“If you’re waiting for roads, you’re missing the point.”
Of course, we want better roads, bridges, airports, and ports. That’s true across much of the world. But the idea that business cannot be built or scaled until hard infrastructure is in place? That is outdated thinking.
In many African markets, infrastructure is not simply being built — it is being reimagined digitally. Leapfrogged, localized, and adapted to context. And if decision-makers are only looking for the kinds of “readiness indicators” they expect in Western economies, they risk missing what is already working on the ground.
This isn’t just about tech start-ups. It is just as relevant to SMEs and global corporates trying to operate in emerging markets. The key is this: don’t judge infrastructure by what you expect to see. Judge it by what people are already using to deliver value.
Digital and Informal Infrastructure in Action
Two quick examples help illustrate the point.
First, M-PESA in Kenya. The name literally means “mobile money” in Swahili. It allowed people to send and receive money digitally long before credit card penetration became widespread. In a context where carrying cash could be risky, small bills were hard to break, and counterfeits existed, M-PESA was a game-changer. It wasn’t waiting for banking rails; it built new ones through mobile phones.
Second, a safety-tech solution in South Africa. One of the start-ups we supported at Baobab Network built its platform for the security industry using WhatsApp. Not a custom app. Not a new platform. Just WhatsApp. Why? Because that’s what people already used, trusted, and had easy access to. That was the infrastructure. Far from a workaround, this was good strategy.
Different Rails, Same Goal
When global executives think about “infrastructure,” they often picture logistics hubs, fiber networks, and APIs. These matter — and yes, they are developing across Africa.
But successful entrepreneurs here don’t wait for perfect rails. They adapt, improvise, and use what is already available. In doing so, they meet customer needs more efficiently than outsiders working with outdated assumptions.
The key is contextual alignment. And this is where local partners matter most. They help translate what looks different into what is already working.
Infrastructure Beyond the Physical
One thing we will explore further in this series is the role of informal systems. Across Africa, as in parts of Asia, informal systems are a form of infrastructure:
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Networks of trust.
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Community-based financing.
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Embedded social logistics.
These are not temporary fixes. They are the backbone of how value moves.
Some of the best companies we have seen don’t try to replace informal systems — they build structure around them. That is how you scale trust.
Innovation here isn’t about building to consume more. It is about executing better with less. That mindset often leads to more sustainable, profitable, and inclusive outcomes.
Think Global, Act Local
The multinationals that win in Africa are the ones that live this mantra. They think global, but act local. They adapt their strategies to context rather than imposing external assumptions. That is how they avoid being trapped by old definitions of “infrastructure readiness.”
So Where Does That Leave Us?
Africa may not have all the highways, bridges, and ports global executives are used to. But depending on product, strategy, and flexibility, that may not matter as much as expected.
With the right partners, systems, and mindset, many companies discover they are not limited by infrastructure — they are liberated from old assumptions about what infrastructure even means. And once they make that shift, they realize they can not only build, but scale.
Takeaway
Infrastructure in Africa is not absent — it is evolving differently. The leaders who succeed are those who recognize, adapt, and align with what is already working.
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At Lissom Advisory, we work with investors and business leaders navigating these frontiers — helping them move from assumptions to reality, and from hesitation to conviction. Through our Emerging Market Leadership & Strategy Program, we guide global decision-makers in reframing infrastructure and uncovering new pathways to growth across Africa’s diverse markets.
Written by Art Chupeau, Founder & Managing Partner at Lissom Advisory.