Limitless Africa

"We're going to hire tons of engineers in Rwanda who are Rwandan to build this technology shoulder to shoulder with our American engineers."American foreign policy is experiencing a profound shift. It’s now about trade not aid. But we’ve been waiting to understand what that means in practice. That's why an announcement by the US Department of State last November was so significant. The U.S. committed up to $150 million dollars to a partnership with Zipline. Zipline is an American company that designs, manufactures, and operates delivery drones. Yes, drones. And it's one of the first real examples of the America First global health strategy in action. So that's why we're excited to speak with Caitlin Burton. Caitlin is the CEO of Zipline Africa. Plus: What she really thinks about aid🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:00:53 Trade, not aid01:33 How the drones work03:56 Why Africa first08:03 Caitlin's own journey11:06 Winning Washington13:47 Who pays for what20:56 The Ghana problem30:31 What's next 💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"We make about one delivery every 60 seconds in Africa today, somewhere somewhere in Africa, someone's receiving a package.""I think that was a really nice thing for Congress to hear.""Africa's a place that wants jobs and technology and entrepreneurship.""Zipline would rather lose the contract if it doesn't deliver on what it says it's going to deliver than hold Africa back from achieving its potential. "🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?“Foreign aid has fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance” - Maya Horgan Famodu https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/Is venture capital the right choice for African start-ups? https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/is-venture-capital-the-right-choice-for-african-start-ups/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about development in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"They were tired of losing women in childbirth."Last year, one of the US’s top diplomats said that Africa is the world’s largest untapped market… and Africa should be among the US’s largest trading partners. This time, it’s not just about aid. It’s about business. And we were wondering what that might mean in practice. In November last year, the US Department of State made an important announcement: the U.S. committed up to $150 million dollars to a partnership with Zipline. Zipline designs, manufactures, and operates delivery drones. These currently fly in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana. And they're saving lives. Listen to find out more.Plus: How African governments are forward thinking.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:32 Life and death3:27 How the Rwandan government saved mothers4:18 How the drones work6:21 How to improve an entire health system8:37 The US perspective12:36 How AI is saving lives💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"We make about one delivery, every 60 seconds in Africa today. Somewhere in Africa, someone's receiving a package""It's bringing American innovation in AI robotics to the countries where Zipline operates, including Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana.""We've seen a really good response to our overall shift from 'aid to trade' with partner governments in Africa."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?“The VC model is the wrong fit for Africa. Do something different.” https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/the-vc-model-is-just-fundamentally-the-wrong-fit-for-africa-you-have-to-do-something-different/“Foreign aid has fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance” - Maya Horgan Famodu https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about development in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICAWe're delighted to feature May Mbira, a musician from Mozambique. Follow him here https://www.instagram.com/may_mbira and here https://open.spotify.com/artist/6I05TlWZUMYbAjYcOwC9eGLimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"There is a specific type of risk-taking that is always rewarded"Mikael Hajjar runs P1 Ventures. P1 Ventures has raised its first $50 million dollars fund at the beginning of 2025. But what’s particularly interesting is that half of the fund will be invested in Francophone Africa. He tells Claude why Francophone Africa is the next investment hotspot.Plus: The biggest start-ups in Francophone Africa🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:56 From Mauritania to Silicon Valley3:37 The success of the American mindset7:19 The unfair advantage of Francophone Africa10:17 The shift from expats to repats13:57 The reality of trust in Africa16:55 The start-up ecosystem in Mauritania18:50 A new generation of founders💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Most of the successful entrepreneurs in in Silicon Valley are transplants from all over the world.""Silicon Valley has the most concentration of people that want to make a difference in the world""One of the biggest misconceptions about the Africa AI ecosystem is that it it lacks depth in the application layer"🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Investor Lina Kacyem tells us why Francophone Africa is a hotspot for investors https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/why-francophone-markets-are-the-next-investment-hotspot/“The VC model is the wrong fit for Africa. Do something different.” https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/the-vc-model-is-just-fundamentally-the-wrong-fit-for-africa-you-have-to-do-something-different/Is venture capital the right choice for African start-ups? https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/is-venture-capital-the-right-choice-for-african-start-ups/“Foreign aid has fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance” - Maya Horgan Famodu https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about investing in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"What is this country with good roads and electricity and water?"Francophone Africa is home to some of the continent’s fastest-growing economies, yet it continues to receive a disproportionately small share of global venture capital and startup investment.In this episode of Limitless Africa, hosts Dimpho Lekgeu and Claude Grunitzky speak with Lina Kacyem, Investment Manager at Launch Africa Ventures, about why Francophone African markets remain overlooked by American investors and what is being missed as a result.Drawing on her experience spending nearly two decades in the United States before relocating to Abidjan, Casim explains how historical legacies of colonization, legal systems, language, and business culture continue to shape investor behaviour. She contrasts Anglophone and Francophone market dynamics, from regulatory frameworks and communication styles to diaspora networks and trust-building practices.The conversation also explores infrastructure development in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, the role of face-to-face relationships in Francophone business environments, and why the CFA franc’s peg to the euro offers a degree of currency stability often misunderstood by foreign investors. As global funds search for new growth opportunities, this episode argues that Francophone Africa represents one of the most compelling and underexplored frontiers on the continent.Plus: The appeal of the American mindset🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:3:00 Differences between the Francophones and Anglophones6:09 The times they are a-changin?8:42 Fat B - SI JE TE DIS que je t'aime9:46 Why should Americans invest in Africa?💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"If you align with the right people, there are a lot of opportunities for gains. ""Numbers don't lie. Look at growth.""Americans are used to social mobility."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?