BUSINESS FACTS; 11 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA 2019 by John Paul Iwuoha

<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>It feels odd to talk about<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">business opportunities in Africa<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>in 2019&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Over the last couple of years&comma; Africa has been at the center of the global migration debate&comma; particularly in Europe and North America&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Thousands of Africans have been fleeing the continent&period; Some leave through legal emigration programs&comma; while many others via illegal and<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;reuters&period;com&sol;article&sol;us-europe-migrants-africa&sol;african-migrants-turn-to-deadly-ocean-route-as-options-narrow-idUSKBN1O210J" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">deadly migration routes<&sol;a>across the Sahara and the Mediterranean&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And why are all these people running away&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The main reason&colon; Africa has too many problems&period; There are no jobs&period; And very few opportunities&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>At the same time&comma; there are two exciting new trends that are unraveling before our eyes&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The first trend is the growing number of people from the USA&comma; Europe&comma; China&comma; India and the Middle East who are flocking to Africa in search of a precious resource&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>No&comma; they’re not looking for crude oil&comma; mineral resources&comma; or commodities&period; They’re looking for something else that Africa has in abundance&colon; unique problems&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The second trend is the rising number of people on the continent who are creating new and innovative products and services that are starting to catch the world’s attention&comma; and attracting millions of dollars from both local and international investors&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Their secret&colon; they focus on solving Africa’s unique problems&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Can you see the irony yet&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While Africa’s abundant supply of tough problems is causing thousands to flee its shores&comma; these same problems are inspiring a gold rush by entrepreneurs and investors who are excited by the opportunities these problems present&comma; and the rewards that will flow from cracking them&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>This article tells the exciting side of Africa’s story that most of the world doesn’t yet know&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In this article&comma; you’ll get a glimpse of 11 of the most promising business opportunities in Africa that are creating wealth and jobs on the continent&comma; and will very likely make more millionaires this year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And you will notice they all have one thing in common&colon; they focus exclusively on solving tough problems&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Let’s meet them…<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">1&rpar; African food brands for export<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-food-brands-for-export&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16033" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- food brands for export" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"351" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-food-brands-for-export-200x113&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-food-brands-for-export-300x169&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-food-brands-for-export-400x225&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-food-brands-for-export-600x338&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-food-brands-for-export&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; FairAfric<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Every year&comma; Africa loses thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in potential income by exporting unprocessed&comma; non-value-added commodities like raw cocoa and coffee beans&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And then when these commodities have been transformed into premium chocolate and gourmet coffee by factories in North America and Europe&comma; we spend even more money to import the value-added products back to Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As a result&comma; while chocolate and processed coffee represent a lucrative global market that is<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;globalgrainevents&period;com&sol;pdfs&sol;Geneva&percnt;202013&sol;EdwardGeorgeEcobankOverview&period;pdf" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">worth over &dollar;100 billion<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>annually&comma; thousands of African cocoa and coffee farmers remain trapped in extreme poverty&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>This absolutely makes no sense&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Thankfully&comma; this anomaly has opened gaps in the market for startups like<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">FairAfric<&sol;em>and<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Garden of Coffee<&sol;em><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to develop uniquely African product brands that have the potential to become big hits on the international market&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>By focusing on &OpenCurlyQuote;Made in Africa’ organic chocolate bars made from cocoa beans which are harvested and processed in Ghana&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;fairafric&period;com&sol;our-story" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">FairAfric<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>is targeting ethically-conscious consumers in Europe with its impressive range of organic chocolate brands&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In 2018 alone&comma; the business made and exported over<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;foodnavigator&period;com&sol;Article&sol;2018&sol;12&sol;17&sol;Made-in-Africa-organic-chocolate-start-up-makes-its-farmers-shareholders" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">250&comma;000 chocolate bars<&sol;a>&comma; and raised about<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;kickstarter&period;com&sol;projects&sol;fairafric&sol;chocolate-fully-made-in-africa-goes-organic" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">€50&comma;000 from investors on Kickstarter<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The same change is coming to African coffee too&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Ethiopia is widely acknowledged as<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;chicagotribune&period;com&sol;news&sol;ct-xpm-2007-03-29-0703280375-story&period;html" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">the birthplace of coffee<&sol;a>&comma; and is one of the world’s largest coffee bean producers&period; It also has some of the oldest coffee crafting techniques passed down over centuries&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Still&comma; when you mention coffee&comma; most people are likely to think of &OpenCurlyQuote;Starbucks’ and not Ethiopia&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>That’s why<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;gardenofcoffee&period;com&sol;pages&sol;our-big-idea" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Garden of Coffee<&sol;a>&comma; an emerging coffee brand from Ethiopia&comma; could be a game-changer for the continent&period; Founded in 2016 by Bethlehem Alemu&comma; the business roasts 5 types of Ethiopia’s legendary coffee and ships them to over 20 countries&comma; including Russia&comma; Sweden&comma; Germany&comma; and the USA&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In August 2018&comma; Garden of Coffee<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1432178&sol;ethiopias-garden-of-coffee-to-open-100-cafes-in-china&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">launched in China<&sol;a>&comma; a tea-loving market that is increasingly turning towards coffee&period; And by 2022&comma; the company’s big plan is to open over 100 café roasteries across China&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>For a continent that produces<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;browse-ideas&sol;how-to-start-a-cocoa-production-business-in-africa-for-the-global-chocolate-market&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">over 70&percnt; of cocoa beans<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>used in chocolate and roughly 11&percnt; of coffee beans&comma; Africa has a unique opportunity to create strong product brands that can attract premium prices from foreign consumers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>On top of that&comma; thousands