Three years ago, when electric mobility was still an experimental idea in much of Africa, Japanese entrepreneur Yuma Sasaki made an unconventional choice.
“Local entrepreneurs are deeply embedded in the markets they serve. But too often they encounter financing models that are not designed around their growth realities.”
While African startups are navigating a tightening global venture capital climate, early-stage funding — particularly at the pre-seed level — remains highly fragmented.
A decisive policy shift in Accra is forcing domestic pension schemes to look past government securities, creating a sudden liquidity pool for private market intermediaries.
Optasia, which made history in November 2025 as the largest fintech IPO on the JSE, uses proprietary AI to provide credit scoring and micro-lending to unbanked populations.
Employees, some of whom are owed salary arrears following the abrupt February shutdown, will rank behind secured creditors under Kenyan insolvency law.
Three years ago, when electric mobility was still an experimental idea in much of Africa, Japanese entrepreneur Yuma Sasaki made an unconventional choice.
A circular issued recently by the CBE expands the legal definition of "financial companies" to include fintech startups, money transfer operators, and SME lenders.
"Growth is outpacing the structures built to hold it. The answer is not more stores, it is a better middle layer." - Larry Hodes, CEO Grow Franchising & FASA Board Member, writes from Johannesburg.
