Tucked away in the heart of Sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania, a country with a burgeoning fintech landscape, has emerged as a dynamic player in the realm of financial technology. While neighbouring economies in Kenya and South Africa have often taken the spotlight, Tanzania, despite trailing in comparison, has experienced a remarkable fintech evolution over the past decade. This evolution can be attributed to a network of ecosystem facilitators, including incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs, which have created a close-knit community of fintech innovators.

The Tanzanian fintech scene has evolved from offering basic services such as buying airtime, sending money, and handling cash transactions to providing a wide range of financial services that leverage data and financial technology, including remittances, digital savings, digital lending, and microinsurance. According to a Statista report, the largest market in 2023 will be Digital Investment, with an AUM of USD 7.63 M, with ...

Renowned as the world's largest producer of cocoa beans (accounting for 40% of total world production) and cashew nuts, Ivory Coast, officially known as Côte d'Ivoire, stands tall as a vibrant West African nation endowed with abundant natural resources and a rapidly expanding economy.

With a present population of more than 26 million people, this small but culturally rich country booms with over 70 indigenous languages while embracing French as its official language. Driven by a diverse set of factors including strategic investments in key sectors, government-led reforms, and the dynamic emergence of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, the country's economic growth has experienced a remarkable surge, propelling Ivory Coast into the forefront of Africa's rapidly evolving economies.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformational force in the ever-changing tech space, captivating the attention of entrepreneurs and industry executives alike. Fueled by advances in Machine Learning (ML), AI has emerged as the next frontier in technological growth, transforming businesses and shaping the future of civilization. AI holds immense opportunities across a wide range of industries, from healthcare and finance to transportation and agriculture, thanks to sophisticated algorithms and vast volumes of data.

But what exactly is this buzzword going around in the tech domain and halls? At its core, AI is an integrated field that combines different branches of computer science, such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics, to develop intelligent systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI systems can learn from data, spot patterns, make predictions, and adapt to changing conditions using algorithms and computer models with outstanding precision and efficiency. Machine learning, in particular, has emerged as a key driver for the development of AI, as it empowers systems to autonomously learn and evolve. This has paved the way for a wide range of applications, ranging from customised medical treatments and fraud detection to driverless vehicles and recommendation systems.

Nestled amidst the captivating landscapes of East Africa, Tanzania emerges as a rising and thriving star in the African startup arena. With a population of 65.5 million, this small but vibrant nation claims its position as the 114th rank holder in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index. Standing tall at 7th in the regional ranking, Tanzania has silently forged its path as a dynamic and thriving market for entrepreneurial endeavours.

According to the World Bank, Tanzania's economy experienced growth with a 4.6% expansion in 2022, compared to 4.3% in 2021. In terms of GDP per capita, there was a 1.4% increase in 2022, and the international poverty rate saw a slight decline of 0.3% points. Despite this upward trajectory, Tanzania is only projected to reach its potential growth rate of 6% in 2025. Due to a decline in revenue performance and the mounting financing requirements to address the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's fiscal deficit expanded from 0.8% of GDP in 2020 to 3.4% in 2021. In stark contrast, its nearest neighbouring country, Kenya, boasted an impressive annual GDP growth of 7.5% in 2021, reaching a noteworthy GDP of USD 110 B.

The country's entrepreneurial landscape includes several cities that have emerged as centres of innovation and opportunity, showcasing the country's rich potential for startup growth. Leading the pack is Dar es Salaam, the economic epicentre and largest city, renowned for its bustling startup scene, robust infrastructure, and access to essential resources. Arusha, aptly known as the "Geneva of Africa," embraces a unique blend of international and regional conferences and a tech-savvy population, fostering an environment where startups thrive.

The rapid growth of urban populations and the need for efficient and affordable transport solutions are key factors linked to the evolution and expansion of the transportation sector in Africa.

However, despite the impressive growth and transformation in the sector, traditional modes of transportation in African cities, like taxis and buses, have struggled to keep up with the growing demand leading to issues such as overcrowding, exorbitant fares, and long waiting times for travellers.

The evolution and development of new technologies have led to the emergence of ride-hailing companies that are providing commuters with new and innovative options in an area where public transit systems can be unreliable and inefficient. 

The supply chain and logistics industry has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a means of transporting goods via horse-drawn wagons and steam engines. Today, the industry has transformed into a critical and complex global network, driving economies and businesses worldwide. With its proven track record of innovation and adaptation, it has expanded into a multifaceted system that encompasses everything from warehousing and distribution to inventory management and transportation planning. As supply chain professionals continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, the future of this industry remains bright and full of opportunities for growth and success.

With the rise of new technologies such as cloud computing, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), the supply chain and logistics industry has seen an unprecedented wave of sophistication and data-driven decision-making. While the industry was initially focused on basic transportation and storage of goods, today, it involves managing complex networks and coordinating a wide range of tasks, from purchasing and shipping to receiving and warehousing. Additionally, the ability to leverage data to forecast demand and optimize inventory levels has become a crucial part of ensuring customer satisfaction and maximizing profits. As we move into the future, it is clear that supply chain and logistics entrepreneurs will continue to embrace new technologies and innovative solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire system.

Given the potential cost advantages and relative ease of implementation of software as a service, the industry has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of the technology industry in recent years. The availability of advanced technologies at a low cost has created new opportunities for productivity and competition for small and medium businesses.

To put it into perspective, the global SaaS market size was valued at USD 189.4 B in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 321.9 B by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 7.8 % during the forecast period (2021-2026). The market also boasts 100+ billion-dollar companies across different continents.

The SaaS market is segmented into two key areas; enterprise and productivity software, with the former accounting for over 70% of revenue share. The enterprise software segment attributes its growth to the continuing trend of small and medium businesses employing cloud software solutions.

Globally, one major player in this category is renowned CRM software company, Salesforce. The global giant is now ranked as one of the top CRM solutions in the market with over 150,000 active customers, with millions of users worldwide, and an impressive market value of USD 180 B+. The company has also managed to raise USD 2 B+ over the years. Graphic design platform, Canva, is valued at over USD 4 B and has garnered over 15 million users worldwide, including individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises, and raised USD 240 M+ in funding since its inception in 2012. Global video conferencing and collaboration software platform, Zoom is valued at over USD 100 B with over 6 million daily active users and over 900,000 paying customers. HubSpot recorded a market value of USD 1.5 B+ as of 2021, and has raised USD a total of USD 169 M. Other key bigshots in the sector include Slack and Dropbox.