of jobs and small businesses will be created and supported by adding value to raw commodities like cocoa and coffee beans&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>But cocoa and coffee are only the beginning of a much bigger wave of<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">emerging business opportunities in Africa<&sol;a>for value-added food exports&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>With entrepreneurs like<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;howwemadeitinafrica&period;com&sol;turning-past-failures-into-present-success-finding-international-markets-for-mangoes-from-the-gambia&sol;62409&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Momarr Mass Taal<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>in the Gambia building lucrative businesses from the export of locally-processed dried mangoes and groundnuts&comma; this year will likely see more entrepreneurs join the fray to develop unique African product brands for export&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">2&rpar; Off-grid solar<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-off-grid-solar&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16034" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- off-grid solar" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"416" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-off-grid-solar-200x133&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-off-grid-solar-300x200&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-off-grid-solar-400x267&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-off-grid-solar-600x400&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-off-grid-solar&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; practicalaction&period;org<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While policymakers in Europe and North America debate about the most fitting energy transition strategy for their countries&comma; Africa presents a clean and open slate for renewable energy&comma; especially solar&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;newyorker&period;com&sol;magazine&sol;2017&sol;06&sol;26&sol;the-race-to-solar-power-africa" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">race to spread solar power across Africa<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>is now a multi-billion-dollar industry that continues to attract entrepreneurs and investors from within and outside the continent&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>What makes solar one of the most<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">attractive business opportunities in Africa<&sol;a>right now is the significant potential for off-grid solar solutions&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And the demand is massive&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Over<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;weforum&period;org&sol;agenda&sol;2018&sol;05&sol;more-people-than-ever-now-have-electricity-in-africa-but-600-million-are-still-in-the-dark" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">600 million<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>Africans are tired of waiting for energy from centrally-managed power grids that are slow to deploy&comma; inefficient&comma; and inflexible to the continent’s growing power needs&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And on a continent that enjoys over 300 days of sunlight in many parts&comma; it’s hard to beat the value proposition of a product that bypasses the central power grid and meets your energy needs by tapping directly from the sun&comma; a free energy source&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>That’s why the solar market in Africa has exploded and the number of players in this space continues to grow&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Last year&comma; BBOXX&comma; a solar systems developer&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;pv-tech&period;org&sol;news&sol;democratic-republic-of-congo-contracts-bboxx-to-provide-off-grid-solar-to-2" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">signed a landmark deal<&sol;a><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;pv-tech&period;org&sol;news&sol;democratic-republic-of-congo-contracts-bboxx-to-provide-off-grid-solar-to-2" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important"><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><&sol;a>&nbsp&semi;with the government of DR Congo to deploy off-grid solar kits and mini-grids to 2&period;5 million citizens&period; In the DRC&comma; it is estimated that over 60 million people are still not connected to the grid&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In Togo&comma; the company has also entered a &dollar;4 million partnership deal with the government to<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;constructionreviewonline&period;com&sol;2017&sol;07&sol;bboxx-to-provide-300-000-solar-home-solutions-to-local-communities-in-togo&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">supply 300&comma;000 homes<&sol;a>with off-grid solar kits&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>So far&comma; BBOXX has raised more than<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mercomindia&period;com&sol;aiim-invest-31-million-off-grid-solar-solutions-bboxx&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;66 million from investors<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to increase its footprint across Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>But this is just one company&period; There are several others&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Solar players like M-Kopa&comma; Offgrid Electric&comma; Azuri&comma; Mobisol&comma; Lumos&comma; GLP and others are strategically penetrating Africa’s off-grid solar energy market in countries like Kenya&comma; Ethiopia&comma; Nigeria&comma; Ghana and Tanzania&comma; and have received<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;lightingglobal&period;org&sol;2018-global-off-grid-solar-market-trends-report&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">roughly &dollar;1 billion<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>from investors so far&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And this is only the beginning of a big party that is far from getting started&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As the continent that emits the lowest levels of CO2 but has the most to lose from climate change&comma; Africa’s solar entrepreneurs will benefit immensely from funds like the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;worldbank&period;org&sol;en&sol;news&sol;press-release&sol;2018&sol;12&sol;03&sol;world-bank-group-announces-200-billion-over-five-years-for-climate-action" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">World Bank’s &dollar;200 billion Climate Action Fund<&sol;a>&comma; and funds from the private sector like<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;bloomberg&period;com&sol;news&sol;articles&sol;2017-07-10&sol;shell-plans-to-spend-1-billion-a-year-on-clean-energy-by-2020" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Shell’s &dollar;1 billion annual budget<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>for clean energy&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As more funds and players try to serve Africa’s massive demand for off-grid solar solutions&comma; this will surely be an exciting industry to watch&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">3&rpar; Virtual education<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-virtual-education&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16035" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- virtual education" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"374" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-virtual-education-200x120&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-virtual-education-300x180&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-virtual-education-400x240&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-virtual-education-600x360&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-virtual-education&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; African Virtual University&comma; Nairobi&comma; Kenya<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>There is a trend of &OpenCurlyQuote;academic inflation’ currently happening across Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>To compete for limited job opportunities&comma; Africans in the labour market are investing in higher or specialised academic degrees&comma; diplomas&comma; and certifications in order to make their CVs &lpar;résumés&rpar; more impressive&comma; and boost their chances of employment&comma; promotion&comma; and career progression&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Learning institutions outside Africa are also benefitting from the explosion in demand for higher and specialist education&period; The top destinations are universities in North America&comma; Europe and Australia&period; Academic degrees from the US and UK now cost Africans an average of<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;558224&sol;why-nigerians-are-saving-up-to-50000-to-pay-for-uk-and-us-degrees&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">up