“We don’t have huge numbers, but we have huge profits” - Olivier Madiba on building Cameroon's most successful gaming studio https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/olivier-madiba-video-gaming-africa/How crypto is making sending money cheaper in Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-crypto-is-making-sending-money-cheaper-in-africa/How Africa is basketball’s next big business move https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/why-nba-africa-means-business/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about investing in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICAWe're delighted to feature Fat B, an amazing rapper from Benin - follow her here www.instagram.com/fatb_98 and here https://www.facebook.com/FatbinoisLina Kacyem writes a newsletter for TechCabal about Francophone markets https://techcabal.com/category/newsletters/francophone-weekly-by-techcabal/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"That's where I think we've missed a trick. And that's really where I have focused my entrepreneurship and energy and time and talent"Bame Pule is the chief executive of private equity firm Africa Lighthouse Capital, based in Botswana. He is a graduate of Pomona College in California and received his MBA degree from Harvard Business School. He worked at Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Citigroup, some of the biggest names in finance. But we wanted to find out why he decided to move back to the African continent, even though he was on a fast track in the United States. (Interview from 2025)Plus: Why risk premium is often mispriced🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:49 Why return to Africa?5:52 Why local investors matter more than foreign8:58 Family offices investing in Africa11:50 Why America matters16:12 American investors looking to Africa💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"We need foreign investment and we want foreign investment. ""People see an opportunity for strong financial returns and good businesses.""As Africans, we don't just want investment, but we recognize that we are dealing with investors.""There is untapped market and untapped talent."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?“The VC model is the wrong fit for Africa. Do something different.” https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/the-vc-model-is-just-fundamentally-the-wrong-fit-for-africa-you-have-to-do-something-different/Is venture capital the right choice for African start-ups? https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/is-venture-capital-the-right-choice-for-african-start-ups/“Foreign aid has fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance” - Maya Horgan Famodu https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about investing in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"Big companies are waking up to this opportunity and are moving in."Today, we’re talking about something that shapes everything from jobs to education to healthcare… internet access.And Africa, we have a problem! Only a fifth of our population have access to the internet... compare that to the global average of about 70%. Africa is lagging behind.We wanted to find out why. And what can be done about it.Plus: How laser beams are replacing satellites.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:08 Why internet is still a problem3:26 Leapfrogging fibre5:48 How African start-ups are providing solutions7:41 Laser beams bringing internet10:37 Impact on poverty💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Kenya has much better connectivity than the U.S. does.""People on the street need to feel the impact of a cable that's lying on their shores."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?The entrepreneur bringing refrigeration to Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-i-made-it-the-entrepreneur-bringing-refrigeration-to-africa/How crypto is making sending money cheaper in Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-crypto-is-making-sending-money-cheaper-in-africa/“African AI solutions are not being talked about” https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/african-homegrown-ai-solutions-are-not-being-talked-about/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about pop culture in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICAKendall Ananyi https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-ananyiFrank Eleanya https://ng.linkedin.com/in/frank-eleanya-0514b335Jay Shapiro https://ke.linkedin.com/in/jayshapiroLimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"Gaming saved my life."In this episode of Limitless Africa, Claude Grunitzky and Dimpho Lekgeu explore the rise of African e-sports with two of Kenya’s most compelling voices. Brian Diang’a, known as Brian The Beast, one of East Africa’s first professional e-sports athletes, and Shirley Adema, also known as Dark Willow, a competitive Dota player and co-founder of Tunza E-sports. Through their stories, this episode unpacks how gaming is becoming both a career and a lifeline. From escaping violence in Kibra to creating safe spaces for young women in gaming, the episode uncovers an unexpected source of talent, innovation, and youth empowerment.Plus: The pitfalls of being a woman in gaming🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:21 Why are e-sports gamers athletes?3:51 How gaming saves lives?6:51 How American athletes inspire others9:01 From virtual to IRL skills12:08 Girls in gaming💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Everything I do in gaming is inspired by the U.S.""I want to leave a legacy.""When you're a lady, there are more opportunities"🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Can Africa and America win the AI race? https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/why-america-is-africas-best-partner-in-the-ai-race/How Africa is transforming video gaming https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-is-africa-transforming-the-future-of-video-gaming/“We don’t have huge numbers, but we have huge profits” https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/olivier-madiba-video-gaming-africa/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about pop culture in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

Welcome to our extended episode with G. N. L. Zamba, a Ugandan hip-hop artist who lives between Kampala and Los Angeles. He's the founder and CEO of the independent hip-hop record label Baboon Forest Entertainment. He's been credited with popularizing Lungaflow - a blend of Afrobeats and Luganda, the most widely spoken of Uganda's 40 languages. In this extended episode, he talks to Claude about why American rappers like Nas are such an inspiration.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:3:47 How rapping in Luganda kickstarted it all8:07 The musical wildebeests of Uganda9:40 Coming to America13:00 Nas the legend20:53 Making money29:11 Advice for entrepreneurs💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"If alignment is a thing, this must be it.""Africa is entering a creative renaissance""Your ancestors have been waiting for someone with your strength to carry their name""I would compare it to a wildebeest migration.""Sometimes to build Africa, you have to leave Africa."" My career was run like it was a business from the very beginning.""The Africans and the Americans have a chance right now"🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?“It’s all unseen and unknown as to how big this is” – Inside the business of podcasting https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/its-all-unseen-and-unknown-as-to-how-big-this-is-molly-jensen-ceo-of-africas-largest-podcasting-platform/How to make money from your creativity https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-can-african-creatives-make-money-from-their-art/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about hip hop in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.