At the start of 2025, Nigerian telecom subscribers faced a significant 50% increase in tariffs on voice, data, and SMS services.

This hike led to a decline of approximately one million internet users in February, as reported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Data consumption also dropped by 12% in the same month, reflecting consumers’ cautious usage in response to increased costs.

The tariff adjustments were attributed to escalating operational costs for telecom operators, driven by factors such as high inflation, currency devaluation, and increased energy expenses.

In 2023, MTN Nigeria reported losses of approximately ₦137 billion, while Airtel Africa experienced a 15.55% decline in Profit Before Tax, largely due to foreign exchange and energy-related losses.

Despite the higher costs, service quality issues persist. The NCC identified data depletion and billing issues as the top consumer complaints in 2024.

Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, noted that the complexity of tariff plans and the impact of high-resolution devices contribute to these concerns.

To address this, the NCC issued a ‘Guidance for the Simplification of Tariffs,’ mandating operators to provide clear information on data plans and

Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), acknowledged that many consumers are unaware of background data usage by smart devices, leading to unexpected data depletion.

He emphasized the industry’s commitment to transparency and consumer

The increased costs and service issues have led to a surge in subscribers switching networks. In January 2025, over 8,700 subscribers ported their numbers to different operators, a 190% increase from the previous month. 9mobile experienced the highest customer losses, while MTN, Airtel, and Globacom gained subscribers during this period

Despite these challenges, the telecom sector saw growth in active subscriptions, rising to 169.3 million in January 2025. MTN led with 87.5 million subscribers, followed by Airtel with 57.6 million, and Globacom with 20.5 million

Telecom Giants vs the People

Nigeria’s telecom operators have made significant investments in expanding broadband coverage, with initiatives like 4G and 5G rollout, fiber infrastructure, and partnerships with global tech firms. However, these investments are often driven by profit, not inclusion.

Despite NCC’s efforts to regulate pricing and improve service delivery, consumers regularly complain about data zapping, network downtimes, and non-transparent billing practices. Competition has done little to force down prices meaningfully, as all major players face similar infrastructural hurdles and operational costs.

A Call for Digital Justice

If Nigeria is serious about becoming a digital economy powerhouse, it must confront the high cost of connectivity head-on. This means investing heavily in:

• Rural broadband infrastructure
• Affordable data pricing models
• Improved electricity access
• Consumer protection regulations

Public-private partnerships must be strengthened to reduce costs while maintaining profitability. Local innovation in satellite internet, community Wi-Fi, and solar-powered connectivity hubs must be encouraged and scaled.

Conclusion: Connectivity Is a Right, Not a Privilege

The internet fuels education, commerce, healthcare, and governance. For Nigeria’s youths, startups, and underserved communities, access to affordable and reliable internet can mean the difference between opportunity and exclusion.

The cost of staying connected should not cost Nigerians their dignity, income, or peace of mind.

It’s time we reframe internet access in Nigeria not as a commercial commodity—but as a public utility, a human right, and a catalyst for national development.

The Path Forward

As Nigeria continues to embrace digital transformation, ensuring affordable and reliable connectivity is crucial. Stakeholders must collaborate to address infrastructural challenges, simplify tariff structures, and enhance service quality. Only then can the promise of a connected Nigeria be fully realized.

As of February 2025, Nigeria was home to over 430 fintech startups, making it one of the top countries in Africa for fintech innovation. In 2024, the sector attracted over $2 billion, as revealed in the 2024 Economic Report by the Office of the Special Adviser to Nigeria’s President on Economic Affairs (in the Office of the Vice President), dated November 2024. 

The digital payments market is projected to reach a total transaction value of $20.37 trillion by 2025. However, over 28 million of Nigeria’s population are still financially excluded, stressing a gap between fintech solutions and their economic impact.

The fintech surge is sweeping through the country, every corner seems to have a new app promising to help you send money, pay bills, or manage your finances. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think we were all rich by now, or at least financially savvy.

But let’s pause for a moment and consider the state of things. Despite the millions flowing into fintech, Nigeria’s infrastructure is still a disaster. We still have terrible roads, many fuming about how the healthcare system failed certain individuals, and lots of people without access to basic services like clean water and reliable electricity.

What good are mobile wallets when you can’t even get reliable internet in many parts of the country? How does digital payment help a farmer who can’t even get his crops to market because of the poor roads? We’ve hit a point where payments and wallets are no longer enough. It’s time we shifted focus to something way beyond—real infrastructure.

Fintech in Nigeria is big. It’s loud. It’s enticing. With startups like Paystack, Flutterwave, and OPay raising millions, you’d think we were on the brink of solving all financial challenges. 

Sure, it’s impressive—no one can deny that Nigerian fintech has grown into a powerful sector, with billions flowing in and digital payments becoming commonplace. But then, in the run to be the next big fintech unicorn, we’ve forgotten about everything else.

