From Scarcity to Scale: A Conversation with Founders at the Yale Africa Startup Review 2025 Conference
- samuelkitara14
- Apr 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 11
On the outskirts of Lagos, a little known startup is reimagining how Africans and global nomads pursue immigration. On the rolling hills of Kigali, a health tech startup is redesigning data aggregation and analytics for emerging markets. In the vibrant heart of Accra, another startup is reshaping the landscape of sustainable fashion and artisanship.Their stories and perspectives were recently showcased at the Founders Panel of the Yale Africa Startup Review 2025 conference where the YASR30 2025 list was unveiled.
From Passion to Reality, Positioning a Afro-Fashion Brand
In 2018, Mama Yaa Biamah Ampofo-Tenkorang partnered with Adobea Tara Williams, united by a love for fashion and travel. Nomad emerged to elevate Ghanaian shoemakers and designers, filling a gap for stylish and durable footwear specifically crafted for the modern African woman. The aim was clear: highlight the skills of local artisans while appealing to a broader audience. Starting out was a challenge. Fresh from college, Biamah spent long hours in Accra’s bustling markets, walking among tailors and shoemakers. This hands-on experience provided her with insights into the intricacies of local craftsmanship.
Building trust among local artisans would prove essential for Nomad. Initially, many questioned whether a young, Western-educated woman could navigate Accra's challenging markets. Would she appreciate the complexities they faced?
Positioning Nomad as an eco-sustainable brand presented substantial challenges. For example, Biamah focused on key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to environmental impact. Presenting such data showcased the brand’s commitment to sustainability while appealing to a growing demographic of conscious consumers. Additionally, Biamah had to communicate the importance of ethical production—a value many investors might have overlooked. She emphasized how investing in Nomad meant supporting local artisans who earn a fair wage, thereby promoting economic sustainability in the region.
On the Nuances of Scaling
The founding belief for Kapsule (Health tech, Rwanda, YASR30 2024) was that health data collection was lacking in African markets. David Chen, Co-Founder & CEO, however, found a more complex truth: there is a gap in how data is aggregated rather than an absence of data itself. This finding changed Kapsule's strategy significantly, allowing them to create a more focused plan for successful scaling.
When thinking about scaling startups in Africa, the talk often shifts to entering large markets like South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. But David prompts an important question: Is rapid geographic expansion the best strategy? Kapsule faces a tough challenge in navigating diverse healthcare data regulations across African nations, even among those that are geographically close. This complexity requires a strategic scaling approach that allows lessons learned in one area to be effectively used in another.
If Kapsule considers geographical expansion, they should carefully analyze the implications. On the other hand, concentrating on vertical scaling within their current country could prove to be a rewarding strategy. This could involve deepening relationships with hospitals and healthcare providers to strengthen existing vertical offerings. However, many hospitals face budget constraints and may find it challenging to afford Kapsule's services upfront.
To address this issue, Kapsule has explored revenue-sharing models with hospital partners - a strategy that may relieve the upfront cost burden for hospitals while sharing the benefits of improved data and insights. Such partnerships, built on mutual incentives, can create exciting opportunities for healthcare innovation across Africa.
The journey to scale Kapsule in the intricate world of African healthcare is filled with challenges but also rich with opportunities. By focusing on data aggregation, redefining partnerships, and examining innovative economic models, Kapsule can make a significant impact on healthcare outcomes across the continent.
The Chicken & Egg Dilemma
Olushola Amusan, co-founder of Vesti (Legal tech, Nigeria, YASR30 2024), confronted a classic problem when he sought funding. Investors wanted to see evidence of traction and revenue—even at the pre-seed stage—before considering any financial investment. The irony lies in the fact that gaining traction often requires financial resources for building a product and hiring a team.
Vesti found itself in a tough spot: how could they demonstrate their value when they lacked the funds to create a polished product or recruit the right people?
Rather than surrendering to this dilemma, Vesti chose to innovate. They launched on Telegram, a platform with vibrant communities and easy access. This decision allowed Vesti to avoid costly app development and extensive hiring at the start. Vesti managed to generate $1,000 in revenue on Telegram.
Stories and perspectives like Vesti, Kapsule and Nomad's, represent the dynamism of the African startup ecosystem and inspire founders, investors and Afro-enthusiasts alike to rally capital, networks, markets and talent to support high-impact innovation. You are view the YASR30 list at www.yasr.org
Author: Samuel Kitara, Yale MBA 2020. Co-founder & Alumni Editor, Yale Africa Startup
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