and distribution. We'll talk about product, the considerations in building products you use at the last mile and the needs of the multinational FMCG companies and financial service providers at the other end of the value chain. We talk about his recent experience participating in Y Combinator's accelerator program, what other companies he hopes to see built in the retail and logistics space, and...2021-02-0429 min
The FlipBuilding a Savings Culture with PiggyVest's Odunayo EweniyiIn this episode, we explore digital savings with PiggyVest's Odunayo Eweniyi. PiggyVest's competition is the wooden box that Nigerians were using to save cash. We'll talk about how the company designed the product to compel mass-market consumers to save digitally; how their use of social media and word of mouth built trust and engendered a savings culture, how Odun think about new products, like crypto and insurance, as well as geographic expansion, and more.4:19 - First question, what is PiggyVest's core competency, and how has the founders' past experiences helped them build the product and the company?2021-01-2829 min
The FlipInsurance-as-a-Service with Lami's Jihan AbassIn this episode, we speak to Jihan Abass, the Founder and CEO of Lami, an insurance-as-a-service startup based in Nairobi, Kenya. Lami's platform enables insurers, banks, and other partners to offer digital and flexible insurance to African consumers. 4:12 – First question: formal insurance penetration in Africa is 3%. What's the problem and how is Lami trying to solve it?6:45 – What does flexible, digital, B2B2C insurance actually look like in practice?9:32 - Lami's origin story.10:48 - A discussion about Griffin Motor Insurance, Lami's B2C motor insurance app used to test and showcase their product to pro...2021-01-2121 min
The FlipDigitizing Healthcare with Helium Health's Goke OlubusiOur exploration of the entrepreneurs and startups digitizing analog and fragmented industries takes us to Nigeria, for a conversation with Helium Health's Co-founder and CEO Goke Olubusi. Helium's electronic medical records are providing the digital infrastructure for healthcare sectors across Africa, enabling a variety of stakeholders to make data-driven decisions.4:26 - First question: what does the state of healthcare look like, and how is Helium Health solving the industry's problems?9:16 - Helium's origin story. 11:48 - On the big picture solutions that are required to have the type of impact in healthcare the continent needs. 13:12...2021-01-1423 min
The FlipInside the Stripe Acquisition of Paystack with Shola Akinlade & Matt HendersonOn October 15, 2020, Paystack and Stripe announced the acquisition of the former by the latter, in a deal reported to be worth over $200 million. This marks Stripe's largest acquisition to date and is an incredibly meaningful exit for the African tech ecosystem. To unpack the deal, we spoke to Shola Akinlade, Paystack's Co-founder and CEO, and Matt Henderson, Stripe's Business Lead for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 3:43 - We start our story of the Stripe acquisition of Paystack in the Winter of 2016. Paystack becomes the first Nigerian startup to participate in Y Combinator, where Shola is introduced...2020-12-0328 min
The FlipSmart People Should Build Things - On Recruiting and the Global Competition for Top TalentThe very nature of a high-growth startup means that the company is always growing and hiring at a rapid rate. And for African startups, in particular, the talent question is even more acute, given the general challenges of sourcing for select roles, as well as the difficulty in competing for talent with other startups, multinationals, and companies elsewhere in the world. In this episode, we unpack the talent and recruiting situation for venture-backed startups and growth-stage companies - how do we source for newer types of roles, like product and growth? Do we hire for aptitude and train up...2020-10-0131 min
The FlipMuch Ado About the MediaIn this episode, we explore and unpack the relationship between the tech ecosystem and the media. We'll seek answers to questions such as - what roles do media publications play in the ecosystem? How does this differ between international and local publications? What are the key considerations for the media in doing this work, particularly from a talent and business model perspective? What about companies creating their own content - what is their motivation and what can be learned? And, why is there seemingly a contentious relationship between African tech and the media?2:27 - We talk public...2020-09-2444 min