Truth be told, fintech is not a panacea. It might solve a part of the equation, but what happens when you fix payments but ignore the roads that get goods to market or the lack of access to basic healthcare? There’s a difference between convenience and systemic change. 

You can’t buy a road or build a hospital with a few clicks on your mobile wallet. Yet, somehow, that’s the narrative we’ve embraced—that as long as we have payment solutions, we’ve got it all figured out.

The Real Infrastructure Gaps in Nigeria

When you walk through Lagos or any major Nigerian city, you can see the divide between the fintech growth and the daily struggles of Nigerians. Let’s start with healthcare. Nigeria’s healthcare system is still in shambles despite innovations, and fintech solutions like mobile health apps are great, but they only scratch the surface. 

You need more than just a payment system to solve the issues. You need a network of well-funded hospitals, efficient health insurance, and accessible treatments for all. The kind of infrastructure that tech solutions can help build—but only if the focus moves away from just mobile payments.

Take transport. Anyone who’s tried to get through Lagos during rush hour knows how bad it is. It’s not just frustrating, it’s dangerous. Ride-hailing services like Uber or Bolt have made a difference, but they can only do so much when the infrastructure they depend on is barely functional. 

Poor roads, no traffic management, and outdated public transport systems all contribute to chaos on the streets. So, why isn’t tech doing something about this? Imagine smart traffic management systems, GPS-based public transport, or even digital tolls to ease congestion. These are the real changes that could change lives. But instead, we’re stuck in a loop of wallet apps and online payments.

Let’s not forget agriculture. Nigeria’s agricultural sector has lots of untapped potential, but it’s held back by poor infrastructure. Fintech might help farmers with digital transactions or access to microloans, but what happens when they can’t get their goods to market because of unreliable roads or lack of access to irrigation systems? Without the infrastructure to support it, all the fintech in the world won’t change the reality of Nigeria’s farmers.

The Case for Diversified Tech Investments

It’s time for tech to be broadened in Nigeria. Imagine an aggregate of startups equally focused on every sector, no aspect left out. 

While fintech has undoubtedly created an exciting industry, we need more than just digital wallets to move forward. What we need is a movement towards real infrastructure including healthcare, agriculture, transport and energy. 

It’s simple — tech is the solution, but it needs to be targeted at the real issues. Fintech is just one piece of the puzzle. And while it has its place, it can’t be the end-all-be-all solution. The focus needs to move towards building infrastructure that goes beyond supporting daily life to driving economic growth. Nigeria needs tech-driven solutions that address real, pressing issues like roads, healthcare, and energy.

If we want to build a country that thrives, we have to start with the basics. The infrastructure must come first, not just the apps.

The Economic and Social Value of Building Infrastructure

We usually talk about economic growth as though it happens in isolation. But the truth is, real growth comes from a thriving infrastructure—one that can handle the demands of a growing population, a diverse economy, and a dynamic digital world. 

Investing in infrastructure tech means not only boosting productivity but creating long-term job opportunities across various sectors, including construction, healthcare and tech. Imagine the job creation potential from building tech solutions for transport systems, smart cities, or sustainable agriculture.

The social impact is even higher. Tech infrastructure can reduce inequality by making essential services accessible to all Nigerians, not just those in urban areas with fast internet and mobile phones. From rural healthcare to improved farming techniques, tech can reach the farthest corners of the country, changing lives in ways that fintech alone cannot.

To make this happen, we need more than just private sector investment. The Nigerian government needs to step in with strong policies and incentives for infrastructure-driven tech. 

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can be key in driving this forward. They can bring together the innovation of the tech sector with the experience and resources of the public sector to create sustainable solutions for healthcare, transport, and agriculture.

Also, we must invest in research and development to create scalable solutions that can be adopted across the country. We’ve seen how much can be achieved when the right partnerships are made; now it’s time to apply that energy to infrastructure. If we want tech to truly transform Nigeria, we need a long-term vision that goes beyond the quick wins of the fintech sector.

We’ve had our fun with fintech, but now it’s time to get serious. The sustainability of Nigeria doesn’t lie in the number of digital wallets we have or how many transactions we can process per second. It lies in building infrastructure that addresses real needs, improves lives, and drives sustainable economic growth. 

The fintech space may be overcrowded, but the field is still wide open for tech-driven infrastructure solutions. If we can get that right, we’ll be well on our way to creating a Nigeria that works for everyone, not just those with a smartphone and an internet connection.

It’s time to think bigger, think longer-term, and start building the real infrastructure that this country needs.

The selected startups—Medikea from Tanzania, Motherbeing from Egypt, Pixii Motors from Tunisia, and ToumAI from Morocco—will receive a combined $800,000 in pre-seed funding. Each company will receive $200,000, along with mentorship and opportunities for global networking.

Madica’s latest investments include a diverse range of industries, from healthcare and artificial intelligence to e-mobility.

• Medikea (Tanzania) – A healthtech startup providing instant access to healthcare services through its first-line clinics, aimed at bridging the gap in medical care accessibility.

