Digital Africa: Investing in Africa's Most Untapped Source

"Impact investing" is one of the biggest buzzwords in finance today, touted as investing with the intention of generating positive and measurable social and environmental change in addition to monetary returns. Putting money into projects, businesses, and places that improve the lives of the people living there in addition to strengthening your investment portfolio sounds great...but there are plenty of pitfalls as well. One of the most inspiring locations for impact investing, but also one of the most misunderstood by the foreign investor, is sub-Saharan Africa. In Digital Africa, Jesper Drescher, a successful investor in the African tech scene since 2013 and the chairman of three African tech companies, explains the potential and the perils of investing in sub-Saharan Africa. He goes into depth on what a potential investor needs to understand about sub-Saharan Africa before deciding to do business there: where the benefits and downsides, both evident and understated, lie; the special issues surrounding business creation, taxation, and hiring; and the dangers of letting the hype run away with your expectations. Most of all, Drescher outlines how digitalization is the key to creating the biggest impact possible with your time and money. Whether it takes the form of digital money for people without access to formal banking, the increased ability for governments to collect taxes, or improving healthcare outcomes with minable data, digitalization is one the rise in sub-Saharan Africa. With Digital Africa as your guide to tech investment, your chances of making a real impact as an investor are on the rise.

About the Author :
Jesper Vesten Drescher is a leading expert advising on the building of sustainable business models, working with businesses and public stakeholders across the world, but primarily around Africa. As an investor, advisor, board-member and guest-speaker he travelled in most parts of the world, being known as an innovative business thinker and a high impact player having delivered significant business value.

Review :
I really, really enjoyed this book - it brings a very personal, well researched and well constructed perspective on all things to do with doing business in Africa, told by someone who clearly has a perspective to share and the experience to back it up. There's relevant data points to ground the thinking but is highly accessible. Above all it's a well told story - I only wish there was more - I read it in 3 hours! Relevant for analysts, investors, commentators, armchair experts, digital boffins, and above all, the curious. It's about Africa, but with a global backdrop. Particularly enjoyed the sections on really thinking about the causality of impact investing; remarkable examples of the challenges to getting things done and transparency; the impact of government on investing and digitalization; case examples of Israeli and Singapore entrepreneurship; the difference in time afforded to African investment versus the rest of the world; and building teams on the African continent. I intend to buy the book in hard copy to revisit. Kudos to the author. Drescher is the real deal. This is a boots-on-the-ground view at the future of investing in the digital sector of Africa by a been-there, done-that guy. He knows his stuff and lays it out in a no-nonsense, well-documented book that will give any reader what they need to know about this under-the-radar investment opportunity. Finally a book on Africa's tech space written by an investor who has actually put in his own money and helped to build local African tech companies from scratch. The book gives you several great case studies and is an eye opener to how digitalization is helping to build transparency and trust in African markets. A must read for African tech investors and future entrepreneurs! Marie Englesson, founder of Atsoko The author, Jesper Drescher, shares not only from a well researched angle but from the perspective of someone that has the 'on-the-ground' experience of investing in Africa. He speaks not only to the opportunities but points out the risk and challenges and how they can be navigated for optimum success. A must read for everyone looking to advantage of the emerging African opportunities. This book gives you all the detail you need without burying you in technicalities when it comes to investing in Africa, with special emphasis on the importance of digital technologies going forward. Such a good and insightful read--I highly recommend it to investment professionals and laymen alike. The book provides a number of important insights and reflections on the investments in African SMEs. The author has a valuable hands-on experience with development and purchase of several companies on the Continent. It is a candid and inspirational recite of a modern foreign investor. A deep and empirical book on what it takes to invest in Africa. The author Jesper Drescher shares with the highest interest his experience on all the opportunities, challenges and risks for investors and local entrepreneurs to increase their odds of success in Africa hidden potentials