The FlipConnecting the Dots - Japanese Corporates and African TechThis season we've talked about the relationship between African tech and other emerging markets across the Global South, as well as with China. In this episode, we talk about the ecosystem's relationship Japan - and in particular, the interest Japanese investors and corporates have in innovations from the continent. 1:33 - Satoshi Shinada and Rio Yamawaki on the macro situation in Japan, and why Japanese investors are interested in African tech. Satoshi and Rio are GPs at Kepple Africa Ventures, one of the most active VCs on the continent. 5:58 - The primary reason why Japanese corporates are in...2020-09-1723 min
The FlipTelcos, PalmPay, and the Future of Mobile Financial ServicesIn this episode, we explore the evolution of mobile financial services and the opportunity to deepen financial inclusion in African markets. This opportunity exists for mobile network operators, as well fintechs like PalmPay, backed by hardware manufacturer Transsion, whose smartphone brands - Tecno, Itel, and Infinix - account for over 50% of smartphone devices on the continent.1:55 - We explore the evolution from USSD-led Mobile Money 1.0 to smartphone-led Mobile Money 2.0, with Hover's Wiza Jalakasi.5:11 - Chris Williamson, the Head of M-Pesa at Vodacom Group, describes the future of M-Pesa and mobile financial services, and the role M-Pesa...2020-09-1030 min
The FlipBuilding for Purpose - China-Africa TechThis week, we explore a hypothesis - that the lessons and models from Chinese tech companies have merit in African markets, given certain similarities between China’s development and the current conditions on the continent. 2:06 - DFS Lab's Stephen Deng on the experience of Chinese entrepreneurs and investors, and the lessons from leapfrogs in China that may have merit in Africa.5:37 - We hear from Laura Li, VP of Investments of Future Hub, an early-stage investor and accelerator backed by Transsion, the number one cell phone manufacturer on the continenet, and parent company to Tecno, Itel and...2020-09-0331 min
The FlipA Fintech Exit - Inside the MFS Africa Acquisition of BeyonicLast episode, we went on a hypothetical startup journey from idea to exit. In this episode, we go on a real one.In June of 2020, MFS Africa announced the acquisition of Beyonic. Together, the combined company of 95 employees now enables mobile money interoperability between markets and mobile network operators, and offers a suite of tools for SMEs, in 30-plus African markets. We go inside the acquisition - how it came together, why it makes sense, and what it means - both for the two companies and their stakeholders and for the ecosystem as a whole. 2:27...2020-08-2738 min
The FlipFrom Idea to Exit - A Startup Fundraising JourneyThis episode, we go on a hypothetical startup fundraising journey, from idea to exit. 2:04 - At the earliest stage, angel and venture investing is quite subjective, says Zachariah George, angel investor and Managing Director of LaunchAfrica. 3:46 - Because of the subjectivity, metrics and valuations don't matter as much at this stage. We hear from Chidinma Iwueke, Partner at pre-seed fund Microtraction, on their standard deal terms.4:56 - A discussion with Andreata Muforo on how TLcom Capital approaches seed and Series A stage valuations.8:56 - We hear from Cikü Mugambi of the IFC's Disruptive Technologies and...2020-08-2035 min
The FlipFinding Fit - Opportunities in the Global SouthWe dedicate this episode to Fahim Saleh, the Founder and CEO of Gokada, who was killed in New York City on July 13th. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and the entire Gokada team.This year, Nigerian fintech companies Paga and Migo are expanding to Latin America, to Mexico and Brazil, respectively. Another Nigerian startup, Gokada, was launched by an entrepreneur who built a successful ride-hailing company in Bangladesh, where there was a similar set of market conditions. In this episode, we explore the similarities - and the opportunities - between emerging markets across the...2020-08-1320 min
The FlipGlobal Ambition - Lessons from Tech ExpansionWe've had prior discussions on Africa's market size (S1E5) and on Africa-focused investors' pursuit of scale (S1E7). Both topics ultimately lead to the same place for startups: geographic expansion. What are the considerations and implications? 2:05 - Keith Davies, former CFO of Zoona, shares cautions startups to be careful because expansion introduces a lot of the complexity for the business.4:35 - Operational considerations of expansion, with Wiza Jalakasi, Head of Business Development at Hover Developer Services.5:31 - It's crucial to pitch to investors an expansion and growth strategy that you can actually execute on, sa...2020-08-0625 min
