INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Africa startup scene is growing by leaps and bounds, and three tech leaders are set to share insights on this vibrant space at Disrupt San
Paga CEO Tayo Oviosu, Helios Investment Partners Vice PresidentFope AdelowoandCellulant CEO Ken Njoroge will take the stage September 7 to
discuss topics such as fintech, Africa founder experience, data privacy, VC investment and the continent future unicorn and IPO
prospects.Nearly two decades of improved stability, economic growth and reform have created some bright spots on the continent, rapid
modernization and a growing technology scene among them.Africa minted its first unicorn — e-commerce venture Jumia— in 2016, and over
the last five years, just about every big-name U.S
tech company, including Facebook, Google and Netflix, has expanded there.The continent now has442 active tech hubs, accelerators and
innovation spaces across IT hotspots in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda
Thousands of African startups are moving into every imaginable sector: from blockchain, logistics and education to healthcare and
agriculture.And hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital is flowing to these startups, with the expectation that some of their
solutions for Africa 1.2 billion people will produce significant ROI.Two of those ventures are Oviosu Paga and Njoroge Cellulant
Paga has become one of Nigeria leading digital payments providers in a market where many people are just signing on to financial services
Since 2012 the company has processed 57 million transactions worth $3.6 billion, reached 9 million users and achieved profitability,
according to Oviosu.Cellulant — a Nairobi-headquartered pan-African payment startup — has also posted some impressive fintech stats
The company offersB2Band P2B services to clients that include some of the continent largest banks
In 2017 Cellulant payment platforms processed $2.7 billion across 33 countries, according to Njoroge
And in 2018Cellulant raised one of the continent largest VC rounds— $47.5 million — led by TPG Growth Rise Fund
Paga and Cellulant have the potential to become early public African tech companies, and both Oviosu and Njoroge mentor younger startups as
angel investors in their respective markets.On IPO prospects, Helios Investment Partners& Fope Adelowo has been on the forefront of VC into
She serves asboard observer to two of the firm high-profile Africa investments, e-commerce site MallforAfrica and payments company
Interswitch.MallforAfrica recently launched a global e-commerce site with DHL, andInterswitch said it plans to become one of the continent
first tech IPOs on a major exchange by 2019.