to &dollar;50&comma;000<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Worse still&comma; the overwhelming demand for higher education in Africa has now led to a string of<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;bbc&period;co&period;uk&sol;programmes&sol;w3cswh1b" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">fake universities in Europe and America<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>that are involved in an elaborate multi-million-dollar scam of offering admission for non-accredited courses&comma; degrees&comma; and programs&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While the demand side for quality higher education in Africa has dramatically evolved&comma; the supply side largely remains as it’s been for more than 40 years&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The truth is the traditional business model of sprawling&comma; location-based&comma; and come-to-us-if-you-want-to-learn university campuses can no longer match the current growth and sophistication of demand for higher education on the continent&period; People want flexible learning options that allow them work&comma; learn&comma; and earn&comma; all at the same time&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Africa’s higher education systems are ripe for disruption and there are already a few interesting entrepreneurs&comma; investors and players leading the charge&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;unicaf&period;org&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">UNICAF<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>is a virtual education startup that partners with accredited universities around the world to offer online degrees to underserved markets&comma; with a focus on Africa&period; Its online platform provides access to affordable higher education to Africans who want flexible learning options&comma; have work obligations&comma; or cannot afford conventional tuition fees&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>With more than 16&comma;000 students currently enrolled in its programs&comma; UNICAF recently<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;prnewswire&period;com&sol;news-releases&sol;africas-largest-online-university-platform-raises-28-million-to-meet-unprecedented-demand-for-higher-education-300750189&period;html" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">raised €25 million<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>from investors&comma; comprising investment banking giant Goldman Sachs&comma; Edex&comma; the UK’s CDC Group&comma; and University Ventures&period; The funds will be used to grow student enrolment to 100&comma;000 over the next 5 years&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;avu&period;org&sol;avuweb&sol;en&sol;africa-e-learning-makes-education-reality-tens-thousands&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">African Virtual University<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>is also another trailblazer disrupting the conventional model of higher education on the continent&period; In partnership with universities within and outside Africa&comma; the intergovernmental organisation has already trained 43&comma;000 students using its virtual online platforms&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>By the year 2040&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;pwc&period;fr&sol;fr&sol;assets&sol;files&sol;pdf&sol;2015&sol;01&sol;pwc&lowbar;africa&lowbar;business&lowbar;agenda2014&period;pdf" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">PwC estimates<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>that Africa will have the world’s largest labour force&comma; ahead of both India and China&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>To address the current and future skills shortages in this market&comma; smart entrepreneurs and investors are cornering a potentially lucrative market by focusing on flexible and scalable business models that are cost-effective&comma; yet profitable&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The growth in the virtual education space will be one of the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">most interesting business opportunities in Africa<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to watch this year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">4&rpar; Fashion and Apparel<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-fashion-and-apparel&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16036" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- fashion and apparel" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"416" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-fashion-and-apparel-200x133&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-fashion-and-apparel-300x200&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-fashion-and-apparel-400x267&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-fashion-and-apparel-600x400&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-fashion-and-apparel&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; Vonecia Carswell<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Fashion is a<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;mckinsey&period;com&sol;industries&sol;retail&sol;our-insights&sol;the-state-of-fashion" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;2&period;4 trillion<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>global industry&period; But Africa currently only owns a very thin slice of it&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The global fashion industry has a vast and complex value chain that stretches from the farmers who grow cotton&comma; silk&comma; and other natural fibres&comma; to the massive production factories in Asia that spin the fibres into a wide range of textiles&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The chain stretches further to the armies of workers in garment factories scattered across Asia and South America who convert textiles into a wide range of apparel stocked by mass merchandise chains around the world&comma; and high street retail stores in New York&comma; London&comma; Paris and Milan&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Thankfully&comma; some creative entrepreneurs are starting to squeeze out some space for Africa in this vast and lucrative global chain&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>This year&comma; two significant opportunities in the global fashion value chain will further open up to entrepreneurs and investors in Africa who are keen for a bigger share of this massive industry&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The first opportunity is in apparel production&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>With<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;economist&period;com&sol;briefing&sol;2015&sol;03&sol;12&sol;a-tightening-grip" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">rising labour costs in China<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>and parts of South East Asia forcing more factories to seek alternative locations in Africa – where labour is cheaper — several apparel producers are already setting up shop on the continent&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Among companies like H&amp&semi;M and Primark that are now sourcing from Africa&comma; Huajian&comma; one of China’s largest shoe manufacturers&comma; is<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;803626&sol;ivanka-trumps-shoe-collection-may-be-moving-from-made-in-china-to-made-in-ethiopia&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">expanding in Ethiopia<&sol;a>and in East Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Also&comma; specialist apparel producers like C&amp&semi;H Garment Factory in Rwanda are producing uniforms&comma; safety vests&comma; and military kits that are<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;661463&sol;a-chinese-garment-factory-is-helping-rwanda-wean-itself-from-western-hand-me-downs&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">exported<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to Europe and the USA&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While the influx of Asian apparel producers to Africa is likely to have an impact on the continent’s indigenous textile industry&comma; the potential of these massive factories to create large-scale jobs&comma; earn export income&comma; and encourage the growth of supporting industries will likely create big opportunities for local entrepreneurs&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The second opportunity that stares in Africa’s face is fashion design and retail&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>A growing number of brilliant and creative fashion designers is emerging from the continent&comma; and the world is starting to take notice&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>African fashion labels&comma; like Senegal’s<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1513086&sol;young-african-innovators-to-watch-in-2019&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Tongoro<&sol;a><&sol;em><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>by Sarah Diouf&comma; are attracting international celebrities and customer bases outside the