• Motherbeing (Egypt) – A chat-based healthcare platform designed to support nursing mothers by providing timely and expert health-related guidance.

• Pixii Motors (Tunisia) – An e-mobility startup focused on developing electric motorcycles with swappable batteries, offering an innovative solution for urban transportation.

• ToumAI (Morocco) – A technology firm leveraging AI-powered voice analytics to help businesses extract key insights from customer interactions.

With this latest funding round, Madica has now invested $1.6 million across eight startups since its launch in 2022. The firm, backed by global venture capital firm Flourish Ventures, aims to support 30 African startups with $6 million by 2025.

Speaking on the new investments, Emmanuel Adegboye, head of Madica, revealed that the company set out to build a portfolio with at least 50% gender diversity in their leadership teams. “We are currently exceeding that goal in addition to a significant portion of our portfolio having female CEOs.”

This is the first time Madica is investing in North African startups, having previously focused on Southern and West Africa. Its earlier investments include startups like NewForm Foods, Kola Market, GoBeba, and Earthbond, which operate in quick commerce, food-tech, renewable energy, and B2B e-commerce.

With investments in high-growth sectors such as healthtech, AI, and e-mobility, Madica plans to help Africa’s innovation ecosystem scale up. The firm’s structured investment approach, which combines capital with hands-on mentorship and global immersion opportunities, aims to enable these startups to thrive on a path to long-term success.

The company has opened its first diagnostic clinic in Douala, Cameroon’s economic hub, going beyond Nigeria, especially given the recent economic challenges, such as the drop in the Naira’s value.

Founded in 2017, MDaaS provides a range of diagnostic services, including X-rays, ultrasounds, and laboratory tests, through its 16 clinics in Nigeria. 

The company also collaborates with 20 affiliated clinics, creating a healthcare network that spans 26 states in Nigeria. MDaaS has seen rapid growth, handling over 16,000 patient visits monthly and reaching profitability within the country. 

The expansion into Cameroon is not just a financial strategy but also a response to the increased demand for healthcare services in Francophone West Africa. 

Being a bilingual city, MDaaS selected Douala to provide smoother entry into a market that uses both English and French. 

MDaaS CEO Oluwasoga Oni explained, “We observed that customer service and efficiency in diagnostic centres were areas that could be significantly improved in Cameroon. Many patients there still have to return physically to collect results—a problem we’ve addressed in Nigeria through our tech-driven solutions.”

A large part of MDaaS’s success lies in its proprietary technology, which makes operations easier and enhances service delivery across its network. 

Over six years, the company developed a system that automates processes, reducing costs and enabling patients to undergo multiple tests in a single visit. 

This year has been one of its most successful, with commendable growth in Nigerian cities outside Lagos, including Ibadan, Ilorin, and Akure, which have shown strong demand for affordable diagnostic services.

MDaaS’s recent $3 million funding round, backed by Aruwa Capital Management, Newtown Partners, and Ventures Platform, has fuelled its expansion. 

With plans to leverage its Cameroonian experience, MDaaS aims to establish a wider presence in West Africa, making high-quality healthcare accessible to more Africans. 

“Our vision is to build healthcare for Africa’s next billion,” Oni shared, reiterating the company’s focus on addressing healthcare challenges on the continent through innovation, partnerships, and a patient-centric approach.

These 2024 high-growth sectors are expected to continue driving economic expansion into 2025, making them focal points for investors, business leaders, and policymakers. 

Understanding the key drivers behind these trends — technological advancements, market demand, and policy support — is essential for stakeholders aiming to capitalise on investment opportunities.

In 2024, the global investment sector has been impacted by innovations in technology, healthcare, the push for sustainability, and the digital transformation of industries. 

Overview of 2024 High-Growth Sectors

Several sectors have become unignorable growth drivers in 2024, each receiving huge investment gains. These sectors include:

1. Technology

Growth Factors: With venture capital funding in AI startups reaching over $4.7 billion globally, the technology sector has been a great performer in 2024, driven by accelerated digital adoption across industries. 

The global AI market is projected to reach $190 billion by 2025, while overall spending on digital transformation is expected to hit $3.4 trillion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.3% from 2023 to 2026. 

Key areas like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and cybersecurity are seeing huge investments and AI alone is projected to contribute over $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. 

The semiconductor industry, a big enabler of AI and high-performance computing, has also seen huge investments. Nvidia, for example, reached a market valuation of over $1 trillion in 2024. This surge in semiconductor demand is expected to continue into 2025, particularly as industries such as automotive, healthcare, and telecommunications increase their reliance on AI technologies.

Major Players: Globally, companies like Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Nvidia have been at the forefront and have continued to invest heavily in AI research and development, focusing on areas such as generative AI, autonomous systems, and AI-driven analytics.

Locally, companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, Interswitch, Jumia, Konga and many others are leading growth in the technology sector. 

