Backstage Pass with BCG and WBS Solid Gold Clients

This episode discusses the growth of tech startups in Africa and what it takes to build successful tech startups on the continent. It starts by defining what a startup is and goes into the resources needed by tech startups.

Building a conducive ecosystem for tech startups involves fostering collaboration, inclusivity, a critical mass of startups, and a track record of success, with talent fluidity between startups. This episode also underscores key elements for ecosystem success, including supportive policy and regulation, access to diverse forms of capital such as customer capital, angel investors, venture debt, factoring finance, and grant funding.

To be capital-ready, startups must conduct thorough research on funding options, possess psychological readiness for investment and relinquishing control, articulate a clear use case for the capital, and undergo due diligence.

Listen for more.

What is GenAI & why it matters for businesses, individuals, and civil society.

In this episode of Backstage Pass, we talk about the era of AI, what Generative AI means, and how it can solve real-world challenges and drive societal change, particularly in education, financial inclusion, healthcare, and agriculture.

We are joined by Dr. Martin Bekker, computational social scientist, AI ethics researcher and lecturer in ethics and social science at the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Wits University; Ayanda Ngcebetsha, Director: Data & AI Commercial Solutions at Microsoft South; and Hlulekisile Shongwe, Consultant at BCG South Africa.

In this discussion, we unpack how AI can and is transforming businesses and the impact it can have on solving everyday challenges. The panel also shares findings from a recently released joint report by BCG, Wits Business School, and Microsoft South Africa about the impact of Gen AI and, critically, the importance of using and developing solutions responsibly.

Leading women Nolitha Fakude and Jackie Foster-Mutungu embark on an important conversation to consider how we might break through the barrier of a mere 20% representation of women in South African boardrooms.
They touch on the responsibility of women leaders, the importance of role models, imposter syndrome, finding your own voice, inclusion and collaboration, and leading in tough times.

Listen to their meaningful conversation in this episode of our Backstage Pass podcast.

South African business leaders will play an important role as the country builds a competitive economy for the future. In this episode of Backstage Pass, we unpack what great business leadership looks like in South Africa.

Great business leadership is able to set (and achieve) ambitious targets and is nimble enough to take fast and decisive action. Most of all though, leaders can inspire others to perform at their best. To unpack next-generation leadership, we are joined by Nyimpini Mabunda who is the CEO of GE Southern Africa and chairman of the US-South Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber of Commerce, as well as Professor Milford Soko, Professor of International Business and Strategy at Wits Business School.

In today's leadership conversation, we are focusing on digital innovation. We want to get to the essence of how corporates and startups can work together to really unpack the impact that digital innovation can have on the African continent.

In this episode we will look at 3 themes:

1. The opportunity – why African corporates should be partnering with start‐ups... and vice versa.
2. The importance of solving the right problem with the right partner
3. Making it work

Guests in this episode:
Nihmal Marrie (Boston Consulting Group | Managing Director and Partner);
Dare Okoudjou (MFS Africa | CEO);
Vuyo Mpako ( Next176 | Managing Director);
Gour Lentell (Moyo App & Data free | CEO and founder) and
Chika Ekeji (MTN | Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer)

A podcast where we talk to key business and thought leaders making waves in South Africa and across the African continent, discussing important topics facing the country, including how to address key challenges, find solutions to complex problems and apply global perspectives to South Africa and the continent.