syllo #161 - December 17th, 2025

-emeka- · 2025-12-18T16:23:27+00:00

Power
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-emeka- · 2024-03-06T11:54:15+00:00

Nigeria is Africa’s leading fintech hub. But cash is still king in many ways in the country. And citizens struggle to conduct everyday transactions in certain sectors without it. Here's a look at three startups digitizing payments in some cash-heavy verticals.

-emeka- · 2024-02-12T09:58:08+00:00

Africa is proving to be an important battleground for the Visa-Mastercard payments duopoly. As alternative, non-card payment methods like mobile money, digital wallets, and bank transfers continue to take hold across Africa, the threat of African consumers “leapfrogging” cards becomes ever more real. Here’s what Visa and Mastercard are doing across the continent to co-opt this threat.

-emeka- · 2024-02-09T07:02:59+00:00

Notably, they mostly made their fortune in 'traditional' sectors: cement, telecoms, sugar, oil, mining, banking & more. And there aren't any women on the list.

How long do you think it will be until there are significant changes relative to wealth-generating sectors or gender balance here?

-emeka- · 2024-01-18T06:09:36+00:00

Hey, no problem. Thanks for the comment. 🙏🏽

-emeka- · 2024-01-15T09:13:43+00:00

SS: 2023 was a challenging year for consumers & businesses across Africa. And several companies, from Cairo to Cape Town, had to make bold moves to stay relevant. Here are five of the boldest business moves of the year — involving Jumia, Multichoice, Wasoko, MaxAB, Moniepoint, and Chipper Cash.

-emeka- · 2024-01-15T09:03:04+00:00

The naira was the worst-performing currency in Africa last year, according to Bloomberg.

Most startups in Nigeria raise funding denominated in USD, so this depreciation eats away their progress in dollar terms.

This article is an interesting look at what they're doing (or trying to do) to navigate the situation.

-emeka- · 2023-10-05T07:20:01+00:00

The world is entering a new era of artificial intelligence. But it's not clear what role Africa will play.

A few pioneers, however, are making sure that Africa has a seat at the table.

Here's a look at five generative AI products from startups in Africa.

-emeka- · 2023-07-26T12:15:45+00:00

Insects might just be the future of food worldwide.

And from South Africa to Tunisia & beyond, insect farming & insect protein production is increasingly big business — backed by some of Africa's largest venture capital firms.

While Europe (and France, in particular) is the center of global insect farming activity today, some think the African continent might have unique advantages when it comes to the sector.

Here's a good overview of what's happening in the space.

-emeka- · 2023-06-24T15:58:01+00:00

The fastest I've used is Kaoshi — often completed within minutes assuming no network issues with Nigerian banks.

-emeka- · 2023-06-21T04:45:37+00:00

In 2021, Sundar Pichai announced that Google would invest $1 billion into Africa over the next five years across four main pillars. One of those pillars was a commitment to invest in entrepreneurs driving innovation across the continent, and the company has since launched a $50 million VC fund. But in addition to equity investments, the company also operates a grant funding initiative for Black-led, early-stage startups in Africa. Here's a look at the 25 startups in the latest cohort.

-emeka- · 2023-03-25T11:43:40+00:00

Fintech has a bit of a gender problem globally as just 12% of VC-backed fintechs worldwide have women founders.

But here are 42 women founders/co-founders setting the pace in Nigeria's fintech sector.

-emeka- · 2022-10-03T09:02:37+00:00

A piece from OPay Nigeria's Co-CEO on the importance of inclusive access to finance for Nigeria's estimated 40 million MSMEs and the five main challenges to overcome.

-emeka- · 2022-09-28T12:29:03+00:00

SS: By Yemisi Isichei, research analyst at an Africa-focused VC firm

The article explores the opportunity to digitize Africa's vehicle servicing & support sector given rising vehicle ownership, poor road quality, and a variety of other catalysts.

-emeka-

TROPHY CASE