Investor Opportunities: Investors can tap into this sector by investing in tech startups, venture capital funds focused on technology, or established companies leading the AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing spaces.

2. Renewable Energy

Growth Factors: The need for sustainability has kept the renewable energy sector growing in 2024, with investments surpassing $1.3 trillion. Global initiatives to transition to a low-carbon economy, supported by government policies, are driving this expansion. Solar and wind power remain the leading contributors, with battery storage and electric vehicles (EVs) gaining traction.

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), along with similar initiatives in Europe and Asia, has ensured this move toward clean energy. Global investments in solar power alone are expected to surpass $500 billion by the end of 2024, driven by corporate commitments to reducing carbon emissions and meeting sustainability goals.

In addition, energy storage solutions, particularly battery technologies, have attracted over $90 billion in investment globally. With electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy generation increasing, the demand for energy storage is expected to grow exponentially in 2025.

Major Players: Tesla, Vestas, and NextEra Energy are among the leaders globally. In Nigeria, Arnergy, TotalEnergies and Daystar Power, among others are leading renewable energy innovations. Tesla continues to expand its solar energy division, while Vestas secured contracts worth over €2 billion in 2024.

Investor Opportunities: Opportunities for investors include green energy projects, renewable energy stocks, or funds focused on sustainability. Local initiatives in regions like Nigeria provide additional growth potential.

3. Healthcare

Growth Factors: The healthcare sector, particularly biotech and digital health, is another high-growth sector that saw investment scale in 2024. Global funding in digital health reached $5.7 billion in the first half of the year alone. 

Advances in biotechnology, such as gene editing, personalized medicine, telemedicine, health apps and wearable health tech are bolstering healthcare delivery, with investments expected to exceed $100 billion in 2024.

The total funding for 2024, projected to reach $40 billion, could exceed the year-end totals of 2019 and 2023, which were $8.2 billion and $10.7 billion, respectively.

Major Players: Companies like Moderna, Pfizer, and CRISPR Therapeutics lead globally, while in Nigeria, Axa Mansard Health Insurance, Medsaf, Healthtracka and Helium Health, among others continue to pioneer health innovations.

Investor Opportunities: Investors can focus on biotech firms, healthcare startups, or healthcare funds. Given the ongoing innovation in telemedicine, healthtech platforms are also worth considering.

4. Telecommunications

Growth Factors: Telecommunications has been another high-growth sector, with global 5G connections approaching close to 2 billion by the end of 2024. The sector’s expansion is being driven by the global rollout of 5G and increased demand for faster, more reliable connectivity. The market for 5G is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 60% from 2024 to 2030.

Increased demand for data storage has boosted investments in data centres, with the global data centre market expected to grow from $220 billion in 2024 to $300 billion by 2027. This is particularly strong in regions like Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Major Players: Globally, major firms like Ericsson, Huawei, Qualcomm, MTN, and Airtel among others are driving 5G expansion. Nigeria’s telecommunications sector saw commendable investment, reaching $191.57 million in Q1 2024.

Investor Opportunities: Investors can target 5G infrastructure, telecom companies, or data centre developments. The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart cities presents further investment avenues.

5. E-commerce and Consumer Goods

Growth Factors: E-commerce has maintained its upward drive in 2024, with global sales expected to hit $6.3 trillion by the end of the year. Emerging markets have contributed to this surge, while advancements in logistics and last-mile delivery solutions have further driven the growth.

Digital marketing, e-commerce innovations, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) models have gained traction in 2024. The focus on efficiency in supply chains and consumer goods strategies is expected to persist into 2025.

Major Players: Amazon and Alibaba continue to lead globally. In Nigeria, Jumia and Konga remain strong e-commerce players. Logistics firms are seeing growth, and in 2024, FMCG and electronics investments surged as consumer goods companies embraced omnichannel strategies.

Investor Opportunities: Opportunities lie in investing in logistics, e-commerce platforms, or consumer goods companies to enhance their digital presence.

6. Financial Services

Growth Factors: The financial services sector is evolving with fintech innovations and digital banking. The global fintech market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25% to 28% from 2023 to 2028.

Major Players: International and local fintech companies like JPMorgan Chase, Stripe, Revolut, Flutterwave, Paystack Opay, PiggVest and traditional banks adapting to new trends.

Other sectors like agriculture and IT services attracted $15.8 million and $171.7 in Q1 2024 respectively. 

How AI is Transforming Financial Services

What Business Leaders Should Know: 85 Days to 2025 

So many scholars, thought leaders, and philosophers have discussed the subject matter of time. Of profound note among them is Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, who aptly noted that “Time is a created thing.” 

According to him, to say one does not have time is like saying one does not want to. Thus, as we write about the all-important topic of time and how it flies—being used, spent, or invested—we are again face-to-face with the ephemerality of time. In this context, one can easily reflect on and learn from the quality of thoughts of politicians, businesspeople, and entrepreneurs.