continent&comma; in places like Europe and North America&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And recently&comma; Nike&comma; the global sportswear giant&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;edition&period;cnn&period;com&sol;style&sol;article&sol;native-mag-nike-jersey-intl&sol;index&period;html" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">collaborated with a local Nigerian designer<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>for a special edition jersey that was inspired by Adire&comma; a traditional print from Nigeria&period; The design sold out within 14 hours after it was released on Nike’s website&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>With a growing global curiosity and appetite for exotic and refreshing fashion designs from Africa&comma; the continent’s fashion designers and entrepreneur have a massive market and untapped global audience to serve&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>There are vast opportunities in potential partnerships with big and established fashion brands&comma; distribution arrangements&comma; e-Commerce possibilities&comma; and artisanal and exotic fashion pieces&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>On top of these international opportunities&comma; there is a growing domestic market of over 600 million young and fashionable Africans who now take pride in wearing locally-inspired fashion&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The African Development Bank estimates that Africa’s local fashion industry has the potential to be worth<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;afdb&period;org&sol;fileadmin&sol;uploads&sol;afdb&sol;Documents&sol;Generic-Documents&sol;Final&lowbar;Report&lowbar;AFDB&lowbar;Fashionomics&lowbar;-&lowbar;Investing&lowbar;in&lowbar;the&lowbar;African&lowbar;Creative&lowbar;Industries&lowbar;for&lowbar;the&lowbar;Continent&lowbar;s&lowbar;Inclusive&lowbar;Growth&period;pdf" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;15&period;5 billion<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>over the next five years&period; This clearly makes it one of the most<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">promising business opportunities in Africa<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to watch&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">5&rpar; Outsourcing<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-outsourcing&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16037" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- outsourcing" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"414" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-outsourcing-200x133&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-outsourcing-300x199&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-outsourcing-400x265&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-outsourcing-600x398&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-outsourcing&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; Vivetic&comma; a BPO in Madagascar<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Business Process Outsourcing &lpar;BPO&rpar; is now a huge multi-billion-dollar transnational industry that is expected to reach<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;reuters&period;com&sol;brandfeatures&sol;venture-capital&sol;article&quest;id&equals;61528" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;52 billion in market size<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>by 2023&comma; growing at an average rate of 11&percnt; per year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The rising dominance of e-Commerce and the digital economy is leading companies to demand for more data&comma; real-time services&comma; and a presence across multiple platforms&period; As a result&comma; more companies are outsourcing their accounting&comma; data processing&comma; customer service&comma; human talent&comma; and supply chain needs&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While India and the Philippines have benefitted from the explosion of IT outsourcing demand in the USA and UK&comma; Africa has become the big player in BPO for the global Francophone market&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The number of BPO companies in Morocco&comma; Tunisia&comma; Senegal&comma; Mauritius and Madagascar<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1519409&sol;madagascars-fast-internet-fuels-outsourcing-boom&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">continues to skyrocket<&sol;a>&period; In Morocco&comma; the BPO market leader in Africa&comma; the industry employs over 70&comma;000 people&period; And in Madagascar&comma; the number of BPOs have grown from just a handful in 2005 to 233 firms in 2018&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>More BPOs are setting up shop on African soil for a variety of reasons&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The lower cost advantage of running BPO centres in Africa means that companies can be more competitive and profitable&period; Also&comma; internet speeds in places like Madagascar are<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1328407&sol;madagascars-internet-beats-uk-and-france&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">faster than in several developed countries<&sol;a>&comma; thereby significantly improving the quality of service&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In Kenya&comma; BPO firms like<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;bbc&period;com&sol;news&sol;technology-46055595" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Samasource<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>use local tech-savvy Africans to support some of the big names in Silicon Valley&comma; such as Google&comma; Microsoft and Yahoo&comma; in their artificial intelligence efforts&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Also&comma; in January 2019&comma; Andela – a company which trains African software developers and engineers and outsources them to companies in the USA and Europe –<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;ft&period;com&sol;content&sol;dbe61434-1e41-11e9-b126-46fc3ad87c65" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">raised &dollar;100 million<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>in funding&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The investment in Andela&comma; which was led by an investment firm co-founded by former US vice-president Al Gore&comma; comes after an earlier<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;forbes&period;com&sol;sites&sol;alexkonrad&sol;2016&sol;06&sol;16&sol;andela-raises-24-million-from-zuckerberg-chan-initiative-and-gv&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;24 million investment<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>by Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook&period; These investments represent a significant validation of the potential of the outsourcing business in Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As the global digital economy expands&comma; Africa’s large pool of young&comma; tech-savvy English and French speakers presents a major attraction and promising opportunity for global BPO firms looking to serve the growing outsourcing demand from clients in North America and Europe&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The outsourcing space will surely be one of the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">top business opportunities in Afric<&sol;a>a to watch this year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">6&rpar; Film production and distribution<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-film-production-and-distribution&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16038" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- film production and distribution" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"351" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-film-production-and-distribution-200x113&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-film-production-and-distribution-300x169&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-film-production-and-distribution-400x225&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-film-production-and-distribution-600x338&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-film-production-and-distribution&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; Netflix<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Africa’s film industry is the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;fortune&period;com&sol;2015&sol;06&sol;24&sol;nollywood-movie-industry&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">second largest in the world<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>&lpar;by volume&rpar; after India’s Bollywood&comma; and produces more films than America’s Hollywood&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>But the industry’s history of low-budget and low-quality productions&comma; and a distribution system dogged by piracy&comma; have held back its potential&period; Despite these shortcomings&comma; African movies have proven to be very popular on the continent&comma; and among the African diaspora&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>However&comma; this