Why 2012 Could Be the Year of the African Startup

The past few years have been about building an infrastructure that improves the chances of the technology startups in Africa to succeed. Seeing this buildout in action in 2011 was exciting, but it should be recognised for what it really was: a setup for 2012 and beyond.

You see, all those labs and hubs around the continent, the startups and the media coverage? They’re all about getting attention and increasing the awareness of the pent-up startup potential in Africa’s technology space. Media and funders both have a bigger target to hit when looking for entrepreneurs. They have been setting the stage to broaden the base of their startup pyramid: finding the local innovators and entrepreneurs and getting more of them funded...