For the last decade, the narrative of African technology has been dominated by the “Customer Acquisition” game. Venture capital poured into consumer-facing applications, social platforms, and direct-to-consumer services, all vying for the attention and wallets of the continent’s rapidly growing population. The focus was on scale, virality, and winning market share in a fragmented landscape. It was exciting, fast-paced, and often yielded impressive user numbers, yet many of these ventures struggled with profitability and long-term sustainability.
But a subtle yet profound shift is underway – what I like to call the “Boring” Revolution. The next wave of African innovation, and indeed, the next crop of African unicorns, won’t necessarily be another flashy app on your phone. Instead, they will be the vital, often unseen, infrastructure that underpins everything else. They are the “rails beneath it” – the foundational technologies, business-to-business (B2B) solutions, and critical services that make the consumer apps and services possible.
Think about it: While we celebrate the success of mobile money platforms reaching millions, the truly “boring” and impactful innovations might be in the underlying payment processing systems, the robust data analytics tools that detect fraud, or the logistics networks enabling last-mile delivery. The challenges on the continent are immense – from fragmented supply chains and energy deficits to healthcare infrastructure gaps and complex cross-border trade. These are not problems solved by superficial apps but by deep, systemic solutions that integrate, optimize, and standardize.
This “boring” revolution is about building for resilience, efficiency, and long-term value. It’s about companies tackling issues like:
- Enterprise software for businesses scaling across borders.
- Advanced logistics and cold-chain solutions for agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
- Renewable energy solutions and smart grid technologies.
- Digital identity and secure data infrastructure.
- Healthcare supply chain management and remote diagnostics.
These are the companies that will attract patient capital, build sustainable revenue models, and ultimately, create more profound and lasting impact. They might not grab headlines for viral user growth, but they will be the silent engines powering Africa’s economic transformation. The path to the next African unicorn will increasingly be paved with robust infrastructure, intelligent platforms, and critical services, not just direct customer acquisition.
By Abasiama Idaresit, CEO, Wild Fusion Holdings
Source: Original Article