For instance, politicians and business leaders approach decision-making differently due to their contexts. While politicians focus on short-term electoral cycles, prioritizing immediate results to secure votes, business leaders engage in longer-term strategic planning for sustainable growth. 

They also differ in accountability. Politicians answer to voters, influencing decisions based on public opinion, whereas business leaders report to shareholders, allowing for more calculated risk-taking.

Thus, decision-making processes vary, with politicians navigating complex negotiations and public sentiment, while business leaders enjoy greater autonomy. Overall, these distinctions shape their priorities, with politicians often reacting to social issues and business leaders focused on profitability and innovation.

So, what do business leaders, entrepreneurs, and forward-looking individuals need to know as we approach 2025? In the tech world, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, the rollout of 5G networks, increased focus on sustainability and green technology, growing cybersecurity needs, progress in quantum computing, the rise of edge computing, and the growth of remote work technologies are all critical areas to watch.

In the same vein, critical sectors such as renewable energy will benefit from increased government commitments to net-zero emissions and renewable energy targets, stimulating investments and initiatives aimed at expanding renewable sources. Technological advancements in energy storage, grid management, and renewable technologies, such as solar and wind, will enhance efficiency and reduce costs, making these options more competitive.  

Corporate sustainability goals will pressure businesses to adopt clean energy solutions while rising public awareness of climate change will drive consumer demand for renewables. Additionally, investment in infrastructure, including smart grids and electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, will facilitate the integration of renewable energy.

What about the financial services sector? Digital transformation will continue to be a major growth driver, with consumers increasingly favouring online and mobile banking for convenience. Regulatory changes promoting open banking and enhancing consumer protection will encourage innovation and competition. 

Furthermore, the growing interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors will push financial institutions to develop sustainable investment products. The acceptance and regulation of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology will create new financial offerings while rising investments in cybersecurity will be crucial as digital services expand.

To capitalize on Africa’s technological landscape, businesses should leverage mobile growth, with unique mobile subscribers projected to reach 623 million by 2025. The fintech sector, which attracted nearly $4 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $10 billion by 2025, addressing the 66% unbanked population. 

With over 300 tech hubs and startup funding rising to $2.4 billion in 2020, ensuring a resilient ecosystem is important. Additionally, investing in education is essential, as Africa needs 230 million new jobs by 2030. By embracing these strategies, entrepreneurs can drive economic growth and improve livelihoods across the continent.

Meanwhile, in healthcare services, the ongoing expansion of telehealth and remote patient monitoring will improve access to care, driven by demand for convenience and safety. An ageing global population will increase the need for healthcare services, particularly in geriatrics and chronic disease management, leading to innovative care delivery models. 

Advancements in health technologies, including artificial intelligence and personalized medicine, will revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Growing awareness of mental health issues will further drive demand for mental health services and digital therapy platforms.

DG NITDA Pledges Continued Support to Startups Advancing AI Research

A Deep Dive into Regional Specifics

In terms of investment, North America leads in AI research and investment, particularly in health tech and cybersecurity. Europe is focusing heavily on sustainability and digital transformation, while Asia-Pacific is advancing rapidly in IoT, e-commerce, and fintech.

Renewable energy in North America benefits from strong government incentives and a growing commitment to climate goals, providing a favourable environment for investments. Technological advancements in solar and wind energy, along with innovations in energy storage, are set to enhance efficiency and lower costs. Europe is leading the way in renewable energy adoption, supported by ambitious climate targets and significant investment in infrastructure. 

The European Green Deal presents opportunities for innovation and job creation in green technologies. In Asia-Pacific, rapid urbanization and energy demand in countries like China and India present significant opportunities for renewable energy deployment, particularly in solar and wind. Government initiatives aimed at improving energy access in rural areas can drive investment.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Moving forward, the resounding question is: how can business leaders, entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking individuals make sense of this wealth of information? Business leaders can position their organizations to capitalize on opportunities while mitigating uncertainties and challenges through several strategic approaches. 

First, investing in robust market research and analysis is essential for identifying trends, consumer needs, and emerging technologies, which helps anticipate market shifts and informs product development.

Diversifying product or service lines further reduces dependence on a single revenue stream, allowing the business to tap into multiple growth areas and spread risk across different markets. Forming strategic partnerships and alliances enhances capabilities and provides access to innovative technologies, but clear agreements are essential to manage expectations.

Another point of emphasis is adopting an agile business model, which allows for quick pivots based on market feedback, enhancing responsiveness to opportunities and encouraging continuous improvement. 

Additionally, investing in the latest technologies and infrastructure streamlines operations and positions the business as a leader in innovation, provided investments align with strategic goals. A comprehensive risk management framework is vital for identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks, and increasing organizational resilience through regular reviews and updates.

At the organizational and personal levels, focusing on talent development by investing in employee training builds a skilled workforce capable of adapting to new challenges, enhancing engagement and retention. Finally, cultivating a customer-centric approach prioritizes understanding and meeting customer needs, which builds loyalty and informs product development.

