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problem as they are funded by grants and will need to show something to their backers. The
quick and dirty way for them to show some traction is events and contests. I believe this is a
dangerous trend, as it will allow fatigue to set in very quickly.
The mechanisms these communities use to aggregate talent are largely inefficient and may
end up alienating those they really need to get involved. A friend of mine noted that a group
photograph of members of a local hub showed that they were either predominantly from
one ethnic group or alma mater. Cronyism is quickly setting in and these institutions are
now also becoming like parasitic hosts for opportunists.
The Shortcut Problem and Why Collaboration is Important
Ecosystems are not simple structures or entities and the relationships are complex but what
is true is that every ecosystem evolves on its own terms. "Aid" or "pity" won’t do it for Africa
and neither will extreme capitalism or opportunism. It will be done by hard work and
investments are not the only solution; they are the nutrients that allow the bottom of the
food chain to thrive and support all others.
When I hear people talking about lack of investment being the problem with the growth of
African ecosystem all I hear is people either looking for excuses or shortcuts. Seed
investments are like real seeds, which can only grow when the environment is right. You
can’t plant seeds on rocky terrain without nutrients and expect them to become trees
overnight; it is impossible.
You can’t also introduce predators into a location without prey to feed on; they will not
thrive. The VCs know this and they wait patiently for the spoils of the harvest after the seeds
are grown and the ecosystem is thriving. VCs don’t sow seeds, they harvest. Impact
investors provide some nutrients while the rest of the ecosystem (including government and
regulators, entrepreneurs and local investors) do the rest.
Collaboration between all players is the most vital factor for growth and I don’t see much of
it happening in Africa only schoolyard type "pissing contests". In one previous post on my
blog I wrote about changing the narrative to one that reflects reality and spurs
conversations around real issues. The conversations alone are not enough; collaborative
action to move things forward is even more effective.