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Running Lean: How African Startups Survive Without Big Teams
Growth for Startups across African markets follows a different logic, team size is not the starting point of growth it is the outcome. Founders do not begin by assembling large teams and then building the business, they build the business first and only add people when the workload can no longer be carried internally. This
Algeria’s Sonatrach Moves Ahead with Niger Oil Drilling Plan
Algeria’s state-owned oil company, Sonatrach, is preparing to begin drilling at the Kafra oil block in northern Niger, with operations expected to start in early April. The update was reported by the Algeria Press Service (APS). Drilling and Project Development According to APS, drilling will commence once the necessary equipment and supplies arrive on site.
The Real Cost of Illegal Mining: Survival, Risk, and SMEs in the Informal Economy
Illegal mining is usually treated as a law-and-order issue. Governments focus on enforcement, mining companies raise concerns about losses, and public debate centres on environmental damage. That framing misses a key point. Across several African countries, illegal mining is closely linked to gaps in the formal SME economy, where limited access to jobs, finance, and
South African SARB Expected to Hold Rates Today
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets tomorrow, Thursday 26 March 2026, to decide on the repo rate. The current repo rate stands at 6.75% (prime lending rate 10.25%). Consensus among economists and markets is that the SARB will hold rates unchanged at this level, despite February 2026 headline CPI inflation
Breaking News Today – Thursday 26 March 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today SARB Likely To Keep Repo Rate Unchanged Despite Inflation reaching 3% in February, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets tomorrow, Thursday 26 March 2026, to decide on the repo rate. The SARB is expected to resist the opportunity to assist stretched consumers and
How African Tourism Can Be a Catalyst For Inclusive Participation for SMEs And Intra-African Trade
Africa possesses close to an unmatched tourism appeal, from the savannahs of the Serengeti to the cultural richness of the Sahel to the magnificent Kruger National Park and the pristine beaches of the Indian Ocean lapping at the foothills of Cape Town. Yet the sector has chronically lacked meaningful business investment. According to the World
No Free Lunch Podcast – The Future of Employee Well-Being
The Evolution of Life Insurance in Employee Well-Being From Reactive to PreventativeTraditionally seen as a safety net—something to rely on when tragedy strikes—life insurance is undergoing a fundamental shift. Today, it's being reimagined as an integral component of employee well-being, emphasising proactive health and financial management. I had an interesting conversation with Tal Gilbert, CEO
Grants, Accelerators, and Reality: What Happens After African Startups Get Funded?
Grants and accelerator programmes have become a key entry point for early-stage startups on the continent. Foundations, development agencies, and private investors are putting capital into early ideas, often pairing funding with training, mentorship, and exposure. For many founders, this is the first real opportunity to move beyond concept and begin operating as a business.
MTN Discontinues Ayoba App in Major African Markets
MTN is shutting down Ayoba, its super app once seen as Africa’s alternative to WhatsApp, as the company moves to consolidate its services into one platformThe shutdown is already underway in several markets, including South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Mali, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Botswana. According to MyBroadband, the decision forms part of a broader review
Namibia Blocks Starlink Over Local Ownership Rules
Namibia has rejected an application by Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate in the country, denying the satellite internet provider both a telecommunications license and access to radio spectrum because it does not meet local ownership requirements. Licensing Rejected Over Ownership Rules The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia confirmed it had declined both applications, effectively halting
Malawi Moves to Help Creators Finally Get Paid
Malawi’s creators may finally be stepping into a long-awaited opportunity. After years of producing content without compensation from global platforms, there are signs of real progress, and this time, the approach appears more deliberate than symbolic. Making Monetisation Work This effort is being led by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority, which is working with Meta
Breaking News Today – Wednesday 25 March 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Kenya Capturing the Crypto Market's Attention in Africa More than 50 virtual asset companies, led by Binance, are in talks to establish regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, via the Nairobi International Finance Centre (NIFC). Kenya’s booming crypto adoption (ranked third in Africa with around 733,000 users), new Virtual
South African Startup Yazi Secures Funding at ZAR30 Million Valuation to Expand AI Research Platform
South African AI research startup Yazi has raised its first institutional funding round at a pre-money valuation of ZAR30 million (US$1.8 million). The amount raised was not disclosed, but the round marks a shift from early-stage development to more structured growth backed by institutional capital. Yazi’s model is built around running research directly through WhatsApp,
Equatorial Guinea Prepares Offshore Oil Licensing Round After Seismic Data Upgrade
Equatorial Guinea is moving toward a new offshore oil licensing round following the reprocessing of seismic data across several offshore areas. The work, carried out by data provider Searcher, is intended to improve how subsurface structures are understood before new exploration blocks are offered to investors. By refining existing geological information, authorities are preparing the
SME Regulatory Compliance: Bridging the AfCFTA Participation Gap
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is entering its most critical implementation phase. With tariffs already reduced on 97% of goods plus the advancing Digital Trade Protocol, the agreement is projected to boost intra-African trade by up to 52% and add $450 billion to continental GDP by 2035. Yet for the continent’s small and
What Every Startup and Entrepreneur Needs Before Registering a Business
When starting a business, registration is treated as the first step. In practice, it comes early in the process, but it does not determine whether a business works. What matters more is whether the business can generate income, handle customers, and operate consistently. Without that, registration becomes a formal step that sits ahead of the
Afentra Revises Angola Oil and Gas Deal as Sonangol Joins Acquisition
Afentra has revised its planned acquisition of stakes in Angola’s offshore blocks 3/05 and 3/05A after state oil company Sonangol moved to participate directly in the transaction. The update was disclosed in a statement published on March 19 on the London Stock Exchange, confirming a change in the structure of a deal that had already
Breaking News Today – Tuesday 24 March 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today African Airlines Get Passenger Boost While global disruptions continue across air transport, due to the Iran -US conflict, for most African airlines the acute phase of new flight suspensions appears to have passed. Instead, Kenya Airways reported a surge in ticket demand from passengers yesterday with high demand
Low Cost Marketing Strategies That Actually Work for Startups
Most startups don’t have the budget to experiment with marketing. That means a startup cannot afford to guess. Every action has to bring the busiiness closer to a paying customer. At this stage, marketing is measured by response, not visibility. If people see what is offered but do not engage, enquire, or place orders, then
Eskom Must Reveal Coal & Supply Contract Details – A Win For Accountability in SA
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein delivered its judgment today (23 March 2026) in the matter Eskom Holdings SOC Limited and Another v AfriForum NPC (case no. 1049/2024) [2026] ZASCA 34. The Court unanimously dismissed Eskom’s appeal against the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) ruling from March 2024, ordering the power utility to hand