This is a must read article for HNers about the value about localization and points out that "Africa" is not a unitary market but in reality an extremely diverse market with multiple different markets.
The kind of GTM needed to go big in Kenya is entirely different from Nigeria which is different from South Africa.
The scene in Nigeria and East Africa reminds me of India and ASEAN in the 1990s-2000s, and ime chatting with some African founders (a couple of whom ended up in YC) the strategies are similar. (I can't speak about Françafrique so if anyone can give me insight into that I'd love it!)
There are some legal and historical intricacies that cause this difference that I can elaborate on if there is interest (I don't want to write a massive essay no one will read)
Edit: finished it below. Sorry it it's incoherent. I realized this could be a book unto itself and editing in the gym is a PITA
The kind of GTM needed to go big in Kenya is entirely different from Nigeria which is different from South Africa.
The scene in Nigeria and East Africa reminds me of India and ASEAN in the 1990s-2000s, and ime chatting with some African founders (a couple of whom ended up in YC) the strategies are similar. (I can't speak about Françafrique so if anyone can give me insight into that I'd love it!)
There are some legal and historical intricacies that cause this difference that I can elaborate on if there is interest (I don't want to write a massive essay no one will read)
Edit: finished it below. Sorry it it's incoherent. I realized this could be a book unto itself and editing in the gym is a PITA