Six Africa-Focused Startup Podcasts
I distinctly remember my first iPhone (the now-ancient iPhone 3Gs) and my pure love of all the apps that made it a seamless process for me to consume news from a variety of sources. Specifically, I remember when a light bulb went off in my head and I realized I could probably use this new technology to stay up to date on all things Africa. But, lo and behold, 2010 proved to be a barren wasteland for Africa-focused apps in the Apple app store. Aside from a few experimental apps, there wasn’t much of substance available for those wishing to stay abreast of economics, politics, and other aspects of current events on the African continent. Fast forward to 2020, and the options are near limitless.
For those who are specifically interested in the startup ecosystem in Africa, there are a myriad of podcasts now available. Each one offers a different take on some of the major developments on the continent, while also providing a stark variety of content. In other words, you can consistently listen to new episodes of each of these podcasts without hearing repetitive analyses.
It’s no secret that we are working on launching our own podcast at Blacklight Africa, in hopes of adding to the vibrant ecosystem of analytical commentary in the African startup space. In the meantime, here’s a list of some of our favorite podcasts, in random order:
1. Afrobility: Africa Tech & Business
I’ve only started listening to them recently, but I’m immediately a fan of Afrobility. Hosted by Olumide Ogunsanwo and Bankole Makanju, the bi-weekly podcast offers a deep dive analysis into a different sector each episode. As a structure, the episodes usually center on a recent major deal and then the hosts use that deal to provide further context, continent-wide, on that sector. For example, I started with a recent episode on edtech based on the investment from South Africa’s Naspers in Byju, an Indian edtech company. The episode not only provided a wonderful overview of the investment, it also gave listeners everything from a history lesson of education in Africa from pre-colonial to present, to a rundown of edtech companies across the continent and how they are faring. If you have extra time, the Afrobility website contains show notes that consist of links to some of the background resources the hosts mentioned during the episode. Moreover, the duo have a great rapport, making the conversation between them flow effortlessly. I highly recommend Afrobility if you are looking to get a crash course in a particular sector.
2. The Flip
This is the first African startup-focused podcast I happened upon, and my favorite go-to podcast. The host, Justin Norman, is an American expat living in South Africa, who essentially decided to double-down on the thesis that understanding startups in Africa requires a perspective beyond the norm typically attributed by Silicon Valley. The result is a weekly podcast that features insightful interviews with major players in the African startup ecosystem, be they startup founders, investors, or, per a recent fascinating episode, journalists. Similar to Afrobility, the website contains show notes with a helpful overview of the topics covered and people interviews. What’s more, the show also includes a transcript of each episode, making it one of the more accessible podcasts in the lineup. If you don’t have time for the podcast, The Flip also sends out a weekly newsletter every Sunday full of information on recent deals, financing, and other startup-related news. Bonus reason to like the podcast: the host literally sounds like Josh Muccio, host of my favorite non-Africa focused startup podcast, The Pitch.
A relatively new podcast, the Disrupt Podcast is actually one of the recent ventures of the Disrupt Africa news website, a regular go-to site for the latest information on which startups are being funded or which founders are winning awards across the continent. As a podcast, the format is similar to The Flip, in that the hosts interview founders and investors in order to cover recent economic developments on the continent. Each episode starts with a rundown of some of the recent news concerning startups and funds in Africa before drilling down to the more in-depth interviews. As a nice bonus feature, each episode concludes with a “Pitch the Pod” sequence where the hosts briefly interview an African startup, who essentially makes a two minute pitch as to why her or his company is investor-ready.
If you’re looking for in-depth interviews with startup founders, then Built in Africa is a great podcast to tune into. From the Nigeria-based team that produces the Techpoint Africa website and newsletter, the Built in Africa podcast offers episodes between 10 and 15 minutes, each one consisting of a spotlight interview with an African startup founder. The interviews do an excellent job of walking the listener through exactly how the founder built her or his startup in Africa. The episodes are a quick listen, and offer helpful tips/insight for startup founders and investors alike.
Co-hosted by Mutesi Patience and Ishimwe Marie-Laure, the Rwandan duo’s podcast is a fun, conversational-style interview with African entrepreneurs from across the continent. The guests run the gamut of sectors and development stages, with each interview offering a variety of take home bits of wisdom. Probably the most exciting thing about the podcast, aside from a chance to hear from startup founders that you may not hear about on other podcasts, is that the hosts are young and African, which allows for the conversations to veer towards a very relatable context for entrepreneurs who are just getting their feet wet. This is a podcast to definitely include in your rotation.
Not to be confused with the aforementioned Built in Africa Podcast, which is also produced by the Techpoint Africa team, the Techpoint Africa podcast is the Nigeria-focused cousin of the duo. That is not to say the podcast doesn’t discuss the startup ecosystem outside of Nigeria (there’s an episode on MTN’s lawsuit against Ghana and several episodes on general advice for startups), but the core of what differentiates this podcast is that it’s designed to really give you a deep dive into the major players across the entrepreneurial spectrum in Nigeria. Similar to Built in Africa, the hosts have beautiful rapport and begin each episode with a conversation discussing the topic at hand. Whether your focus is pan-African or sub-regional, you can’t deny Nigeria’s major presence in terms of creating and financing a large percentage of the continent’s startups. This podcast is a great tool to getting introduced to the Nigerian startup economy.
Honorable Mentions
There are a few other podcasts that I enjoy, though their focus on African startups is a bit more tangential than the ones above. Still, they’re definitely worth checking out in case one of them catches a particular interest:
Techish. Though not technically a podcast about African startups, the two hosts, Michael Berhane and Abadesi, offer the very real perspective of being Black (specifically, African diaspora) in a tech startup. The show is geared more so towards those who are considering working in a tech startup rather than those interested in the overall startup atmosphere, but the advice offered is sage wisdom.
Business Day Spotlight. The companion podcast to the South African Business Day news site, the podcast offers thrice-weekly updates on business and economic developments in South Africa.
PE Talks Africa. The official podcast of the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA), the monthly podcast is similar to attending a high-level discussion on various topics of venture capital and private equity across the continent. The episodes take the form of panel discussions, with guests usually consisting of heavy hitters from well-financed African companies and financial institutions. It’s a solid series and worthwhile checking out each month.
