After a record 2022, Investors explain why it’s ‘still just Day 1’ for Africa’s Startup Ecosystem

The African startup ecosystem has seen tremendous growth and success in recent years, with 2022 being a particularly record-breaking year. However, many investors believe that this is just the beginning, and that there is still a lot of potential for growth and innovation in the African startup scene.

Here are some of the reasons why 8 investors believe it’s “still just Day 1” for Africa’s startup ecosystem:

1. Growing tech talent: African countries are producing more and more tech-savvy graduates, which is creating a large pool of talented professionals who can help drive innovation and growth in the startup ecosystem.
2. Large untapped market: Africa is a huge continent with a growing population, which represents a large untapped market for startups to explore and expand into.
3. Increasing investment: Investment in African startups is growing, and this is helping to fuel the growth of the ecosystem as a whole. With more investment, startups can expand their operations and reach more customers.
4. Rising middle class: As more people in Africa enter the middle class, there is a growing demand for new products and services, which presents an opportunity for startups to fill this gap in the market.
5. Access to technology: The proliferation of mobile devices and increasing access to the internet is helping to democratize access to technology in Africa, which is enabling startups to reach more customers and scale their operations.
6. Supportive government policies: Many African governments are recognizing the importance of supporting startups and entrepreneurship, and are introducing policies and incentives to encourage this.
7. Collaborative ecosystem: The African startup ecosystem is characterized by a collaborative spirit, with many startups and entrepreneurs working together to share knowledge and resources to drive growth and innovation.
8. Social impact: Many African startups are focused on creating social impact, such as addressing poverty, improving access to healthcare, or promoting sustainable agriculture. This mission-driven focus is attracting more investment and talent to the ecosystem.