year could mark the point that Africa’s film industry truly goes global&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The global video-on-demand &lpar;VOD&rpar; revolution led by Netflix could very likely change the game for film production and distribution in Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Even though Netflix has been involved in exclusive distribution arrangements for African films like<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">The Wedding Party<&sol;em>&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">October 1&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><&sol;em>and<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Beasts of No Nation<&sol;em>&comma; the company’s recent purchase of the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1384217&sol;netflix-buys-nollywood-movie-lionheart-by-genevieve-nnaji&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">worldwide rights for<&sol;a><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1384217&sol;netflix-buys-nollywood-movie-lionheart-by-genevieve-nnaji&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important"><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><&sol;a><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1384217&sol;netflix-buys-nollywood-movie-lionheart-by-genevieve-nnaji&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Lionheart<&sol;em><&sol;a>&comma; its first original film from Nigeria&comma; and its plans to<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;variety&period;com&sol;2018&sol;tv&sol;global&sol;netflix-order-africa-original-series-2019-1203061326&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">order an African original series<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>in 2019&comma; signals the opening of Africa’s film industry to a global audience&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Netflix’s massive<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;fortune&period;com&sol;2018&sol;07&sol;08&sol;netflix-original-programming-13-billion&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;13 billion annual budget<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>for original productions will be competing for content against big African players like MultiChoice and IrokoTV&comma; and other emerging distributors on the continent&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>With better funding and strong competition for their content&comma; African film producers will be telling more compelling stories&comma; and will be empowered to create blockbuster films that can reach audiences around the world&comma; from New York to Tokyo&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Africa’s local cinemas are also getting a boost&period; With more than<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;venturesafrica&period;com&sol;over-61-4m-invested-in-nigerias-big-screen-business&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;60 million<&sol;a>invested in developing new cinemas over the last decade&comma; the growth in cinema visits has led to<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;917846&sol;photos-nollywood-is-going-to-get-you-to-see-africas-big-picture&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">a rise in box office pickings<&sol;a>&comma; thereby cutting out the pirates and ensuring more money ends up in the pockets of film producers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In countries like Nigeria&comma; the film industry contributes up to<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;fortune&period;com&sol;2015&sol;06&sol;24&sol;nollywood-movie-industry&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;3 billion<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to the economy&period; Beyond its ability to create a large number of jobs&comma; a booming film industry in more African countries would have<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wipo&period;int&sol;wipo&lowbar;magazine&sol;en&sol;2014&sol;02&sol;article&lowbar;0001&period;html" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">significant spill-over effects<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>on local economies by supporting a wide range of small businesses&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The market effects of the entry of international players like Netflix into Africa’s film industry will make it one of the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">best emerging business opportunities in Africa<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to watch this year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">7&rpar; Apartment hotels<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-apartment-hotels&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16039" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- apartment hotels" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"351" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-apartment-hotels-200x113&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-apartment-hotels-300x169&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-apartment-hotels-400x225&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-apartment-hotels-600x338&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-apartment-hotels&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; Business Traveller<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;knightfrank&period;com&sol;publications&sol;africa-report-201718-4576&period;aspx" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">combined impacts<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>of rapid urbanisation&comma; high population growth&comma; and a strong economic potential means that Africa’s real estate sector will remain an interesting space for entrepreneurs and investors far into this century&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>But while there are different exciting segments in Africa’s real estate sector – from affordable housing and office spaces&comma; to retail&comma; and industrial property opportunities – the apartment hotel space is still relatively unknown&comma; with only a few major players&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Apartment hotels&comma; also known as &OpenCurlyQuote;serviced’ apartments or &OpenCurlyQuote;long-stay’ hotels&comma; are an emerging real estate niche that brings together the best of both a hotel and an apartment&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The appeal of this offering is that residents get the privacy of a furnished and fitted apartment with the convenience of hotel services&period; On top of that&comma; apartment hotels can cost up to 20-30&percnt; less than an equivalent extended stay at a conventional hotel&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>But where is the demand coming from&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The rise in global business travel&comma; a massive market that spends more than<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;gbta&period;org&sol;news-and-advocacy&sol;newsroom&sol;global-business-travel-spend-topped-record-breaking-12-trillion-usd-in-2015-will-reach-16-trillion-by-2020" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">&dollar;1&period;2 trillion annually<&sol;a>&comma; is the big trend responsible for the growing demand for apartment hotels in Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As corporate mobility and the number of international job assignments rise&comma; and more multinationals continue to push into emerging markets&comma; the demand for accommodation by business travellers and expatriate workers in Africa is becoming<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;businesstravellerafrica&period;co&period;za&sol;on-the-rise&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">more sophisticated<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In 2015&comma; there were only 8&comma;802 serviced apartments in 102 locations in Africa&period; By 2017&comma; the numbers had increased to 9&comma;477 serviced apartments in 166 locations&comma; a rise of 7&period;6&percnt; and 62&period;7&percnt; respectively&period; This shows the rising level of interest in the sector&comma; according to the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;the-tin&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2017&sol;01&sol;GSAIR-2016-17Lowres&period;pdf" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>So far&comma; it is cities such as Nairobi&comma; Lagos&comma; Accra&comma; Addis Ababa&comma; Abidjan&comma; Dakar&comma; Dar es Salaam&comma; Abuja&comma; Johannesburg and Cape Town that are experiencing marked growth in the emerging apartment hotel sector&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In recent years&comma; new apartment hotel projects that have entered the market include the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;bwexecutiveresidencynairobi&period;co&period;ke&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Executive Residency<&sol;a><&sol;em><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>by Best Western in Nairobi&comma; Marriot’s<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Residence Inn<&sol;em>in Accra and Lagos&comma; the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Novotel