INDUSTRY NEWS & INSIGHTS

Africa's digital transformation is rapidly evolving, driven by key sectors such as digital financial services, e-commerce, and connectivity.

According to Interpol, the combined GDP of Africa has increased more than fivefold, from USD 695.88 billion in 2002 to USD 2.98 trillion in 2022 and is predicted to exceed USD 4 trillion by 2027.

Here are a few of the key sectors driving Africa's digital transformation, taken from the recently published report, The Role of Cybersecurity in Safeguarding Africa’s Digital Transformation.

According to industry projections by Telecom Review Africa, Africa's telecom market is expected to increase by a staggering $2.24 billion between 2020 and 2024. These leaders we're about to showcase are instrumental in driving this remarkable growth.

They've not only earned their place in the 100 Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & Telecommunications 2023 Report but are also shaping the future of communication technology on the continent.

We're excited to introduce you to 15 pioneers, leaders and innovators whose work is reshaping Africa's burgeoning fintech landscape!

These visionary leaders are at the forefront, transforming financial services across the continent, and as a result, have earned their place in the 100 Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & Telecommunications 2023 Report.

We are thrilled to introduce you to a selection of visionary founders and CEOs who are harnessing the power of tech and are the driving forces behind some of Africa's most promising startups.

Their journeys are stories of resilience, passion, and unwavering determination, showcasing the vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship that defines Africa's tech landscape.

In the dynamic landscape of African technology and telecommunications, a group of visionary leaders stand out for their impactful contributions to the non-profit sector.

These individuals are not just shaping the industry, but also making a tangible difference in the lives of communities across the continent.

The Africa Tech Festival Awards proudly introduce you to the extraordinary leaders shortlisted for the prestigious CXO of the Year Award.

This accolade is a testament to their exceptional contributions to their industries as they build dynamic teams, set new industry standards, and deliver a clear vision in the ever-evolving business landscape of Africa.

Among these remarkable nominees are prominent figures from technology, telecommunications, and finance, each embodying the spirit of innovation and leadership in their own way.

In an era of transformative technological advancements, innovation stands as the catalyst for change, and Africa is at the forefront of this revolution.

The Africa Tech Festival Awards proudly present the Innovation for Impact Award, a testament to the groundbreaking work of industry leaders who are harnessing the power of innovation to disrupt traditional approaches, introduce novel solutions, and create tangible value for businesses and individuals across the continent.

Today, we shine a spotlight on the five exceptional companies shortlisted for this prestigious accolade, each of whom has made remarkable strides in the pursuit of innovation with a lasting impact.

The Creative Visionary Award, stands as a testament to the remarkable talents and visions of media, broadcasting, and entertainment professionals across the African continent.

Here are the five exceptional individuals who have been shortlisted in this category of the 2023 Africa Tech Festival Awards. From radio broadcasters to reality TV stars and a TikTok influencer, these visionary creators have captivated audiences with their unique perspectives and creative genius.

In the unique context of Africa, where the pursuit of sustainability carries profound implications for development and prosperity, the Africa Tech Festival Awards are proud to present the shortlist for the Sustainability Champion of the Year Award.

These six organisations are leading the way in the development and integration of sustainable energy solutions across the continent.

We caught up with a few of our winners from the 2022 Africa Tech Festival Awards to ask them for their advice to those thinking about entering the awards this year. They've provided practical tips for optimising your applications, as well as explaining the benefits and outlining their strategies.

The Africa Tech Festival's Changing Lives Award serves as a beacon, illuminating the path towards a more accessible and inclusive digital world. In last year's award show, Hormuud Telecom were crowned the winner in this category, recognizing their outstanding commitment to this noble cause.

Almost a year has passed since Joseph was crowned the winner of the Africa Tech Festival 2022 Rising Star Award. We caught up with him to explore the impact of his success at the awards and discover what he's been up to since.

In this exclusive interview, we delve into Joseph's inspiring story, shedding light on the immense potential of Africa's tech landscape and how one individual's brilliance can contribute to driving innovation on the continent.

Womenovate was crowned the winner of the prestigious Start-Up of the Year Award at the Africa Tech Festival Awards in 2022.

A beacon of empowerment, Womenovate's Founder and CEO, Motunrayo Opayinka, took centre stage to showcase the organization's unwavering commitment to fostering female inclusion in STEAM fields. We caught up with her a year later to discover what the organisation has been up to since.

In this exclusive interview, we reconnect with NuRAN Wireless to uncover the strides taken since their win in the 2022 Africa Tech Festival Awards to discover how their win has propelled the organisation forward, as they continue to blaze a trail in the dynamic landscape of telecommunications, bringing communication possibilities to even the remotest corners.