In conclusion, Africa presents a unique environment for technological advancement, driven by mobile technology, fintech, and an active startup culture. Leveraging these opportunities will enable businesses to significantly impact the continent’s economic growth and improve livelihoods for millions.

With over two decades of experience in the healthcare industry, Brown will drive the company’s expansion in the US maternal healthcare market.

His background in implementing innovative healthcare systems, especially in the maternal and fetal care sectors in the US, enables him to be well-placed for his new role.

Commenting on his appointment, Brown noted that he is thrilled to collaborate with a team focused on advancing maternal healthcare. 

He stated, “I am thrilled to be part of Sonio at such a pivotal time. Working with a team that shares my passion for improving maternal care is truly inspiring. Together, we aim to bring quality care to families across the US.”

In addition to this appointment, Sonio has also announced that its CEO and co-founder, Cecile Brosset, is relocating from the company’s headquarters in Paris to Boston. 

This points to Sonio’s focus on its US expansion strategy, with Brosset taking a hands-on approach in working closely with the US team. 

On Brown’s appointment, Brosset stated that his experience and familiarity with Sonio’s products will be essential in their efforts to expand in the competitive US market.

Together, Brown and Brosset aim to make maternal care more accessible, furthering Sonio’s mission to transform healthcare for mothers and their children. Their combined leadership will focus on ensuring better outcomes through innovative healthcare solutions.

Sonio’s platform is designed to improve the workflow of prenatal care by providing advanced tools for ultrasound practitioners. It integrates years of research in fetal medicine to enhance the quality and efficiency of prenatal examinations, ultimately ensuring thorough and accurate diagnoses.

Alongside this milestone, redalpine is expanding its footprint with a new office in London, enhancing its focus to unlock innovation across Europe.

Founded in Zurich in 2006, redalpine has been investing for nearly two decades and is one of Europe’s most experienced venture capital funds. 

redalpine is recognized for funding category leaders in software and science – from AI, software, biotech, and food to fintech, healthcare, and energy – and being the first backers of unicorns like Taxfix and N26. 

This strong track record, coupled with the fund’s consistent top-quartile returns, ensured that RAC VII closed oversubscribed, exceeding its initial target despite a challenging fundraising environment. 

Michael Sidler, founding partner of redalpine, said: “We are at a pivotal inflection point in technological development, with transformative change happening across all industries. Huge forces such as AI, energy transition, health and food security, and more are creating significant investment opportunities. We are seeking startups that are working on incredible solutions and are proud to be empowering the next generation of game-changing companies. With RAC VII, our largest fund to date, we can’t wait to co-create the future together with visionary entrepreneurs, while continuing our legacy of delivering outstanding returns for our investors.”

A significant number of existing investors doubled down on their commitment in RAC VII fund, with limited partners including renowned family offices and leading institutional investors (including public pension funds, Funds of Funds, and national and international banks). Today, redalpine has over $1bn in assets under management across its seven funds.

Operating out of offices in Zurich, Berlin, and soon London, and with a presence in Silicon Valley, RAC VII will back 15-20 early-stage companies from across Europe. 

The fund has already invested in nine companies, including Proxima Fusion (Germany), a Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics spin-off focused on the future of clean energy production through fusion technology, LegalFly (Belgium), the AI copilot that is transforming legal workflows, and Expression Edits (UK), the gene-editing company that is streamlining and accelerating the development of life-saving therapies.

Lino Teuteberg, co-founder of redalpine portfolio company Taxfix, commented: “When we set out to help people all across Europe overcome their fear of complex tax and financial issues, redalpine stood out with their hands-on approach and deep belief in our vision. The founding partners and team served as valuable sparring partners around the topics of product development, growth, and hiring, and continue to double-down on their support by investing from Seed to Series D. We’re delighted to hear that RAC VII will enable more entrepreneurs to benefit from partnering with redalpine.”

The opening of redalpine’s new London office is another important step in the company’s growth and commitment to Europe’s local startup ecosystems. redalpine has already backed over 10 UK-based companies, including 9fin, Uncommon, and Hypervision Surgical.

Sebastian Becker, general partner at redalpine and head of the London office, said: “After expanding to Berlin, establishing a presence in London is the next logical step in our growth journey. London and the UK have shown very impressive advancements in the past few years, particularly in deeptech and AI – areas that align perfectly with our investment strategy at the continuum of software and science. I look forward to building our on-the-ground team and being on hand to further support our local portfolio companies.”

redalpine’s investment team comprises seasoned operators, former entrepreneurs, and half of the team are scientists, including biologists, physicists, doctors, computer scientists, and material scientists. 

The company funds technological breakthroughs that offer tenfold improvements over existing solutions, providing a so-called ‘tech hedge’ and a key competitive advantage. To date, redalpine has invested in over 100 companies, including N26, Klarna, Taxfix, Mistral AI, Aktiia, Lakera, and Infinite Roots.