Suites<&sol;em><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>in Marrakech&comma; and Radisson Blu’s<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Hotel and Residences<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><&sol;em>in Cape Town and Maputo&comma; among<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;howwemadeitinafrica&period;com&sol;opportunity-abounds-in-african-apart-hotel-sector&sol;61943&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">several other apartment hotels on the African market<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">business and investment opportunities in Afric<&sol;a>a attract more global players to the continent&comma; the size&comma; scale and sophistication of apartment hotels on offer will very likely evolve as this interesting niche of the real estate sector goes mainstream&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">8&rpar; Healthcare<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-healthcare&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16040" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- healthcare" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"351" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-healthcare-200x113&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-healthcare-300x169&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-healthcare-400x225&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-healthcare-600x338&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-healthcare&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Africa’s healthcare scene is brimming with interesting problems&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>No other industry in Africa presents as much opportunity to transform lives&comma; and the potential to create lasting impact in local communities&period; It’s no surprise that the entrepreneurs and investors who work in this space are deeply passionate people&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Africa has just about 15&percnt; of the world’s population but bears roughly<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;browse-ideas&sol;how-to-start-a-drug-and-medicine-business-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">25&percnt; of the global disease burden<&sol;a>&period; The continent also does not have enough doctors&comma; nurses and health professionals&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>This crisis situation presents a range of complex and high-stakes problems&period; And that’s exactly what makes Africa the most exciting place to be for creative problem-solvers who are passionate about healthcare&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Take health insurance for example&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Private health insurance is expensive for most people&comma; and many countries in Africa do not have a functional and accessible government-managed health insurance scheme&period; As a result&comma; many poor people&comma; especially in rural areas&comma; are locked out of the formal healthcare system because they cannot afford the bills&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In Tanzania&comma; one healthcare start-up has found an innovative way around the problem&period; By using mobile money&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;ideo&period;org&sol;project&sol;jamii" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Jamii successfully introduced a micro-health insurance product<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>that allows low-income earners to pay a monthly premium of &dollar;1&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>So far&comma; Jamii has raised up to &dollar;1 million from investors and enables thousands of low-income families to access 400 hospitals on its insurance network&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Another interesting area is locally-inspired preventative medicine&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Diseases like malaria kill thousands of Africans every year&period; And the pharmaceutical industry makes a fortune from millions of dollars spent on malaria drugs&period; Still&comma; many poor people can’t afford medicines and the disease still<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;who&period;int&sol;news-room&sol;fact-sheets&sol;detail&sol;malaria" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">kills close to 500&comma;000 people<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>annually&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>But rather than try to find the best cure for diseases like malaria&comma; or produce drugs that most people can’t afford&comma; why not prevent mosquito bites in the first place&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While global efforts like insecticide-treated mosquito nets<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;theconversation&period;com&sol;fighting-malaria-is-going-to-take-more-than-just-nets-37162" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">have not been quite effective<&sol;a>&comma; local entrepreneurs like Burundi’s Ginette Karirekinyana and Uganda’s Joan Nalubega are taking a more preventative approach by<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1524070&sol;malaria-burundi-cosmetics-to-push-eradication&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">integrating natural and organic mosquito repellents into products<&sol;a>&comma; such as soaps and body lotions&comma; that people are more likely to use on a daily basis&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>A growing number of entrepreneurs on the continent are proving that<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;dr-hempel-network&period;com&sol;digital&lowbar;health&lowbar;contact&lowbar;lists&sol;16-young-digital-health-healthcare-innovators-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">locally-inspired solutions to Africa’s healthcare problems<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>can be effective&period; And as they continue to apply technology&comma; creativity&comma; and local materials to the continent’s healthcare challenges&comma; we will surely be more new&comma; interesting discoveries and breakthroughs during the year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">9&rpar; Digital financial services<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-digital-financial-services&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16041" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- digital financial services" width&equals;"624" height&equals;"407" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-digital-financial-services-200x130&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-digital-financial-services-300x196&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-digital-financial-services-400x261&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-digital-financial-services-600x391&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-digital-financial-services&period;jpg 624w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 624px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 624px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>What is the hottest emerging industry in Africa right now&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>It’s a tough question&period; But if I had to make an informed choice&comma; it would be digital financial services&comma; popularly known as &OpenCurlyQuote;fintech’&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>No other emerging industry in Africa is attracting as much international capital and backing like fintech right now&period; In 2018 alone&comma; fintech startups in Africa<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1520173&sol;african-startups-funding-in-2018-broke-records&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">raised &dollar;284&period;6 million<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>from investors&comma; almost half of all the funding raised by African tech startups in the whole year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>It’s hardly surprising why there is a gold rush in Africa’s fintech industry&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Over<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;africa&period;com&sol;mobile-money-bridges-unbanked-adults-gap&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">60&percnt; of Africa’s adult population<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>is unbanked&period; Up to 350 million of them own and use phones&comma; but fewer own a bank account or have access to formal financial services&period; That’s a huge market indeed&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>By using mobile phones and the internet&comma; fintech entrepreneurs across the continent are<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;worldbank&period;org&sol;en&sol;news&sol;press-release&sol;2018&sol;04&sol;19&sol;financial-inclusion-on-the-rise-but-gaps-remain-global-findex-database-shows" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">deepening financial inclusion<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>and unlocking incredible market opportunities in financial services&period; And the opportunities range from processing payments and money