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How We Made It In Africa

Insight into business in Africa

Venture capital investment in Africa: Where the IFC is betting its money

We talk to Olawale Ayeni, regional head for Africa investments at IFC Venture Capital, about backing high-growth companies.

The Gulf-Africa partnership: At the crossroads of internationalisation

Gulf businesses are making in-roads in Africa.

Post-sanctions Sudan: A unique opportunity for frontier-market investors?

It is rumoured that a delegation from a prominent US carmaker recently visited Khartoum to scout for opportunities.

PARTNER CONTENT: RMB

South African mining company goes against the grain with major US acquisition

Creating a cash-generative, globally competitive South African mining champion.

Investors eyeing Africa’s private education opportunity

“There is a huge tide, a demographic driver, about to arrive and demand more quality education.”

PARTNER CONTENT: DHL

The keys to keeping and creating high-performing talent

Research suggests that the first 90 days of employment are critical.

Profit-making idea: Become a supplier to Chinese companies in Africa

Chinese firms in Africa currently only source 47% of their input requirements from local companies.

Success is an attitude: A bootstrapper’s approach to nailing the fashion industry

Bisola Edun grows clothing company from the ground up.

Automotive outlook for Africa: Bumpy roads ahead?
23 August, 2017
Africa produces slightly less than 1% of all the vehicles in the world.
How a new cruise ship terminal could boost Durban’s economy
23 August, 2017
While sub-Saharan Africa is on the map for foreign investors in many other sectors, the cruise ship industry mostly passes the region by.
Weathering Africa’s commercial real estate storm
23 August, 2017
Innovative financing solutions can realise Africa's real estate opportunity.
Venture capital investment in Africa: Where the IFC is betting its money
22 August, 2017
We talk to Olawale Ayeni, regional head for Africa investments at IFC Venture Capital, about backing high-growth companies.

The Gulf-Africa partnership: At the crossroads of internationalisation
16 August, 2017
Gulf businesses are making in-roads in Africa.
The impact of Germany’s G20 presidency on Africa
16 August, 2017
Under Germany's leadership, the G20 Africa Partnership has been launched.
Value investing in Nigeria
16 August, 2017
As Nigeria illustrates, value investing requires patient capital and a rigorous analysis of bottom-up stock picks.
Post-sanctions Sudan: A unique opportunity for frontier-market investors?
16 August, 2017
It is rumoured that a delegation from a prominent US carmaker recently visited Khartoum to scout for opportunities.

Stirring up e-commerce in South Africa
22 August, 2017
CEO of Yuppiechef on how to forge ahead and be remarkable when it comes to delivering online.
Lift off for Africa’s first airport brewery
17 August, 2017
The brewery owners decided to make all the beer at the airport so customers could see the process firsthand.
Lethabo Mokoena: The South African entrepreneur who is serious about shoe-care
4 August, 2017
South Africa-based Walk Fresh is a boutique sneaker-cleaning and shoe-care start-up.
Success is an attitude: A bootstrapper’s approach to nailing the fashion industry
3 August, 2017
Bisola Edun grows clothing company from the ground up.

Profit-making idea: Become a supplier to Chinese companies in Africa
14 August, 2017
Chinese firms in Africa currently only source 47% of their input requirements from local companies.
Profit-making idea: Keep an eye on developments in Sudan
1 August, 2017
Sudan could soon emerge as one of Africa’s business and investment hotspots, if decades-old US economic sanctions are lifted.
Profit-making idea: Manufacturing matches in Rwanda
4 July, 2017
'It is very easy to produce, but no-one has thought about doing it.'
Profit-making idea: Potential for construction companies along Mozambique’s Nacala corridor
27 June, 2017
New logistics corridor offers business opportunities.

The journey so far: Peris Bosire, co-founder, FarmDrive
1 August, 2017
'I wish I knew that there will never be a day that something doesn’t go wrong...'
The journey so far: Nokwethu Khojane, co-founder, Lakheni
20 July, 2017
'I don’t think enough people tell entrepreneurs how messy it is and that in 12 months your business plan will be meaningless.'
The journey so far: Tunde Kehinde, co-founder, Lidya / Jumia
16 July, 2017
'The earlier you can learn on someone else’s dime before committing your life, taking money from investors and bringing people into your company, the better.'
The journey so far: Lexi Novitske, principal investment officer, Singularity Investments
29 June, 2017
Talking tough situations and untapped business opportunities with Nigeria-based investor.

How German firms can tap into Africa’s diversification drive
3 February, 2017
'Where I do see significant opportunities is in the midstream and downstream petroleum industry.'
Understanding Cameroon’s untapped business opportunities
16 January, 2017
NJ Ayuk, CEO of Centurion Law Group, shares where he sees opportunities in Cameroon.
On-the-ground realities in central Africa different to investors’ perceptions
13 December, 2016
Doing business in French-speaking central Africa is often different to what prospective investors assume, according to private equity boss.
Start-up snapshot: The Cameroonian company using fish to farm crops – and vice versa
30 November, 2016
Save Our Agriculture is a start-up that focuses on producing aquaponics kits.

Venture capital investment in Africa: Where the IFC is betting its money
22 August, 2017
We talk to Olawale Ayeni, regional head for Africa investments at IFC Venture Capital, about backing high-growth companies.
Investors eyeing Africa’s private education opportunity
15 August, 2017
'There is a huge tide, a demographic driver, about to arrive and demand more quality education.'
Investment firm on why it acquired a school in Angola
14 August, 2017
Angola-based investment firm ABO Capital recently announced that it has acquired a well-known Turkish school situated south of the capital Luanda.
Why literacy rates should be taken seriously by investors in Africa
27 July, 2017
You need 40% literacy to grow sustainably and 70-80% to industrialise.

Start-up snapshot: Using artificial intelligence to improve education
14 August, 2017
M-Shule uses artificial intelligence to create and deliver personalised learning programmes to students via SMS.
Start-up snapshot: Invest in Nigerian agriculture from anywhere in the world
3 August, 2017
Farmcrowdy founder, Onyeka Akumah, tells us about the risks facing the business and his most exciting entrepreneurial moment.
Start-up snapshot: Talking business with solar irrigation company
20 July, 2017
Educating farmers on good agricultural practices has been SunCulture's most successful form of marketing.
Start-up snapshot: What this Nigerian footwear brand would do with a $1m investment
17 July, 2017
KEEXS produces urban and athleisure footwear products.

Automotive outlook for Africa: Bumpy roads ahead?
23 August, 2017
Africa produces slightly less than 1% of all the vehicles in the world.
How a new cruise ship terminal could boost Durban’s economy
23 August, 2017
While sub-Saharan Africa is on the map for foreign investors in many other sectors, the cruise ship industry mostly passes the region by.
Weathering Africa’s commercial real estate storm
23 August, 2017
Innovative financing solutions can realise Africa's real estate opportunity.
Quantum Global awarded “Fastest Growing Investment Company in Sub-Saharan Africa 2017”
22 August, 2017
'The past year has demonstrated consistent and strong returns over multiple funds and is a testament to our approach, our partnerships across the continent as well as our clients’ satisfaction.'
Stirring up e-commerce in South Africa
22 August, 2017
CEO of Yuppiechef on how to forge ahead and be remarkable when it comes to delivering online.