In addition to its six early-stage funds, redalpine launched its innovative evergreen, multi-stage Summit Fund in 2020, the first of its kind in Europe. 

The Summit Fund enables redalpine to invest in European tech champions and support its top-performing portfolio companies through the later stages, from startup to IPO, reducing reliance on US funding. 

With the successful closing of RAC VII and the opening of the London office, redalpine is perfectly positioned to progress its vision of empowering game-changers, disrupting industries for good, and shaping a better world for all.

Drawing in 754 registered participants from across Africa, HackOps 1.0 not only delivered on its promise to challenge developers to solve real-world problems but also demonstrated the potential of PipeOps as a deployment-first platform bridging the DevOps skills gap across the continent.

While participants brought energy, innovation, and determination, the success of HackOps 1.0 was made possible in part by a powerful panel of expert judges, each selected for their deep domain knowledge and experience in emerging technologies.

These individuals played a critical role in evaluating the over 150 submitted projects and selecting the top 25 teams that competed in the final round held in Lagos. 

Judges Brought the Bar of Excellence

The judging panel was strategically curated to mirror the diversity of the tech ecosystem and the hackathon’s core tracks: Michael Mekuleyi, Adora Nwodo, and Jeremy Brockett brought their deep cloud and infrastructure expertise to the DevOps & Cloud Engineering track, evaluating scalability, CI/CD practices, and deployment efficiency. Olatunji Fagbore, a leading voice in AI and IoT product management, judged solutions applying machine learning, data science, and embedded systems.

Cynthia Chisom, Samuel Ogbonyomi, and Jadesola Akinnusoye judged the Startup and Product Strategy track, assessing business viability, product-market fit, and user strategy. Abdullateef Abdul, General Counsel at Bumpa and Managing Partner at Goldlex Legal, provided legal oversight, reviewing submissions for regulatory compliance and IP protection.

Leke Ayodele and Ewere Diagboya led the judging on community growth and developer relations, focusing on open-source visibility, UI/UX quality, and user onboarding.

Oluwaleke Fakorede, CTO of Insomnia Labs and Co-founder of GoWagr, served as the sole judge, bringing his experience to the Blockchain Engineering track.

With years of experience building on protocols like Ethereum and Solana, Oluwaleke evaluated decentralized applications, smart contract architecture, and Web3 innovations.

His selection was crucial in a track with one of the rarest but most technically demanding skill sets.

Judges were chosen based on their excellence and experience in their respective fields. Each judge assessed projects, bringing their years of experience to the forefront and using a rubric tailored to their track, ensuring objectivity while maintaining high technical standards.

Real-World Problems, Real-World Impact

Participants were challenged to build solutions in five core sectors: healthcare, finance, education, project management, and travel and hospitality, using emerging technologies like blockchain, AI, etc.

Notably, over 60% of projects focused on healthcare and finance, with the top three teams (Bendan, Medix, and Isis) delivering standout innovations in medical records, AI-driven diagnostics, and health data management.

The judging team’s experience proved instrumental in identifying not just functional projects, but scalable and impactful ones.

A Platform for What’s Next

HackOps 1.0 wasn’t just about prizes and prototypes—it was about building confidence in the African developer ecosystem and offering a practical, scalable alternative to cloud deployment through PipeOps.

With over 36,000 CI/CD deployments, 714 vCPUs, and 3.6TB of server resources spun up, HackOps didn’t just test developers—it accelerated them.

As the PipeOps team plans for HackOps 2.0, one thing is clear: the bar has been set—and the judges helped build it.

In the first of three AI modules to be released, DoorSpace is currently harnessing AI-powered OCR technology, known as optical character recognition, to automate credentialing data so organizations increase efficiency and accuracy when documenting and storing company and clinician data.

AI-driven OCR technology recognizes and interprets different fonts, languages, and writing styles with greater accuracy and even recognizes handwritten text, which allows hospital files, which are often handwritten and kept in physical files onsite, to be easily transferred and kept securely in the cloud.

This process will save organizations many hours a week in manpower, and offers administrators and healthcare executives an organized source of data that is easily accessible and user-friendly.

“Our solution is aimed at helping clinicians and healthcare organizations on the backend. Administrators and healthcare workers spend hours of their day doing paperwork and transferring the same content, whether it’s their license, resume, credentials or training certificates, into multiple places. This is a major time waster for healthcare workers. Our solution automatically reads the data with far greater accuracy than when overworked people copy and paste, and it securely stores it in a place that is easy to access and use for administrators,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.

DoorSpace’s mission is to revolutionize the way healthcare organizations manage their data, with the end goal to help clinicians, who are burnout and overworked in a high-stress position.

“DoorSpace’s solution really is designed to help physicians have a tidy and organized source of truth for their information. There’s a big emotional value to having your information organized and stored securely in one place. It’s all about having the peace of mind that everything is secure and accessible, and in my opinion it really solves a critical and undervalued problem that we face in healthcare today,” shares Paul Bergeron, MD, Chief Physician Executive at DoorSpace.

