Across the continent, startups are developing intelligent tools, talent is growing, and innovation is accelerating. But funding gaps, weak infrastructure, and limited policy support still hold many founders back.

Right now, most investors are focused on fintech and logistics — not artificial intelligence. And many governments still see AI as a future issue, not an economic priority.

Yet globally, we’ve seen how fast things can change. When OpenAI accelerated AI adoption, investment and policy quickly followed.

Amadou Daffe CEO of Gebeya joins us for this episode 

🎙️Private Capital Eyes East Africa, But Policy Risks Cloud the Outlook.

🎙️Cocoa Prices Slip Below $3,900 as Supply Outpaces Weak Demand.

🎙️Paratus Launches Fibre Link from Kenya’s Coast to Eastern DRC.

🎙️East Africa’s Services Sector Expands, But Stuck in Low‑Productivity Jobs.

Africa’s competitiveness in 2026 hinges on making the AfCFTA real for small and mid‑sized businesses, not just the big corporates. That means cutting red tape, simplifying compliance, and reducing trade friction so entrepreneurs can spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time scaling across borders.

Minister Ahmed Shide Mohamed from Ethiopia ,Angela Oduor Lungati from Kenya and Minister , Yusuf Maitama Tuggar from Nigeria discuss the risks 

if we overload AfCFTA with agendas it wasn’t designed for  we stall execution. 

The African Trade Report 2025 shows that social enterprises are a core part of Africa’s economy. Across the continent, there are over 2.18 million social enterprises creating tens of millions of jobs and contributing up to 3% of Africa’s GDP.

What stands out is who is driving this growth. Nearly half of these enterprises are led by women, and a third by young people. These leaders are not just building businesses, they are creating jobs for women and youth in their communities.

The report also highlights a major challenge. More than 55% of social enterprises struggle to acce...

In this episode of "Meet the CEO," we welcome Amadou Daffe, CEO and Co-Founder of Gebeya. 

Get ready for an engaging discussion that explores the impact of AI on the African continent. Amadou doesn't shy away from conversations about policy and regulation—Is now the right time to start mapping those out?

We also delve into talent retention and what support for African startups should look like.

Ethiopia’s message is clear: Africa’s youth jobs crisis is not about lack of labor or ambition — it’s about the high cost of doing business. Unreliable energy, logistics bottlenecks, and expensive production prevent firms from expanding and hiring at scale.

Minister of Finance in Ethiopia  Ahmed Shide says Jobs are already coming from three areas: agri-food value chains, light manufacturing and industrial parks, and fast-growing urban services.

Uganda’s digital finance space is shifting fast — from closed systems to open banking. Banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators are realizing they can’t thrive alone, as the national switch and mobile money tax debates reshape how Ugandans move money.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, Africa faces a defining moment.

The continent is producing world-class tech talent — but without fast-growing local AI companies, that talent will continue to be absorbed elsewhere, driving a new era of brain drain.

This conversation is not just about innovation, but about infrastructure: building companies, creating career pathways, and ensuring AI education shifts from memorization to practical skills in robotics, agents, and real-world problem-solving.

Amadou Daffe, Ceo and Co-founder of Gebeya joins us 

Africa’s banking sector is also seeing increased mergers and acquisitions, as institutions strategically position themselves to capture growth in high-potential regional markets. 

These moves reflect a broader shift toward stronger, more competitive financial ecosystems across the continent. 

This episode with Anthony Kirui is the Head of Global Markets at Absa Bank, explores mergers and  Acquisitions in the African Banking sector and also explores, in part, the credit rating conversation on the continent. 

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, Africa faces a defining moment.

The continent is producing world-class tech talent — but without fast-growing local AI companies, that talent will continue to be absorbed elsewhere, driving a new era of brain drain.

This conversation is not just about innovation, but about infrastructure: building companies, creating career pathways, and ensuring AI education shifts from memorization to practical skills in robotics, agents, and real-world problem-solving.

Amadou Daffe, Ceo and Co-founder of Gebeya joins us 

On this episode of MEET THE CEO. Kelvin Kimutai, the chief upskilling officer at Breedj joins us to discuss the future of remote work. 

He talks about closing the persistent gap between education and employment by equipping African youth with the skills, structure, and readiness needed to compete in the remote work economy.

Local investment is becoming one of the clearest indicators of economic confidence across the continent. The principle is simple: foreign direct investment follows local belief.

Ethiopia is emerging after decades of economic rebuilding, now attracting significant cross-border investment from African business leaders. But challenges remain, especially for small businesses. In Ethiopia, just 2% of enterprises receive up to 90% of bank lending, leaving SMEs — the real job creators — underserved. 

Bernard Laurendeau, Managing Director of Enkopa Lab joins us to discuss Africa’s next growth chapter and why it depends on building stronger support...