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In this brief, Jolomi shares his takeaways from the TechCabal Moonshot Conference that was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Lagos. We also shared other important stories that broke within the week.
The Weekend Brief
Jolomi’s key takeaways from the TC Moonshot Conference
Lagos’ Eko Convention Centre was abuzz on October 11 and 12 as the Moonshot Conference, hosted by TechCabal, gathered tech innovators, operators, builders, and regulators. With a myriad of sessions and discussions, the event offered a profound look into the dynamics of technology in Africa and its collective future.
Here are four key takeaways from the event:
- Promising future for African tech: The conference reflected the determination of tech players to succeed on a global scale. Africa’s tech community is poised to make a significant impact on the global tech ecosystem in the coming years. “Unless the world implodes. There is no way the African tech ecosystem doesn’t follow the same growth trajectory,” says Levi Novitske, General Partner at Norrsken 22. However, there will be a need for compelling storytelling to showcase the impressive work being done on the continent.
- Collaborative growth and regulatory engagement: Moonshot showcased a commitment to collaboration between builders, operators, and regulators. This inclusive approach signifies a promising shift in the tech ecosystem, as regulators like Nigeria’s Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, engage in discussions to propel the growth of technical talent. This message was aptly summarised by Flutterwave’s CEO, Gbenga Agboola: “Regulators are also stakeholders in your business. You have to understand this and carry them along to innovate properly.”
- The unstoppable rise of the creator economy: Despite infrastructural challenges, Africa’s creator economy is on the rise. The founder of Awujo, Toyosi Abolarin, emphasised the need for more local gaming content to boost adoption within Africa and appeal to global audiences. In his workshop on the future of content and media, David I. Adeleke, Africa Editor at Rest of World predicted a globalisation of Africa’s content. “We are going to see more African content appealing to Western audiences. The way to create a million-dollar media company is to appeal to diaspora and Western audiences,” Adeleke said.
- Embracing emerging technologies like Web3 and AI: Web3 technology, specifically NFTs, has the potential to revolutionise the African creative landscape. Jackie Bona, CEO of Valora, highlighted how NFTs empower artists to fully own and control their art, reducing dependence on central platforms. Also, Bosun Tijani noted the importance of AI in transforming the digital economy, commending the efforts of initiatives like Archivi.ng.
What else happened?
- Payhippo appointed a new CEO: YC-backed Nigerian fintech startup, Payhippo has appointed Dami Olawoye as its new chief executive officer. The outgoing CEO, Zach Bijesse will join the startup’s board.
- Kenya rejected Bolt? The Kenyan National Transport and Safety Authority have declined Bolt’s licence renewal due to alleged violations of approved commission charges and booking fees.
- truQ won at TC Moonshot: truQ, a Nigerian logistics startup, emerged as the champion in the first-ever TC Moonshot Battlefield by TechCabal, securing a ₦2.5 million prize. The second-place spot was claimed by Jamit, a social audio network.
- New appointments in Nigeria’s communication, innovation and digital economy ministry: Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria has approved the appointment of executives to lead NITDA, NCC, NDPB, NIGCOMSAT and NIPOST.
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