The Sachetization of Products:The FMCG Way of Serving the Underserved in Emerging Markets , Lessons for Digital Products?

The concept of “sachetization” refers to packaging products in small, affordable quantities to improve access for low-income consumers, particularly in emerging markets. Beyond consumer goods, this strategy can apply to digital products, promoting frugal innovation, digital inclusion, community empowerment, and resilience by making services accessible to marginalized communities.

Continue reading

Arrange your 1 on Advisory Conversation with Ethel Cofie

I’m setting up 45-minute sessions, available once a week, in response to recent requests. Book your session, receive an automated email with a payment link, and secure your spot upon payment confirmation. This ensures committed participants. Topics include career transitions, leadership, personal branding, board seats, and most non-tech professional topics.

Continue reading

The State of Mobile Money in Africa 2024,it’s evolving use cases and a couple of tough questions

The “GSMA State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2024” underscores mobile money’s critical role in global financial inclusion, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa with 548 million accounts driving significant GDP growth. West Africa’s boom in mobile money, spurred by innovative regulations and non-MNO services, contrasts with East Africa’s MNO-led model. Use cases are expanding beyond transactions to remittances and merchant payments, fueling economic development. Technological advances and regulation prompt this sector’s promising future, offering transformative potential especially in underbanked regions.

Continue reading

Are these Accelerator programs wasting African startups time?

Are these Accelerator programs wasting African startups time?

This article was sparked by a thought-provoking LinkedIn post from Victor Asemota, where he delves into the phenomenon of African startups being caught in a seemingly endless loop of acceleration. It’s like watching a hamster on a wheel, except the hamster is a startup, and the wheel is the myriad of accelerator programs out there. Victor’s musings were in the context Visa acceleration program, where he noted that the startups involved were already so seasoned in the accelerator circuit that another round seemed more like a victory lap than a necessity

Continue reading

The Blueprint for Innovation: Crafting a Successful Ecosystem within Corporate Organizations

In a world where change is the only constant, corporate organizations are increasingly looking to build ecosystems around their products or services to drive innovation. This journey, however, is nuanced and multifaceted, especially in diverse markets like Africa, where unique challenges meet unparalleled opportunities.

Continue reading