As the population and youth unemployment grow side by side and disposable incomes fall, Africa’s need for stable, visionary and effective political leadership at all levels has never been more acute. But Next Wave is not a very political economy newsletter. We’ll leave that for others. Instead, let’s focus on what the broad technical features of what building a business despite the dreariness might look like.

The newsletter titled "How to flip Africa’s depressing trajectory" discusses the challenges and potential solutions for building businesses in Africa. It highlights the importance of stable and effective political leadership to address the continent's economic issues. While acknowledging the dreary economic conditions and underperformance of many African countries, the newsletter suggests that entrepreneurs have three options: resign themselves to the situation, align with the political environment, or fight to maintain integrity while being pragmatic.

The newsletter also emphasizes the significance of regional and intercontinental corridors for African prosperity, particularly in terms of investment flows. It mentions the increasing investment from Gulf countries like the UAE and the development of the Gulf-to-North-African-to-Indian-Ocean corridor. Asian firms and investors, including those from Singapore and Japan, are also exploring business opportunities in Africa.

To succeed in Africa's business landscape, the newsletter advises entrepreneurs to move beyond focusing solely on GDP growth forecasts and pay attention to income levels and per-capita consumption spending habits. It suggests that understanding these economic indicators, along with leveraging technology for organization and formalization, can provide information advantages and increase the chances of success. The newsletter concludes by highlighting the importance of embracing pragmatism and pursuing growth opportunities along emerging corridors.

Overall, the newsletter aims to spark a conversation about the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs in Africa and encourages them to navigate the business landscape with a pragmatic and informed approach.

Read the newsletter on The Next Wave