The FlipCo-Building The Future - High-Touch Venture InvestingIn this episode, we explore high-touch venture investing models - in particular, venture development and talent investing, as well as peer-selected investment. 2:16 - an introduction to accelerator programs and their objectives, with Catalyst Fund's Aaron Fu.3:47 - a discussion with Adedana Ashebir on Village Capital's peer-selected investment model.6:16 - Founders Factory Africa's Lwazi Wali and Sam Sturm on venture building and the merits of a human capital intensive investment model.10:20 - GreenTec Capital Partners takes their venture building model one step further. We hear from Erick Yong on GreenTec's Results for Equity model.16:07...2020-07-3035 min
The FlipIntroducing The Flip Season TwoIntroducing The Flip Season Two - the podcast exploring contextually relevant insights from entrepreneurs changing the status quo in Africa. This season, we explore venture building, geographic expansion, valuations and exits, mobile money, emerging markets, China, and much more. Produced and hosted by Justin Norman. Sayo Folawiyo is the executive producer and b-mic.https://www.theflip.africa2020-07-2303 min
The FlipCrisis-Induced CollaborationThey say never waste a good crisis. And while COVID-19 has had a horrible, crippling effect on individuals and economies alike, if there's one positive to the pandemic, perhaps it's that it's compelling and facilitating partnerships to serve the greater good; to bring people together to solve problems that have already existed, but that now have been brought even further to the fore. In this episode, we talk to entrepreneurs who have solved and are solving problems through crisis-induced collaboration.1:52 - We take a look back at a prior crisis-induced collaboration with Ory Okolloh, a Co-founder of...2020-05-2120 min
The FlipBuilding Through CrisesAs we continue to weather the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, and its second order effects on the economy, hat lessons can we learn from those who have lived, survived or even thrived through somewhat similar circumstances in the past? In this episode, we hear stories from three entrepreneurs whose past experiences may be useful for the entrepreneurs of today.2:07 - 'Tokunboh Ishmael, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Alitheia Capital, shares her experience attempting to fundraise during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Her firm wound up pivoting to a partnership-centric approach - a strategy which has endured for the past 13...2020-04-3025 min
The FlipAccessible Insurance for All - A Conversation with MicroEnsure's Richard LeftleyMicroEnsure’s origins date back in 2002 when its founder, Richard Leftley, started asking a simple question of traditional insurance companies – why is it that insurers only create products and services for the wealthy? He never got a good answer. Richard had seen the data on the impact that natural disasters had on human lives in emerging markets – there was clearly a mismatch between risk and access to insurance.Years later, as mobile penetration in these markets increased, MicroEnsure stopped asking its clients three standard questions during the signup process (name, age, and next of kin) – and they signed u...2020-03-1931 min
The FlipA Conversation with Rebecca EnonchongRebecca Enonchong (@africatechie) is widely known for her evangelism of the African tech ecosystem. But she's much more than merely an evangelist. Rebecca started the US-based enterprise software company in 1999, growing it into a global business, and along the way has co-founded the Africa Business Angels Network, AfriLabs, I/O Spaces, ActivSpaces and more. I was so fortunate to be paid a visit by Rebecca in Johannesburg, where we sat down for a conversation on how to best help entrepreneurs in the ecosystem, her views on doing business in Francophone Africa, her journey as an entrepreneur as t...2020-02-2150 min
The FlipContext Matters - What Alternative Financing Models are Appropriate for This Ecosystem?To solve problems on the continent, entrepreneurs are building sustainable, impact-driven, infrastructure-building, tech-enabled, for-profit companies - how should these companies be funded?In this episode - our third and final episode of our three-part series on venture investing in Africa, and the final episode of Season One, as well, we take a first principles approach to fundraising in Africa, and dive deeper into the opportunities for entrepreneurs to leverage different types of capital and funders to achieve their business' objectives.1:45- We define Venture Capital in the Silicon Valley sense, from Stratechery's What Is a...2020-01-3031 min