transfers&comma; to savings&comma; and access to credit&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Current estimates project that over the next 3 years&comma; Africa’s fintech industry will<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;bloombergquint&period;com&sol;onweb&sol;fintech-seen-contributing-150-billion-to-africa-s-gdp-by-2022&num;gs&period;ZrblSmta" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">grow by at least &dollar;40 billion<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>and contribute up to &dollar;150 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2020&period; It’s this huge market potential that’s making investors fall over themselves to invest in African fintech companies&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1387374&sol;the-rush-of-big-ticket-investment-to-african-fintech-companies-will-not-be-ending-anytime-soon&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">the last 12 months<&sol;a>&comma; two fintech startups from Kenya &lpar;Branch and Tala&rpar; raised &dollar;135 million&period; In Nigeria&comma; four companies — Cellulant&comma; Paga&comma; Paystack and Lidya — attracted a total of &dollar;72&period;4 million&period; And from South Africa&comma; Jumo and Yoco received &dollar;68 million&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>These are only the headliners&period; Several other fintech startups like Tunisia’s<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;disrupt-africa&period;com&sol;2018&sol;12&sol;tunisian-fintech-startup-expensya-raised-45m-funding&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Expensya<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>and Nigeria’s<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;techcrunch&period;com&sol;2018&sol;05&sol;31&sol;nigerias-piggybank-ng-raises-1-1m-announces-group-investment-product&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Piggybank<&sol;a>&comma; among others&comma; raised lower amounts that were still impressive&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While the amount of capital that’s flowing into African fintech startups may be impressive&comma; it’s who these funds are coming from that’s even much more impressive&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>For example&comma; Stripe and Visa&comma; two global payments giants&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;techcrunch&period;com&sol;2018&sol;08&sol;28&sol;paystack-with-ambitions-to-become-the-stripe-of-africa-raises-8m-from-visa-tencent-and-stripe-itself&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">were part of the investment deal<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>in Paystack&comma; a promising 3-year old Nigerian digital payments startup&period; Other<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;howwemadeitinafrica&period;com&sol;venture-capital-investors-making-big-bets-on-african-fintech&sol;62334&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">interesting investors<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>in this emerging industry include Goldman Sachs&comma; Y Combinator&comma; Partech&comma; Omidyar Network&comma; and China’s Tencent&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As the fever for fintech in Africa continues to grip local and international investors&comma; the industry will very likely remain one of the<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;get-inspired&sol;top-business-opportunities-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">most lucrative business and investment opportunities in Africa<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>to watch this year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">10&rpar; Music<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-music&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16042" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- music" width&equals;"623" height&equals;"350" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-music-200x112&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-music-300x169&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-music-400x225&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-music-600x337&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-music&period;jpg 623w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 623px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 623px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Photo credit&colon; Quartz Africa<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Across Africa&comma; the buzz on the music scene is palpable&period; What used to be the domain of hobbyists and passionate creatives is<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;un&period;org&sol;africarenewal&sol;magazine&sol;april-2018-july-2018&sol;music-nigeria&percnt;E2&percnt;80&percnt;99s-new-export" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">now morphing into a multi-million-dollar industry<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Like hip hop — the music genre exclusively developed by inner-city African Americans in the 1970s that later became a billion-dollar global phenomenon — the emergence of Afrobeats from Africa feels almost the same&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Buoyed by the global reach of social media&comma; Afrobeats is turning out to be Africa’s major cultural export&comma; with songs and artistes from the genre<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1416175&sol;digital-distribution-and-diaspora-has-been-key-to-the-global-rise-of-the-afrobeats-sound&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">featuring<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>on Billboard charts&comma; music festivals&comma; and radio stations in the USA&comma; Europe and the Caribbean&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Between 2017 and 2021&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;pwc&period;com&sol;ng&sol;en&sol;press-room&sol;nigeria-will-be-the-worlds-fastest-growing-e-m-market-pwc-report&period;html" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">PwC projects<&sol;a>that Nigeria will be the world’s fastest-growing market for entertainment and media&comma; with music sales expected to reach &dollar;88 million in 2019&period; The growth trajectory of the music industry feeds into a larger market for art&comma; movies and fashion that could be worth &dollar;8 billion in 2019&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>As a result of the huge potential of this market&comma; Africa’s burgeoning music scene is attracting heavyweights in the global music industry&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Music distribution giants like Apple Music&comma; Spotify&comma; and Tidal have touched down on the continent&period; Last year&comma;<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;billboard&period;com&sol;articles&sol;business&sol;8471653&sol;tidal-moves-africa-partners-telecoms-company-mtn" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">Tidal entered a partnership deal<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>with telecoms giant MTN to launch its streaming service in Uganda and Nigeria&period; Spotify has also<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;forbes&period;com&sol;sites&sol;tobyshapshak&sol;2018&sol;03&sol;13&sol;spotify-comes-home-with-first-african-launch&sol;&num;78958bc310a7" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">opened shop<&sol;a>in South Africa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Even the leading seller of smartphones in Africa&comma; Transsion Holdings&comma; has joined the fray&period; The Chinese-owned maker of phone brands like Itel&comma; Infinix and Techno has launched its own music streaming service<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1452045&sol;transsions-boomplay-inks-universal-music-deal-in-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">known as Boomplay<&sol;a>&comma; with over 30 million subscribers now on the platform&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The big music record labels are also taking positions in the African music market&period; In July last year&comma; Universal Music Group — the world’s largest music company –<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1328454&sol;universal-music-group-the-worlds-biggest-music-company-sets-its-sights-on-africa&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">opened offices in Abidjan<&sol;a>&lpar;Cote D’Ivoire&rpar; and Lagos &lpar;Nigeria&rpar;&period; Sony&comma; another music giant&comma; set up its Africa offices in 2016&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And for the first time in a very long time&comma; big investments are going after local African music labels&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In March 2018&comma; Universal Music Group bought a<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;billboard&period;com&sol;articles&sol;business&sol;8231940&sol;umg-buys-majority-stake-in-kenyan-label-ai-records-report" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">minority stake in Kenya’s AI Records<&sol;a>&comma; one of East Africa’s biggest music labels&period; And recently&comma; private equity investors participated in