In this episode, we are joined by entrepreneur and innovation influencer, Jean-Claude Bastos. Jean-Claude is the founder of Quantum Global Group, Banco Kwanza, Angola’s first investment bank, and The African Innovation Foundation (AIF), which aims to support sustainable projects in Africa and hosts the annual Innovation Prize for Africa.
- Jean-Claude’s perspectives on Africa developed from his long experience through education, innovation hubs, and technology training and why he sees the continent as “the last frontier in business and innovation"
- How the demographics of Africa - where in 60% of the population is under 19 -years of age - impacts its approach to innovation
- How the African Innovation Foundation has helped innovators transform $13m of investment into $200m of valuations
Key Takeaways and Learnings
- How the AIF’s created an innovation ecosystem, which includes an incubator, accelerator, co-working spaces, make it spaces, and cultural hubs to connect innovators and investors in Africa
- How companies who have invested in Africa have used employee ”loyalty programs” as an approach to retain local talent, where social safety nets are often weak
- The traps international businesses risk falling into if they view Africa as a monolith. Its diversity of histories, languages and cultures, etc., mean that approaches to business vary widely across the continent
Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode
- Get in touch with Jean-Claude Bastos via LinkedIn or Twitter
- Jean-Claude's website
- Quantum Global Group, website
- Banco Kwanza, website
- The African Innovation Foundation (AIF), website
- The Soap Factory - cultural hub in Angola, website
- ZuaHub - a platform to connect innovators in Africa, website
- Innovation Prize for Africa, website
- Other mentions: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Union, Botswana Innovation Hub, M-Pesa, WeChat
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