Accelerating Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa

The digital economy offers opportunities at scale to generate jobs that contribute to economic growth and productivity gains. Its transformative power is real and impactful.

According to estimates, in 2035, one-third of the global workforce will be in Africa. Today about 85% of people on the continent work in the informal sector. Improving their fortunes requires a mindset change.

“Boosting the digital economy in developing countries will require a new way of thinking, including from entrepreneurs,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said in an interview.

According to an Abstract written in “Quello Center: Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa: How a Continent Is Escaping from Silicon Valley’s Long Shadow”, Digital entrepreneurship is widely believed to be an engine for Africa’s development in the 21st century. From Mark Zuckerberg to Emmanuel Macron and Paul Kagame, technologists and policymakers have proposed that digital technologies enable Africa to “leapfrog” and experience ground-breaking economic progress. Yet, in any imaginable measure for digital economies, Africa does far worse than any other continent, and global divides seem to be widening.

Africa has seen a digital entrepreneurship boom in recent years, with hundreds of millions of dollars poured into tech cities, entrepreneurship training, coworking spaces, innovation prizes, and investment funds. Politicians and technologists have offered Silicon Valley–influenced narratives of boundless opportunity and exponential growth. Internet-enabled entrepreneurship allows Africa to “leapfrog” developmental stages to lead the digital revolution.

The "DT Africa Live Series" by Digital Times Africa takes a deep dive, uncovering relevant trends making an impact on the African Digital Ecosystem.

On Thursday, February 24, 2022, at 15:00 (GMT), Richard will join Milou, Isaac, and Diabel on a deep dive into digital entrepreneurship in Africa.

In this edition of DT Africa Live, we will examine Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, examining how entrepreneurs can creatively and productively adopt digital technologies to local markets. (i.e. While dreaming of global dominance, achieving sustainable businesses by scaling based on relationships and customising digital platforms business models for African infrastructure challenges).

We will also look at how the Netherlands Trust Fund V will enable African Digital Entrepreneurs to form a new professional class, becoming part of a relatively exclusive cultural and economic elite influencing Africa’s Digital Agenda.

This conversation is open to Founders, Digital Entrepreneurs, professionals, Startups, Regulators, Policymakers, Policy Analysts, investors, and Tech Enthusiasts.