We have had quite a tasking year but also importantly, a year where digital content increased sporadically. The global pandemic caused a lot of businesses to stall or halt physical operations. In the place of these, there was a greater focus on online marketplaces.
For us at Upside Africa, we also witnessed a change that threatened to create a gulf between us and the organizations within our networks. Instead of our physical events, the UA team approached our mission by adapting.
We uemployed new strategies to reach our community and develop content that matters. The UA blog published several articles including:
- Opportunities for African Businesses – Calling Startup African Entrepreneurs: Apply for the 2020 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, Investment fund launched for African diaspora entrepreneurs, 10 Funding Opportunities Young Entrepreneurs Can Apply for Now.
- Resources for Businesses & Leaders – A Guide to South Africa Government Funding for SMEs, Resilient Recovery Series: The Food Security Challenge, COVID-19 in Africa: Crisis Management Facts and Tips for Leaders
- Business Features – Extramile Africa, Provides A Formidable Financial Platform, Achetes Online has launched!, ChefOnDuty offers an African Private chef Experience, LOW-COST ZERO CONTACT HAND SANITISATION DISPENSER – Inspire Labs
We found that a lot of businesses within our network became more aware of the need to deliver sustainable solutions especially as the need for finance took center stage. This informed the content strategy they adopted. We worked through virtual teams and webinars like the African Echoes Business Series on Financing African SMEs to drive conversation around relevant content. In the course of organizing our virtual events, we saw how powerful social media became a tool for reaching a wide network. It has become important for us to bring awareness, advocacy, and networks to support African businesses while using digital tools.
Some of the greatest impacts we achieved was driven by content from African entrepreneurs like Lesego Holzapfel of Bokamoso Impact Hub, Itumeleng Moagi (Co-founder – Growth Factor Technologies), Stallone Siakam (Co-founder – ACHETES ONLINE), and our collaboration with other global leaders through Startup Without Borders.
The role of content in growing the African startup might not have received all the attention it deserves. However, the year has shown us quite significantly that startups must be more proactive with creating and distributing content that matters to them. We have built a network with a footprint cutting across Africa and Europe simply by providing a platform for African voices and businesses to thrive.
In the year 2021, we hope to inspire more conversations and to drive deeper dialogue around the resources that would be needed for economic recovery across Africa. We invite you to share your business stories with us and to help us amplify our work.