In honour of Valentine's Day, the Africa Tech Festival Series team decided to shine a spotlight on a handful of exceptional African businesses with a social impact we absolutely love.

Across Africa, mobile technology will prove crucial in the coming years. As many places across the continent are without steady Internet or Wi-Fi, mobile is the de facto connected device.

The 4IR represents a new era of innovation in technology – one that’s enhancing human-machine relationships, unlocking new market opportunities, and fueling growth across the global economy. Discover the start-ups from across Africa's tech ecosystem that are at the forefront of this revolution.

Africa's fintech market is booming, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of tech start-ups in Africa tripled to approximately 5,200 companies. Just under 50% those companies are fintechs.

With around 33% internet penetration, Africa is the least connected continent on earth. Naturally, connectivity varies by country, but universally, the greatest gap is between urban and rural areas. Whilst 50% of urban dwellers are connected, this figure drops to 15% in rural areas. This is the lowest percentage of any region in the world.

Thanks to mobile communications, more and more Africans have access to people, markets and information, even in remote regions of the continent. Rohde & Schwarz mobile network testing equipment and services are being used to improve network performance and quality in 21 African countries.

Femtech (female technology) is a term used to describe health software and tech-enabled products designed with women’s health and wellbeing in mind. And it's a recently coined term, contrived in 2016 by Ida Tin, a Danish entrepreneur who created a period and fertility-tracking app.

Over the past decade, regions across the African continent have experienced rapid economic growth and improving social conditions. In line with this, there has been a dramatic spike in energy usage, presenting a daunting question: can African nations find sustainable and, crucially, climate-friendly ways to meet their growing energy needs? 

Enterprise adoption of 5G and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) technologies is rapidly taking off in South Africa as business activities and processes require transformation to increase resilience and competitive differentiation.

We sat down with Youth Employment Service's CEO, Dr Tashmia Ismail-Saville, to discuss the importance of digitalisation, disrupting conventional training & using tech to reach youth during COVID-19.

We recently caught up with Deven Moodley, representing PicknPay, one of South Africa's retail giants! In this exclusive conversation ahead of his sessions at Africa Tech Festival, Deven shares insights on how PicknPay leverages disruptive technologies to revolutionize the retail industry.

We caught up with Amadou Diallo, the Chief Executive Officer, Middle East & Africa at DHL Global Forwarding to discuss future tech trends, the industry, Africa Tech Festival and its newly formed Leadership Council.

Watch this interview with Richard Cazalet, the Exec: Strategy and Transformation at Telkom SA to discover his thoughts on future tech trends, the industry, Africa Tech Festival and why he decided to join its newly formed Leadership Council.

Take a look back at some of our favourite 2022 sessions!

From cybercrime, to fintech, Africa's fourth industrial revolution, future tech trends and telecommunication innovations, there's something for everyone.

Hosts Tobi Lafinhan and Paula Gilbert welcome new co-host Matshepo Sehloho to the team and they get into a wide-ranging discussion about tech skills in Africa on a range of topics, including:

Africa's talent pipeline, the demand for digital skills, and how to better upskill youth and bring education systems up to date with innovation, and Africa's startup ecosystem.

Join three leading women in business discussing the best technology tips and tricks they have learnt on their journey to success

This discussion took place virtually at Africa Tech Festival 2021. In 2022, the event will be taking place LIVE in Cape Town.

Watch the full discussion from Africa Tech Festival 2021, as our experts from Launch Africa Ventures & Knabu unpack the growth of lending and finance start-ups, current investment trends & challenges, and telecom giants building new networks and upgrading existing facilities.

Highlights from Africa Tech Festival 2021, the largest live tech event in Africa with more than 400 visionary speakers and over 16 premium conference tracks, each with razor-sharp focus, exploring the hottest connectivity and enterprise tech trends.

In this FastChat interview, Connecting Africa Editor Paula Gilbert is joined by Semin Hassanaly to discuss how hybrid Satellite 5G networks can enable new business cases for MNO's

In this FastChat interview, Connecting Africa Editor Paula Gilbert is joined by Pieter-Paul Mooijman to discuss satellite’s role in Africa’s digital transformation.

In this exclusive interview for Africa Tech Festival, Sterling Bank Plc's CFO for Corporate and Investment Banking, William Anwana, shares his top tips to help you build and motivate the workforce of the future.

Taking place in Cape Town, AFest is back in 2022 for an unforgettable evening of music and entertainment and your opportunity to network with thousands of industry leaders.