a<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1539118&sol;don-jazzys-mavin-gets-multimillion-dollar-investment&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">multi-million-dollar investment deal in Mavin Records<&sol;a>&comma; one of West Africa’s biggest labels&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The rising global interest and inflows of investment into Africa’s music industry could&comma; like America’s hip hop music genre&comma; blossom into a billion-dollar global sensation that exports the continent’s colourful and energetic culture&comma; while creating wealth and thousands of jobs in the process&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none">11&rpar; Startup funding<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-startup-funding&period;jpg" class&equals;"alignnone size-full wp-image-16043" alt&equals;"business opportunities in Africa -- startup funding" width&equals;"650" height&equals;"366" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-startup-funding-200x113&period;jpg 200w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-startup-funding-300x169&period;jpg 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-startup-funding-400x225&period;jpg 400w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-startup-funding-600x338&period;jpg 600w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;smallstarter&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2019&sol;02&sol;business-opportunities-in-Africa-startup-funding&period;jpg 650w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 650px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 650px" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; border-style&colon; none&semi; vertical-align&colon; top&semi; max-width&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; height&colon; auto"><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><span style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;153&comma; 153&comma; 153&rpar;"><em style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box">Credit&colon; Quartz Africa<&sol;em><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Looking at the chart above gives you a feel for what happens when a dam bursts&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In the last 12 months alone&comma; the investments flowing to African businesses<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;weetracker&period;com&sol;2019&sol;01&sol;04&sol;what-a-year-the-state-of-venture-capital-in-africa-2018&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">grew by almost 300&percnt;<&sol;a>&period; This is amazing given that many economies on the continent did not even grow by up to 3&percnt; during the period&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>While funding from local investors is growing&comma; most of the funds came in from investors outside Africa&semi; from the US&comma; Europe&comma; and Asia &lpar;particularly China&rpar;&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And who are these global investors that have developed a taste for Africa&comma; and are now pouring more money into young businesses on the continent&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>They range from global investment banking giants like Goldman Sachs&comma; to Silicon Valley players Y Combinator and Partech Ventures&comma; to international development funds like the Global Innovation Fund&comma; and<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;howwemadeitinafrica&period;com&sol;venture-capital-investors-making-big-bets-on-african-fintech&sol;62334&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">big private companies<&sol;a><span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span>like Stripe&comma; Visa&comma; and China’s Tencent&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Interestingly&comma; it’s not just the total size of investments in African startups that grew in the last 12 months&period; The size of the individual deals grew as well&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>More startups on the continent received funding above &dollar;5 million than at any time in history&period; Last year&comma; 30 startups raised individual rounds higher than &dollar;5 million in<span class&equals;"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp&semi;<&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;qz&period;com&sol;africa&sol;1520173&sol;african-startups-funding-in-2018-broke-records&sol;" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; text-decoration&colon; none&semi; transition-property&colon; color&comma; background-color&comma; border-color&semi; transition-duration&colon; 0&period;2s&semi; transition-timing-function&colon; linear&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 102&comma; 0&rpar; &excl;important">32 deals valued at &dollar;626&period;9 million&period;<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Investors are sending bigger cheques to African startups due to rising confidence&period; They can clearly see how previous investments have helped these companies grow and mature to levels that require larger amounts of funding&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>So far&comma; six key industries have been favoured by the investor deal flows&comma; and the balance is skewed toward tech-based startups&period; They are fintech&comma; agritech&comma; clean energy&comma; eCommerce&comma; education technology&comma; and healthcare&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>The recent upward spurt in investor interest and confidence in African startups sends a clear signal to the world&period; Africa’s emerging market only favours the bold and the brave who can look beyond the continent’s stereotypes and see the dazzling potential of its startup scene&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>This year&comma; the volume of investments in Africa’s startups could very likely break the &dollar;1 billion ceiling&period; And where we go from there is anybody’s guess&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 data-fontsize&equals;"20" data-lineheight&equals;"35" style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;51&comma; 51&comma; 51&rpar;&semi; margin&colon; 0em 0px 0&period;7em&semi; font-family&colon; Merriweather&comma; Arial&comma; Helvetica&comma; sans-serif&semi; font-weight&colon; 700&semi; line-height&colon; 1&period;75&semi; letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi; font-style&colon; normal&semi; padding-bottom&colon; 0px&semi; font-size&colon; 20px&semi; font-variant-caps&colon; normal&semi; orphans&colon; auto&semi; text-align&colon; start&semi; text-indent&colon; 0px&semi; text-transform&colon; none&semi; white-space&colon; normal&semi; widows&colon; auto&semi; word-spacing&colon; 0px&semi; -webkit-tap-highlight-color&colon; rgba&lpar;26&comma; 26&comma; 26&comma; 0&period;301961&rpar;&semi; -webkit-text-size-adjust&colon; 100&percnt;&semi; -webkit-text-stroke-width&colon; 0px&semi; text-decoration&colon; none"><strong style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; font-weight&colon; 700">So&comma; which business opportunities in Africa do you see&quest;<&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>When you look at Africa&comma; which of its faces do you see&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Do you see a continent overwhelmed with so many problems that have to be escaped from&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Or do you see these problems as opportunities in disguise that could unlock significant rewards in terms of market value&comma; wealth&comma; and jobs&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>In the end&comma; it’s still the same continent&period; But the perspective you take on Africa can make a world of difference&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Africa is a market that overwhelmingly rewards problem-solvers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>And in 2019&comma; only those smart&comma; ambitious and creative people who can find innovative solutions to Africa’s tough problems will have the chance to make a big impact in the world&comma; and make a lot of money in the process&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;><strong style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; font-weight&colon; 700">If you found this article insightful&comma; please forward it via social media or email to the smart people you know&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Africa is on the move and needs as many forward-thinkers who can see the continent’s challenges for the amazing opportunities they really are&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Let’s go&comma; Africa<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"box-sizing&colon; border-box&semi; margin&colon; 0px 0px 20px&semi; caret-color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; color&colon; rgb&lpar;17&comma; 17&comma; 17&rpar;&semi; font-family" open sans arial helvetica sans-serif font-size&colon; font-style&colon; normal font-variant-caps&colon; font-weight&colon; letter-spacing&colon; orphans&colon; auto text-align&colon; start text-indent&colon; text-transform&colon; none white-space&colon; widows&colon; word-spacing&colon; rgba text-decoration&colon;>Source&semi; www&period;smallstarter&period;com<&sol;p>&NewLine;

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