Ideas that matter: Looking beyond Africa to the world

Rethinking the boundaries of what it means to be an African entrepreneur

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Oscar Wilde said that “an idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.” And across Africa, dangerous ideas might be exactly what we need.

This newsletter edition highlights one such dangerous idea about what solutions African founders should build.

It’s 'dangerous' because it challenges the established narrative that African entrepreneurs should focus primarily on solving 'African problems' — a notion that has shaped entrepreneurial ambitions and funding patterns across the continent for years.

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The Big Idea: African entrepreneurs shouldn't feel confined to solving problems in Africa

“The idea that an African tech entrepreneur must build a startup for Africa is severely limiting and an effect of long-term conditioning. Building for the world is a valid alternative.”

This opinion from Opeyemi Awoyemi, Founder & Managing Partner of Fast Forward Venture Studio, sparked an interesting discussion on LinkedIn about an aspect of tech entrepreneurship in Africa that deserves more attention — building beyond borders.

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Key perspectives

The responses fell broadly into three camps:

1. Embrace global ambitions

Many commenters showed enthusiastic support for the idea that African startups should aim for global markets:

“The world is our marketplace now, global is the way to go.” - Lawrence Ansah-Addo

“I totally agree with this position. [We should depart from] the idea of seeking investments just for the African market. Africa has the capacity to innovate for the world.” - Chidozie Ofoegbu

“African entrepreneurs should go for the global approach. Once proven, success in global business also gives trust by the Africans in the services. It's like everywhere else, global success creates local success!” - Alexander Haider

2. Push for local excellence first

Others emphasized that building well for Africa is building for the world:

“All things being equal, I think when, at the first phase, an African startup builds for the immediate clime, but does it excellently, it is synonymous with building for the world.” - Oluwatosin B.

“Interesting perspective! Many great ideas begin by solving local problems. Limited resources can also be a drive for more frugal innovations.” - Mike Adeyemi-Lawal

“As Africa is the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent, it should go without saying that building for Africa is in effect building for all humanity/the world.” - Triona Mc Hale

3. Explore nuances & offer new perspectives

Several commenters emphasized the value in melding both approaches:

“I'd say build for whatever market, but with a global mindset.” - Taiwo 'TY' Akintoye

“Both approaches can co-exist! Targeting the global market will eventually create exits for new funding funnels to open up!” - Joel Yakubu

Telecoms executive Colin Roberts drew attention to advances in connectivity as an enabler of building for global markets:

“With increasing global connectivity and market-driven pricing pressures, coverage across Africa is expanding rapidly, unlocking access to global markets like never before. For a growing number of African businesses and entrepreneurs, the opportunity to innovate and scale is limited only by the size of their vision and the drive to make it happen.”

And Iyinoluwa Aboyeji offered an interesting reframe:

“The problem with the Africa to the world narrative is thinking of the world as a place apart from Africa — sort of how some South Africans think of themselves as south of Africa and not in Africa.

The truth is when you start thinking demographically and not geographically as we are often used to doing, ‘Africa’ is many places in the world. And those places are big markets too...

So solve for Africa but don't stop there...solve for everywhere like Africa.”

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A passionate exchange

Some of the most strident rhetoric in the discussion came from Ngu Morcho, who argued:

“We Africans have been traumatized for centuries by the dehumanization of the authentic versions of ourselves that we will never be satisfied unless ‘others’ validate us. This post is simply crazy... Thinking a market of over 1.2 billion people is not global just because they are Africans is the ultimate definition of self hate!”

This prompted a clarification from Afridigest and eventually led to a dialogue with Opeyemi Awoyemi himself, who emphasized:

“There are business models that should be country focused. There are business models that start in one country and expand to another. And there are some that start from outside. This varies from founder to founder, idea to idea. The post is about both being valid alternatives. All alternatives matter… Building for the world isn’t seeking validation, it’s going to collect everyone’s money everywhere and anywhere. That’s [seeking] domination, not validation.”

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Last word: The freedom to choose

This discussion highlights the reality that some African entrepreneurs may feel pressured to follow specific paths.

After all, as Martins Udekwe asks, if everyone builds for the world,

“Who will solve our local problems?”

We note Ndubuisi Kejeh’s responses here:

“People just need to get over this thing that only Africans can solve Africa’s problems, and Africans should only work on African problems…

We don't need all to be global, but we need far more to be.”

That said, the key takeaway here isn’t about choosing one particular approach over another.

Rather, it’s that African founders should feel free — at least as free as foreign founders in African markets do — to explore and exploit opportunities away from home.

Building for African markets isn’t limiting at all.

However, being told — or believing — you must only build for Africa is.

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What's your experience?

Which of the above perspectives resonate with you? What would you add or emphasize?

Is the ‘build for Africa vs. build for the world’ dichotomy even helpful, or is there a better way to think about this?

Leave a comment with your thoughts, or join the conversation on our LinkedIn page.

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