International media attention, which had once treated Sub-Saharan Africa as one of the next great frontiers of venture capital, started to thin and then drift elsewhere. The devil’s advocateAt the end of the day, it’s worth asking whether startups actually need the media attention. In the early 2020s, increased international media focus on African startups did more than generate headlines. And in a market where international media attention is increasingly selective, chasing coverage indiscriminately can waste resources and dilute strategic focus. The question at the heart of this piece—can African startups win back international media attention—has an answer: yes.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 20, 2026 11:05 UTC