Spotlight: Ideas
Expert opinions & narratives from business leaders in Africa & beyond that have potential for impact across the continent.
‘Capital with context’: Kola Aina on why Africa needs local capital to complement foreign investors
The Ventures Platform founder explains the unique value local fund managers & angel investors bring to Africa's innovation ecosystem — and why it's not a zero-sum game.
September 2025
From ‘made from Africa’ to ‘made in Africa’: Gagan Gupta on building Africa’s industrial sovereignty
ARISE IIP's founder is creating industrial ecosystems across the African continent to transform raw materials locally and reclaim billions in economic value.
September 2025
“Africans must not fear Africa”: Mo Ibrahim’s call for self-investment
Having sold Celtel for $3.4 billion when few believed in Africa’s promise, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation chair now urges African investors & institutions to bet on the continent, not abroad.
September 2025
Africa is repeating colonial patterns in the digital age: Kenya’s tech envoy on breaking the cycle
Having stepped out of the slums of Nairobi into global influence, Ambassador Philip Thigo warns that Africa has little time to claim technological sovereignty before it's too late.
August 2025
Africa’s hidden venture advantage: Dr. Ola Brown on African startups needing less capital to reach $1B
HealthCap Africa's Dr. Ola Brown calls out a key disconnect in global VC: African startups produce unicorns with remarkable capital efficiency yet receive less than 1% of global venture funding.
August 2025
“Africa can only be made great by Africans”: How Aliko Dangote is proving his own philosophy right
With a $20 billion refinery that's reshaping global energy markets, Africa's richest man isn't just building wealth — he's building a model for African self-sufficiency that other entrepreneurs can replicate.
August 2025