How does the AI work

Administrators can upload physical files such as licenses and credentials, which are then read by the AI-powered OCR program and digitally transferred to DoorSpace’s secure system.

The files can then be shared, accessed and stored for healthcare organizations.

“70 to 80 percent of documents used in healthcare organizations have errors simply due to human error. Constantly copying and pasting information leads to mistakes, and this AI technology reduces errors to less than a percentage point. DoorSpace’s goal is to make healthcare organizations more efficient, and we are doing that with the help of AI on the backend to improve operations,” explains Brian White, CRO and Co-founder of DoorSpace.

The next DoorSpace AI modules are set to be launched later this year, with the continued goal of improving and transforming healthcare organizations.

But between the spark of an idea and a thriving startup, lies the crucial challenge of strategy.

Ideate, build, and sell approach offers a structured framework for developers to conceptualize, develop, and monetize their software products and services.

Let into how this strategy is shaping the entrepreneurial landscape in Nigeria’s emerging regions.

This strategy is all about efficiency and focus.

Here’s the breakdown:

Ideate:

Start by identifying problems faced by your local community. Whether it’s inefficiencies in agriculture, a lack of educational resources, or challenges in logistics, there’s a treasure trove of potential solutions waiting to be discovered.

Build:

With a clear problem in mind, rapidly prototype and iterate on your solution. Leverage the power of open-source tools, lean development methodologies, and readily available online resources to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

Sell:

Don’t wait for perfection. Get your MVP in front of potential users early and often. Gather feedback, adapt your product based on user needs, and refine your sales pitch. This constant iteration ensures you’re building something with real-world traction.

The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and focus on execution. It empowers developers to move quickly, learn from user feedback, and adapt their ideas based on market demands.

Sweeping Across Africa

This strategy is not unique to Nigeria. Across Africa, a generation of young developers is embracing this approach to tackle local challenges and build innovative solutions.

From mobile payment platforms in Kenya to e-learning platforms in Senegal, the “Ideate, Build, Sell” philosophy is fueling a wave of homegrown tech success stories.

The “Ideate, Build, Sell” strategy is igniting a tech revolution across Africa. However, the true power of this approach lies not just in its local focus, but in its ability to spark a collaborative fire that transcends borders.

The impact goes beyond empowering individual startups and young developers. By building a strong case for digital infrastructure investment, regional collaboration attracts the resources needed to bridge the digital divide.

This ensures that the benefits of e-commerce, digital services, and online opportunities reach all corners of the continent, regardless of location.

Innocent Destiny, a serial entrepreneur and founder of several startups across Nigeria speaking on the subject noted that the hesitation stems from a knowledge gap.

Destiny opines that tech founders often lack experience in the world of venture capital, where the language and expectations differ vastly from traditional investments in brick-and-mortar businesses or real estate.

“The business model of ideating, building, and selling is intriguing, yet many founders haven’t fully embraced it. There’s a knowledge gap between tech investments and more traditional ones like traditional businesses or real estate.

“In this ecosystem, staying emotionally detached from your startup can be profitable. Selling to investors who prefer to run the business independently closes this gap, as they have the resources to scale it into a profitable venture,” said Destiny.

Why it Works for Emerging Regions in Nigeria

In Nigeria’s emerging regions, young startup founders and developers are embracing the ideate, build, and sell approach as a pathway to entrepreneurship and innovation.

With access to resources such as coding boot camps, incubators, and venture capital funding, aspiring entrepreneurs are turning their ideas into viable businesses.

By leveraging their technical skills and market insights, they are developing software solutions that address diverse sectors such as fintech, agritech, ecommerce, and healthcare, contributing to the digital transformation of the economy.

For aspiring Nigerian developers in emerging regions, the “Ideate, Build, Sell” approach holds immense potential:

Understanding Local Needs: Developers in these regions have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by their communities. This local context is invaluable when crafting solutions with real-world impact.

Resource Efficiency: The focus on rapid prototyping and MVP development allows developers to work with limited resources, a common constraint in emerging regions.

Building the Ecosystem: As successful startups emerge using this approach, they inspire and mentor others. This creates a ripple effect, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and ultimately, a thriving tech ecosystem.

The Bottom Line

The ideate, build, and sell strategy plays a crucial role in ecosystem development by fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.

“Having founders who create, build, and sell solutions to such investors would greatly boost the tech ecosystem,” said Innocent Destiny. The founder added that he finds fulfillment in adopting the business strategy

“As someone who has raised funds and sold a company, I can confidently say that I have no regrets. While everyone has different passions and goals, I find fulfillment in ideating, building, and selling—that’s where my passion lies.”

As developers ideate and build innovative software products, they create opportunities for partnerships, investment, and job creation within the local ecosystem.

By bringing products to market and generating revenue, they contribute to the sustainability and growth of the ecosystem, attracting talent, investors, and resources to the region.