The FlipIn Pursuit of Scale - The Strategies of Africa-Focused Venture InvestorsVenture Capitalists, generally speaking, are looking to fund high-growth ventures that have the potential to scale and achieve virtually infinite returns. But achieving that scale is hard, even more so in Africa, where there are market size questions, fragmented markets, and regulatory considerations. As a result, venture investors are looking for a specific type of founder and entrepreneur - one who has demonstrated the potential to pull it off and achieve the growth and scale investors are seeking.In the African early-stage ecosystem, with its funding scarcity, limited track record, talent shortage, and expansion challenges, how do...2020-01-1630 min
The FlipWhat Do Entrepreneurs Consider When Seeking Venture Capital?We talk so often of venture capital that it's more or less assumed that raising VC funding is an inextricable part of the entrepreneur's journey. But should it be? What are the purposes for taking in VC money, and what are the considerations? 1:24 - Keith Davies, ex-CFO and Partner at Zoona on the implications of taking VC money3:19 - Integrateme Founder Luke Dominique Warner on their strategic decision to not do a traditional round of VC fundraising 5:24 - EAVCA's Eva Warigia and VC4A's Ben White on attracting local businesses leaders and high net worth in...2020-01-0219 min
The Flip1.2 Billion And Counting - How Do Entrepreneurs Look At Africa's Market Size?One of the most exciting aspects of opportunities in Africa is a function of market size - over 1.2 billion people on the youngest and fastest-growing continent. But the conversation around total addressable market, and true market size opportunity is a lot more nuanced than Africa's topline population number.2:25 - GreenTec Capital Partner's Maxime Bayen discusses GSMA research on mobile adoption and digital literacy4:39 - The Subtext's Osarumen Osamuyi on how he thinks about market size and the exercises he uses to better quantify market opportunity9:41 - NALA's Benjamin Fernandes on their product's impact on addressable...2019-12-1927 min
The FlipReaching The Masses - A Conversation On DistributionIn nuanced and fragmented environments, how are startups in African markets getting their products and services in the hands of their customers at the last mile?1:55 Maxime Bayen, of GreenTec Capital partners and formerly of GSMA, on mobile technology4:00 Keith Davies, formerly of Zoona, on agent networks5:24 Katlego Maphai, CEO of Yoco, on building trust offline6:36 Abolore Salami, CEO of Riby, on B2B2C business models8:11 Antonio Bruni, CEO of Picup, on last mile delivery13:50 Justin and Sayo discuss market size2019-12-1217 min
The FlipOn LeapfroggingLeapfrogging - what is it? What is it not? What is it good for and what are its limitations? We speak to Yoco's Head of Expansion, Marcello Schermer. 2019-12-0507 min
The FlipExploring Sustainable Businesses ModelsThey say that the difference between the US and Africa is that the US has competition while Africa has complexity. And a big reason for its complexity is a lack of infrastructure.It compels many startups to build infrastructure, invest in other market-making activities and/or to diversify earlier in their journey to make their businesses work. How are startups across the continent building sustainable businesses in this environment?2:57 - Kasha's Joanna Bichsel10:56 - MAX.ng's Tayo Bamiduro & Chinedu Azodoh18:17 - BRCK's Erik Hersman23:06 - Hello Tractor's Jehiel Oliver2019-11-2842 min
The FlipSolving Problems in Africa by Taking the Worm's Eye ViewA tenet of entrepreneurship getting as close to the customer or end-user as possible, to best understand and implement solutions for them. But what does this look like across the continent, where the set of problems and opportunities are unique to the market and context in which entrepreneurs are operating?In this episode, Justin speaks with founders who are building businesses by intimately understanding the problem and their end-users - by taking the worm's eye view.3:39 - SafeBoda co-founder Ricky Rapa Thomson10:46 - Lumkani co-founder and CEO David Gluckman16:27 - Farmcrowdy...2019-11-2130 minThe FlipIntroducing The FlipIntroducing The Flip - an editorial-style podcast exploring contextually relevant insights from entrepreneurs and investors changing the status quo in Africa. The name The Flip comes from the opportunity to flip the script – question some of the pervasive narratives on entrepreneurship, challenge the ubiquity of Silicon Valley thought leadership, and champion the entrepreneurs building a future inspired by Africa. Produced and hosted by Johannesburg-based entrepreneur and American expat Justin Norman. Sayo Folawiyo is the executive producer and b-mic.2019-11-1302 min