.svg)
I’m a Cape Town boy at heart. Although I left in the 1980s to pursue my career, my connection to South Africa has remained strong. Over the past few years, I’ve seen something exciting begin to shift. My professional journey in tech venture is starting to feel deeply relevant to the continent. I truly believe Africa has the potential to be the next AI and tech superpower. Here’s why.
Africa has all the ingredients for success: innovative talent, unmatched entrepreneurial spirit, and a growing tech ecosystem.
I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the rise of two major tech hubs - Silicon Valley in the 1980s and Europe in the early 2000s. While the context is different, I see many of the same forces aligning in Africa today.
In the mid-80s, I moved to Silicon Valley, which was rapidly becoming the epicenter of technological innovation. Working with Price Waterhouse and later Microsoft, I saw firsthand how companies like Apple, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard weren’t just building products, they were building an ecosystem. This ecosystem thrived on access to capital, a pool of highly skilled talent, and a culture of collaboration and risk-taking. Venture capital played a crucial role, while top universities like Stanford ensured a steady stream of talent.
By the early 2000s, Europe was staging its tech renaissance. As Microsoft’s first CFO for Europe, I helped set up and grow operations during a period marked by a surge in venture capital, strong policy support from the EU, and the development of a cohesive tech ecosystem. Despite challenges like language barriers and market fragmentation, Europe succeeded by aligning capital, talent, and policy.
To put these lessons into practice, in 2004, I co-founded Atlantic Bridge, a global growth equity technology firm. Today, we have over €1 billion of assets under management and have invested in 110 companies, exited 38 (including seven unicorns), and partnered with university innovation hubs to source new ideas.
This experience cemented my conviction that ecosystems are key to producing lasting tech success.
Africa stands at a similar crossroads. With the world’s youngest population and a deeply ingrained entrepreneurial spirit, countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya (the “Silicon Savannah”), and Egypt are already generating vibrant startup scenes. Development costs remain low, and digital adoption is surging.
African tech ventures tend to follow one of three models: Regional solutions that tackle local challenges; adapting proven technologies from the US, Europe, or Asia to meet local needs; or becoming global champions by developing breakthroughs in Africa that scale worldwide.
But to fully realise this potential, we need a more formalised, supportive ecosystem. One that mirrors the success stories of Silicon Valley and Europe focusing on taking companies from start-up, through scale-up, to exit. Currently, Africa has had some amazing success stories like MPESA, Interswitch and Paystack, that serve as early indicators for the continent’s potential as a technology hub. Here’s what the ecosystem needs to scale more technologies:
Drawing on this experience, I co-founded Africa Bridge - a venture capital fund that brings together a deep passion for the continent, a global network, and decades of expertise in technology, venture capital and investment. Together with co-founder and managing partner Frank McCosker, our goal is to help build an ecosystem in which African AI and tech startups can thrive on a global stage.
The continent presents unique opportunities in areas like fintech, climate and health technologies - sectors that are not as prevalent in other regions. The global shift toward digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence are increasing the importance of technology in solving social and economic challenges make this the ideal time to invest in African tech. Domestic investor participation has also risen from 19% to 31% of continent-wide VC inflows over the past decade—proof that local markets are maturing.
Think about the impact mobile wallets had on cash transactions across the continent. The impact potential of AI technology to drive systemic change is immense. The goal is to create profitable ventures that reinvest in their communities, driving sustainable economic growth.
Africa’s time for tech investment is now. By strengthening capital access, global connectivity, encouraging co-investment, and supporting local talent pipelines, we can help unlock more of the continent’s innovation potential.
The future isn’t just promising—it’s transformative. Let’s build it together.
