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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
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
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
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
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
Angola Approves Startup Law to Support Emerging Tech Businesses
Angola has taken a formal step toward structuring its startup ecosystem with the unanimous approval of a startup law by the National Assembly on March 19. The legislation introduces a defined legal framework for technology-driven businesses, marking a shift from a system where startups operated without clear regulatory recognition. It reflects a broader trend across
Best Practices for African Startups in Mining Supply Chains
Mining supply chains in Africa are not clearly built for speed or experimentation. They are structured, compliance-heavy, and risk-sensitive. For startups, this changes the approach completely. This is not a space where you “figure things out as you go.” You either align with how the system works, or you get filtered out early. Navigating the
Free vs Paid Accounting Software: What Should Startups Choose?
Most startups don’t choose accounting software based on features. They choose based on pressure. At the beginning, the pressure is simple: don’t spend money unless you have to. That is why free accounting tools exist in almost every early-stage business. They do just enough. Startups can track income, log expenses, maybe send invoices. Nothing fancy,
The Mahindra XUV 3XO Enters a Tougher, More Demanding SUV Segment
A Step Forward in Design The Mahindra XUV 3XO represents a notable update to the brand’s compact SUV offering, replacing the XUV300 with a more modern design and improved feature set. While it introduces several upgrades, it also enters a highly competitive segment where buyers increasingly expect refinement, efficiency, and long-term reliability not just affordability.
Suzuki Launches New Across SUV in South Africa
Suzuki has officially launched the new Across in South Africa, introducing its latest SUV positioned between the Fronx and the Grand Vitara. Described as its most advanced SUV yet, the Across combines modern styling with advanced technology and strong safety features. It also offers a practical, family-friendly design. The model uses an efficient mild-hybrid petrol
Small Mines, Big Rules: The Compliance Struggle of Junior Miners in Africa
Junior mining companies sit at the frontline of resource discovery and early-stage development, taking on projects that larger firms consider too uncertain or capital-intensive. Their role is vital opening up new mineral opportunities, supporting employment, and contributing to local economies. But, despite this importance, junior miners face a disproportionate challenge: navigating a complex and often
Competition Policy: Preventing Monopolies in Open Markets
A single market rests on openness goods, services, and capital moving across borders with fewer restrictions. That openness, however, does not automatically lead to fair competition. Without clear rules and enforcement, markets can become concentrated, with a small number of firms shaping access, pricing, and supply. Preventing monopolies is not just about fairness; it is
THE MINING WRAP
Glencore’s Raglan Mine in Quebec has reached a key automation milestone in underground haulage by successfully deploying an autonomous haul truck at the Anuri mine, where it navigated a ramp without human intervention. The truck completed an autonomous ramp climb and discharged its ore load at surface, with unloading controlled remotely from an operations centre